By SibylSofiana
Back to the disclaimers! CLAMP owns CCS and CCS characters. We just play with them and hopefully return them none the worse for wear.
Chapter NineYue's Judgment
The Past"I am dying, Keroberos. Yue."
"No, NO!" Strong denials coming from the lips of the silver angel, while an anguished whisper came from the mouth of the golden lion laying at his feet.
"Yes, my Guardians. My friends." Clow Reed lay against his chair, pensive. "My time has come – but I would not leave you masterless. Friendless. Once I am gone, the Cards will lie dormant..."
He put his hand on the tawny head lying tenderly on his lap. "You, Keroberos. I leave you to safeguard the Cards, and to you I give the task of being the Appointer..."
"For what, Clow?" Keroberos raised sorrowful eyes to his Master.
"For the new Card Master." He raised his hand as a shout of denial came from Yue and a roar of outrage came from Keroberos. His revelations had come as double blow to his Guardians, and he was sorry for that. "Peace, both of you."
This time, Clow looked into Yue's eyes. "To you Yue, I assign the task of Judge. You have to pass judgment on whoever Keroberos appoints as Card Captor."
"I will never have another Master!"
Clow leaned over to kiss Yue's brow. "Oh, but you will, Yue."
"I will seal you in the Book, but when the time is right, you will awaken. And I will no longer be with you, but you will remember me. And now, my Guardians, sleep..." Clow gently murmured a spell as he looked at his Guardians for the last time.
And Yue and Keroberos knew no more.
~0~0~0~
The present"Ah, Yue. Still as grumpy as ever." Keroberos was not surprised that Yue had only decided to come out now. Trust Yue to accept his task, albeit unwillingly. The task did not require him to materialize until all the Cards had been captured.
And so, the Moon Guardian exercised his free will in this manner -- and avoided contact with Keroberos and his candidate until his task was upon him.
But Keroberos felt little resentment – he knew his brother well. Yue was still hurting.
"Keroberos." Yue acknowledged the other Guardian with a curt nod.
All this time, he had watched and waited, hiding behind his false form. But no longer! It was time to end this farce that Keroberos started. Yue conveniently set aside the fact that it had been his Master that had put things into motion.
"There are two candidates, Keroberos. I declare this Judgment invalid."
Keroberos growled.
"I have appointed Kinomoto Sakura as the Card Mistress. My Choice is valid, even if the boy has some of the Cards. Fulfill your task, Yue!"
Anger flashed briefly in those silver eyes, then Yue glanced at the two would-be Card Captors in disdain. These two would never be at Clow's level. Never.
It would be best to end this now, so he could sleep and grieve for the Master he had lost. Yue would soon disappear – not even lingering as a memory. And to him, that fate did not seem at all evil, nor undesired.
"So be it."
Giving them no time to react, Yue quickly drew the boy up towards the Tower, to begin The Last Judgment.
~0~0~0~
Xiao Lang tried to brace himself against the onslaught of ice coming from Yue, but it was too much, and he got knocked down. He gritted his teeth, and tried to use his Fire Charm and Wind Charm in succession, to no avail. Yue brushed it off, and hurled icicles at him.
The being looked at him loftily.
"I cannot believe you have captured the Clow Cards with such a low level of magic. Use the Cards you have to defeat me."
Xiao Lang stubbornly met the Moon Guardian's icy gaze. At that point, there was nothing else he could do. He would have to use the Clow Cards.
He plunged his sword onto the Card in front of him. "TIME!"
Xiao Lang could feel the Card sapping his strength, but he held on.
...........
He did it! Yue had vanished! Xiao Lang could hardly believe it.
But then he was shocked to hear the Guardian's voice behind him.
"Time serves under Yue. You cannot use it to defeat me." The silver eyes flickered. Shards appeared once more in Yue's hands and Xiao Lang could only gaze in horror.
~o~o~o~
He lost himself in time and space – he was floating, floating and numb.
Then he hit the ground hard, and he was brought back to reality. He looked at his hands. The Cards – I've lost the Cards! He looked up, and the vision that was the Moon Guardian made him still with shock, anger and fear.
No, NO! His mind was screaming red at him. SAKURA!!!
As if the sheer might of his will summoned her, Sakura appeared within his line of vision. She was saying something to him, but he couldn't quite understand her. Blocking the pain for a moment, his mouth voiced the words his mind was trying to say.
"Don't... fight..him," he gasped. "He's too powerful."
After a few lungfuls of air his control returned, despite the voices in his head clamoring to be heard.
That wasn't what I wanted to say!!! They shouted in chorus.
Xiao Lang sweat profusely, beads of perspiration clinging to his brow.
I DON'T WANT YOU HURT, SAKURA!
Like a beacon of light his mind cleared, the voices now silent as his intent revealed itself to them. He looked to where she was, but he was too late.
Yue had taken her.
~0~0~0~
On the ground, Keroberos watched. And waited. His task was over – this was Yue's time. He raised golden eyes toward the Tower. Even from this distance, he could feel his brother's pain – it was emanating in waves. Keroberos' hurt was muted by time -- he was not a creature fashioned for long suffering.
But Yue -- Yue's pain did not dull over time, only intensified.
Ah, Clow – why did it have to be this way?
But still, Keroberos trusted Clow. And he believed in Sakura and her magic. Granted, it was nothing compared to Clow's power, but it was growing. She just had to make Yue realize that.
"I-I have to help her!" The Brat had stood up and tried to make his way to the Tower. Keroberos stopped him with a flash of wings.
"No. If you help her, she loses the Judgment."
"But –" the boy looked at the Guardian helplessly.
"Ah. I believe it's my turn," murmured Mizuki-sensei.
Keroberos had forgotten all about her. As he instinctively moved to stop her, he was brought up short by her moon aura. The teacher smiled.
This one has her own task from Clow...! he realized in disbelief. At her glance, he let her pass unopposed. He could only watch silently as she headed towards the Tower.
~o~o~o~
There was one more task left, Clow mused as he held the Book lovingly in his hands. He heard a soft tap on the door.
"Come in, Miyage-san." A slender red-haired woman slipped into the room with noiseless feet and gave a small bow.
"It is time, Reed-san?"
"Yes. Please keep this token, Miyage-san, until a daughter of your house accepts the task I have appointed for her." He handed her something wrapped in silk, which she accepted gravely. The Sorcerer had done much for her family – she would not fail him in this.
"It shall be done. And the Book?" Miyage eyed the volume in his hands.
"It will go where needful."
As the woman backed her way slowly out of the room, Clow looked at the cherry tree outside his window. It was the winter of his life, but the tree would bloom in the spring.
As he closed his eyes for the last time, he dreamed it was spring again. He heard a wolf howl in the distance... then suddenly, there it was, under the cherry tree!
And he smiled.
~o~o~o~
Mizuki arrived at the top of the Tower, cradling the bell carefully in her hands. It was a pity that Li-kun was hurt, but the outcome was already pre-ordained. The Li had another purpose, but not as Master of the Clow Cards. And she, Mizuki Kaho, had her own purpose in the scheme of things.
"Your interference will only bring you harm." Yue said warningly as she came forward.
"I have a gift for Sakura." She smiled. "From Clow Reed."
As the Guardian watched, stunned, Mizuki turned to Sakura. "Clow wanted you to have this chance, Sakura-chan." She smiled as the girl raised confused eyes to her face.
"Now, raise your Staff, and say this with me – 'Key created by Clow, accept this new power.'" Mizuki raised the bell, and as Sakura repeated the words, the Staff started to glow.
"Reveal your new form before me -- RELEASE!"
As the Staff changed form, Mizuki said to the awestruck girl. "You can do it. You have the invincible spell, Sakura-chan..."
And Mizuki raised her eyes to the towering Moon Guardian.
"My task is done."
~o~o~o~
The Guardian was stunned at this further betrayal. Yue could not believe that Clow would do such a thing. Impossible! The pain gnawed his insides, although his pale face did not show it. It is time to end this...
As the girl called out Windy, he almost laughed at her stupidity. Almost.
But he never laughed. Not anymore. He was cold – cold since that snowy day when Clow died. And that idiot Keroberos actually thought this girl would replace Clow in his heart? Never!
"Windy is under my influence. You cannot defeat me –" he began, but then he felt something different happening.
WHAT! What is this?!? For Windy had now fettered him and would not let go.
Yue-san, she is our Mistress now...
NO! He struggled mightily, but it seemed that Windy obeyed a higher power. And he was soon forced to give up when he realized that all was lost.
Windy deposited him ignominiously in front of the girl, and he knelt, defeated.
What is the use of being a Judge when the outcome has already been decided? he thought to himself bitterly.
"Yue-san..."
He tried to ignore her voice, but it was quiet and strong.
"You loved Clow-san very much, didn't you?" He didn't deign to answer that.
"I don't know anything about magic, and I can't do anything but...I love the Cards and Kero-chan and I'm sure I can come to love you too...No, I already love you!" The girl declared. "I don't want to be your Master, I want us to be good friends," she said holding out her hands in impassioned appeal.
As he looked up at her, he thought sadly to himself, Can it ever be that easy?
Yue stood up, ignoring her outstretched arms. "Close your eyes."
As Sakura hastily obeyed, he finally declared:
"The Judgment ends. I, the Judge Yue, accept Sakura as my Mistress."
For Clow, he would try.
~o~o~o~
She won. Kinomoto had prevailed over Yue!
As she hurried toward them, Xiao Lang thought he'd figured out why.
Kinomoto Sakura had compassion. She loved the Cards, and she loved the Guardians – not for the power they wielded, but simply because she had a heart big enough to include them. Even for Yue, who did not love her back. He didn't think he could hold that much love...
Though as she took his hands in hers and whirled him around, locking a pair of laughing, emerald eyes with his, he thought he could hold some of it.
Suddenly confused and dizzy, he let himself fall out of her reach and tumbled onto the courtyard floor, letting his fatigue overwhelm the truths he wasn't ready to admit to himself yet.
.
~o~o~o~
He had lost.
He leaned hard against the wall of the apartment. What to do now? Should he go back to Hongkong?
Wei came into view. He took one look at Xiao Lang and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It's done then?"
"Ah." The phone rang, and Wei went to get it as Xiao Lang wearily took off his shoes.
"Syaoran-sama, it's for you." Wei gave him a compassionate glance before handing him the phone and leaving the room.
"Konnichiwa..."
"Xiao Lang, are you all right?" He could feel his mother's anxiety on the other end of the line, although she was trying to mask it. "I had a dream, you and Ying Fa...!"
He hastened to reassure her.
"I'm alright, Mother, and so is Kinomoto..." He breathed deeply. "But I lost all the Cards today."
After a moment's silence, he could hear his mother's sigh. "Yue made the final judgment." Yelan stated simply.
"Ah." And finally, the hardest news of all. "Yue chose Kinomoto as the new Card Mistress."
He waited with bated breath what she would say. That he had failed her, failed his Father? That he was not worthy to be The Li? Xiao Lang unconsciously clenched his fist while waiting for the verdict.
A blanket of silence surrounded them for a couple of uncomfortable seconds before Yelan chose to lift it.
"You not begrudge Ying Fa her mastery over the Cards?" Yelan's voice was soft, questioning.
He took a deep breath. "No." And he meant it.
"Tell me everything that happened, Xiao Lang." Her voice commanded, and Xiao Lang went over everything that happened during the day. As he finished his story, there was only silence at the other end of the line. And then --
"What do you plan to do now, Xiao Lang?"
No reproach in her voice, nor anger.
She was taking this all too calmly – in his surprise, he replied without thought.
"I'm staying." When he realized what he had said, he was again surprised at the resolution in his voice. It seemed, unconsciously, he already knew what he was supposed – no, what he wanted to do.
"For a while, anyway. I need to see what's going to happen next, Mother."
"Yes, you must stay," she surprised him by agreeing with him. "Tell me about Ying Fa when next we talk. I am most curious about her, especially now that she has the Clow Cards."
"Mother..." Xiao Lang began hesitantly, "The Elders –"
"Leave the Elders to me," she said firmly. "Now it is time for you to rest. Make yourself a hot chocolate before you go to bed, alright?" Her voice was almost tender.
"Sweet dreams, my little wolf." And the line went dead, leaving Xiao Lang looking at the phone bewilderedly.
~o~o~o~
HongkongLi Yelan was thoughtful as she put the phone down. It was unfortunate that Xiao Lang had lost to Ying Fa – but in the greater scheme of things, it was probably the best thing that could have happened. Already Xiao Lang was showing great promise.
But the Elders must not know about this latest development. If they knew, they would peremptorily order the boy back home and shame him in front of the whole Clan.
She would not allow that to happen.
Yelan crossed her arms. She was not totally powerless, as she had declared herself Guardian to The Li. She HAD been acknowledged.
But even she was subject to the decision of the Elders. Only The Li could challenge the authority of the Elders. But Xiao Lang was as yet not acknowledged by the Clan. He was not yet of age to challenge the Elders' power.
But the day was coming, Yelan thought satisfactorily to herself as she stood up and headed for the door.
My little wolf is starting to bare his fangs.
~0~0~0~
Sofiana Notes:
Personally thought that this is the best chapter we've written so far. It is rather long, but hope you liked reading it as much as we did writing it. Please tell us if you liked the way we handled Yue, Keroberos, Clow, Kaho and Yelan, okay? Hiiragizawa's up next!
Special thanks to our reviewers: Frosted BlossomZ, Kawaii – Syaoran, sweet-captor, Hoshii-chan.