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Disclaimer: What's mine is mine, what's Clamp is Clamp's.

Syaoran's Angels

Chapter 31: The calm before...

Previously on Syaoran's Angels...

"Who is she?"

"She's the Snow Geisha, the goddess of ice and snow."

"What happened?" Xiaolang asked.

"I don't know," Sakura replied gingerly probing his wound, "But I can't see the others."

"We're lost?"

"And stranded."


"Where are we?" Meiling looked around, for miles and miles on end all she saw was a land frozen in the grips of winter.

"Completely lost," Kiyone sighed.

"The others?"

"Gone."

"We're trapped."

"Oh yeah," Kiyone smiled grimly, "And screwed."


"What happened?" Tomoyo asked dully.

"Don't know. We were apparently swept away by the blizzard," Nivaline sighed, "The Cliff notes? We're lost. The others seemed to have been swept off somewhere. We're no longer in Kansas and the Wicked Witch is onto us."

"Damn," Tomoyo muttered trying to sit up.

"Damn right."


"The good old divide and conquer plan," Psuedo-Sakura nodded her approval, "Yue will be pleased."

"And if I kill them?" the Snow Geisha whirled on her, her blue eyes wide and pleading, "Will he come?"

"When you do," Psuedo-Sakura smiled at her calmly, "He will come. He will see you have protected his gift and is worthy of his love."

"Yue," the Snow Geisha whispered lovingly glancing up at the sky, "We shall be together!"


"Not wanting to pile log on the pyre of misery but…" Meiling hesitated, "Well… umm… my magic's kinda… well you know… disabled?"
"We stop her," Yue gritted his teeth as he imagined wringing his creation's neck.

"I thought we weren't supposed to interfere," Ruby Moon muttered, her red eyes mocking.

"Shut up," Yue growled before disappearing in a blaze of silver light.

Ruby Moon laughed disappearing as well as Kerberos shook his head, summoned his magic around him and vanished with a burst of golden light.

The guardian were going to join the battle.


"They come," Tomoyo whispered dreamily, her voice sounding as though she was very far away, "The Ice Maiden awaits. A cage of winter and cold light. A trap. The butterfly, the lion they flee but the archer; he's..."

Tomoyo gasped loudly.

"Tomoyo?" Nivaline asked gently.

Tomoyo stared up at her, silver blazing in her eyes once more.

"He is snared."


The Snow Geisha glared at him.

"Then let me have my own..." a spine-chilling smile flitted across her face, "Fun."

She gestured wildly with her hands and a cage of ice and magic fell from the ceiling of the palace sealing Yue within. The cage was made from shards and blocks of ice thrown hazardously together, there were no regular openings in the cage only a few spaces here and there to left in air and thin shafts of light. Spikes of ice poked out precariously from all sides of the cage forcing Yue into an uncomfortable position to avoid them all. The Snow Geisha gestured again and the cage was levitated into the air hanging about three metres from the icy floor.


"Good job," her voice was guttural and low.

Eriol stared up at her eyes, unable to comprehend what was going on.

"You haven't failed me," the possessed air stewardess continued.

Suddenly she stopped and blinked at Eriol, awareness rushing back into her eyes. She blinked again, confused.

"Would you like a drink, sir?"


"Beast of dark wings and ravaging claws," Noir chanted, his voice rough and empowered with arcane enchantments, "Of fire and ancient rage, I summon thee. Beast of hellish realms and forgotten past. Hear my sirens call and come to me.'

The red flames of the candles flared shooting up metres into the air, the crystal began to shake violently rattling against the floorboard.

"By the name of the dragon goddess Tiamat, goddess of pain and chaos I beckon thee! With my words the ancient chains shatter and set thee free!"

The crystal shattered spraying Noir with chips of shrapnel as the candles exploded melting into a river of molten wax. A swirling vortex of dark energy formed in the air in front of Noir, the man feeding the gateway with his energy. With a final burst of energy, the vortex burst open and something shot out.

"You know what I see," Noir whispered, his voice rich with power.

The thing growled.

"Now go, find it."


"Sakura," Xiaolang murmured agitatedly.

"Yeah?"

"I love you," he whispered deliriously.

Sakura stared down at him, stunned.


"Hey, if I were you I would be more grateful towards the chick that just saved your life."

"How?" she murmured faintly, "How come last time were all..."

Ruby Moon winked at her.

"Mistress cryptic slash Xena? Playing a part, honey."


"Kerberos!" Sakura cried happily seeing the armoured and winged lion guardian.
Kerberos froze, his amber eyes staring the girl intently.

"You're in love with him."

Sakura's eyes widened for a fraction of a second but it was enough to tell Kerberos the answer.

"No... I..."

She falls silent trying to find the right words to describe her emotions.

"Yes," she admitted softly.

"I knew it!" Kerberos pounded the snow with his paw, "You must not let emotions freeze your judgement. Be strong, listen not to your heart but your mind. Flower... Sakura, there is more at stake then your heart. What you have spent your whole life walking towards... the world is at stake here."

Sakura stared down at the ground lost in thought, Kerberos fell silent and relaxed thinking he had finally got through to her. She slowly looked up at him, determination blazing in her eyes.

"Then let it burn."


Psuedo-Sakura smiled wickedly as she leant down and whispered in Sakura's ears.

"Why is it everybody you love gets hurt?" she asked, murmured softly.

She threw Sakura down into the snow.

"Your mom, your dear old dead brother," Psuedo-Sakura smirked at Sakura's shocked face, "Oh yes I know about him. Then there's your dad, Zachary, Chelsea and now him. Face it, you kill everyone you love."

Sakura glared up at her twin as Psuedo-Sakura smiled venomously at her.

"Well, this is pathetic," she taunted, "Look at you. Just a pathetic little girl, your family gone, your friends gone, no magic, no weapons, nothing. You have nothing left to fight with."

Psuedo-Sakura lashed out with her right foot.

Sakura grabbed it, inches from her face.

"There's still me," Sakura whispered.

She dumped Psuedo-Sakura down into the snow.

"And sometimes that's enough."

"That was a nice trick but your boy is still going to die," Psuedo-Sakura smiled up at Sakura's furious face.

"Get out of my face," Sakura snarled.

Psuedo-Sakura's grin grew wider and she disappeared in a flash of light. She instantly reappeared at Xiaolang's side.

"Gladly," she grabbed Xiaolang's arm, "Ta ta for now!"


"So you tricked me," Psuedo-Sakura smirked at her, "But even if you beat me. It ain't over. You still got the big bad Void to beat."

"We'll beat her," Sakura snapped.

"Then what," Psuedo-Sakura laughed at her, "Oh god, you don't know do you. Either way you're going to lose your boy."

Sakura stared at her.

"You'll die or you'll lose him," Psuedo-Sakura whispered venomously, "Don't you know the curse?"

"Enough!" Yue thundered, "You have meddled for the last time."

"You sound so shocked," Psuedo-Sakura laughed, "I am what you created me to be. I can't change, that is my curse and yours. You're doomed to be forever cryptic, cold and never tell secrets to the chosen three. Secrets like the curse of the Void card."

"What curse?" Sakura asked fiercely.


"Source of light with ancient spin, send forth the magic power within, oracles of gold, wood, fire, earth, clouds, wind, rain, and electricity... force, know my plight; release the light," a weak voice chanted from behind them.

Psuedo-Sakura was jerked roughly away from Sakura.

"What the?" the doppelganger gasped as she was roughly pushed against the wall.

"Stay away from her," Xiaolang was almost about to fall over, he was shaking that bad, but his amber eyes blazed with an inner strength.

He ran Psuedo-Sakura through with the sword he had conjured into his hand pinning her down onto the ice wall.

"The tri-sword," Yue whispered seeing the blade.

"Huh?"


"The only way to heal. The only way is to give it up, give up everything he gave you, and try to deal with your memories because you know you can never forget them. Give up everything you shared because somehow it'll weaken the memory of the betrayal. It takes time but just accepting that it's over and never was is the first step."

The Snow Geisha was crying weakly.

"He said he loved me."

"He said that to me too," Tomoyo whispered trapped in her memory of Eriol.

"The key to healing is to give everything up?" the Snow Geisha asked gently with all the vulnerability of a child.

"If the memory it conjures is too powerful and poisonous. Yes."

"Then take this," the Snow Geisha held out her hand, an orb of silver floated there several inches above her palm, "He gave this to me as a token of our love. If I keep this, it'll just eat at me making me remember for eternity about the pain and anger I feel now."


The book of Yue Gong Jian Shou.

It was finally hers.

"I'm sorry," Tomoyo whispered, a world of sadness in her voice.

"I am too," the Snow Geisha murmured.

"It'll take time but someday you'll be able to lessen the pain."

The Snow Geisha bowed her head.

"You're not a mortal," she whispered, "You're a goddess."


"Dragon!" Sakura gasped, "That's the dragon that attacked Xiaolang!"

"Why him?" Yue demanded, "A dragon would never come here."

They backed hurriedly away from the window as the dragon slammed into the palace shaking it to its very foundation as it tried to squeeze its snout through the tiny window. It gave up and backed away a little ready to charge again.

"Unless it was sent," Sakura gasped, "What if it is from Noir, what if he is after the tri-sword? Xiaolang had it with him all along that why it came after him."

"Noir's after the tri-sword," Yue cursed, "He's trying to resurrect the Void."


"The third book is in the possession of the Fox. My creation is no longer needed. She is done."

"NOOOO!" Psuedo-Sakura yelled, "DAMN IT! NO!"

She thrashed against something only she could see but it was inevitable. White light consumed her body and with a brilliant flash she disappeared, once and for all.

"So she's taken care off," Sakura smiled wickedly.


"There is a curse," he admitted.

"What does it do?"

Yue stared at her sadly.

"The curse of the Void card is the ones who seal it will be forced to lose everyone they love."

"Huh?"

"If you seal the Void card away and save the world, all the people who love you will lose their love for you. They will turn away from you, even shun you. Everybody," Yue paused "If you win. You'll lose everyone you care about. You will be forced to live in this world alone... unloved."

Sakura stared at him.

"Oh."


"Sakura!" Meiling cried with relief as she saw her friend walk slowly down the icy flight of stairs nearby, supporting Xiaolang gently.

Sakura smiled at them tiredly as she wrapped her arms tighter against Xiaolang, the man still deep within the grips of unconsciousness.

"Oh god, Xiaolang," Tomoyo gasped seeing the man.

Ruby Moon's red eyes were fixed on something else, the sword that Yue carried in his hands, which he held with a cautious air.

"Is that..." she began slowly.

Yue nodded gravely.

Kerberos gasped.

"Oh god."

"What?" Nivaline looked at the guardians, confused, "What is it."

"A part of the tri-sword," Kerberos muttered.

"The what now?" Nivaline demanded.

"Oh my..." Ruby Moon was gaping at the seemingly innocent blade, "Oh my..."

"Huh?" Meiling, Kiyone and Tomoyo were horribly confused.

Sakura shrugged.

"Some blade of darkness and/or death. It's vague," she explained.

"Right..." Meiling frowned, still not getting the guardian's shock.

Sakura ignored them as she looked at Xiaolang worriedly.

"We need to get Xiaolang out of here. Like now."

"Try your magic," Kerberos growled.

"The hampering spells..." Sakura began.

The Snow Geisha looked up from her spot on the ground, a look of sadness still settling over her face.

"Gone," she whispered.

Sakura was startled to see the Snow Geisha there standing so close to the others without them being alarmed but she shrugged it off having bigger things to worry about.

She grabbed the key from around her neck.

"Key of stars with powers burning bright, reveal the staff and shine your light! RELEASE!" Sakura cried.

The Star wand quickly formed and fell into her hands; Sakura juggled the wand around until she could free one of her hands and shove it into the folds of her jacket pulling out a card.

"MOVE CARD! Take us to nearest hospital! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" Sakura commanded.

Pink wings whirled around the two, sprinkling bright dust over them with each flutter of its eyes. With a burst of light, Sakura and Xiaolang disappeared.

"How come I can't teleport?" Meiling wondered aloud.

"You can control the forces of nature and you're complaining?" Ruby Moon wanted to know with an arched eyebrow.

"What can I do?" Tomoyo asked curiously, "What with the book now and everything."

She held up the blue and silver book as Yue's eyes lit up with delight, the first real emotion they had ever seen from him.

"Control the realms of spirits, shadows and dreams," Yue informed her.

"Nifty," Tomoyo chirped.

"Please!" the Snow Geisha suddenly reared up to her full imposing height.

Everyone stared at her.

"Please leave me," the goddess said in a soft whisper.

Tomoyo nodded at her understanding, she managed to send a subtle yet meaningfully glare at Yue.

Yue gulped.

"I'm sorry," Yue whispered softly.

"Are you?" the Snow Geisha asked gently, "Please, your presence hurts me. Leave."

Meiling, Kiyone and Nivaline nodded and quickly left not wanting to be around if the snow goddess decided to attack them. The three guardians soon followed but Tomoyo lingered for a little while.

Human and goddess exchanged last sad glance before Tomoyo turned around and left with her friends leaving a grieving Snow Geisha behind.

"You won?" Ruby Moon asked as they walked across the snowy clearing.

They skirted around the icy remains of the black dragon wincing at the sight and hurried their step as they neared the ice-beast but the creature seemed indifferent to them letting them pass with no trouble.

"Kinda of," Meiling replied.

"What do you mean?" Ruby Moon asked curiously.

"Snow Geisha was kinda kicking our ass big time until Tomoyo came along and pulled a Dr. Phil on her," Kiyone explained.

"What?" Yue asked startled.

"No, she didn't," Nivaline chided, "it was more of an Oprah."

"Okay I'm really confused," Kerberos frowned.

"So am I," Yue agreed.

Ruby Moon sighed and rolled her eyes.

"It's pop culture boys. Get a T.V. in that mystical lake land of yours. Jeez some people..."

Kerberos and Yue glared at her as the humans laughed. Tomoyo smiled sadly.

"Sometime understanding and words are powerful weapons," she said softly.

There was a silence as everybody contemplated that.

"So, " Kiyone began breaking the silence, "Which and where the hell is the closest hospital?"


Sakura instantly jumped out from her sit on the hard moulded plastic chair that seemed to be a staple of all hospital waiting rooms, frowning worriedly as the doctor who had been looking after Xiaolang walked in. He looked around and spotted her quickly making his way to her.

"How is he?" Sakura asked in Japanese.

"We stabilised him," the doctor replied, "He should recover just fine. We're now moving him from the critical ward to a normal ward. You should be able to see him soon."

"Thanks," Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

"My pleasure," the doctor gave her a short bow before exiting the room leaving Sakura standing here, a relieved look on her face.

"Sakura!"

The American Angel whirled around and beamed as she spotted her two fellow Angels walking in via the second entrance, Nivaline and Kiyone closely following.

"Guys!" she called.

They ran over to her, identical worried expressions on their faces.

"Where are the guardians?" Sakura asked looking around for them.

Kiyone made some weird gesture with her hands.

"Somewhere," she said blithely shrugging, "A lion and two people with wings are a tad conspicuous."

"They said they'll come back later," Nivaline added.

Tomoyo nodded, scraping her messy hair away from her forehead. The glint of fluorescent light on silver caught Sakura's attention, her eyes drew to something wrapped around Tomoyo's ring finger.

"What?' she yelped, "Where did you..."

Tomoyo laughed as she held out her hands allowing Sakura to examine the ring. It was a broad band of pure silver that glowed with an internal light; a flawless diamond was perched on top winking with all the colours of the rainbow and possibly more.

"This is the mirror," Tomoyo explained with a wink.

"Huh?" Sakura was confused.

"The sword and the star wand has their own hidden forms," Tomoyo explained, "Well, this is the mirror's form... a ring."

"With a big hunkin' gem on top," Kiyone added, a greedy glint in her eyes.

"Back off, you vulture," Nivaline warned.

Kiyone clapped a hand to her heart.

"You sting me with your wild accusations," she moaned with mock hurt.

"How is he?" Meiling asked worriedly.

Sakura smiled at her.

"He's going to be fine."

"Can we see him?" Tomoyo asked.

"Not yet," Sakura told her, a note of frustration entering her voice, "They're going to transfer him to a normal ward soon. So we can see him then."

They fell silent, Sakura struggling internally with something. With an inward sigh, she plunged into it, head-on.

"Okay, I really don't want to be the bringer of bad news but..." Sakura trailed off not sure what she should say next.

"What?" Meiling stared at her worriedly, "Something wrong?"

"Kinda..." Sakura was still struggling for the right words.

"What is it?" Kiyone pressed, a concerned look on her face.

Sakura sighed and realised she just had to give it to them straight.

"There's a curse."

"A la Tutankhamen?"

Everyone stared at her.

"What?" Meiling asked annoyed, "I read."

"Elaborate, please?" Tomoyo urged getting back to the issue at hand.

Sakura fidgeted nervously before continuing.

"If the Void card is sealed by us, we lose everyone we love," Sakura recited.

Everyone stared at her.

"Huh?" Meiling demanded.

Sakura braced herself.

"They lose their ability to love us."

"What?" Tomoyo yelped.

"Everyone: Marcus, my dad, even you two," she glanced at Nivaline and Kiyone.

"Us?" Kiyone muttered incredulously.

"No way!" Nivaline protested adamantly, "That's never going to happen."

"Who told you this?" Meiling cried.

"Psuedo-Me," Sakura whispered.

Kiyone snorted.

"Oh yeah, let's believe the mystical evil bitch," she muttered.

"Sakura, she's probably lying," Tomoyo assured her.

Sakura stared up at them.

"Yue confirmed it."

They all stared back at her, stunned.

"Oh..."

"My reaction exactly," Sakura whispered.

"But..." Tomoyo trailed off, "There's got to be a loophole or a mistake... or..."

Meiling was silent.

"But it's going to be okay," Nivaline said firmly, "We'll research it and we'll figure out how to break it or prevent it."

"If it's possible," Meiling murmured.

"It is," Kiyone snapped, "Nothing not even magic can make us stop caring about you girls."

They all fell silent again; lost in their own depressing thoughts as the Angels tried to imagine what their life would be like if the curse actually came into effect. It wasn't a pretty picture.

"Excuse me," a nurse appeared beside them smiling apologetically.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"You are allowed to see you friend again," the nurse informed them.

Sakura turned to the others.

"Can I?"

"Go," Nivaline whispered.

Sakura smiled gratefully at them and went along with the nurse, alone, leaving the others behind.

"We need to get back to the U.S.," Meiling said suddenly, "Talk to Syaoran."

"I'll dig up some of sources," Nivaline promised, "See if I can find anything about this curse."

They all nodded with false confidence, secretly all of them knew that all this effort was useless. The Void card's magic was too powerful for them to prevent but they had to do something. If they were going down to this curse they were going down fighting all the way.

"So," Tomoyo glanced at them, "Who tells Sakura?"


Sakura walked quietly towards Xiaolang's bed, the drawn curtains and the silent atmosphere of the room slightly disconcerting. She treaded lightly, not making a single sound her emerald eyes worriedly studying the pale man lying seemingly unconscious on the sterile hospital bed.

"Hey," he said suddenly, softly his eyes fluttering open.

His amber eyes were no longer clouded with pain, a little paler than usual yes but more lively than they had been up in the snow.

"You're supposed to be resting," Sakura reproved lightly.

Xiaolang shrugged weakly, his slightly movements disturbing the starched sheets.

"Wanted to see if you were okay."

"Me?" Sakura stared at him, "You were the one that was dying."

"You were being strangled," Xiaolang reminded her.

"And you saved me," Sakura remembered, "Which by the way thanks."

Xiaolang smiled at her.

"Your welcome."

Sakura was standing over Xiaolang's bed looking down at him but found the angle a bit disconcerting so she reached behind her yanking a nearby chair closer before seating down trying to make herself as comfortable as possible in the hard plastic and metal chair.

Sakura pursed her lips unsure of what to say next.

"You know your sword..." she began gingerly.

Xiaolang frowned at her.

"Where is it?" he asked concerned.

Sakura stared at him.

"I don't know," she replied feebly.

The man looked crestfallen, the cute look on his face forcing a giggle out of Sakura.

"Sorry," she chuckled at his injured look.

The amused look faded away replaced by a deadly serious one.

"Do you know what your sword is?" she asked.

Xiaolang frowned at her, confusion written all over his face.

"A family heirloom that I've had with me for years. It's magical and kinda like the talismans, it can conceal its true form... it helps me focus my magic," Xiaolang stared at her, "But I'm guessing there's more."

"A lot more," Sakura muttered dryly.

Spotting Xiaolang's confused look, Sakura recomposed herself.

"You sword is the tri-sword," she paused remembering Kerberos's words, "Or part of the tri-sword... I'm not really..."

"The tri-sword?" Xiaolang murmured, "It sounds familiar..."

"Apparently, the tri-sword is needed to help revive the Void," Sakura grimaced, "So congrats! Your sword is going to help bring down the apocalypse on this poor world and send it to hell."

Seeing Xiaolang's look, Sakura trailed off.

"The tri-sword," Xiaolang whispered, his amber eyes widened in recognition, "OH!"

"Oh, what?" Sakura asked not liking the shocked look on Xiaolang's face.

"I've read something about it... the blade of three," Xiaolang closed his eyes, scrunching up his face in concentration as he tried to remember, "It's a weapon that can be broken down into three component. Each one is named after an element: Shui, Feng and Tu.."

"Water, wind and earth?" Sakura translated.

Xiaolang nodded.

"It was forged by Clow Reed, three powerful weapons that once combined a godly blade would be created. This blade possessed powers beyond comprehension," Xiaolang frowned, "I remember the book I read then sort of went vague and cryptic... something about Clow Reed cutting himself on this blade and using the resulting blood to bind the wrathful spirit into a prison..."

"The Void card and the book of Heilang," Sakura whispered remembering her time in the limbo and the glimpses of the fourth book she had seen, "Why with the blood and cutting? That's kinda Mariah Carey-ish."

"Blood is powerful. It is the substance that gives and maintains life. The blood of a mage is even more endowed," Xiaolang recited as though repeating a well-learnt lesson, "It is an elixir."

"And you became all Lestat and Interview with a Vampire, when?" Sakura asked teasingly.

Xiaolang shot her a look.

"It's a simple magical fact," he defended.

"With a big ew attached."

Xiaolang smiled at her.

"For someone who was battling snow goddesses and god knows what else, you're very squeamish and school-girlish," he teased.

Sakura glared at him.

"First part, hey! Second part, sexist and hey!" Sakura shot back, "I'm complex with many, many layers with more layers on top of that... I'm a layer-fest."

She paused.

"And that came out slightly wrong."

"Oh, yeah," Xiaolang agreed.

They fell into a comfortable silence until Xiaolang spoke up again.

"When I was... injured and delirious I was mostly out of it but I came to then and again and I swore..." Xiaolang trailed off.

Sakura stared at her strangely, wondering what he was about to say.

"I swore you and someone..."

"Kerberos or Yue, probably," Sakura supplied.

"You and someone..." Xiaolang tried again, "Arguing and you admitted..."

Sakura's eyes widened as she realised what he was getting at.

"Oh," she stammered, "That..."

"You loved me," Xiaolang looked at her hopefully, "Was I delirious or... or..."

"I said it," Sakura admitted.

They stared at each other after that little confession, Xiaolang with a soft smile on his face whilst Sakura seemed saddened.

"You know the traditional thing is to kiss now," Xiaolang suggested.

"With an opera playing in the background?" Sakura asked dryly.

"Or alternatively some sappy country music," Xiaolang stared at Sakura, "So?"

"I meant what I said..." Sakura began hesitantly.

Xiaolang looked sadly at her, understanding what she was getting at.

"But?"

"Now's not the time to admit it," Sakura sighed, "It's not that simple."

"Sakura, our relationship has never been simple," Xiaolang reminded her, "We admitted our feelings for each other on top of a snowy hell mountain whilst I was dying."

Sakura pursed her lips.

"It's just that..." she stopped and began hesitantly again, "Our feelings may not be as permanent as we think or want it to be."

"My is pretty permanent. In fact super-glued."

"There's a curse," Sakura admitted.

Xiaolang stared at her.

"I've got to say that's a very original line for rejecting me," he confessed.

"I'm not rejecting you," Sakura fidgeted, "There's a curse on the Void card. If we and I mean me and Tomoyo and Meiling seal the card, all emotional ties people have to us gets erased."

"What? You're losing me," Xiaolang frowned, "Curse?"

"Cliff notes?" Sakura asked, Xiaolang nodded, "We save the world and everyone who loves us loses their love for us. In other words, we lose everyone we love because they can't love us."

"Are you su..."

"Yue told me."

"Oh."

Xiaolang stared at her, a millions thoughts and emotions running through his mind although his face gave nothing of his inner turmoil away.

"Shouldn't we admit our feelings now? I mean, this maybe our first, last and only chance," Xiaolang was still reeling for the shock and his stammering speech betrayed that.

"It is our first, last and only chance and that's why we can't," Sakura took a deep breath, "If we do it now... I don't think I can go on afterwards remembering what we lost. Better to ask myself what could've happened than torturing myself with memories..."

She smiled at his sadly.

"I'm sorry."

Xiaolang nodded, determination blazing in his eyes.

"I will never give you up," he said roughly, strong emotions empowering each word.

"You don't have a choice," Sakura smiled sadly, "But I won't give you up either."

She slowly got up.

"So, I guess... this is goodbye," Sakura whispered.

"For now," Xiaolang promised strongly

She sent him a final sorrowful smile before leaving the room. She managed to keep her emotions in check until she got out of the room and closed the door behind her. After that draining effort, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore leaning against the wall for strength as she began crying brokenly.

And inside his room, Xiaolang heard every heartbreaking second of it.


Nivaline and Kiyone exchanged worried glances; on the quiet flight home the three girls had been withdrawn. Sakura and Meiling seemed to be the most affected, red eyes betraying the tears Sakura had shed. The normally loud Meiling had been subdued no doubt distraught over the idea of losing Marcus and Lily.

Tomoyo much better skilled in hiding her emotions than the other seemed on the outside less affected but little slips like a slight tremble in her voice and small periods of inattention betrayed her true state. She was just as worried at her two fellow allies and Angels.

Just before they had left for the airport, the guardians had returned again casting a few discreet spells to avoid detection they had delivered the sword back to them giving them dire warnings about the consequences about not protecting it properly and if it fell into the wrong hands...

When Tomoyo had demanded why they couldn't guard it, they had told her if they kept it in the limbo its power would warp very structure of the strange in-between world causing unforeseeable consequences and damage. Everyone got confused at the part when Yue explained it in great detail what the warping affect would be with the air of a college professor but Ruby Moon stepped in giving them the condensed heavy-with-the-Star-Trek-and-Star-Wars-references-and-analogy version.

Finally it had been Nivaline who had taken the sword to Xiaolang who after some explanation and repeated confirmations of 'no, Sakura doesn't want to see you' had transformed the piece of the tri-sword into its hidden form. Smiling her thanks, Nivaline had returned to the others handing the transformed tri-sword to Meiling who had tucked it into her jacket.

And then they were off catching a last minute flight back to L.A. leaving Xiaolang behind who had assured them he would be fine.

Just before they left, he told them Syaoran was unreachable right now. The reason, he refused to say or didn't know but the Angels had pushed it out of their minds, more dire matters playing havoc with their thoughts.

Nivaline and Kiyone had done their best to snap them out of it but the girls had remained moody remaining silent throughout the whole plane trip eating and drinking little. The small periods of time they were able to fall asleep was fitful and full of feverish fretting and murmured words.

To say they looked like hell when they finally stepped out of the plane and into Los Angeles airport would've been an understatement.

Lack of sleep made Sakura and Meiling grumpy, everyone knowing full well to stay out of their way until a good litre of caffeine had hit their system. Tomoyo seemed cooled and composed in comparison but her ice queen impersonation was a bit off putting to say the least.

"So what now?" Nivaline asked diplomatically.

"We research," Sakura muttered with a sigh of exasperation, "And try to find out everything about this curse."

"Yue seemed pretty adamant there was no way around it," Tomoyo added gently.

"Which kinda raises the question who he knew," Meiling joined in, "I mean..."

The girls stared at each other.

"Clow Reed," Sakura whispered, "He must've..."

"Been hit by the curse," Kiyone shivered, "If a man that powerful couldn't avoid it..."

"What chance do we have?" Meiling sounded broken and forlorn.

"There's got to be a way," Nivaline protested, "Remember Clow Reed didn't know about the curse until it hit him so he couldn't have avoided something he didn't know. You girls know and have a chance to beat it."

"How come the guardians still seem to..." Kiyone searched around for the best words to use, "Have feelings for him?"

"They were created after the Void was sealed. The curse had already taken affect," Sakura explained remembering her lesson in the limbo.

"So, you're saying these emotions can be replaced," Nivaline sounded excited, "Loophole number one."

"New emotions can be forged, the old ones are probably eradicated," Tomoyo paused, considering what she was saying, "Forever."

A depressed silence fell over the group as they passed through customs soon they were entering the rest of the airport full of bustling by-passers and families welcoming and farewelling loved ones.

"So what now?" Kiyone asked casually hefting her bag onto her shoulder, "Where do we start researching?"

"We're not," Sakura said quietly.

"Why not?"

"Because there's no point," Sakura looked up at them, sadness dulling her emerald eyes, "The curse is unstoppable."

"I refuse to believe that," Nivaline snapped.

"But we have to believe it and accept it," Tomoyo bit her lip, "There's no other option."

"No, come on Meiling, you're a fighter! You know we can beat this thing!" Kiyone looked wildly at Meiling.

The Asian Angel shrugged.

"I don't know what to do," she admitted softly, "If there is something we can do."

"I don't believe this!" Kiyone growled, "You're just going to give up?"

"No, I think we should concentrate our effort in stopping Noir from reviving the Void card," Meiling snapped back, "Keeping Xiaolang's part of the tri-sword safe for example."

"Thanks," a rough voice said from behind them.

The group whirled around and stared straight into a pair of ebony black eyes that crackled with power.

"Thanks for safekeeping it for me," the man continued, his voice low and inhumanly guttural.

Sakura stared into his cruel face, a spark of recognition throwing her mind into chaos.

"Oh my god..." she whispered taking a step backwards in fright.

"Sakura?" Meiling asked grabbing her, steadying her.

"It's Heilang."


In the strange lake and mountain realm of Yue, the moon angel, all three guardians suddenly snapped to attention.

"What the?" Kerberos growled, his hackles rising from the dark power humming through the air.

Yue closed his eyes and concentrated, skeins of silver light breaking free from his body. Suddenly his eyes snapped open.

"We need to go. Now," Yue growled.

'Why?" Ruby Moon asked curiously.

"He's back."

Ruby Moon and Kerberos stared at him.

"You mean?" Ruby Moon began turning pale.

Yue nodded sharply.

"Shit."

That didn't even begin to describe the situation.


"It's Heilang."

"Who?"

"What?"

"Huh?"

Tomoyo frowned, trying to remember where she had heard the name before. Then she remembered and several microseconds later she wished she hadn't.

"The guy that created the Void card?" she asked, her voice just a ghost of a whisper.

Sakura nodded weakly, fear shining in her eyes as she stared at Heilang who stood calmly before them a small sadistic smile on his face.

"Shit," Meiling murmured, stunned beyond words, "How?"

It was Heilang that answered.

"Don't you Angels..." he spat out the name, "Know? Life's one big cycle, those who die..."

"Are reborn," Nivaline finished faintly.

"Very good, Elder," Heilang leered at her, "So how was that coma? Relaxing?"

Nivaline remained silent choosing to eye the man carefully.

"Enough of the feeble chit-chat," Heilang continued ignoring their calculating eyes, "I've come here for the tri-sword. You either give it to me or I'll be wresting if from your cold mangled blood-drenched bodies."

A lethal silence fell over the group as Heilang continued to smirk at them, all around them innocent bystanders walked past scuttling towards their chosen destination blissfully unaware of the deadly danger that walked amongst them.

"What will it be?" Heilang asked after a short while of staring at each other.

"I think I speak for the whole group when I say..." Nivaline began defiantly, "Go to hell!"

Before the man could react Nivaline hurled a ball of fire at him. Screams could be heard as the passer-bys all around them ran away from the confrontation creating a rough ring between the two combatants. The Angels and Kiyone watched fearfully as Nivaline unleashed another fire attack at the man.

"You stupid witch!" Heilang howled over the roar of the flames.

With a casual swipe of his hands the magical fire died out, Nivaline backed away carefully fear entering her eyes.

"You think your pathetic dabbling can hurt me?" Heilang snarled, "FRIGERE!"

A blanket of liquid black fire jetted out from the man's outstretched hands lashed at Nivaline, the Elder hurriedly summoned a protective barrier that deflected the dark flames away.

"Ohh, I was hoping you would fight," Heilang snarled, "I've always wanted to try my power against the chosen three."

Tomoyo glared at him.

"Try this," she snapped.

She yanked her ring from around her finger and held it aloft, light refracting off its glassy surface.

"Source of light with ancient spin,
Send forth the magic power within,
Forces of darkness hear my plight

Mirror appear and send forth the light!"

Tomoyo concentrated as the gem began shining brilliantly.

"RELEASE!"

The mirror fell neatly into her hands and without further ado Tomoyo aimed it at Heilang and concentrated. A beam of pale energy gathered and shot forwards slamming into the man. With a blaze of bright light it sent him flying backwards. He crashed into a row of chairs landing in a shower of twisted plastic and metal.

A strange silence descended onto the room as the Angels stared at the wreckage waiting for the next attack.

They weren't disappointed.

His whole body covered with crackling black energy, Heilang rose from the wreckage his eyes now two soulless black discs. His feet dangled in the air as he levitated himself up until he towered over each of them.

"Ouch," he said calmly.

"Key of stars with powers burning bright! Reveal the staff and shine your light! Release!"

"Blade of Clow, power of magic, power of light! Surrender the sword, the force ignite! Release!"

Sakura and Meiling gripped their weapons and walked forwards flanking Tomoyo raising their two talismans until both of them were pointed at the floating Heilang who looked on disinterestedly.

"Oh goody," he smirked wickedly, "All the girls ready to play tea party... FRIGERE!"

Twin streams of black fire gushed at them flying forwards with the force of a shrieking tornado but the girls held firm.

"SHIELD CARD! PROTECT US! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" Sakura cried.

A dome of blue energy enveloped their group as the magic shot towards them. It collided with the barrier with the strength of a bomb; it hammered again and again at the shield as Sakura concentrated trying to force the dark fire away.

"WOOD CARD!" Meiling cried from within the dome, "BIND HEILANG! RELEASE AND DISPEL!"

The neatly tiled floor burst outwards as a veritable jungle of vines latched onto Heilang's arms and legs trying in vain to drag him down from the ground. In the precious seconds he was distracted, Sakura dissolved the shield and the girls scattered.

"MOVE CARD! GET THE CIVILIANS OUT OF HERE! RELEASE AND DISPEL!"

The innocent onlookers were swept away just in time as Heilang burnt the vines away from his body and steadied himself again in the air.

"Clow cards! To me!" Tomoyo cried.

In the secret place where the Angels had stashed away the three books, the book of Yue Gong Jian Shou snapped open, glowing rectangular objects burst free. They sailed through the air passing through solid objects like glowing spectres as they shot towards their destination: their mistress. Tomoyo reached outwards and smiled, the cards landing neatly in her hands. She looked down and summoned the first card she could see.

"FRIGERE!" Heilang barked trying to fry them again.

"ERASE CARD! STOP THE ATTACKS! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" Tomoyo cried.

She threw the card in front of her and raised the mirror; a beam of pale energy struck the card's surface and the Clow spirit trapped within sprung forwards. A strange looking jester fellow emerged, it stared calmly at the twin columns of flames that arrowed towards it with deadly force before majestically sweeping the cloak it wore over the attack. The magical fire simply disappeared as everybody stared at the seemingly harmless card in shock.

"Whoa," Kiyone whispered breaking the silence.

"Cute," Heilang snarled, "But it won't help you."
"I think this will," Meiling barked, "THUNDER CARD! FRY HIM! RELEASE AND DISPEL!"
A roaring beast burst free from the card and shot huge bolts of electricity at Heilang. The man calmly held out his hands and everybody stared as the electricity leapt straight into his palm raging against his skin but not burning him.

"Uh oh," Meiling whispered.

He balled his hand up into a fist and extinguished the raging electricity without blinking all the time smirking at them. A thin trail of white smoke drifted up from his unmarred skin as he held them up for the girls to see.

"Oops," he smirked, "Was I supposed to be afraid?"

"Who the hell are you?" Kiyone spat.

"I have many names," Heilang taunted, "In this lifetime I am known as Okami Noir."

"What? What bloody country is that from?" Kiyone demanded.

"French and Japanese," Sakura murmured still staring stunned at the floating man, "Okami is Japanese for wolf and Noir is French for black."

"As you can see it's very appropriate," Heilang/Okami sneered.

Tomoyo gasped loudly.

"Noir?" she seemed to be hyperventilating in her shock, "Noir?"

"What?" Meiling asked trying to calm her down, "Tomoyo what's wrong?"

"Noir…" Sakura's eyes widened, "That's…"

"That's the name of the CEO of Spinnel Corporation…" Tomoyo finished, "Lilia's boss."

"Lovely girl, Lilia," Heilang pulled a face, "Terrible loss but then again that's not entirely my fault."

"Shut. Up," Sakura barked.

"Ooo… scary," Heilang held out his hands, "But enough of this… are you ready to fight me?"

"Bring it on," Sakura snapped.

"Gladly."

Before anyone could even move, a howling blast of magical energy shot towards Sakura. Grimly, the American Angel held up her star wand and prepared to meet the attack head on.

It struck her with a massive explosion.

The others let out cries of shock and horror as their eyes strained to see past the swirl of smoke, dust and debris that whipped around the impact zone trying in vain to spot their companion.

When the dust finally settled, everyone even Heilang gasped in shock.

Without a word being spoken between them all three guardians spread their wings and prepared to take flight.

"What happens if they're already…" Ruby Moon trailed off not needing to finish off the sentence nor having any inclination to.

"Then the world is doomed," Yue said crisply.

"But they're not," Kerberos barked, "We can sense if they are. And if we don't get them quick they may well be."

All three guardians nodded and took flight. Flying faster than anything natural could achieve they shot off arrowing upwards towards the perpetual starry night sky of Yue's realm as they flew tendrils of light shimmered from their bodies: red, silver and gold. As they flew up further and further and further, the light wreathed their forms creating three glowing nimbuses that glowed like polished gems in the night sky before finally with the brilliance of an exploding supernova they vanished leaving not even a trace of light behind.

The tranquillity of the hill bordered lake was a far cry from the chaos that reigned in the real world.

Everyone gaped at the scene that lay before them, Sakura stood amidst a giant crater gouged into the airport floor her eyes a pure gold and the energy attack that Heilang had flung at her was swirling around her in a crazy tornado of colour.

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy kicking your ass," Sakura spat.

She pointed her wand at Heilang.

"Strike," she hissed.

The energy immediately reacted surging to the tip of her wand before exploding outwards crashing into Heilang like a rainbow tsunami. He fell to the ground, gasping in pain as crackling tendrils of energy wracked his body. He gave Sakura a venomous glare before slowly getting to his feet, the energy slowly dying away.

"Oooo… little bitch wants to play with the adults," Heilang snarled, "I can do that."

Suddenly his head snapped upwards as light wreathed his form forming a lustrous halo. The angelic image this presented was completely destroyed by the string of guttural words that burst from his twisted lips. Suddenly the light faded away as he lowered his head and grinned viciously at Sakura.

"Solidité," he hissed.

He exploded forwards a blur of black; Sakura could only blink stupidly at him as he seemingly appeared right in front of her face. With a wicked smirk, he punched her. It felt like getting hit by a truck. Sakura was sent flying through the air, only her impact with a nearby solid granite and concrete column broke her trajectory. Tomoyo, Meiling, Kiyone and Nivaline let out cries of horror as the column shattered dumping Sakura down onto the ground. She landed in a broken and twisted heap amongst the shattered stone and dusty debris.

"Sakura!" Tomoyo cried running to her friend.

She pressed a shaking hand to Sakura's neck and to her immense relief found a pulse, it was weak and fluttery but it was there. She glanced down at the rest of her friend's body and almost threw up seeing the odd angles of her arms and legs as well as the wet sound of her breathing that told Tomoyo that Sakura's ribs had probably been broken and her lungs had also been punctured by the devastating blow.

"She's alive," Tomoyo said shakily, "But just…"

"And soon she won't be at all," Heilang snarled, "Who's next?"

With a cry Kiyone leapt at him, she threw a wild left hook but Heilang calmly grabbed her arm.

"Hmmm… kitten's got claws," he taunted staring into Kiyone's shocked face.

With a casual flick of his wrist he tossed her into the air, he immediately launched into a powerful spin kick that connected with Kiyone's chest and sent her sailing through the air. She landed onto the ground skidding across the smooth surface of the ground before coming to a slamming halt at the foot of another column. She lay there, crumpled and broken.

"Two down," Heilang smirked, "Who's next?"

"Let me handle him," Meiling snapped, "Just make sure you don't get in my way."

"Oh goody," the dark mage sniggered, "Miss Little Likes-to-Fight, I'm going to enjoy pounding you into the ground."

Meiling ignored him.

"I know what you did," she challenged, "You cast a spell on yourself, to make yourself stronger…"

"Ding ding, give the girl a prize."

"But," Meiling smirked at him, "I can do exactly the same thing."

She held out her hands and two cards appeared in them. Calmly she held them up revealing their names to Heilang.

"Power and Fight card! Grant your strength unto me! Release and dispel!"

Pink and blue light blazed from the cards and seemed to seep into Meiling, when the light faded away the Asian Angel smirked and stomped towards Heilang. With each step she took, she stomped into the hard ground leaving behind a trail of mini-craters with each stamp. Tomoyo and Nivaline backed away hurriedly as Meiling confronted Heilang.

"Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" Meiling smiled casually into Heilang's face.

She threw a punch at him that struck him in the face, he was sent flying backwards crashing into a nearby wall. The hard concrete shattered beneath his body as he fell to the ground gasping in pain.

"Not me," Meiling snapped rushing at him.

Heilang rose to his feet and met her head-on, a punch sent Meiling spinning around but the Angel steadied herself blocking his next strike. Gracefully she went into a semi-cartwheel, using her right hand to support her weight as she bent at the waist bringing her left foot over her head and kicking Heilang in the face. She completed the flip kicking Heilang again with her other foot before landing nimbly and backhanding across the face. He was sent flying through the air landing non too gently as Meiling stalked towards him, eyes blazing with bloodlust.

"Looks like Little Red Riding Hood is going Mike Tyson on your sorry ass," Meiling spat.

She rushed at Okami Noir but was dumped onto her back as he caught her with a leg-sweep. Before the man could take advantage of her fall, she snapped a whip-kick at his knees forcing him away. She flipped back up to her feet and grabbed the man tossing him behind her. He skidded across the slippery floor struggling to gain control as Meiling looked on calmly.

"You gonna pay for that," Heilang snapped from his position on the ground having finally stopped skidding, "I'm going to crush you and your pathetic friends."

"Please," Meiling snorted, "You can barely stand."

Heilang smiled wickedly at her, he magically levitated himself back up into a standing position and raised his hands up like a professional boxer.

"Sorry, wrong, try again," he challenged.

"Gladly."

They flew at each other grappling for dominance, Meiling's head snapped back as Heilang head-butted her. Taking advantage of her pain, he fired a quick one-two jab each punch crashing into her face. Grimacing with pain, Meiling grabbed his arm and pushed him away before leaping into a jumping spin kick that caught him in the chest. Okami recovered quickly and shot his leg out kicking the Angel out of the air, quick-fire snap kicks to her knees, chest then face sent Meiling stumbling backwards. He leapt at her in a flurry of kicks and punches but Meiling blocked his blows before grabbing him by the back of his neck and throwing him across the airport again. He crashed into a column, the stone structure crumbling to dust after the blow of the impact, Meiling charged at him swinging all the way. Heilang ducked, Meiling punching out a section of the already badly damaged column with her bare fist. She swung again but missed completely destroying the column this time, Heilang hit her with left hook then a right before grabbing her shoulder and began repeatedly rabbit-punching her in the face.

"Guess I'm the one that's pulling the Mike Tyson, huh?" Heilang drawled between blows.

Meiling laughed right in his face, her face not even bruised by his blows.

"Haven't you heard of the saying? Behind every great man," she calmly reached out and grabbed his fist, "There's a better woman behind him!"

She twisted Heilang's arm behind his back painfully before backhanding him. He sailed through the air crashing through the glass front of a nearby airport shop.

"Give up?"

"Not even close," Heilang spat getting up slowly, "FLY!"

The shards of glass that littered the ground around him rose up into the air and spun around until every sharp jagged edge was pointed at her. They inched back as though they were being loaded up into invisible slingshots before flying forwards, Meiling laughed and charged straight at the barrage of glassy missiles. She ploughed through the glittering daggers, her clothes getting torn in the process but she remained unharmed. Heilang waited for her as she charged straight at him at the last possible moment he nimbly sidestepped her, Meiling crashed through the broken shopfront and into the store as Heilang held up his hands and grinned viciously at her.

"FRIGERE!"

Twin streams of roaring black flames lashed the store, they tore through the walls and ceiling as the whole structure began shaking dangerously. Meiling looked up in shock, chunks of broken plaster and concrete beginning to rain down from the roof. With one last powerful blast, the whole shop gave way crashing down onto the hapless Angel. Heilang turned away from the deluge and smirked at Tomoyo and Nivaline.

"And I believe that makes three."

He took a dangerous step towards the remaining duo but before he could take another step further, the mountain of rubble behind him suddenly geysered upwards. Meiling stood amongst the debris like a wrathful goddess her ruby eyes blazing but rather then being shocked, Heilang merely turned around and smiled at her.

"But before I deal with you two," he tossed casually over his shoulder.

Meiling threw a punch at him but Heilang grabbed her wrist and dragged her towards him.

"I need a little pick me up."

He slapped his hand across Meiling's chest and began chanting, Meiling screamed in pain as tendrils of ruby energy began appeared all over her skin. Heilang opened his mouth and roared and every drop of energy that writhed over Meiling's skin flew into his mouth. He seemed to swallow it all and blinked once, closing his mouth and dropping Meiling down at the same time. The Angel fell to her knees, her eyes unfocused, her mouth closing and opening before she swayed before falling face first onto the ground. Heilang laughed, his voice rippling with power before turning around and glaring at Tomoyo and Nivaline, his eyes were now a bright ruby, the same colour as Meiling's.

Tomoyo and Nivaline gaped at him.

"Now we're ready to party."


Fujitaka awoke with a start and looked around his surroundings, sleep confusing his senses for a little while before he realised where he was. A safehouse in only God and Syaoran knew where. He frowned wondering what had jolted him awake, a nameless fear burnt in his chest as he gasped loudly knowing with horrible accuracy that something terrible had happened.

"Sakura…"


Marcus blinked and seemed to momentarily forget what he was doing. Stupidly he stared at the key in his hands and wondered wildly what he was supposed to be doing right now.

"Daddy?" Lily's voice from what seemed a far off distance brought him back to reality.

Marcus shook himself and looked up staring at the cosy suburban house that stood before him. Meiling's house… just before she had left she had given him the keys to it, shyly suggesting they get out of Tomoyo's way and move into her home. The man smiled softly remembering that special moment.

"Daddy?" Lily repeated concerned, louder this time.

"Sorry," Marcus said distractedly, frowning wondering what had unsettled him so just a few moments ago.

Then a terrible revelation came, he had only felt that way just once before… when his wife had been brutally murdered by Malus Harrason's crony and suddenly he was very, very afraid.

"Meiling."


"Stand behind me," Nivaline gritted preparing to attack Heilang.

"But…" Tomoyo began.

"Do. It," Nivaline snapped.

"Please, attack me," Heilang sniggered smugly, "Give it your best shot Sabrina."

"DIAN!"

A bolt of lightning flew from the Elder's hand but Heilang merely gestured at the attack and it faded

"Nice try," he spat.

He held out his hand and clenched it into a fist glaring at Nivaline. The woman's eyes widened as she felt to her knees, coughing and choking violently. Her hands flew to her throat trying to pry away invisible fingers as Heilang continued his assault.

"Take this," he whispered.

He swiped the air with his hand and invisible claws seemed to slashed Nivaline's chest tearing three red bleeding lines. He did it again and another three lines appeared. With a triumphant howl of laughter, Heilang held out his arm and pointed at the choking woman. He clenched his hand into a fist and Nivaline let out a terrifying scream of pain, she clutched her bleeding chest gasping for breath as her whole body trembled violently. Finally she could stand no more, her eyes rolling into her head and she collapsed forwards her body gently twitching.

"And then there was one," Heilang whispered staring into Tomoyo's eyes.

Tomoyo glared at him and fired an energy beam at the man. Heilang laughed and a dome of black energy surrounded him, Tomoyo jumped in surprise as her attack hit the dome and bounced off transforming a tongue of black flame. She had to jump to the side to avoid the incoming inferno, once the danger passed she rolled to her feet.

This time she didn't even try to fire another beam at him.

"ILLUSION CARD! BIND AND CONFUSE HIM! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" she cried flinging the card outwards.

She summoned the Clow card as a hazy white smoke emerged from the mystical object. It immediately drifted towards Heilang twisting into something only the man could see but the dark mage merely sniggered and waved his hand dissolving the spirit.

"That's the best you can do?" Heilang barked, "Please, give me a challenge!"
Tomoyo gritted her teeth and summoned two other cards.

"SHADOW CARD! DARK CARD! ATTACK HIM! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" Tomoyo screamed.

An imposing woman dressed in black and wearing a glittering crown emerged, a cloaked and hooded figure appeared beside her. Both of them surged towards Heilang, syrupy shadow tentacles and crackling dark energy rearing up to strike him.

"Those?" Heilang laughed, "Their powers are grounded in darkness, like mine… that means I can control them like the mere puppets they are! HALT!"
To Tomoyo's horror, both cards immediately froze bound by Heilang's powerful magic.

"ATTACK HER!" Heilang roared victoriously.

As the duel dark attacks raced at her, Tomoyo hurriedly summoned another card to stop them.

"TIME CARD! FREEZE THEM! RELEASE AND DISPEL!" she cried.

A wave of bright yellow and green energy blazed from the mirror and swept over the two rogue cards. They immediately froze in place allowing Tomoyo precious seconds of rest however Heilang didn't allow her even this meagre respite.

"I tire of this mismatched duel," Heilang sighed, "Time to finish this once and for all!"

He raised his hand and two swords fell into them.

"What the?" Tomoyo whispered.

"These two are two of the three pieces of the tri-sword," Heilang smirked, "This…"

He held one up.

"Is the sword of Shui and the other the sword of Feng," the dark mage held them aloft, "I need the sword of Tu but these swords on their own…"

He raised them over his head and tossing Tomoyo a final smirk brought them down smashing the tips into the ground. Immediately springing up from the impact site, a roaring tempest of wind and water rose.

"Do a hell of a lot of damage on their own," Heilang finished.

Before Tomoyo could react, the tempest lunged at her. It sucked her up into its watery embrace and tossed her around savagely smashing her against floor, wall and ceiling. Tomoyo screamed in pain only to suck in a burning lungful of stinging rain. Heilang laughed and gestured at the storm with his hand, an invisible force shoved Tomoyo free from the storm and sent her sailing through the air. She crashed into a wall, the back of her head hitting the concrete with enough force to send a dull roar through her skull as she crumpled to the ground. Through quickly blackening vision she could just make out the blurry shape of Heilang howling in delight.

"And now there is nothing standing in my way," the man crowed.

He turned to Meiling and everything seemed to move in slow motion.

"To me!" he cried.

A small object, which could only be the concealed form of the third piece of the tri-sword, the sword of Tu floated to him. Tomoyo struggled to get up but it was hopeless.

Heilang turned to her.

"And now to finish the job," he whispered venomously pointing at her.

Three points of light blazed through the airport as Heilang whirled around in shock. A burst of ruby crystal, a silver arrow and jet of flames caused the man to back-pedal away hurriedly.

"Damn you guardians!" Heilang hissed, "You can't protect them forever."

"But we're here now," Yue said coldly.

Heilang smiled at them coldly.

"Soon it'll be too late," he whispered, "The end is coming, I will summon the Void and then she's…"

He smiled mirthlessly, his grin filled with predatory glee and venom.

"She's going to swallow all of you whole."

With a final burst of laughter, he disappeared in a flurry of wind and dark smoke. Tomoyo could make out the shape of Yue slowly walked towards her.

"Fox, are you okay?"

"We're going to lose," she whispered brokenly.

Then she knew no more.


Flashback

Location: Los Angeles

Year: 2002

Time: 9:01 PM

It had been a crazy and hard mission but somehow, miraculously they had managed to pull it off… just.

"Let's never, ever do that again," Sakura moaned from her position on Tomoyo's couch.

The American Angel was sprawled over the cream coloured fabric, staring blearily up at the ceiling filling every new bruise on her body throbbing. Meiling who was comfortably curled up on one of Tomoyo's other couches agreed readily.

"How many people did we have to fight through the in the end?" she asked stifling a yawn.

"Too many," Sakura groaned.

"Oh calm down," Tomoyo smirked, "It wasn't that bad."

"Says the girl who was sitting in a van with a laptop hacking the system and not fighting," Meiling muttered.

Tomoyo rolled her eyes and walked over to her stereo system. Seeing one of her new CDs lying nearby, she picked it up.

"Hey guys, I just got this," she said holding it up, "You wanna listen to it?"

"Why not?" Meiling shrugged.

Tomoyo slipped the CD into the stereo and chose a track. Soon soft music drifted through the air charming the three Angels with its flowing melody, Tomoyo took a seat on another couch as all three of them listened intently.

"This is nice," Sakura whispered softly, "Who's the singer?"

"Can't remember," Tomoyo frowned too tired to even walk the few metres to where the CD case was lying, "Some Australian girl."

And then the singer began singing.

'Are you swimming upstream in oceans of blue?

Do you feel like your sinking?

Are you sick of the rain after all you've been through?

Well I know what you're thinking

When you can't take it

You can make it

Sometime soon I know you'll see…'

End of Flashback


Sakura opened her eyes and moaned feeling the state of her battered body, struggling to sit up she gazed around stupidly.

"What happened?" she moaned looked around for a familiar face.

"We got our collective butts kicked by Heilang," a soft voice said glumly.

Sakura frowned in confusion and it took her a while to locate where the voice as coming from. Meiling was standing nearby leaning against a wall as she stared down at her friend who was lying on a soft bed.

"What happened?"

"Heilang thrashed all of us," Tomoyo appeared in her line of vision, "If it wasn't for the guardians coming and chasing him off we would've been killed."

"And if they hadn't tapped into the healing power of the key we would've died from our injuries," Meiling whispered, "Even with that, they had to spread the power quite thinly between us my body's still hurting like hell."

"Where are we?"

"Tomoyo's house."

A uncomfortable silence filled the room and Sakura had the sickening revelation that something else had happened. She glanced wildly between her friends but it was Tomoyo who finally dropped the bombshell.

"He took the final piece of the tri-sword… now he was everything need to resurrect the Void," she said softly.

"What?" Sakura looked at Meiling.

The Angel nodded sadly.

"What are we going to do?" Sakura demanded, "Do we even know where this resurrection is going to take place?"

"The guardians said there are several places that can be used and they wouldn't know which one until the ritual for the resurrection actually starts," Meiling sighed, "They say they can teleport us there once we know and we'll have to try to stop the ritual then."

"How much time do we have until then?"

"About 24 hours."

"So what do we do?"

"The guardians," Tomoyo stopped, "The guardians told us to say goodbye to our families."


Tomoyo wandered around her house, feeling alone and isolated but she knew that the others had to leave to deal with the news in their own way. She smiles sadly and wondered if it would be a good thing if somehow Heilang resurrected the Void and that they stopped him and sealed the card. And then if the curse did take place at least Eriol would…

She stopped and chased any thoughts of the blue-haired man from her head. Now was not the time to think of him or his… betrayal. Holding back tears, she wandered aimlessly into her living room and turned on the stereo. Immediately a song began playing softly disturbing the still silent air that clung around her like a depressing cloak.

'Cause when you're in your darkest hour…'

Tomoyo smiled as she picked up a golden photo frame, slipped inside was a picture of the three Angels beaming at the camera in untainted joy. Tomoyo sighed sadly.

"Too bad there's not going to be any more of these."


'And all of the light just fades away…'

Meiling smiled softy as she opened her door and noticed Marcus who was sitting inside the living room, watching some kind of cartoon with his daughter perched securely on his lap.

"I'll be with you soon, I just need to make a call," she called.

She walked over to a cordless phone that was sitting on a small table in the hallway and picked it up. She stared at it, wondering if she should do it.

Taking a deep breath she began punching in a series of numbers. She waited patiently as it began ringing and then for someone to pick up, when someone finally did. Meiling took another breath to steady her nerves before opening her mouth.

"Hello?"


'When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of grey…'

Sakura stood inside her impartment biting her lip wondering what to do next. Her face hardened as she finally made up her mind.

"Key of stars with powers burning bright! Reveal the staff and shine your light! Release!" Sakura cried.

The star wand fell into her hands as Sakura immediately drew a card from seemingly nowhere and threw it casually onto the ground.

"Move card! Take me to my father! Release and dispel!"

She disappeared in a flash of white.


Flashback

Location: Los Angeles

Year: 2002

Time: 9:03 PM

'Be strong…'

"That's a lovely song," Sakura smiled gently.

"Shh… that was only the first verse!" Tomoyo warned.

"I like the lyrics," Meiling mused, "Be strong. That's what we'll always be right? Strong."

Sakura and Tomoyo nodded.

"Damn right."

"Strong like an Amazon."

Meiling laughed.

"You took that off an episode of Buffy!" she accused, half-snorting.

Sakura shrugged sending her a wicked grin.

"Hey, the second verse is starting!"

End of Flashback


'Where taking each step one day at a time…'

Meiling heard a loud gasp on the other end.

'Meiling?'

"Yeah it's me," Meiling sighed.

'Why are you calling me?'

"Look, I know we haven't talked since…" Meiling shrugged delicately, "Since the incident…"

'Yeah, the incident,' the other voice said dryly.

"Anyway I'm just calling to say you know… even though we can probably star on the Jerry Springer episode of 'Dysfunctional families who hate each other's guts'… I just want you to know… well…" Meiling took a deep breath, "I still love you and mom and dad and etc., etc., etc."

'Are you on drugs?' the other voice said suspiciously.

"Sis, bite me," Meiling drawled.

'Is something wrong?' Meiling's sister asked, genuinely concerned, 'You're not pulling a chick-flick terminal illness on us are you?'

"No, I was just thinking," Meiling sighed, "I just wanted you guys to know… if you don't believe me well… at least I tried."

With that she hung up and carefully put the phone back into its cradle. She stared at it for a very long time, biting her lips, a small frown adoring her face until a sudden burst of loud music from the living room drew her attention back to the two of the most important people in her life… people she may soon lose.

'You can't loose your spirit…'

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm herself down, Meiling turned around and walked into the living room.

"Hey! Who wants pizza?"


Fujitaka jumped as his daughter seemed to miraculously just appear right in front of him.

"Sakura!" Fujitaka let out a huge sigh of relief as he realised that his only daughter was fine, "I'm so glad to see you."

'Let live and let live forget and forgive'

"Dad," Sakura let herself be swept up in his hug as she tried to blink back tears.

This maybe the last time they would ever be like this together…

"Dad," Sakura repeated again, strong his time.

She took a step backwards and stared into her father's eyes.

"I want to know," she said gently, "About my mother…"

'It's all how you see it'

"And my brother…"


Tomoyo put the photo down and looked around calmly, making up her mind. She would do it.

Carefully she wrested the ring away from her finger and held it up.

"Source of light with ancient spin, send forth the magic power within! Forces of darkness hear my plight! Mirror appear and send forth the light!" she cried, "Release!"

The mirror appeared into her hands as Tomoyo stared into its smooth surface, pondering once again. She took a deep breath, dove down into herself and summoned the courage. Opening her eyes, she plucked a card seemingly from air.

'And just remember keep it together'

"Dark card! Come to be release and dispel!" she cried.

A dark imposing queen crowned with a glittering tiara rose from the card and bowed before her.

"I am sorry about the incident in the airport," the spirit said almost apologetically, "His powers were too strong to resist."

"It doesn't matter," Tomoyo took a deep breath, "I'm wondering…"

And at that point Tomoyo almost lost her courage but she steeled herself knowing that this must be done.

'Don't you know you're never alone'

"Can you show me… show me what happened to Clow Reed after the curse took place."


"Why do you want to know?" Fujitaka asked gently, still trying to recover from his shock.

"This maybe my last chance," Sakura whispered seeing her father's confused look, she shrugged, "It's just… on the mountains…"

Fujitaka frowned again.

"Oh right! You don't know…" Sakura sighed, "Long story… but anyway when I was up there someone told me something."

"What?"

"That I hurt everyone I love… you… mom… Chelsea…"

"Chelsea?" Fujitaka felt like he really was out of the loop.

"She's dead," Sakura said numbly.

"Oh god…"

Sakura pressed on.

"My brother… Zachary… Xiaolang."

Her father didn't miss the addition of Xiaolang in the list of people she loved and he couldn't help but hide a small smile. Sakura looked up at him despairingly.

"Do I hurt those I love?" she said unhappily, "Is there something about me?"
"Sakura, you had nothing to do with your mother's death," Fujitaka told her gently.

"But my brother? Touya's?"

Her father fell silent and Sakura smiled with a sort of sad triumph.

"See?"

"What happened was nobody's fault."

'Was it?" Sakura demanded, "If I hadn't ran off to look at something and if I hadn't ran into those men and then none of it would've happened…"

Sakura trailed off.

"And Touya would still be alive."

"It was an accident… a mistake… everyone makes those," Fujitaka began.

"But dad," Sakura sighed, "My mistakes? They kill people. There must be something wrong with me… something inside me that keeps hurting the people around me… I'm afraid of myself and of what's to come."

"If Touya and your mother was still alive they would've smacked some sense into you by now," Fujitaka said with a small smile, "Cherry blossom, you're being silly."

Sakura looked up at her dad, surprised.

"Bad things happen because they happen… not just because you were around or something stupid like that. It's chance."

"With what I've seen… I don't think I believe that anymore."

"You know what I believe in?" Fujitaka asked suddenly.

Sakura looked at him.

"What?"

"You."


The Dark card stared at her, obviously bewildered.

"Are you…" the card paused, an elegant look of worry appearing on her pale ivory face, "Sure?"

"Damn sure," Tomoyo said strongly.

"Well, I must warn you this ain't for kids. It's rated M for Mature Audiences and contains the angst from an entire season of the O.C…."

Tomoyo stared at the card strangely wondering where the heck an ancient magical card would learn about a hip teen T.V. show.

"I talk to Ruby Moon constantly," the Dark card said offhandedly.

"Right," Tomoyo muttered, "I need to know."

"It's disturbing…"

"Just do it," Tomoyo snapped.

"Nike, copyright infringement," the Dark card noted before sighing, "If you are sure… summon the Return card and get him to use the mirror as a focus…"

Tomoyo quickly found the card she needed.

"Return card! Focus your magic through the mirror! Release and dispel!" Tomoyo cried.

The mirror's surface glowed a brilliant yellow-green before the light faded away. Tomoyo studied the glass and noticed with some disappointment that it still looked the same and nothing was happening. Wondering if the Dark card was up to something, Tomoyo glanced up at it. The card was shaking her head.

"That's not enough," she informed her mistress, "Honestly."

She glided forwards and placed an immaculately manicured hand onto the glass surface.

"Show us what we wish to see," she commanded.

The mirror's surface rippled and began glowing brilliantly as Tomoyo peered at it trying to pierce the light and see what was underneath. As though it had heard her silent wish, the glowing died down and an image floated to the surface of glass.

Tomoyo gasped as she saw a haggard and tired face staring up at her.

"Is that?"

"Clow Reed?" the Dark card said, "It is."

Tomoyo continued to stare at the mirror as Clow Reed's life after the Void card unravelled before her very eyes.


"So what's on the menu today?" Marcus asked casually as Meiling hung up the phone again after making a call to the pizza shop.

She gave him a cheeky smile before flopping down onto the sofa beside him.

"It's a surprise," she chirped winking at him.

Marcus shot her a curious look before sliding an arm around her, Meiling nuzzled into him smiling contentedly before switching her attention to Lily who was transfixed to the T.V.

"What's she watching?" Meiling asked frowning slightly.

"Bambi."

Meiling whirled around and stared at him.

"Bambi?" she demanded.

Marcus, a bit mystified with her response, nodded slowly.

"Have you seen it before?" Meiling shot at him.

Still utterly confused, Marcus shook his head again.

"How far?"

"Wha?"

"How far has she seen it to?"

Marcus shrugged and gestured at the T.V. screen.

"That far, I guess," Marcus said casually, "She's never seen it be…"

He was cut off abruptly as Meiling sailed across the room hitting the off switch on the T.V. in one fluid movement. Marcus and Lily stared at her as Meiling hit the stop button on the V.C.R stopping the movie.

"Mommy?" Lily was a bit shock but mainly curious.

"Lily, go into the kitchen I think there's some cookies in a jar there," Meiling said calmly as though she hadn't just assaulted the T.V.

Easily distracted by the thought of cookies, Lily jumped up excitedly and ran into the kitchen soon both adults hear the sounds of rummaging. Marcus continued to stare at Meiling.

"Care to explain?" he asked.

Meiling shot him a dirty look before stalking towards him.

"You've. Never. Seen. Bambi. Before?" she snarled, each word containing a world of threat and eternal pain in them.

"Huh?" Marcus was now beyond confused.

Meiling sighed, her anger seemingly magically disappearing.

"Men," she sighed rolling her eyes.

She whirled around and turned on the T.V. and V.C.R. again, grabbing the remote for both of the machines she sat down next to Marcus and shot a look at him that clearly said 'shut up and learn'. With that she fiddled with the remotes until she muted the T.V. and began fast forwarding the movie just as she got up to a certain section she stopped and played it normally.

Marcus watched and instantly realised what had got Meiling so upset, he cringed as he saw the death scene and was smart enough to realise that if Lily had seen it she would be crying for hours.

"How was I supposed to know?" he asked pleadingly shooting Meiling puppy dog looks.

This time Meiling was not folding.

"Idiot," she sighed throwing both remotes at him and walking off the kitchen.

The last thing Marcus heard before the kitchen door closed was Meiling's voice.

"Lily, always remember this… men are dummies."

And then the door closed.


Sakura stared at her father.

"Was that a spontaneous burst of fatherly affection or some weird quote from lame-ass movie-of-the-week?"

Her father laughed and shook his head.

"I'm being honest."

"Huh?"

"Sakura, you're my daughter. To me you're perfect and I'll always love you…" Fujitaka stopped as his daughter flinched, "Cherry Blossom?"

"Perhaps your love isn't as permanent as you think," Sakura said ominously.

Her father was perplexed.

"Run that by me again?"

Sakura shrugged nervously.

"Okay, highly hypothetical question…" she began, Fujitaka continued to stare at her, "Hypothetical, theoretical, will never happen in a million years question."

She took a deep breath.

"If you got amnesia and forgot about me…" Sakura paused unsure how to phrase what she wanted to say, "Would you… would a part of you still… recognise me? Would a part of you still love me?"

Fujitaka stared at her.

"Are you on something?"

"What?" Sakura yelped.

She glared at her father.

"Dad!"

Fujitaka laughed.

"Sorry, sorry," he forced himself to be serious, "Even if I forgot about you through… 'amnesia'…"

He shot his daughter a strange look, which Sakura pointedly ignored.

"A part of me will always love you no matter what happens," he studied Sakura's face carefully, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Sakura gave a small nervous laugh before shrugging.

"You know… just a silly little question…" she trailed off fidgeting nervously.

They stood looking at each other awkwardly, a nervous silence filling the room, Sakura continued to fidget until she looked down at her watch and freaked.

"Oh god!" she cried, "Jeez!"

"What?" Fujitaka asked worriedly.

"I'm late," Sakura was beginning to panic.

After knowing she had only twenty-four hours left, Sakura had made a list of what she wanted to do before the final battle with the Void card. Seeing her father had been on top of that list but there were other things she really needed to do as well.

"Sorry dad about this but I really need to go," Sakura sighed, "I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry," Fujitaka smiled, "Just visit again sometime soon okay?"

Sakura nodded.

"Don't worry dad, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to leave soon. After we deal with the guys behind your kidnapping," Sakura moved forwards and grabbed her father into a hug, "I love you dad."

"Love you too, honey," Fujitaka whispered holding her tight.

Sakura gently untangled herself from the hug and shot her dad one last smile, trying to ignore the little voice in her heart that told her this might be the last time she would ever see her father like this. Trying to blink back tears, Sakura held up her wand and summoned the Clow cards.

"Move card! Take me to where I want to go!" she cried, "Release and dispel!"

As light claimed her body and her surroundings blurred and swirled in a crazy kaleidoscope of colour and movement, she could just make out her father's voice.

"Your mother and brother would be proud of you."

And then she was gone.


Tomoyo looked down into the mirror and the glass blazed. She looked around nervously as her surroundings begin to fade; walls and ceilings disappeared as a new world formed around her.

"Where am I?" she whispered staring around.

A dark sky and a landscape scattered with burnt skeletons of buildings was the backdrop to this new scene. Tomoyo stared around and realised she could see people off in the distance, shuffling away from this horrific graveyard-like scene. They seemed hunched as though burdened, their faces turned down against the harsh wind that slapped them over and over again.

"Where am I?" Tomoyo asked again.

Suddenly the Dark card appeared beside her.

"This is ancient China and this used to be the city of Anyang," the card explained, "This was the final battlefield between Clow Reed and the Void card."

"What happened?" Tomoyo asked horrified at the extent of the destruction.

"Clow Reed won and the curse struck him," the Dark card gently touched her shoulders, "There. See?"

Tomoyo turned around slowly and gasped seeing a dishevelled man dressed in rags stumbling towards her.

"That's Clow Reed."

"Yes, oh how the might has fallen," the Dark seemed greatly saddened, "What you are seeing are the final hours of Clow Reed."

"Final hou…" Tomoyo was interrupted as the man fell to his knees.

She raced over to help him but as she knelt down to pick him up, her hands just slid through his body as though she was nothing but a mirage.

"What…"

"You're an observer," the card explained, "Watch. Listen. Learn."

Clow Reed looked up and Tomoyo fell into the dark deep wells of his eyes, twin pool of despair and suffering. She seemed to be falling into them seeing the story of his life through the dull irises. A happy childhood, an adulthood filled with questing and searching, the construction of the Clow cards and the final fight with the Void card.

She caught small snippets as it fast-forwarded before her mind's eyes; she gasped as she saw him launch the final attack: an arrow laced with light. It was exactly as Sakura had described it. The arrow slammed into the Void, light scything through darkness. She saw Clow Reed sealed the malevolent spirit into a card, trapping it and then…

A backlash of black energy that struck Clow Reed in the chest and she could feel it to the depths of her soul. Something evil and dark, poison and shadow, had leapt from the dark bolt into Clow Reed's body before rippling out in all directions changing and destroying the very fabrics of existence in its deadly wake.

"The curse," Tomoyo whispered knowing what this dark energy was.

And then the after effects: Clow Reed stumbling back to civilisation only to be cursed and stoned instead of being heralded as a hero. Strangers and friends alike staring at him with distrust, mocking him openly beating him down. On and on the images flowed but those weren't the worst, it was the emotions that came with it. A sea of despair, suffering, angst, anguish and even feelings that Tomoyo could not put a word to, they crashed after her in terrible waves dashing her spirit against unforgivable rocks. They choked her, drowning her, killing her slowly… tears bled from her eyes as she stumbled and fell…

And fell…

And fell…

And fell…

And blinked.

She blinked and it ended.

Choking back tears, she stumbled backwards horrified at the emotions that ran through this ruin of a man.

"What the hell?" her voice was a ghastly rasp, her breath laboured and gasping as though she had just run a thousand miles and back.

"That's what the curse does to you," the Dark cards said gravely beside her.

Tomoyo stared up into the spirit's face and couldn't help but shudder. The emotions that had just choked her a few seconds ago were still burnt into her heart and mind, she wondered if she could live like that day in, day out. If she could go on…

Her thoughts were cut off as Clow Reed got up slowly, his ragged clothes shifting tears and holes in them revealing bruises and cuts. Tomoyo watched as he stood up, the despair on his face melting away to determination.

"What's he doing?" Tomoyo whispered backing away slowly as the tall mage pulled himself up to his full commanding height.

"Ending it."

"What?"

The Dark merely raised an elegant eyebrow as Tomoyo whipped around, disbelieving eyes taking in the scene before her. Clow Reed raised his hand and whispered something and three glowing balls of light shimmered in front of him. They segued and changed until three familiar figures formed. The three guardians bowed to their master as Clow Reed began speaking.

Even though it was in a language that Tomoyo couldn't hope to understand, it was as though someone else was in her head translating it to her.

"You must protect the books," Clow Reed was instructing his guardians carefully, "Protect them and wait for the chosen three, the angels to appear. Do what I have bid for you to do, test them. But if they are the true ones and protect them with your very lives if need be because this world depends on them and what they will eventually do. They are only hope in the darkness that will come."

"But…" Yue began.

Clow Reed cut him off.

"Go! Remember my words! Remember your duties!"

Shuffling uncomfortably at their master's bleak words, the three guardians disappeared in separate blazes of light leaving the mage alone. Clow Reed looked around, a sad smile dancing across his face. He held up his hands and whispered something. The sky above roared.

Tomoyo looked up as the clouds turned ebony black. Lightning, skeletal golden fingers strummed the chords of the sky, each note a chaotic roar.

"What?" Tomoyo jumped as a huge bolt of lightning ripped across the sky.

Its jagged tip lanced forwards aiming straight for Clow Reed as the mage stood calmly amidst the ruin waiting for the lightning missile to strike him and turn him to mere ashes.

"NOOOOOO!" Tomoyo screamed, "NOOOOO! END THIS!"

The Dark card nodded and Tomoyo was jerked back into the real world. Her senses were confused, clamouring a thousand things at her as the mirror fell from her numbed fingers. She collapsed to the ground, shuddering non-stop sickened to her very soul.

"Mistress…" the Dark card began.

"Go," Tomoyo whispered to the Dark card, "Go. Please."

The spirit looked trouble but had no choice but to obey. Disappearing back into her cards, Tomoyo was left alone. The Japanese Angel was shell-shocked unable to deal with what she had just seen.

Curling up into a shivering ball, Tomoyo hugged her knees and did the only thing she could.

She broke down and cried. Broken sobs wracked her body as she mourned the death of a man who had died a thousand years ago.


Sakura looked around her surroundings, her mind soaring back to the last time she had been here. Awaking from her coma and stumbling out of the hospital, still disorientated and confused… and now she was back, her emotions just as confused as before.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura walked into the hospital and joined the queue that stretched back from the front desk, tapping her feet impatiently. As the line slowly whittled down, Sakura finally made it to her destination.

"I'm here to visit a friend," she began smiling softly.

"Name?" the nurse at the desk asked calmly.

"Yamazaki. Zachary Yamazaki," Sakura said slowly.

"Oh," the nurse pursed her lips as a hooded look appeared in her eyes, "Just a minute."

She picked up a phone that lay beside her and punched in some numbers; shooting Sakura an apologetic look she waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello? Dr. Bruck?" the nurse asked, "There's a young woman here to see Mr. Yamazaki. Hmmm… yes?"

She paused as she listened to what the other person had to say.

"Okay. Right. Yeah, I'll send her there," the nurse hung up and turned to Sakura, "Yes, you can go see him but there's some complications…"

"Complications?" Sakura asked concerned.

"Oh just like things," the nurse waved her hands to emphasis her point, "Please, his staying in ward B3. That's down the hall and turn right…"

Sakura thanked her and walked away in the direction that had been indicated. Passing by ward B2, Sakura knew she was close but she stopped as she saw a petite woman with distinct violet hair standing in front of the door to ward B3. Hurrying her steps, she walked over the to the woman as she, obviously a doctor, finally noticed her.

"Are you here to see Zachary Yamazaki?" the doctor asked directly.

Sakura nodded slowly, wondering what was going on.

"Yes," she said slowly.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Helen Bruck," the woman held out her hand and Sakura shook it slowly.

"Is there a problem?"

"Not really," Helen sighed, "It's just that there seems to be quite a few mysteries about Mr. Yamazaki. The nature of his accident, the death of his wife…"

Sakura blinked back tears at the thought of Chelsea's death but managed to reign in her emotions constructing a mask of neutral blandness that she had perfected over the years. Keeping aloof under her mask, Sakura managed to endure what else the doctor had to say.

"And then there was the fire in one of our supply rooms the night one of Yamazaki's friends came to visit him…" Helen trailed off, "You can see our concern."

Sakura shrugged.

"Sorry, I really don't know anything about those. All I know is that one of my friends is dead and another is in hospital. I have to see him now," Sakura said calmly.

Helen stared at her as Sakura stared back, cocking an eyebrow.

"The police have some questions for you," the woman finally said.

Sakura's eyes glimmered, summoning the familiar powers of the key; her emerald eyes began to turn gold as they bore into Helen's.

"You will let me through and leave us alone until I leave," she said calmly, "Okay?"

The doctor's eyes had turned dull but she nodded and walked away as Sakura stared after her. Gathering up her nerves, Sakura walked into the ward and instantly spotted her friend sitting up in bed.

"Hello, Zachary."


Munching on her pizza, Meiling caught Marcus looking at her and smirked at him, still pretending to be angry with him over the Bambi thing even though she was mostly amused rather then angry. Marcus, finally catching onto her game, pretended to be hurt and looked away.

Lily who was siting between them ignored their little game, deciding that adults were weird and that T.V. was so much more interesting.

Marcus grabbed the last slice of pizza shooting Meiling a teasing look as she had been reaching for it. Pretending to be even more angry at his actions, she tossed him an annoyed look and got up stalking out of the room throwing a wink over her shoulder to show him she wasn't serious as she headed towards the bathroom to get cleaned up. Locking the door behind her, Meiling walked over to the washbasin turning the tap on as she began to wash her tomato sauce-stained fingers. Drying her fingers, she looked up at the mirror that hung above the washbasin to check her appearance that was when she noticed there was someone else in the room beside her.

Whirling around, Meiling stared at the tiny girl that sat the edge of the bathtub on the other side of the room. The little girl smiled back at her and began swing her legs playfully.

"Hello older-me," the girl chirped.

Meiling stared at her, realising who this strange girl looked like. It was her… at six years old.

"What the?"


Zachary looked up and Sakura shivered at the dead look in his eyes.

"Sakura," a small smile appeared over his face but it quickly disappeared.

The Angel hurriedly walked over to his beside and sat down on a nearby chair.

"How are you?" she began.

She stopped.

"Stupid question, sorry," she tried to smile but couldn't, "How are you holding up?"

Zachary shrugged, his face pale and withdrawn.

"Some days are better than others. Today is okay… I guess…"

They sat in an uncomfortable silence.

"I'm so sorry," Sakura began tears quavering her face.

Zachary's head snapped around to stare at her.

"For what?" he asked, frowning in confusion.

"Chelsea…"

"It wasn't your fault," Zachary said firmly, "It was mine."

It was Sakura's turn to stare at him.

"What?" she yelped, "I'm the one…"

But her friend cut her off.

"If I didn't work for Spinnel Corporation…" Zachary trailed off.

Sakura stared at her friend as an epiphany came to her.

"It's neither of ours faults," she said finally.

Zachary stared at her.

"It's Spinnel Corporation's and that blasted Okami Noir," Sakura growled.

Her friend continued to stare at her as the saddened Sakura became something akin to an emerald-eyed demon hungry for revenge.

"Zachary," Sakura looked at her friend calmly, "Something's going to happen and it's going to be big…"

"What?" Zachary was utterly confused, "What do you mean?"

"Your old boss is up to something," Sakura sighed, "And me and my friends are the only ones that can stop him."

Zachary smiled sadly at her.

"I'm pretty sure you can do it," he said with complete faith in his voice.

Sakura smiled at him.

"That's means a lot to me," Sakura let out a slow breath, "I miss her."

He knew what she meant.

"I miss her too. I miss her very, very much."

Another silence descended onto the room.

"Hey, remember that time Chelsea bitch slapped Belinda?" Sakura said suddenly.

Zachary laughed.

The hours slipped by as the two friends sat together, talking and laughing, not mourning the death of Chelsea Yamazaki but celebrating the life she led.


"What the friggin' hell?" Meiling yelped.

The younger version of her titled her head up to study her face.

"You swore," the little girl whispered awed, "You aren't supposed to."

"What the?" Meiling cried.

"Meiling?" Marcus's worried voice drifted through the door, "Are you okay?"

"Dandy," Meiling yelled back.

Remembering to keep her voice down she turned to stare the little version of herself.

"Who… what are you?" Meiling demanded in a fierce whisper.

"I'm you," came the innocent reply.

"Am I dreaming?" Meiling wondered.

The little girl leaned forwards and pinched her on the arm drawing a yelp from the Angel.

"Ow!" Meiling hissed at her.

"Pinches prove if they are dreams or not," the girl said authoritatively, "If they hurt, it's real."

"Ow…" Meiling trailed off, "Okay, you're real. How did you get here?"

"Simple," the girl smiled, "You called me."

"HUH?"

Mini-Meiling paused and frowned.

"Well, actually you didn't call me but your actions did," the girl with more wisdom then was possible for a six-year-old.

"Not much with the following here," Meiling muttered rubbing her temples.

"Okami Noir has the final piece of the tri-sword," mini-Meiling informed her sounding extremely adult like.

"So?"

"The moment he got the sword, a backlash happened. Something of unspeakable evil had occurred," the little girl sighed, "This whole world is about balance."

"So, let me get this straight," Meiling groaned, "Noir getting the sound created this mystical imbalance in the cosmic scale and to even it a six-year-old version of me appears?"

"Bingo!" the little girl cheered, "Yay, me!"

"Was I ever this annoying?" Meiling wondered aloud, "How long are you going to be here?"

"Only a while but it's enough," the little girl shrugged, "The balance eventually steadies itself."

"What does an imbalance have to do with a little girl?"

The girl cocked her head and stared at her.

"An evil act was performed," she explained, her adult voice appearing again, "What is evil?"

"The opposite of good?"

"No dummy, the opposite of good is bad. The opposite of evil is innocence because an act of evil is an act devoid of innocence."

"And I thought the opposite of innocence was guilty," Meiling moaned.

"Silly older-me, you are wrong," little Meiling jumped down from the bathtub and began dancing around, "Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!"

Meiling was getting a headache fast.

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

The little girl stopped singing and stared up at her.

"To tell you a secret," she whispered in a stage whisper, which was quite loud.

"What secret?" Meiling asked deciding to play along.

She glanced down the little version of herself but min-Meiling seemed to be distracted by a tiny wisp of hair that clung stubbornly to her cheek. Fiddling with it, she only managed to get it tangled up in her fingers trying to free herself she yanked at her hair.

"OW!" she cried.

Meiling instantly knelt down and freed the girl's fingers.

"Thank you, older-me," little Meiling smiled into her face.

"Okay, what's the secret kiddo?"

"I'm not a kid!" little Meiling huffed, "Big sis keeps calling me that but I'm not a kid! I'm six years and three-twenty months old!"

Meiling wondered briefly what three-twenty months old actually meant but decided not to complicate things.

"What's the secret?"

Little-Meiling leaned forwards until her she could whisper into Meiling's ears.

"It's coming," she whispered in a small scared voice that sent shivers up Meiling's spine, "She's coming and she's scary. She's going to swallow this world whole."

"The Void," Meiling whispered.

Her tiny twin pulled back and nodded solemnly.

"If she wins there's going to be no more cake or Christmas or Santa Claus or pretty flowers or puppy dogs or… or… or…" tiny-Meiling trailed off, "Or Hello Kitty!"

"Is that all you've got to tell me?" Meiling asked, "That I'm screwed…"

"You swore! Again!" mini-Meiling was shocked, "Bad older-me! Bad, bad, bad!"

"That I'm in trouble," Meiling tried again, "So? Tell me something I don't know."

"Ooo… but that wasn't all!" mini-Meiling beamed at her, "I've got a present! A shiny present! It's Christmas-y and birthday-y and it's absolutely super-duper magnifantabulous with a cherry on top!"

"Huh?"

Mini-Meiling beamed at her and held out her tiny hands, a small glowing object appeared in between her palms and she held it out to Meiling. Meiling slowly reached forwards and cupped the tiny girl's hands with her own.

"This," Mini-Meiling smiled at her, "This is a gift from the powers above."

"God?"

"Not quite," Mini-Meiling winked mischievously at her, "In your darkest times when you are alone may this be your shiny light."

She smiled once more at Meiling.

"And it is super-duper magnifantabulous!"

The little girl began disappearing before Meiling's eyes seemingly melting away into mist as the glowing object fell from the girl's hands into her own. As Mini-Meiling shot her a final smile, the girl disappeared leaving Meiling alone in the bathroom once more.

Slowly unfurling her fingers, Meiling stared at the object that rested between her palms. A Clow card as she studied it closely she realised there was no name on this card only an image: a ruby red heart with four long wings jutting up at different angles.

"What the…" she whispered.

"Meiling?" Marcus's concerned voice was loud enough to tell Meiling he was standing in front of the locked door.

"Yeah, I'm coming," Meiling said still dazed, "I'm fine."

Looking down at the card, Meiling bit her lip.

"Maybe more then fine," she whispered.

Tucking the card into her pocket, she slowly got up and unlocked the door smiling up into Marcus's concerned face.

"Sorry," she said breezily before sweeping past him and back into the living room continuing to play their little game.

Marcus shook his head and smiled as he joined his family in watching some quality T.V.


Scraping the hair away from her eyes, Tomoyo looked up at the clock and cringed realising the time. Staring around stupidly, she realised she must've fallen asleep.

"Oh god," she moaned feeling her whole body ache.

She froze as she remembered the terrible vision she had had of Clow Reed's life after the curse had struck him. Shivering uncontrollably, she managed to struggle over to her kitchen and get herself a glass of water. Managing to choke it down, she sat down on a nearby stool and tried to steady herself. She was an emotional wreck, she was well aware of that.

"God, I need to calm down," she groaned.

She glanced through the kitchen door and noticed her T.V. set.

"Hope there's something good on," she muttered struggling into the living room.

Rearranging herself comfortably on the couch, she switched on the T.V. and tried to forget her problems.

But the image of Clow Reed standing calmly there as death barrelled towards him kept playing over and over again in her head.

And the same thought always accompanied that image.

That could be me


Diana Armstrong looked up as Kevin Lacuray appeared in front of her desk.

"What?" she demanded turning back to her work.

"That's not very nice," he teased.

"I've got work to do Kevin," she snapped, "Unless it's important get out!"

"Fine, but I was going to tell you there's someone here to see you."

"Huh?" Diana looked up as Sakura walked into her office, "Sakura!"

"Maybe I should leave," Kevin began.

"Get out," Diana snapped.

Kevin shrugged and left as Sakura stared after the man.

"Cute," she noted.

Diana glared at her.

"Please don't tell me you like him," she sighed exasperated.

"Me? No!" Sakura shot her a sly look, "You on the other hand."

Diana glared at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"Oh, nothing… just that little rule about you know you argue most with the person you like…"

"What that rule sucks."

"Ooo… struck a nerve didn't I?" Sakura teased.

"Oh god, you're like him," Diana groaned leaning back into her chair, "So Saku, what's up?"

"You've heard about Chelsea?"

Diana nodded sadly.

"Yeah."

"I talked to Zachary," Sakura sighed, "We decided something."

"What?"

"When I kill his ex-boss, I'm going to do it for Chelsea."

Diana raised an eyebrow.

"Not that I'm trying to stop you or anything but isn't that illegal?"

"That's why I'm coming to you now."

"Wha?" Diana was taken aback.

Sakura laughed.

"Just kidding, Di. Just kidding," Sakura took a sit in front of Diana and sighed, "I'm here to say… goodbye."

"You're going somewhere?" Diana wasn't following.

"Something big is coming. And I don't think I'll come out unscathed," Sakura admitted quietly.

"No you're not," Diana snapped fiercely, "You're going to go in swinging and you'll come out victorious!"

"Anyone ever tell you you're one hell out of a motivational speaker?" Sakura teased.

"Hey, I was friends with a depressed nerd for years!"

"Hey!" Sakura laughed, "Jeez, claws much?"

Diana smirked at her.

"So, this Kevin guy…"

"Don't even think about it," the lawyer growled.

"Think about what?" Sakura was all innocent eye batting.

Diana sighed.

"Don't you usually pull this stuff on that friend of yours, Meiling?"

"Oh, Meiling? I'm getting bored," Sakura shrugged, "Anyway they got past that shy stage so fun really gone. You on the other hand…"

"Are a sitting duck?"

"Eloquently putting it… yeah."

Sakura glanced around her office and noticed the amazing amount of paperwork that was lying around on her friend's desk.

"A lot of work?"

"A lot."

Sakura went to get up.

"Then I should leave and let you get on with it," she said as she began to leave.

"No! You don't need to…"

Sakura cut her off.

"Just do your job," Sakura laughed, "You're practically married to it by now."

"I'm resent you hinting I'm a workaholic," Diana shot back.

Sakura shrugged.

"Bite me," she seemed to turn serious, "Diana?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you're my friend," Sakura said gently.

"Me too," Diana smiled.

Sakura shot her friend one last wistful smile before leaving her office, seeing Kevin Lacuray on the way out she strode over towards him.

"You're Kevin right?"

"Yeah?" Kevin was curious to know what Diana's friend had to say to him.

He was half expecting a slap across the face considering what Diana probably told her about him but he was mildly surprised at what she said. Okay, mildly surprised was an understatement of epic proportions, stunned and shocked to his soul would've been more appropriate.

"Take her out," Sakura commanded poking him in the chest, "She likes Chinese or Thai, she adores kung-fu movies, she loves swimming and obviously loves her work. And if you hurt her, I'll personally hunt you down and stomp you down into the ground. Capische?"

Cocking an eyebrow at him, Sakura gave him a bright smile before swanning out of the office leaving behind a confused Kevin to work out what had just happened and how to use this new information given to him.


Meiling lay in Marcus's arms unable to sleep. It was late at night, Lily was already asleep in the guest room Meiling had set up for her and soon after that the two adults had also turned in finally giving up the pretences of their little game and giving in to their feelings.

"Meiling?"

"Yeah?" Meiling asked.

"Are you okay?"

"I don't know," the Asian Angel whispered.

Marcus sat up and stared down at her.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know how long this will last," Meiling admitted softly.

"Last?"

Meiling got up and leaned against his shoulders staring off into the darkness trying to gather her tumultuous thoughts together. There were so much confusion and unanswered questions with a big smack of fear. Plus on top of that her still freaking out about the visit from her younger self, add all that together you get an emotional package that would cause a less strong person to crack under the strain.

"Something's going to happen," Meiling said slowly, "And I don't know what's going to happen afterwards… if I make it through at all."

"You'll make it through, I know you will."

"How?" Meiling asked.

Marcus stared intently into her eyes.

"Because you're the strongest person I know of."

Meiling blushed and looked away but Marcus's hands rested on her cheeks gently forcing her to look at his eyes, to seeing the sincerity and love shining in them.

"You're stronger then you think," he whispered softly, "You'll make it through whatever happens to you because you're… you and that's the most amazing thing in the world."

"Boy, you are a smooth talker," Meiling whispered lovingly.

"I know I am," Marcus smiled before kissing her softly.

Meiling laid her head against Marcus's shoulder as her worries and fears about the curse boiled back to the surface again.

"Will you love me?" she wondered aloud, "Forever?"

"Forever," Marcus promised.

Considering the circumstances that shouldn't have meant a lot but to Meiling it was enough. The emotions behind that one word were more than enough.

"I love you," she whispered, "I don't ever want to lose you."

"I love you too," he whispered back, "And you'll never get rid of me."

One kiss led to another and the finally both of them fell back onto the bed as their passion ignited deep into the night.


Staring at the T.V, Tomoyo decided she was even more emotionally fragile then before.

"Why Jack?" she wailed, "Why did you have to die?"

Then again watching Titanic probably wasn't the best idea in her emotional state. Unable to handle the sad death scene anymore, Tomoyo turned off the T.V. and looked around for something else to do. Her eyes roved around the room until it lit upon her stereo system.

"Maybe some music," she mused as she got up and walked over to her C.D. collection.

Pulling out one of her favourite CDs, she slid it into the stereo and fiddled with the controls until she got it to where she wanted it to be. Hitting play, she sat back down on her sofa as a flurry of piano music began playing and the song started.


Sakura sat on the park bench and studied the dark sky above paying attention to the glittering gems that adorned the dark canvas.

"Mom, I don't know if you're up there or not," she said softly, "But I miss you. And I hope that you're proud of me."

She stopped.

"I'm scared. Of what's to come. If I fail I fail the whole world, if I succeed… I don't know if I could go on," she stared up at the stars hoping for an answer of some sort, "What I am I supposed to do?"

'cause when your in you're darkest hour'

It seemed to Sakura then there was a warm presence beside it, there was nothing there but she could feel it and she though she could hear a warm voice whisper something in her ears.

"Do your best," the voice whispered, "Do your best and everything will fall into place."

Sakura smiled.

"Thanks mom."


' And all of the light just fades away'

Meiling gently untangled herself from Marcus and pulled some clothes on, walking out of her room she head towards Lily and gently opened the door. Seeing the young girl sprawled across the bed sleeping contentedly, she smiled. Walking quietly beside the bed, she pulled the blankets over the girl's shoulder tucking her in.

' When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of grey'

She gently kissed the girl on the head and exited the room again but not before she turned around and whispered something to the sleeping girl.

"Sleep well…" she smiled, "My daughter…"


Tomoyo felt his presence before seeing him.

"It's time isn't it?" she asked gently still listening to the music pouring out from her stereo.

"It is," Yue said gravely.

' Well hang on…'

Tomoyo turned around and stared into Yue's face.

"I'm ready."

'Be strong'


If Tomoyo had continued to watch the final hours of Clow Reed's death she would've be shocked at what happened next. As the bolt of lightning crashed into the mage, his body was torn asunder but not his spirit. A spectral mist rose from his ashy remains and began blazing with light. The air began rippling around it as the mist began twisting and twirling faster and faster and faster. With a burst of light that illuminated the area even out-blazing the lightning above, it tore itself into two. The two separate pieces of Clow Reed's spirit shot off into the sky disappearing through time and space until it came to a certain time at certain place where both of them were reborn again into separate bodies.

'The one shall split into two and the two shall never know each other. When the darkness comes, they shall be made whole and their remaking shall turn the tide.'


Lara Williams was dreaming, a nightmare of darkness and shadows and a pair of blazing emerald eyes that demanded revenge. She screamed as she cold fingers wrapped themselves around her neck strangling the life out of her but the emerald eyes were still there, still staring at her still filled with rage.

She screamed and she screamed and screamed…

And then the eyes vanished and her screams were cut off.

Lara Williams shot up in her hospital bed looking around wildly.

Eriol Hiragizawa stared at her dispassionately as she looked around trying to make sense of her surroundings. Beside him stood Rika Sasaki, her blank eyes taking in the scene before her with no emotional reactions on her part. In front of both of them stood Okami Noir who was smiling gently down at Lara.

"Hello Lara," the man whispered, his voice a cobra's hiss, "I've got a job for you."


SORRY ABOUT THE LONG DELAY! BUT THE END IS NIGH! AND HA! ANOTHER CLIFFIE!

Next chapter:

As the guardians take them to the final battlefields, the resurrection ritual for the Void card begins. The girls will have to fight through magic, old enemies and inner demons if they hope to even reach Okami Noir. But will they be too late? And what of the curse? And what is the purpose of the card given to Meiling? Past and present meets as the ancient prophecy becomes fulfilled and the Angels come fully into their powers. Find out what happens in the final chapter of Syaoran's Angel in… Full Circle

A/Notes:

Wow, that took a lot longer then a thought. The song featured in this chapter is 'Be Strong' by Delta Goodrem from her album 'Mistaken Identity' and it's a great song. Oh, the lyrics are contained in italics

And the prophecy mentioned after Clow Reed's spirit split in half was first seen in 'Mirror, Mirror', Chapter 27 I think that was. It was in the caves with the tablets.

And finally, I wonder what that card given to Meiling was… hmmm….