The first story in My Shadowy Secrets Trilogy

This fan-fiction is set as though the second movie never happened. Li and Meilin are still in Hong Kong, but all is not well – and with Yelan out of town it's up to them to find out what the magical power Li's sensing is.

Back home in Readington, Sakura dreams an upsetting dream, then receives a disturbing phone call from Meilin. Did her dream come true?

Darkness is never as far away as you think…

Chapter Four; Dark Warfare

"Li" Sakura stared up at the boy she'd known for so long, who glared angrily back. >Oh my God, Li. You weren't out fighting the evil after all – you were the evil.>

Meilin was on the floor, sobbing. The poor girl had virtually collapsed as she saw Li up there, and now she was crying uncontrollably. With what sounded to be a sigh of exasperation, Li pulled out an ofuda paper.

"Force bear tribute to this mark! Release the dark! Lightning!" >Force, bear tribute…? What happened to Force, know my plight…?> Sakura bolted back into reality as she heard Meilin scream out in pain. She gasped in horror at the scene before her. Li was using his lightning ofuda to electrocute the defenceless Meilin!

She, Keroberos and Yue all hurried forward, but were knocked back by something in the way.

"Kero, Yue, what is it?" Sakura cried as she searched for a way through.

"An invisible barrier…but I had no idea the Kid could make one!" Kero bellowed back. He launched an attack at the invisible shield, but it bounced harmlessly back, like Yue's diamond crystals.

Frustrated, Sakura summoned the Sword Card, but as she struck the barrier, a powerful shock ran up her arm and through her body, sending her to the ground.

"Meilin!"

By now Meilin was lying limp on the ground, yet still Li bore down on her.

"Shut your whimpering, little girl! You've had it easy before now. I was too softhearted to say what I really thought of you and your weak ideas. But now it's time to end your pathetic life!"

He drew back his sword to strike, but at the last moment, a pink light enveloped the glittering blade and yanked it from his grasp.

"Li Showron! What do you think you're doing?" Everyone turned in shock to see Li's mother, Yelan, standing there. Her normally serene face was creased in a frown as she stared at her son. >But there's something else there as well.> Sakura thought >What is it? Fear, anger…recognition? No, what's there to recognise?>

"Mother! I thought you were out of town!" Li scowled, and threw out a hand. Sakura flinched as she felt him summoning dark energy, and gasped as he summoned his sword back into his hand. He whirled and blasted a flaming ball of fire at Madison, who'd been quietly taping all the action.

"Shut that camera off, Madison!"

"Madison!" Sakura threw a card out in front of her, heart racing.

"Shield! Protect Madison! Release and dispel!" Shield shot out and formed a bubble around Madison, deflecting the attack. The raven-haired girl smiled in relief and gave her friend the thumbs-up sign.

Sakura turned back to face Li, her heart throbbing. >Why Li? Why?> She jumped as a bolt of lightning slammed into the pavement where she'd been standing, and looked up at Li. His eyes were filled with rage, and a lust for murder. When he spoke, his voice was cold and unfeeling.

"Tsk, tsk! Did you learn nothing from me?" he smirked. "Never take your eyes off your opponent. And if you do, keep your senses open!" With these words, he carelessly threw a fireball over his shoulder, hitting Keroberos. The guardian beast had been trying to sneak up on him. They all watched in dismay as the lion slumped to the floor, transforming back into Kero-the-stuffed-animal.

"You!" Yue's eyes, usually so arrogant and cold, were spilling over with anger and fury as he watched Kero collapse. The Sun Guardian was one of the few people he opened up his heart to. Along with Eli, Sakura and Tori, Kero provided a much needed link to the compassion that Yue always tried to hide away. After Clow Reed had died, the Moon Guardian had vowed never to care for anyone or anything ever again. But through it all, Kero had always been there for him. Sure, the little animal could be annoying and conceited – but at least his heart was in the right place.

These thoughts fresh in his mind, Yue threaded a diamond arrow and took aim. His usual common sense temporarily overtaken by bloodlust, the Moon Guardian only had eyes for one spot – the boy's heart. He pulled back the string and…

"Yue, no!" Yue turned to his mistress, brought out of the rage that had possessed him. Sakura stared up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Please – for me. No more hurt. I don't want anyone else to be in pain." Yue opened his mouth to protest, but closed it without speaking. The chestnut-haired girl had melted his heart. He spun to face Li, to give the boy a piece of his mind. But…

"He's gone!" Sakura gazed at the spot where Li had been standing. It was vacant, no trace of him left. But it was nothing compared to the emptiness she felt inside her heart. >I never even sensed him go.>

Her eyes swept over the scene, marvelling at the destruction left in the wake of one 14 year old boy. Madison supporting a trembling Meilin. Yue fussing over an injured Kero, his mask of arrogance forgotten for the moment. Yelan slumped against a wall, eyes wild and afraid. Tears dripping down her cheeks, Sakura looked up at the sky to wherever he was now. >Li…what's wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?>