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 Seven; Betrayal And Confrontation

Sakura ran through the wet streets, her floaty pink cloak streaming behind her like a pair of wings. Her fluid clothing allowed maximum room for movement, and her shoes gripped the slippery stone beneath her well. Once again, Madison had come up trumps. Above her, Yue and Keroberos flew silently, each wing-beat a silent whisper. Despite much protest, Madison had stayed behind to look after Meilin and an exhausted Yelan, but she'd insisted on giving Sakura the costume.

As the rain poured down around them, Sakura couldn't help thinking about what Meilin had said;

"Hong Kong is full of Clow reed's magic. The Showron family is connected to the city because they're Clow's descendents. Li's the family's Chosen One, so he's the one most strongly linked to Hong Kong. Maybe the city's just responding to Li's darkness."

>There's so much rain.> Sakura thought as she rounded the corner. >Could it be linked to Li? Deep down, does he realise that something's wrong?> The thought hurt Sakura more than she thought was possible. It would be terrible to be trapped in darkness, with no way out. >I'm coming, Li. You're not alone.>


Li paced around the tatty warehouse that he's adopted as his base. It had been two days since he'd been forced to retreat, and he hated himself for his weakness. If it hadn't been for his mother's interference, he could have beaten that pathetic Avalon girl.

Suddenly, his head shot up as he sensed a powerful mixture of Moon, Sun and Star magic. >So, they come.> Li smiled an evil grin as he began to plan. >I will have my chance. They will fall.>


Sakura breathed a sigh of relief as they arrived at the warehouse. It would have been easier to Fly, but she'd wanted to save her strength. She envied Kero and Yue – for them, flying was part of who they were. But she had to use magic. Stepping forward, she silently nodded to Kero. With an almost wicked grin, the guardian beats blasted the warehouse door open. And as the smoke cleared, the three walked in.

"Li!" Sakura gasped as she saw the boy in front of her. Knelt in the middle of the floor, he held his head in his hands as if in pain. She started forward, but Yue caught her arm.

"Mistress, it could be a trap."

"Yue's right," Kero agreed, "This is too convenient."

"But he's hurt! I think he's freeing himself!" She sobbed.

"What's the chance of that? Please Mistress, you're not thinking clearly!" Yue pleaded.

"You're wrong! I've gotta help him!" With a final sniffle, Sakura pushed away from her guardians, and launched towards Li. >Please be alright!>

"Sa…Sakura?" Li's voice was weak as he looked up, his face drawn.

"It's alright Li. I'm here now. It'll be ok."

"There's…there's something wrong with me. I…I want to hurt people. I want to hurt you. I can't…I can't…" As his voice trailed away, Sakura put her arms around the boy she'd grown so close to over the years.

"It's ok. Li. Everything will be fine. I…" She broke off her words with a gasp as Li tightened his grip around her arm.

"Fool."

Beginning to panic, Sakura looked back at Yue and Keroberos. Trapped behind another invisible barrier, they attacked it frantically. But their blasts just reflected off harmlessly.

"Li, what are you doing? Please…" >No, Li. No…>

"You're pathetic, Avalon." Sakura flinched as she heard those familiar words from years ago. >Was he really so close to darkness then? No, I don't think so.>

"Li, listen. This isn't you. Not the real you. The Evil Card's controlling you!"

"Wake up Avalon. This is me. The powerful me. If I'd known being evil was so much fun, I'd have done it long ago!"

"No! You're wrong! Think back to when Eli tested me. You helped me! You're kind and gentle and…" Sakura's words died away as Li drew his sword against her neck.

"It's time to end this."

Tears dripped down Sakura's face as Li brandished his sword. >We're too late. Maybe he's bonded with the card already.> But as she began to lose hope, a scene from her past floated through Sakura's mind;


Flashback

As the Sun begins to set, two figures stand on the bridge in Penguin Park. One is a girl with auburn hair, and sparkling emerald eyes. The other's a boy with amber eyes and chocolate hair that ruffles in the wind.

"Thanks for meeting me, Li."

"No problem. I wasn't really doing anything." He said blushing, "What did you want to talk about anyway?"

"Nothing, really. No, that's a lie. The thing is…I can't do this."

"What? What can't you do?"

"This! Changing the Clow Cards into Star Cards! And I don't know who I'm fighting, or whether I'm strong enough…"Her voice faded, and tears began to fall. Li watched her for a moment, his caring side battling with his cold mask. The caring side won.

Sakura started as he put his hands on her shoulders and looked in her eyes.

"You can do it, Sakura."

"Huh?"

"You may seem weak, but you're strong inside, where it matters. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Never lose hope, because you're strong." She began to smile, the tears leaving her eyes.

"Thanks Li."

End Flashback


"Never lose hope…"

"What?" Before Li could react, Sakura somersaulted out of his grip. >Boy, that cheerleading training sure came in handy.>

"Don't do this, Li."

"Look Avalon. Just because you escaped me then, it doesn't mean that you will again." Sakura shuddered at the wolf-like grin on his face.

"Please, Li…"

"Force, bear tribute to this mark! Release the dark! Lightning!"