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 Eight; Heartbreaking Fight
"Aaaah! Jump!" Sakura leapt into the air, narrowly dodging the lightning attack that Li had thrown at her.
"Please Li! Think back! You're not really like this!"
"You think I care what I was like before? I'm powerful, now – powerful enough to destroy you! Flame!"
"Sakura!" From behind the barrier blocking them, the two guardians were getting desperate. As Keroberos continued to blast it, Yue had actually given up attacking it, and was beating on it with his bare fists, tears of frustration in his eyes. Such an unusual lack of composure only showed how worried he was about his mistress.
"Uh! Stop it!" >That was close. He nearly got me that time.>
"Don't make me do this, Li."
"Do what?"
"This!" Sakura drew out a Star Card, her heart heavy.
"Windy! Form a chain and tie up Li! Release and dispel!" The spirit flew through the air towards Li, with its pale hands outstretched.
"What the….no! No way!" Li struggled as he was bound by the Windy, trying desperately to get loose.
"No! Impossible!" Sakura gasped as he fought against the spirit, even though his arms were now pinned to his sides.
"Release! Sleep!"
"No! I won't be beaten! I…" Li's eyelids dropped, even as he tried to fight the effects of the card. And finally, he fell limp in Windy's grasp as he went to sleep.
"I'm sorry, Li…" Wiping away the tears that had welled up, Sakura turned to see Kero and Yue coming towards her, the barrier having failed when Li fell asleep.
"He looks so peaceful when he's asleep…" Sakura felt tears burning her eyes, but tried desperately to keep them away. Compassion softening his normally cold eyes, Yue put his hands on her shoulders, and raised her face so that she was looking at him.
"You did the right thing, Mistress. Even if it hurts, you did the right thing…"
The darkness was finally lifting, and everything was silent as the group made their way up the enormous drive of the Showron house. At least, it was silent until they were seen.
"Sakura!" Madison hurried down the steps, camcorder in hand. Panting, she came to a stop right in front of the auburn haired girl, and threw herself into the waiting arms.
"Hey, Madison…"
"Oh, you were gone so long! I was worried about you!" Sakura smiled at her best friend's concern, and hugged her again.
"I'm alright Madison. Really." They stayed like that for a while, before they eventually became aware that someone else had followed Madison out, and had been waiting patiently for them to finish.
"Meilin!"
"Did you find him?" Wordlessly, Sakura stepped aside, to reveal the sleeping boy being held by Yue.
"Oh!" Tears flooded Meilin's vision as she looked at the still face of Li.
"He looks so young, so defenceless…I can't remember the last time I saw him sleeping." They all watched him for a while, as he lay dreaming, before walking up the steps into the house.
"Li!" The moment they came through the massive doorway, Yelan ran forward, her face a mask of agony, every inch the worried mother. Her eyes searched the group almost frantically, until Sakura motioned for Yue to step forward with Li. Letting out a small cry at the sight of her son, she darted to his side, tears welling up in her own eyes.
She was about to touch his sleeping face, in order to smooth some hair away, when she pulled her hand away with a gasp. Li was stirring.
"I…won't…be asleep…for long. Then…you'll…be…sor…" his voice died away, and his eyes slowly shut again as he fell back to sleep. Yelan stepped back, her expression unreadable. Then, with pain in her eyes, she turned back to the group.
"Take him upstairs. I'll lock the room, then perhaps Sakura can use a combination of Lock and Shield to seal it?" Kero, back in his false form, looked at Li, then looked back at Yelan.
"Where this boy's concerned, I think you should put up a magical barrier as well."
"Yes…." Yelan reached out to touch her son again, but pulled away, obviously afraid of waking him. Face pained, she turned, and indicated that they should follow her.
"Hurry now…he won't be asleep for long."
