VictorianPearl: It's going to be a close call, but I will have the epilogue up before the end of this month…I hope.
Li: Is the title of this chapter supposed to be suggestive?
VictorianPearl: innocently Um…maybe.
Syaoran: Anyway, VP doesn't own CCS for all of you who want disclaimers.
Li: On with the final chapter…not including the epilogue of course.
Living Metonymy
Chapter 11 The Final Battle
Sakura stood in the middle of the clearing in the park. She was clutching her wand desperately against her chest, awaiting the arrival of an expected creature. There was an unwelcoming silence filtering through the air, unnerving Sakura slowly by the second.
There was a faint hissing noise coming from behind Sakura. She whipped around to see what was there. She looked desperately into the darkness of the trees…she saw nothing.
Sakura took several deep breaths in attempt to calm herself. She was allowing herself to panic too easily; she had to remember to keep a clear head. She turned back around and shrieked. Standing now merely inches away from her was the creature.
There was a faint chuckling sound coming from the creature, although Sakura could not see anything resembling a mouth upon it's face. She was clutching her wand so hard that her knuckles were turning white. She was breathing hard, fruitlessly trying to calm herself.
"Silly girl," A voice seemingly coming from the creature said, "I have lived for centuries where you have naught; do you really think that you can so easily fool and defeat me?"
Sakura nodded her head defiantly. "As a matter of fact, I do!"
The creature emitted another throaty chuckle, causing Sakura to shudder.
"I suppose we shall see now, shan't we?" It said.
Sakura nodded curtly. "We shall."
The pair of them stood still for several silent seconds.
"You surely don't plan to take me on alone now do you?" The creature taunted.
"No," Sakura replied calmly, "I have my cards to fight with me."
The creature's red eyes narrowed in a way that suggested it might have been smirking had it a mouth.
"Surely you will need more help than that."
"I suppose we shall see now, shan't we?" Sakura said mockingly, losing her fear.
"Foolish girl," The creature spat, "I will teach you and your precious little wolf a lesson you'll never forget."
Sakura took that as her cue for action. She threw a card up into the air.
"Wood,"
The whole of the park's earthy ground turned into sleek wood.
"Earth cannot hurt the creature unless it's used in a direct attack. The only earth substance it cannot penetrate in it's leaving is cherry wood."
"So," The creature said, no longer in an amused voice, "you managed to find one weak point that will not stop me from causing you and the little wolf great suffering."
"You now what I've noticed through my life?" Sakura spat. "Those who are all talk are usually the ones that have no power to back what they say."
The creature, greatly angered by this comment, began to throw great orbs of flame at Sakura.
"Shield," Sakura cried, tossing yet another card up into the air.
A gleaming shield appeared in front of Sakura, barely in time to deflect the flaming orbs.
The next step in her plan was to wear down the creature as much as possible without wearing herself down first.
"Windy, form chains that bind!" Sakura cried as the shield vanished.
Sakura watched as the creature was bound tightly and having great difficulty moving. Great winds were sweeping through the park. She had to put effort into keeping her footing. She couldn't actually remember Windy's chains being this strong before.
The creature struggled for a while, but managed to get out of the bind it was being held in, causing the winds to stop.
"Is that all you've got girl?" The foul creature asked, glaring at Sakura.
"If you're expecting more, I find that you won't be disappointed." Sakura said in a reassuring manner.
The creature looked as if electricity were running through it's body. Upon closer look, Sakura realized it was about to throw an electric attack.
Upon impulse, Sakura threw a card up into the air.
"Sand,"
It was sheer luck that Sand appeared to absorb the electric attack just as it left the creature's fingers. The creature sent a few more electric attacks at Sakura, all of which were absorbed by the Sand.
When Sakura saw that the creature was not going to send any more electric attacks, she called Sand back into it's card form. Now was the time to progress in the plan.
"Flower,"
This attack baffled the creature as it was bombarded with many flowers. It produced the exact effect that Sakura was hoping to get.
"NOW," Sakura yelled, signaling the others, "Light,"
Tomoyo, Nakuru, Raiden, and Meiling, all of who were carefully hidden in the trees, pulled on ropes, raising carefully hidden mirrors on the ground, up into place. As soon as Light appeared, she reflected off of the four mirrors, causing her effect to intensify.
The creature let out a mighty screech, swinging wildly in attempt to get away from the bombard of flowers and out of the light.
The four people in the trees tied their ropes around the branches to secure the mirrors. They then moved into the next position they were required to be in.
Back on the cherry wood ground, the creature was howling like mad, cursing at Sakura.
"Damn you girl, the light cannot kill me! Your plans are futile; I'll kill you for this. You have yet to see my full power!"
The creature finally managed to get out of the bombard of flowers. It was seething and concentrating on Sakura.
"Are you ready to feel my power?" The creature asked.
"No, she's not." A different voice from the shadows spoke. Touya walked out into the light and placed himself between the creature and Sakura, who had not moved at all since the beginning of the fight.
"What is this?" The creature asked in an amused voice. "A powerless human wishes to face me alone?"
"Not alone," Another voice from the shadows said.
Yue walked into the light and came to stand next to Touya.
"And certainly not without Power," Sakura said, calling out the last word to release the Power Card for Touya's use.
Touya glowed with a red aura. He pulled out a silver, ruby studded, wing necklace from within his shirt.
"Ah," The creature acknowledged, "so you are one of Clow's light wielders."
"Obviously," Touya muttered, positioning into fighting stance.
A moment of stillness passed before the fighting broke out. The creature grew long arms again so that it could fight off Touya and Yue faster. They were all moving so quickly that they seemed to be blurs.
Sakura didn't like to simply stand and watch, but it was all part of the plan. They would go down the line, each without tiring themselves too much.
As Yue was flying around and shooting silver beams at the creature, the beams would cause the deep shadows to come alight. Sakura could vaguely see some of the others hidden in the trees; she hoped that the creature was too occupied to notice this.
The Light had faded, leaving the park looking relatively darker. Touya was unused to this change and was hit by one of the creature's arms, sending him flying backward. Sakura was about to call a card to help him but Yue managed to sweep him up before he hit the ground.
Meiling and Raiden watched the battle, waiting for their chance to fight. Yue and Touya were still battling with energy to spare. There would be time before Meiling and Raiden had to go out and fight.
"Do you need help?" Raiden asked, watching Meiling strap a mirror to her arm in the use of a shield.
"Nope, it's strapped on tight." Meiling said, lifting and twisting her arm to make sure that it really was secure.
"We're almost up." Raiden said, somewhat fearfully.
Meiling looked at her blonde boyfriend with concern in her eyes.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine. After all, we've fought at before ne?"
Raiden gave a small frown, reminding her ever so slightly of her former love.
"Don't frown," Meiling told Raiden, "it doesn't suit your face."
"I'm sorry," Raiden said, trying to keep his frown from deepening, "but this is going to be much more dangerous and a lot tougher than last time."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. Sakura would never let us get hurt anyway."
Raiden gave Meiling a small smile, looking at her with emotion filled eyes that caused her to freeze. The last time he had looked at her like that, it had been in Eriol's mansion.
"Raiden…?" Meiling whispered, suddenly forgetting everything around her.
Raiden said nothing; he simply took her in his strong arms and gently kissed her. The couple was falling into each other until a loud explosion brought them back to the fight.
From the clearing, Yue was seen flying off into the trees, Touya close behind. It was time to go out and fight.
Sakura watched as two more of her friends came out and started to fight the creature. It was not as worn down as she would have liked, but hopefully it would be after everyone had fought it in turn.
The battle waged on and Meiling and Raiden eventually were forced to leave the clearing. First as they were disappearing from view, Kero, Spinnel, and Nakuru came flying into view, ambushing the creature with magical attacks.
As total magical chaos ensued, everyone, save Tomoyo, came out of the trees to stand behind Sakura. The last persons to enter the clearing were Eriol and Syaoran, who took their places on either side of Sakura.
"Are you boys ready for the final fight?"
Both young men nodded, eyes glued to the battle before them. The three magic made beings withdrew from the battle. They flew and landed behind Sakura with the others.
The creature paused to look toward Sakura and Syaoran. It was at this moment that it started to laugh manically, catching everyone off guard.
Touya was the first to realize that something was off. He quickly tore his necklace off.
"Sakura," Touya called, throwing his necklace to Sakura.
Sakura barely caught the necklace when a shimmering, transparent barrier formed, dividing herself, Syaoran, and Eriol from everyone else. The others behind the barrier started pounding on it and throwing magical attacks at it. It did not falter.
Sakura's head snapped to look back at the creature who was still laughing crazily. She quickly slipped Touya's necklace over her neck while she had the chance.
"Eriol don't-"
"I know." Eriol said, cutting her off. "I'll stay back for a while."
Sakura and Syaoran nodded to Eriol and then at each other. They took a few weary steps forward.
"Did you really think that that would stop me for god?" The creature cackled.
Nobody answered. Sakura and Syaoran simply braced themselves.
"No matter," The creature said, "I'll kill you right now and be done with you."
There was no pause between the end of his sentence and the outbreak of battle. Sakura and Syaoran lashed out immediately.
The creature jumped completely over them and landed with it's hands outstretched to the sky. Immediately, lightning struck down around Syaoran, trapping him in an electric formed cage.
"Syaoran," Sakura cried.
"Sakura, don't worry." Syaoran called desperately. "I'll be alright."
"Tut, tut," The creature taunted, "you don't sound too sure of yourself."
"Sakura, don't worry, I'll-" Syaoran was cut off by a nasty shock from the cage.
Sakura screamed.
The creature laughed again. "Finally, my revenge has come."
Sakura closed her eyes tightly. For one split second, she saw herself using the Erase Card and freeing Syaoran. She was about to pull out the card when old words came through her mind.
That's just it, nobody thinks that they'll actually hurt someone when they're trying to help them. Sometimes the way you picture someone's reaction is much different from the way it really happens.
Yamazaki's words echoed in Sakura's mind. This was no coincidence. Suddenly, she knew exactly what she had to do. She turned to glare at the creature.
"You cannot fool me."
It was the only reply she gave before ripping off Touya's necklace and throwing it at the creature. As soon as it came in contact, it seared into it's skin. The creature fell in pain.
"Release him," Sakura commanded, pointing to Syaoran.
The creature cried out wretchedly, but reluctantly obeyed to Sakura's wish. The cage surrounding Syaoran vanished. Syaoran stumbled and tripped. Sakura rushed to him and caught him up by the chest. The two of them turned to the creature.
"Tell us why you're doing this." Syaoran said. "If you don't, Sakura will put the other light wielding necklace on you."
What came out of the creature's mouth next thoroughly shocked everyone listening.
"So you want the truth? Then I'll give it to you. I used to live in the exact place that the little wolf's pretty house is now on. I lived there centuries ago as a middle class citizen. But the first class clans thought that they would take the land for themselves. My family, including myself, was driven off of the land. We were completely devastated by what had happened to us.
"I became one with the darkness as I watched what happened to the land and my home. The latter was fought over for many years. Many people came on and off of the land. It was the little wolf's family who finally came to rest upon the very spot that I used to dwell.
"In order to take my revenge, I killed his father while he was to be out battling other enemies. I found though, that that was not enough. The little wolf was so much like his father; I had to kill him as well. I would not rest until I had killed him. But I knew that the little wolf was strong and would have to be attacked when vulnerable. I knew that he would be most vulnerable in Japan with the ones he loved, so I followed him across the sea to a new land.
"That, my dear cherry blossom, is why I chase your little wolf. Anyone who dwells upon my home must pay."
Sakura and Syaoran stood with their mouths open, as did everyone behind them. What they had just heard had been madness; no sane person could possibly believe such things.
"It's not Syaoran's fault that you and your family were forced off of your home. It's not his fault that his family decided to stay there!" Sakura yelled at the creature, overwhelmed by the force that the creature's words were having on her.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER!" The creature yelled. "HE'S THE REASON THAT I'M UNHAPPY. IT'S BECAUSE HE LIVES ON MY HOME!"
Syaoran shook his head. "What you feel…it's living metonymy. You have become so consumed by this that you don't even know what's relevant anymore."
"Curse you little wolf," The creature spat, "curse you and your family."
Sakura pulled off her own necklace. "You will not have to worry about this any longer."
Before the creature could answer, she walked up to it and tugged the necklace on over it's head. There was a great burst of light through the clearing. When it faded, the ground had returned to its earthy state, the glittering barrier had disappeared, and the creature had been vanquished.
Everyone turned to look at each other. It was finally over.
OOO
VictorianPearl: My first ever questions and answers!
Cherry Blossom: Okay, the Book of Clow is a book that I made up. In the manga of CC, it shows that on Syaoran's wish list he wants a book written by Clow. Henceforth, I thought it would be cool to actually put it in the story since the manga never actually says whether or not he gets it.
VictorianPearl: Also, I know the ending isn't really much, but there will be an epilogue. I plan to have the epilogue up by tomorrow afternoon. I will keep my promise of finishing this bloody fiction by the end of June!