Hello. I'm back for the third installment of my new fic. It's starting to get really good, and I'm happy with the direction it's going in. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, or any of the characters related to it. Any original characters, however, are mine.

On with the story!

Where we last left off . . .

Luckily for him, he was in the cover of night, but Syaoran wasn't thinking of being seen. The only thing that mattered to him was getting to Sakura.

Before Yue did.

Chapter Three: 'Reunited'

"Are you sure about this?"

"Of course I'm sure. Just trust me."

Sakura didn't answer, but turned her attention back to the waning sky.

"Look it's almost night time! Shouldn't we be seeking shelter or something?"

"We're almost there." Eriol replied, taking her hand, and guiding her up a steep hill.

"We've been walking for hours! How do I know that you haven't gotten us lost?"

"Because we're here." With a flourish, Eriol pulled back the branches, and Sakura saw glowing fires surrounding several small huts. There were many people running about, tending to the fires, and getting the food ready. The smell of cooking meat permeated the air.

"Wow." Was all she could say.

"Most of these people are actually normal humans, but were caught associating with the people who practice magic. That's why they're here."

Sakura turned to look at Eriol, confusion clearly evident on her face.

"I don't understand." She whispered.

"Well let me put it this way-" but before he got any further, there was sudden shout of glee as a young woman came running to them at full speed, and flung herself into Eriol's arms, who was taken aback.

"You're back!" the woman cried, hugging him closely.

Eriol held onto the teen for a few moments before gently releasing her.

"Tomoyo, I'd like to introduce you to another exiled individual such as ourselves." He gestured to Sakura, who was still looking slightly bewildered.

"Konnichiwa." The young woman said sweetly. "I'm Tomoyo."

"I'm Sakura."

Suddenly, Tomoyo's eyes widened.

"So you're the infamous Sakura Eriol's been talking about all these years! It's a pleasure to finally meet you!" she shook Sakura's hand several times, before turning back to Eriol.

"I think something big is up." She whispered to him.

"I know." He replied. He called to Sakura, who looked at him questioningly.

"Listen . . . you can stay with Tomoyo for the time being. There's some stuff I have to do." He began to walk in the other direction.

"But-" Eriol could no longer hear them. Sighing, Sakura watched him go until he was out of sight, and then turned to Tomoyo who was waiting patiently.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on around here?"

A few hours later, when the stars were twinkling in the sky, Sakura finally had the all the answers, but now she wished she hadn't asked.

According to Tomoyo, there were only three people in the entire town who were true magicians. They included Eriol, Sakura, and the third had yet to be discovered. Eriol had spent years trying to find the others, and when Sakura had been exiled, he knew that there was something big brewing in the city. He had seen a few of the city's officials search the forest from time to time, but their area was well secluded, and they went on, undiscovered. But Eriol had heard bits of their conversation, and coupled with his magical abilities, concluded that an attack was coming. Now everyone was preparing for an immediate and sudden evacuation, and Eriol went to search out the third magical person, so that they would have a chance to defend themselves.

"But there's almost twenty people here!" Sakura said clearly outraged at the town she had once loved.

"Twenty-three to be exact." Tomoyo said glumly. "And that's not counting you and Eriol."

"That's sick. Why would they exile so many people?"

"We don't know either, but the town has been corrupted ever since Judge Shinto showed up."

"How long have you been here?" Sakura asked.

"I came here three months after Eriol. It was horrible. I had to leave my family, and my home." She looked so distraught. Sakura put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I had to leave my home too." She said quietly. "And someone I really cared about."

"Who?"

Sakura told Tomoyo about Syaoran, and was nearly in tears by the time she finished speaking. Now it was Tomoyo's turn to comfort Sakura.

"It'll be ok. I'm sure he's alive and well, and maybe even looking for you right now . . . "

Little did Tomoyo know how right she was at the exact moment . . .

"Sakura!" Syaoran yelled at the top of his lungs. He had reached the edge of the forest. He thought he heard a distant cry, and felt his blood boil with anger. If anything had happened to her . . . he didn't let himself finish that thought as he ran into the forest, yelling her name.

Suddenly, Syaoran sensed an attack coming his way, and ducked in the nick of time. A burst of white light shot through the air where his head had been only seconds earlier. Shit! Yue! Syaora kept running, and used his skills to sense and dodge the attacks. Soon enough he reached a clearing, and paused for a moment to catch his breath.

A sudden burst of pain shot up his arm, and Syaoran saw that he had been hit by the lightning whip that Yue carried. Syaoran bit back a scream of agony, as he watched his opponent swoop down into the clearing, and land gracefully on the ground.

"So it was you who was listening to our conversation in the courtroom."

"What of it?" Syaoran snarled. He sensed the whip coming, and jumped away in time, jarring his injured arm further. He winced in pain.

"Shit."

"Oh really now. Profanity is going to get you nowhere in this battle."

"Bastard." Syaoran spat, as the whip came down again. The tip caught Syaoran in the chest, and he fell to the ground in pain.

"Are you reading to concede defeat?"

"Not as long as I'm alive."

"I'd rather not kill you, but you offer me no choice."

He raised the whip again, and Syaoran closed his eyes, bracing himself for the ultimate impact of pain.

Nothing happened.

Opening his eyes in shock, Syaoran saw a young man standing in front of him, wielding a large staff that had a sun on the top. Even in his weakened state, Syaoran could sense the blue aura pulsating around him. But now the question is, which side is he on? He knew that just because he saved Syaoran now, didn't mean he would save him later. This man could have saved Syaoran now, to fight and kill him later. This situation keeps on getting worse for me doesn't it?

"Can you stand?" Came the young man's voice. He deflected another attack, his face screwed up in concentration.

Syaoran forced his legs to stand. With each movement, he felt a fresh wave of pain wrack his body. Once he was fully erect, Syaoran had to use all of his strength not to fall over again.

"Shit. This is not good." He heard the young man say.

"No, you think?" Even in his weak state, Syaoran couldn't help with the sarcasm.

"I could kill you, you know." The teen said, deflecting another blow.

"Then why don't you?" he sneered.

"Because you're the one I've been looking for." Sweat was pouring down his face as his staff came in front of them again.

"Oh really? Why is that?" Eriol ignored the sarcasm this time.

"Because you're the third and final magician in this town."

"And just what does that have to do with anything?"

Suddenly, the teen gave a mighty yell and swung his staff around two times. A great stream of white light shot out and hit Yue in the chest. He screamed and fell back towards the ground, hitting it with a large thud. The young man stood there for a moment, breathing heavily.

"That should take care of him for awhile."

"You mean he's not dead?"

The young man turned to Syaoran, and now he could see his face, which looked vaguely familiar, with the piercing gray eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses, and his dark hair, the color or which Syaoran couldn't discern too well because of the darkness.

"No he's not dead. Merely unconscious. Now come with me. We have to get those wounds treated right away."

With the help of some magic, and the mysterious man, they quickly made their way through the thick and winding forest.

"I'm Eriol by the way." The young man said.

"Syaoran." He replied gruffly. Eriol's next response caught him off guard completely.

"I know."

Ok. This guy is freaking me out. Syaoran thought.

"And just how do you know who I am?"

"Same reason why you know who I am."

"What? I just met you." Eriol laughed, and Syaoran scowled. This guy was beginning to get on his nerves, which wasn't a good thing, especially after what had happened earlier.

"No Syaoran, you've known me for a long time. 7 years to be exact."

"The hell?" This guy is insane! Suddenly, images floated through his mind, and Syaoran stopped walking as they bombarded him one by one.

Flashback

Syaoran came into the classroom, only to find Sakura, his beloved Sakura, looking rather pale and nervous. He approached her with caution, glaring at the newcomer.

"Sakura?" he inquired. He saw the fear in her eyes when she turned to face him, and it made him cringe.

"Syaoran." She gave him one of her fake smiles. He stared at her for a moment, knowing that something was up. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, and sat down at his desk, his face cherry red, but his eye caught the newcomer's intent gaze. He scowled at him, and resumed staring dreamily at the back of Sakura's head.

It was in the afternoon, and they were playing basketball in gym class. Syaoran was against the new guy. Poor guy. For a moment, Syaoran almost felt sorry for him. Syaoran was easily the best athlete in his grade, and had beat everyone else at basketball. He was itching for new blood.

The ball was thrown, and to his complete consternation, Eriol had seized the ball was dribbling up the court at a much faster pace that even Syaoran himself could manage. He stared in shock as the ball kept on coming back to the newcomer's possession. Once the game was over, and Syaoran had lost for the first time ever, the newcomer approached him.

"What do you want?" Syaoran barked, clearly annoyed that he had been beaten.

"To let you know that there will come a day when may have to work together to save ourselves."

"Hah! Fat chance!" Syaoran retorted to his retreating chance. Like I would ever work with him . . .

Syaoran sat in utter shock as he watched his rival and opponent approach the court, and confirming the accusation of magic against him. I can't believe it! He's just like me. For the first time in his life, Syaoran felt fear creep into his soul. I wonder how long he'll live. And to think I was mad at him for wining at basketball. He heaved a sigh as he watched Eriol be escorted from the courtroom. Syaoran never saw him again.

End flashback

"Holy shit. Eriol!" Syaoran yelled, startling him.

"Yes it's me."

"Damn it, why didn't you just tell me that earlier?"

"In case you hadn't noticed, I was rather busy fending Yue off."

"That's still no excuse!" Syaoran said, glaring at him. Eriol held his hands up in mock surrender.

"I'll remember that next time you're in trouble! I won't save your sorry ass."

"Why you-" but Syaoran was cut off when Sakura's aura suddenly came floating towards him. It surrounded him, and mingled with his green aura. He felt a sudden wave of peace wash over him.

"Yes Sakura's here, and she's safe. For the time being anyways."

Syaoran was so overjoyed that Sakura was alive and safe, that it took him a few moments to register the other part of Eriol's statement.

"What do you mean 'for the time being'?" he asked.

"Well once Yue regains consciousness, he'll be after us again, and then we'll all be at his mercy again."

"We have to get to her!"

"Whoa slow down. Your injuries aren't going to heal any faster if you hurry, and besides, we're here anyways."

Eriol pulled back the branches, and Syaoran saw a clearing filled with several huts, and a few fires. And there, sitting by a fire near the edge of the clearing, were Sakura and a young woman with long dark hair, and deep purple eyes. Syaoran felt himself take a deep breath, and hold it, as if he was afraid to breathe around her.

Sakura looked so beautiful, sitting in the light of the fire. Her auburn hair shone gold in the light, and her sparkling eyes flashed their beautiful shade of emerald. She was laughing at something the other teen had said, and it tugged at Syaoran's heart, making it beat erratically Oh my gosh. Sakura . . . while he was drinking in the sight of her beauty, she sensed his aura, and turned around to face him. Shock grazed over her face, before a look of disbelief, and finally a look of longing and desire.

Without another word, Sakura got up, and walked towards him. Oh my gosh. I'm dreaming. she thought. But this can't be real! Syaoran can't be here! He should be hating me along with everyone else!

"Sakura." Was all he said, before she threw caution to the wind and ran towards him. She was stopped by Eriol, and looked at him questioningly.

"He has some severe injuries." He said. Syaoran glared at him. Screw injuries! I just want to hug her. Ignoring his pain, and Eriol's protests, Syaoran reached for Sakura, and wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace.

What's going on? Sakura wondered, completely bewildered. Emotions were flooding into her. Why is he here, hugging me like this? She pried herself away from Syaoran, and his comforting warmth. She was shaking like a leaf. Syaoran gave her a hurt look.

"Why are you here?" she asked sharply, ignoring the stabbing pain in her heart.

"Listen Sakura-" he began, but was cut off when he heard the muffled sounds of sobbing, and realized that Sakura was crying.

"Please Sakura, don't cry." He pulled her into his embrace again, wincing slightly at the pain in his chest. Sakura sobbed into his shirt, and he held her while she cried.

"Why do you even care about me?"

"Sakura listen to yourself! Of course I care about you! Why wouldn't I?"

"How can you even be near me?"

"Sakura!" Syaoran released her, and grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. Glaring emerald eyes met intense amber, and time seemed to stop.

"Listen to me. Please." He whispered. Syaoran could tell that Sakura's resolve was slowly breaking. Her eyes were red and blotchy, but he didn't care.

"Syaoran, you shouldn't be here. You should be back in town with all of the other magic haters-" she was cut off when Syaoran hugged her close to him again. She's so cold. She felt so cold and lifeless. It nearly broke his heart to see her this way.

"Sakura, there's something I haven't told you about me." He was whispering because they were so close, and also because he didn't want Eriol to be hearing this private conversation between them.

"What?" she whispered.

"All of my life I had been different from the other kids. Not just because of where I came from, but because of my other abilities."

Sakura looked confused for a moment, and then it dawned on her. She stared at Syaoran is shock as the pieces tumbled into place.

"You mean you were that green aura I kept sensing around me?" Sakura was dumbfounded. She felt a rush of swirling emotions envelop her.

"Yes I was. I was always drawn to you from the very start, and I only just recently figured out why."

Sakura remembered the flash of green light that had destroyed the card earlier. "So you were the one that destroyed the card?"

"Yeah. I saw that you were in trouble and decided to help you out."

"And then you got caught and followed me here."

"No actually I escaped, and then later on I beat up the notorious 'Toemeda Gang'"

Sakura gasped.

"So you used magic on them?"

"Only enough to knock them unconscious, and to hop fully knock a little sense in their brains."

"Syaoran . . . " the magnitude of what he had done confused her.

"Why did you do that? Why did you let yourself get caught?"

"Because it was the only way I could ever see you again." He whispered, giving her a pleading look. Sakura looked confused, and then the implications of what he had said began to sink in. She gasped in shock.

"Syaoran-" she began, her heart pounding loudly inside her chest. She could feel the heat of his intense gaze, as she sensed him closing the distance between them-

"Listen, I hate to break you up, but Syaoran's injuries are getting worse by the second, and we need him to have his strength if he is going to help us fight."

They broke apart, and Syaoran glared at Eriol for his bad timing, while Sakura gave Eriol a look of confusion. Syaoran was quickly escorted to a person with healing experience, while Eriol was left to contend with Sakura.

"Fight who?" she asked.

As Eriol explained the whole story, he could see that Sakura was looking more and more frightened. When he reached the part where he came to the village with Syaoran, Sakura was shaking.

"I can't fight this Yue! I don't know how!" she whispered.

"Relax. You won't be fighting alone. Syaoran and I will be helping."

"But why do I have to fight him?"

Eriol took one of her hands in his and squeezed it gently.

"Because you are the strongest magician alive Sakura. Stronger than me, and stronger than Syaoran. With you fighting we stand a chance against Yue."

"How do you know so much about Yue anyways?" Sakura whispered.

Now Eriol's face looked grim.

"Do you remember the black magic that swept through the town many years ago?"

Numbly, Sakura nodded. "It killed my mother."

"And my father." Eriol said quietly. "But the point is, that Yue was the one who started it."

"What?" Sakura's hand flew to her mouth as a vortex of emotions swirled around her. She sank to the ground, sobbing. Eriol knelt beside her, and put a comforting had on her shoulder.

"That's why we have to destroy him. So we can save everyone."

"But . . .why?" Sakura asked in between tears.

"That I do not know." Eriol held out his hand, and Sakura took it. He helped her up, and put his arm around her. There was a period of silence.

"How do you know it was Yue who started the black magic wave?" Skaura asked, shattering the silence.

"Yue is my cousin. I always knew he was different. In a bad way. He started spending time with someone who turned him to the darker side of magic. He became a different person, and one day he attacked, and that was the end of many people's lives that day."

Sakura felt fresh tears pooling in her eyes.

"That's so sad." She whispered.

"Sad be true." He replied.

Soon Sakura felt her eyelids grow heavy with sleep.

"I'm so tired." She said in a faint whisper. Eriol half carried, half guided her to the hut where Tomoyo resided, and was already sleeping peacefully.

"Go to sleep Sakura. The battle will be here soon enough, and you'll need all your strength."

"Thank you . . ."

He tucked her into the bed, and watched her fall asleep within minutes. Eriol then got up, and went over to Tomoyo's bed. He gazed lovingly at the smile she wore in her sleep. He caressed her cheek, and placed a kiss on top of her forehead.

"Goodnight." He whispered, exiting the hut into the darkness of the night.

Syaoran awoke to the sounds of screaming, and sat up in bed. Sakura! He thought. There was still traces of pain, which he was feeling now, but he ignored them. He threw off the covers, and exited the hut, running head on into Eriol.

"Eriol!" he cried. "What's going on?"

"The battle has started." He replied grimly, gesturing to the fiery blaze that only now Syaoran noticed. He gazed around in shock, but Eriol's next words snapped him out of it.

"Sakura is safely hidden behind the trees across the clearing!"

"Let's go then!" Syaoran stopped only long enough to let his sword out, before following Eriol across the clearing trying to avoid the fires, and the oncoming attacks. Damn you Yue! You bastard!

The battle for their lives had officially begun.

A/N: WOW! I wrote this in a span of two hours. I'm impressed with myself. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, because I was totally inspired. Woot! Please review and tell me what you think. God bless CelestialMoon17.