Introduction

A year has passed since Li fell prey to the Evil Card, and he's trying to cope with the effects. With his dark side closer to the surface, he can get angry very quickly – a fact that everyone notices.

Since he moved back to Readington, Sakura has been the rock in his life, the only person able to keep him balanced. But when an argument gets out of hand, Li makes a drastic decision…to walk out of her life forever.

Another year passes, and Sakura is once again under threat from evil forces. But without Li to protect her, is this the end for the 16 year old Card Mistress?

The scars of the past come back to haunt them…

Chapter Eight; I'll Gladly Fade Away

"Hey, Madison." Sakura said tentatively, unsure what reply she was going to get.

"Move out my way." Sakura stepped back, allowing Madison to stride by. Well, what had she expected? That after one night Madison would have made up with her? But still…it hurt.

She slowly sat down at her desk, sneaking glances at her once best friend from the corner of eye. Madison was chatting amiably with the others, as if nothing was wrong. She was even joking around. >She's putting on an act.> Sakura suddenly realised. >She knows that I won't be able to tell the others we've fallen out now.> The thought shocked her. She'd never realised how manipulative Madison could be.

She suddenly realised that Madison was smiling at her, pretending they'd never fallen out. But the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Waiting outside the school gates, Sakura steadied herself. She'd been miserable at school today. Madison had made sure to hang around with Chelsea and the group all the time, and Sakura knew she couldn't have gone with them – she'd never have been able to stick Madison's angry looks. But one day alone was enough. She would have to put things right with Madison.

>If Li was here, you wouldn't have been alone. He would have stuck by you.> Sakura pushed the thought away, searching for the lavender haired girl. Li was in the past. She had to focus on Madison now…there!

"Madison!" She ran up to her friend, ignoring the cold stare she got in return.

"Look, I've been thinking…did someone say something to you in choir practise? Is that why you're mad at me?" Madison's eyes softened at Sakura's words, and she took Sakura's hand in hers.

"Of course I'm not mad at you Sakura…"

"You're not?" She said hopefully.

"I'm furious!" Sakura cried out slightly as Madison sharply twisted her wrist, pulling away in horror.

"No-one said anything to me, but as we were singing 'The Maiden's Song', I thought about the line we were singing…Let me grant you happiness…then I'll gladly fade away…And I thought, why should I fade away? What gives you the right to be the special one? No. Enough's enough. I need a new best friend."

Leaving Sakura just standing there open-mouthed, Madison pushed past. She didn't even look back.

The next day when Sakura came into school, she was less cheerful. She'd given up hope of making up with Madison quickly, and just wanted the day to be over so that she could escape home.

"I don't know why you bother coming here. No-one wants you." Sakura looked up at the sneering voice, and flinched as Madison leaned in close.

"That's not true."

"Then why don't you hang around with the others? Are you afraid that they'll tell you to get lost?" she smirked.

"You know why…" Sakura whispered. Madison smiled triumphantly, as though happy that she'd got Sakura to admit how much she was hurting.

"Well, see that you don't start now. I plan on holding onto my new spotlight." She breezed past, to sit delicately down in her seat. Sakura couldn't even look at her.

"Hey, Madison." Natalie smiled absently as she focused on her music, carefully trailing her delicate fingers across the piano keys. Just like Madison was always the only one to volunteer for extra choir practise, Natalie was the only one who chose to do extra piano practise.

"Hey, Natalie." Madison replied, heading for door. Then, she stopped. >Wait…Natalie! She's just moved here, so she doesn't know Sakura as well as the others…it would be so easy to turn her against that stuck-up madam too!> Putting on a sad little smile, Madison sidled up to Natalie, making sympathetic noises.

"Look, I really didn't want to be the one to tell you this, but…Sakura's been saying bad stuff about you." Natalie looked up in confusion, obviously sure this was a joke.

"What do you mean? She's been so nice to me, helping me settle in and all…"

"Oh, but that's her way of taking advantage. She earns your friendship, then uses you. Trust me, I know."

"I don't believe you…" Madison silently chuckled as she heard the uncertainty in the bubbly girl's voice, and pressed the advantage.

"Then why is your voice shaking? The thing is, Natalie, she's realised you're no use to her. So she's ditching you." Madison patted Natalie's hand, watching as she began to cry.

"I can't believe she'd do that…" Leaning into Madison's shoulder, Natalie completely missed the look of evil satisfaction on the other girl's face.

Sakura was hurrying by the music room when she heard the crying. Stuck on her maths homework, she'd been forced to stay behind and ask for the teacher's help. She was late now, but she couldn't just walk on by. What if someone was in trouble?

Peeking round the door, she watched as Madison comforted a crying Natalie.

"Shhh, it's alright." Madison murmured soothingly. "Even if Sakura turns her back on you, I'll stand by you." She looked up, grinning nastily at Sakura, before going back to 'comforting' Natalie. With a stifled sob, Sakura fled the building, trying to get as far away as possible from her former friend.

Four figures stood hidden in the big oak tree, watching as Sakura fled in distress.

"Ahhh, what a pity. The Card Mistress's little friend has turned on her." Vega smirked, an evil grin dancing about her mouth.

"Yes, but notice how pretty she looks when she's upset…right, Li?" Kuro stared after Sakura, before turning back to the others.

"Li?" he prompted.

Flashback

A girl stands crying in the park, sobbing as a boy puts his arms round her. Murmuring soothing words, he comforts her, leaning his head upon hers. And even though he knows it's selfish, he can't help feeling glad that she chose to turn to him – that she needed him. She looks up, and the boy's heart wrenches in silent longing for the beautiful girl before him. Emerald eyes shining, she…

End Flashback

Li shook his head violently, struggling to erase his thoughts of the past. >That was years ago…focus on your mission!> Twisting round to look Kuro in the eye, Li said as nonchalantly as he could;

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

Sakura burst through the door, eyes streaming. How could Madison have done a thing like that? And she wasn't even sure why…

No, that wasn't right. Madison has told her why. Sakura wrapped her arms around herself, shuddering slightly as small hiccups shook her shoulders. Much as she hated to admit it, what Madison said was true. She did tend to fade into the background when Sakura was around. And Sakura hadn't even noticed…had just accepted it as part of their friendship…

"Kero?" Her voice echoed round the empty house as she realised that the golden beast wasn't there. Puzzled, she looked around, and after failing to find a note, started to get worried.

>Where could he be? I don't…> She saw something out the corner of her eye, and bent to pick it up. A colourful flyer, promoting Chef Ken-Chan's brand new dessert recipes! Try them out…today!

A mental image of Kero hovering and drooling outside a shop window brought a small smile to Sakura's face. She could just imagine the cheeky sun guardian doing something like that.

With tears still in her eyes, but a faint smile about her lips, Sakura went up to her room. She had a lot of thinking to do.

"Alright, I'm here. Now what do you want?" Madison stood with her arms crossed, eyes flashing defiantly.

"Well?"

Sakura slid off the bench, feeling slightly more confident. She'd been sure Madison wouldn't agree to meet up with her at the park…but the lavender haired girl had actually come. Maybe things weren't quite as hopeless as she thought.

"Thanks for coming, Madison."

"Whatever. Just get on with it." Ignoring Madison's cold stare, Sakura wet her lips, took a deep breath…and began to sing.

When springtime comes,

I'll sing you lullabies,

Then when the seasons turn to gold,

I'll give you wings so you can fly.

Soaring through the sunlit skies,

Free, and wild.

Let me grant you happiness

Help you find your way.

Let me grant you happiness.

And I'll gladly fade away.

Through the summer harvest,

I'll gather berries for your crown

And for the cold winter nights,

I'll sew you a white gown,

Full of love, and memories,

Hope, and truth.

Let me grant you happiness

Through the starry night and day.

Let me grant you happiness

And I'll gladly fade away.

Her song came to a gentle end, and not a moment too soon – Sakura's voice had just started to tremble slightly. She'd never be as good as Madison.

"Remember what you told me Madison? That you were singing that song, then realised that you didn't want to be the one who faded away?"

"Yeah?" Madison narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed. Or was that a slightly softer look that Sakura could see?

"Well, I just wanted to tell you this…Let me grant you happiness, and I will gladly fade away. Just let me make you happy…then I promise that I'll fade away." Without waiting for an answer, Sakura turned, and began to move towards the park gate. It was up to Madison now.