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 Ten; Reunited

"Eli!" Sakura gasped, unable to believe her eyes. The midnight haired boy offered her a small smile, before turning back to face the enchanted Yue, his long ponytail streaming in the wind behind him. >Huh? Ponytail? Guess he decided to grow his hair…>

"Come on, Yue. You know that this isn't really you." He said softly.

"Eli…you're here…" Yue whispered, visibly calming down. He slowly reached out with a shaking hand, then thought better of it and pulled it back. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he frowned at the reincarnation of his old master.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"Because I heard about the trouble Sakura was having with the Dark Monarchs…with their cards. Cards like the one that's affecting you now." Eli stepped forward, aiming to put a soothing hand on Yue's shoulder, but the guardian jerked away.

"Please, Yue. Overcome this evil and do what you were created for, what you used to enjoy doing. Protect your mistress." Silently shaking his head, Yue continued to back away.

Sakura let out a small gasp as she saw Yue's eyes flicker back to their usual colour for a second, before becoming red again. She felt a paw on her shoulder, and looked to her left, where Keroberos was standing.

"Now's your chance, Sakura. Eli's calmed Yue down, but only you can truly help him – his heart belongs to you now." Sakura blinked slightly, taken aback by Kero's comment. >Yue's accepted me? He truly sees me as his rightful Mistress?>

Taking a deep breath, Sakura stepped forward, spinning her staff to get Yue's attention.

"Yue, please don't be like this. Don't let the Hate win." She could feel her emerald eyes filling with tears, but ignored it. She had bigger things to worry about.

"I don't want to lose another friend to darkness. I don't want to lose you."

Although her last words were almost whispered, Yue still heard them. His eyes widened as he realised that Sakura saw him as more than a guardian, that she always had. >When did I start thinking like that? It was when I began to call her 'Mistress' again – when I first found out about Clow being reincarnated. >

The sound of screaming filled the air, and Hate appeared again. But this time Sakura was ready.

"Return to your power confined! Hate Card!" Still shaking her head in denial, the spirit was sucked into the waiting card, which promptly disappeared back to Li.

However, Sakura didn't care about that right now. She ran to where Yue was kneeling on the ground, trembling slightly.

"Yue? Are you alright?" She tentatively murmured.

"I'm so sorry, Mistress. I never meant…I don't really think that…" Yue said brokenly.

"Shush…it's alright, Yue. I understand." Sakura offered a smile, and placed a hand on his shoulder, knowing that this was normally the most physical contact he would allow others to have with him.

Then, to her surprise, Yue pulled her closer to him, and…actually embraced her. Pulling herself together, Sakura hugged back, guessing that the guardian needed comfort right now.

"Thankyou, Mistress, for always being there. Thankyou…Sakura." Sakura's eyes widened as Yue called her by her name. >He hasn't done that for years…does that mean that we're finally as close again as we were back when we were fighting Eli? >

Pulling back slightly, Sakura looked into Yue's eyes, a hopeful smile spreading across her face.

"Does that mean you won't call me Mistress anymore?" Yue studied her for a second, before smiling softly.

"No, Sakura. I won't."

"Very touching." Sakura spun, to see Madison standing behind her. Although it was obvious that Li had taken control yet again.

"For the last time Li, stop using Madison like this!" Sakura cried angrily.

"Why? Don't you think her eyes look better when they're green?" Li's voice smirked.

"Enough! Why don't you just give up and go home, Kid? We've already beaten two of your cards." Kero snarled.

"Who's beaten two of my cards Keroberos? I seem to recall that it was Sakura who sealed them. You couldn't even stand up to Hate." Li shot back.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day when I wished my magic had failed me. It saddens me to see you like this Li." Eli said smoothly. Li turned Madison to see who had spoken, and growled.

"Not you again! I thought we'd finally got rid of you when you left for England!" he snarled.

"Too bad. I'm here now. Like you should be!" Eli pulled out his own key, and quickly transformed it into his Sun Staff.

"I call upon the power of the day and night, Sun and Darkness unleash your might! Come!" Eli bellowed, pointing his staff at Madison. The green light in her eyes began to fade, and they could hear Li's voice growing fainter.

"No! Damn you, Eli! You will not summon me that easily!" Eli suddenly gasped, and lurched forward as though he'd been pulled by something.

"Eli!" Sakura made to run forward, but Yue restrained her.

"No Sakura. This is a battle of wills, too strong for you to enter it now."

"Huh?"

"Eli is trying to summon Li here, and he is resisting. Normally I'd say that Eli would win easily, but…" Yue's voice trailed away.

"What?" Sakura prodded.

"His power has been fading ever since he finished his duties as Clow's reincarnation. He may not be strong enough to draw Li here." Sakura bit her lip, and faced the invisible battle again.

Sure enough, it looked as though Eli was struggling. However, the green light had dimmed completely from Madison's eyes, which had to be a good thing. It showed that Li needed the power he'd been using to control Madison, and thought he couldn't defeat Eli without it.

Closing her eyes, Sakura focused on Eli. >Let my magic flow into him…I grant you my power, Eli. Use it well.> Eli's eyes widened as he heard Sakura's voice in his head, and a more determined look came over his face.

"I will not give in, Li Showron! Now come!" Madison stiffened, and with a moan collapsed into Eli's waiting arms. Meanwhile, a glowing symbol had formed on the path beside her.

"Brace yourself, Sakura!" Kero roared as a wind sprung up. Nodding, Sakura did as he said, and watched the shape materialise on top of the symbol. Gradually, it took the form of a human, and when the light faded, she could see it was Li.

"Smart move, sorcerer. I didn't think you'd have the power to summon me." Li's eyes narrowed.

"Or maybe you couldn't do it? Yes, I can sense it now…you had to borrow power off Sakura. I always knew that there'd come a day when she became stronger than you, even if I didn't."

Li didn't seem to realise that he'd just given Sakura a compliment, or that he'd confessed to having faith in her in the past. Flexing his hands, he stepped forward…only to be blocked by the two guardians.

"Don't you dare get in my way." He spat.

"Let him through." Sakura called. Exchanging looks, Yue and Kero looked to Eli. Smiling softly, he nodded. Sighing, the magical creatures moved aside, leaving Sakura a clear path to Li…and he to her.

"So, you finally show some sense Card Mistress." Li smirked. Sakura's eyes narrowed.

"If you're going to just stand around and talk, I've got better things to do. I have a feeling that Eli summoned you for one purpose."

Li's pale face twisted into a sadistic grin, and he chuckled.

"And what would that be?"

"So we could confront each other, face to face. So you could finally tell us…why are you doing this!" She couldn't stop her voice from rising slightly as she asked the all important question. She'd needed to ask it for ages now, but she'd never had the chance.

It seemed to throw Li.

"I…I don't know…maybe…" His eyes narrowed, and he moved back, scowling at her.

"Oh, very clever Sakura. Get me to admit why I'm doing this, so you can bring me back to the side of light. Too bad it failed."

Something inside of Sakura snapped.

"Why are you acting like this! I'm not trying to trick you – I'm trying to help you! You don't need to be turned back to the light…because that's who you are! You will never be able to become evil as long as you have your past!"

She actually shook her fist at him – an action that prompted a small laugh from Li.

"Got everything off your chest now? Then maybe I can get a tur…" He froze, staring down at Sakura. More specifically, her wrist.

He remembered that bracelet. He remembered it extremely well…

Flashback

Li stood outside the jewellery shop, looking at the bracelets. Sakura's birthday was coming up soon, and he wanted to get her something special.

Something shone in the sunlight, catching his eye. Focusing in on it, Li felt his breath catch in his throat.

Hurrying in, he waited for the clerk to finish serving another customer, before demanding breathlessly;

"How much for the gold bracelet with the silver cherry blossoms?"

The clerk pursed his lips.

"Too much for you, I'd say. It's £2000." Li sighed, and looked down.

"Ohh." >I'll never be able to afford that! It took me all year just to save up £1000!>

The clerk's eyes softened, and he leaned across the counter.

"Who was it for?"

"Hmm? Oh, my girlfriend. She's 15 soon, and I wanted to get the bracelet because her name's Sakura – you know, cherry blossom?" Li sighed again, looking at his hands.

"Oh well. What can I get for £1000?"

"A job."

"Huh?" Li frowned in confusion, not following.

"Look, I own this store. I think it's sweet how you care so much about her, so I'll make you a deal. Work part-time here, and I'll hack £500 off the price." The clerk smiled.

"You mean…?" Li hardly dared to hope.

"Exactly. What with the reduced price, and your earnings, you'll be able to afford the bracelet no prob."

"Great! Thanks!" Li grinned widely, almost unable to believe that he'd be able to give Sakura such a beautiful gift. Who cared if he ended up late for school a couple of times?

It was worth it, for Sakura.

End Flashback

Li grimaced at the memory, disgusted with himself for being so weak. >Why do I keep remembering stuff like this? I don't care about her that way anymore! > Li suddenly realised what he'd just thought.

>Aaargh! I mean I don't care about her at all now!> Focusing back on Sakura, he could almost see the concern that was in her eyes. >Typical. Even when I'm her enemy, she knows when there's something wrong with me. >

"I'll be back, Avalon. Although I don't know whether you'll be around to see it." Li snarled out loud, before disappearing back to the base of the Dark Monarchs.

Sakura stared after him, feeling confused. Li had had the perfect opportunity to gloat, to attack, to do something…and he'd just frozen.

"Why'd he…?" She murmured.

"Didn't you see? My dear Sakura, he saw the bracelet on your wrist." Eli looked up from where he was gently bringing round the unconscious Madison.

"My bracelet…" Sakura pulled her sleeve up, and looked at her wrist. Sure enough, she'd worn her bracelet today. >The one he was going to give me…was that why he left? Because he couldn't he face his own memories?>

Another update for the people who read this! sob Judging from the reviews, hardly anyone actually is. Well anywya, if you DO read it, review please!