Chapter eight: The flight of an arrow

Ruling Card: Twin

After my fight with Watery, none of the Cards Sakura held had come to see me. Dream took it upon herself to deliver the reports instead, meeting Windy in the dream plane and bringing her messages to me instead.

It was two days after Sakura captured Twin and that strange Chinese girl had returned home. Yukito had gone to sleep early, wanting to be at his best for the archery contest the next day. I was rather looking forward to it. I was quite sleepy myself as I waited for Dream.

She came a few minutes after midnight. The Card who looked so much like me was looking uncharacteristically serious. 'I have a dream for you, Yue,' were her first words.

Dream never used those particular words unless she was acting in her official capacity; she was the only one among us who could foretell the future. Clow had offered to give me that power, but I had declined firmly. There were some powers I was better off not having.

'Is it from Clow?' a shake of her head, long white hair flipping from side to side. 'Windy or the others?' another shake.

'Clow has nothing to do with this.'

'All right, then, let me see it,' I said. Dream's aura flared for a second before she removed her hood, revealing deep green eyes. Looking into them, I fell forward into eternity.

Since I was the Moon Guardian, after all, I could still feel Dream with me, invisible but present. It's not so much a dream as it is……a doorway, her soft voice said. It is time for you to see this. The path of fate demands it.

In the darkness, someone else. A boy. He's looking at me with clear amber eyes that I've looked at the world through.

Yukito?

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'Yukito?' That's not my voice. My voice is smooth and confident. It doesn't shake.

If I sounded shaky, he sounded completely stunned. 'Wh-who are you?'

'I-I……' I stammered. I knew this was a dream, but meeting what was essentially my own body was surreal. 'I'm Yue. The Moon Guardian.'

'Your other self,' Dream said quietly from behind me. I didn't need to look to know that the Card was standing there.

The scene changed abruptly. Sakura was trapped in my vines, choking as they covered her face.

Another change. It was full moon, night; and I was watching……myself……kneeling on the ground. Tokyo Tower loomed in the background as my other self threw his head back and let out a piercing scream of anguish.

And then the dream fell away and I was standing in Yukito's bedroom again.

'What……?' I said slowly. 'Dream, what does that mean?'

She gave me a peculiar smile, glowing slightly. The vision was still gripping her. 'You should know.'

'Stop being cryptic, Dream,' I snapped. The smile only widened.

'I'll tell you, Yue. But are you sure you want to know?'

'Stupid question.' I was impatient.

Dream sighed. 'Yue. Who is Yukito?'

I had no answer. He was not a false form, nor was he independent enough to be called a separate person. He was……well, he was Yukito……and I hadn't ever thought about what he was, being content to define him by what he wasn't.

'You have until the rising of the full moon to find out what the answer is, Yue. If you fail, you will lose everything you seek. The door has been opened.' Dream's body stopped glowing, and she was normal again. 'There was one more word. I couldn't understand it. Maybe you do.'

'What is it?'

'Janus.'

'Janus,' I said, tasting the word. It was familiar, but I couldn't place it. 'Thank you, Dream.'

Dream's eyebrows creased worriedly. 'Take care, Yue.'

After she left, I thought about it for a while. The vision had been cryptic at best. And Janus – the ancient god of time. A trap in time for me? I didn't understand it at all. And the door. The full moon. I only had one day to figure it out.

I lay in the bed, thinking, until the sky had begun to grow lighter and I reluctantly let go of my control and slept.

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My late night made me tired enough that I slept well into the day, only waking when Yukito's consciousness began to draw power from me. It was almost commonplace to me now to feel him doing that, and he was certainly doing it more often than he used to.

It was the first time he was competing against other archers on this level. For the first few rounds, Yukito was quite relaxed, and using only his power. As time went by and it became more difficult, he drew more and more. I could almost feel the conduit of power extending from my consciousness to his, growing stronger and stronger until it was almost self-supporting.

Finally, during a resting period, Yukito headed over to a nearby restroom. He was washing his hands. It was quite normal – except that the next moment, the conduit that linked us went wildly out of control. I felt a blinding pain pierce me, and apparently Yukito felt it too.

What the-

What was that?

Who said that?

I can hear you?

Who are you?

This was when I realised that yes, I was talking to Yukito, and yes, he could hear me.

We let out twin yelps of undignified surprise, and Yukito took several instinctive steps back.

I reflected dryly that I was perhaps the only person in the world he would never be able to run away from.

Yukito? I said tentatively. He was shaking, obviously doubting his own sanity. It's all right. I'm really here. You're not hearing things.

What? Who are you? Was he speaking aloud as well? I couldn't hear.

I'm……how was I supposed to say this without convincing Yukito to lock himself in a padded room? I decided to take a gamble. Yue. My name is Yue.

I know you. Yukito sounded thoughtful. He was taking this quite well. I know that name I've dreamt of you as long as I can remember. Yue. Are you the winged one or are you the man with the glasses?

I sucked in a sharp breath. Yukito dreamt of me? Of Clow? But he shouldn't have been able to do that……then again, Yukito had broken all the rules so far. I would be the winged one. That strange energy you've been using for the last year? It's mine.

How do you – but I – Yukito was breathing deep, trying to calm himself. He succeeded, and then spoke again. You're right. I've been feeling some strange power in me for a while. That's you?

That's me. I allowed myself a second of satisfaction. That was easy.

Ah, yes. Yukito definitely believed me now. But why are you talking to me now?

The announcer declared the beginning of the next round over the loudspeaker. Yukito walked out to resume the competition.

Keep talking, Yue, he said.

Are you kidding? You'll never win if I'm distracting you. Now shut up and focus. And I receded into the back of his mind.

I'm pleased to know you care about me that much, he said, and I could feel his falsely innocent smile in those words just before their meaning registered and I began to splutter helplessly.

He'd just played me! Me!

Damn it, I groaned, exasperated, and his smile grew wider for a second before it was lost in the clear focus.

The afternoon wore on, and Yukito kept winning. He was getting tired, though, and it wasn't physical – that was something I could help with. He had practiced a lot for this, and he had talent and training, but the sheer intensity of the competition was getting to him. I hoped his hands wouldn't start shaking – the first sign of either tension or fatigue.

I'm tired, Yukito thought.

It's only a little longer, I said encouragingly. He nodded imperceptibly and kept going.

But Yukito wasn't made as tough as I. As arrow after arrow flew to its target, each landing perfectly matched, he grew quietly weary.

Yukito went all the way to the finals – where he was facing, of all people, that Mizuki woman.

Apparently her record had been as perfect as his. I sighed. There was no way she could miss the moon energy flying around Yukito. Even that brat Keroberos (whom I could sense was here) had to have noticed, though he would be distracted by Mizuki's presence. I hoped.

The traditional meditation before the contest began. Then I had an idea. Let me play this round for you.

That would be cheating, Yukito said, shocked.

Not really, I shrugged. I've been within you all these years. In many ways, you could say that I am you. Or that you're me. I felt a little pang at my half-truth, but it didn't matter. If Dream's prediction was true, he would find out the whole truth soon enough. Besides, it's not like that Mizuki woman isn't using her magic to strengthen her. You'll control the trajectory. It'll be you that fires every single arrow. Just……through my strength.

All right. And Yukito, who somehow knew precisely what to do, slipped into the observer's place where I usually was, and I took over.

There was no dislocation this time, no disorientation, and I was certainly not overwhelmed by whatever emotion Yukito was feeling. At the moment, he was worried, hopeful, alive with anticipation. I can feel your emotions, Yukito said wonderingly.

Really? What do you feel?

Anxious. You're really looking forward to this match, I can feel that. and you're……happy about something.

I wondered why he'd thought that.

You've been here, Yukito said quietly. Always. Haven't you?

As long as you've been alive, yes.

I knew that. He sounded contemplative. Yes, I knew you were there. It's good to meet you, Yue. It's been a while, hasn't it?

I was struck speechless. But then the time was up, and the match had to begin, and I seized the bow, grateful for the distraction. The quiet amusement Yukito felt told me that that emotion had registered, too.

This, apart from my wings, was what I had missed most. Wood bending in my hands, eyes fixed, breathing and heart rate controlled. Not as good as my own bow, but the next best thing.

I can see everything from here, Yukito marveled. Is this what it's like for you?

Mmm.

You know, you even sound a lot like me. That smile again. I could hear it.

Well, that's not surprising. Now shush, and think about what you're doing. I stepped up next to the Mizuki woman.

A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, though no one else would have noticed. Of course. She knew the difference between my energy and Yukito's.

Yukito says hi, I shot to her mind. Her eyes narrowed.

Yukito, fumbling slightly to control a body that was both under his control and not, directed his/my arms to the correct position. His/my eyes judged the distance and then he directed his/my arm to fire. The arrow hit the target dead-on.

We were evenly matched. The first four rounds ended with identical scores. The fifth time, she flinched ever so slightly before she fired, and the arrow went wild. I let Yukito slip back into control and receded to my usual place. What had she felt? Keroberos, probably.

'Congratulations!' Sakura and Li said, and Yukito smiled as always, changed back into his normal clothing.

'Thanks, but that was……' His smile slipped a little.

That was you, Yukito, I said firmly. Not me. You only borrowed my strength to do it. The skill and talent was all yours. He shrugged and sat down to eat.

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'Well, this is a coincidence,' Yukito said cheerfully to Touya, who was wearing a bear costume and holding balloons. How he could have any self-esteem left after that, I didn't know.

'There are no coincidences in this world,' Touya said, eyes fixed on the woman.

'There is only the inevitable,' she replied. An unreadable look passed between them.

Touya left, and then Sakura remembered that she'd forgotten her beret and we all went to look for it. Ask her what happened with the last shot? I requested Yukito.

'Did something bother you, at the end of the match today?'

'Mm. I felt someone watching over me.'

'Watching?'
'Yes.' Kaho looked conflicted, and I smirked, recognising that look. She was going to tell Yukito about me. Well, then, she was in for a surprise. 'Yukito, you……'

And then I felt the aura of a Clow Card. Mizuki felt it too, just before the earth began to quake. Earthy! The last Card was here all the time?

To someone who didn't know, the Card must have appeared to be an earthquake. The earth was cracking and shaking and people were running everywhere. Spires of earth shot up to the sky, taller than the buildings, as Earthy reared up in her elemental form.

I wondered whether to tell Yukito what was going on, but that would be interfering in a capture, however insignificant Yukito's contribution might be. So I just waited for events to play out.

The camera girl, the one who always taped the captures, was thrown into Yukito's arms by the force of the next quake. Yukito called out to Sakura, desperate, but then I felt her using a Clow Card. Sleep, I realised, when Yukito's eyes closed immediately. Unfortunately, the Card was one of Keroberos', and without any warning, or control of my body, I couldn't resist either.

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I was still under the effects of Sleep when I felt a tug at my magic, insistent. My eyes opened. Sakura was writing her name on the last Card. That was the only thing that could awaken me unless Sleep had decided to be nice for once.

So be it, then. It was time. Time to finish this.

I let my wings come out and wrap around me, lifting my body up, off the ground.

And for the third time, I was myself in this new world.

I looked at my brother, disconsolate despite his regained powers. 'It's been a while, Keroberos.'

I waited, patiently, emotionlessly, as Keroberos slowly put the pieces together. I wasn't all that surprised that he hadn't known who I was within. I was sure by now that Clow had blocked some of his power away, made him unable to sense me as easily as he should have. The Mizuki woman's moon magic had served my cause for once, keeping Keroberos distracted while I had continued my observation undetected. Sakura grew steadily confused until she finally broke in, bewildered, asking what it meant.

I floated forward to meet her, towering three times as high as her tiny frame. 'When I lack magical powers, I can't change back into my original form.' I conveniently neglected to mention exactly how long I'd been able to do so.

I leaned down, staring into her eyes. I could sense the fear Sakura was radiating even without reading her aura. She was looking for Yukito within me, searching for him. 'It is the first time I meet you in this form. O candidate for mastery of the Clow Cards, chosen by Kerberos the Selector.' I could see her aura clearly now. What I had heard was true. She did have the potential to be as powerful as Clow was.

But the Judgment tested strength, skill and knowledge, not the potential for them.

She called out Yukito's name. I could have told her it was futile, but I didn't bother. Instead, I looked at the Li, who was standing behind her. 'However, it seems that there is another who holds the Cards. For someone who could not gather all the Clow Cards by herself, the Final Judgement is a waste of time.'

The Li boy stiffened.

'No!' Keroberos said angrily. 'I believe that Sakura will be able to do something about you!'

'You still are too easy on them,' I snorted.
'And YOU still seem to have a mean personality.'

Sticks and stones, Keroberos……I shot at him as I rose above them. I already knew what I was going to do. 'Then we will begin the Final Judgment. First.'

Effortlessly, I trapped the Li boy in a hypnosis spell. His eyes turned vacant and he floated up to a nearby rooftop under my influence. His eyes cleared slowly, and I waited until he was fully lucid before I spoke. 'I, Yue the judge, will now conduct the Last Judgement. Using all the Clow Cards in your hands, defeat me.'

He clearly hadn't expected that, and he expected the next thing I did even less. I concentrated briefly, and crystal energy shards formed in my hand. I flung them at him, smirking inwardly. This was going to be too easy. He covered his face instinctively. I felt Sakura try to break through my barrier; heard Keroberos stop her just as the Li boy raised his sword and called his magic forth. Fire shot from his ward paper and covered me. I nearly laughed and annulled the flames before they touched me, not bothering to extinguish the others – giving him a moment of false hope. The boy fell into my trap, wondering whether he had defeated me.

I let the flames clear and stared down at him. 'You cannot defeat me with such a thing,' I said. Truthfully, I felt insulted. Did he really think that parlour tricks like these would have any effect on me? The next set of crystals I attacked him with had more force and feeling behind them. He hit me with wind, an equally feeble effort. Then I moved in on him, striking him several times. Martial artist or no, he stood no chance against my speed and strength. 'I'm surprised you could capture any Cards at all with just that much magic.'

Then the foolish boy used Time. A moon-ruled Card. On me. Oddly enough, Time tried to resist me for a second before the Card's innate nature took over and I subdued it. Did that mean that Time had accepted the Li boy as master? I shrugged the thought aside and used Time's power against the Li boy, streaking behind him so fast that he didn't know where I was. 'Time is under my jurisdiction,' I said, freezing him in his tracks. 'This seems to be the end.'

I felt a moment of cold satisfaction at the defeat I saw in his eyes before I struck him one last time, sending him flying off the rooftop and out of the barrier.

My personal triumph over the Lis.

Ah, well, the boy didn't have the power to handle the Cards even if he could defeat me. I watched as Sakura ran over to him,

'Now we will have the official candidate.'

This time it was Sakura whose eyes glazed over. She drifted to a nearby building. I landed on a beam of Tokyo Tower, watching her. When she snapped out of the spell, she still looked dazed, as if she had just realised something of paramount importance.

It didn't matter.

I cast a second invisible spell, opening my mind to the Cards as I spoke. 'Cards created by Clow. There is one wishing to become your master. A girl chosen by Kerberos the Selector. Her name is Sakura.' I looked at the girl. She had never looked less warriorlike, more vulnerable, than she did at this moment. Her staff, the one Clow had made, shone with light. She nearly dropped it in her surprise.

I could feel the Cards listening.

'To see if she is truly worthy of being our master, I, Yue the Judge, will now conduct the Final Judgment.'

She mouthed my words, horrified.

Far below me, outside the barrier, I could hear snatches of conversation through my connection to Keroberos. The camera girl asked whether Yukito knew he wasn't human, and I listened as Keroberos said, 'No, that's not the case. Yue is the judge. He completely cut all ties between his disguise and his consciousness, so the candidate wouldn't sense him until the Last Judgement.'

Oh, if you only knew, I thought with dark amusement before I wrenched myself away from them and back to my duty. I was ready and so was she.

'Candidate for the new Master of the Clow Cards,' I addressed her formally. This was the real Judgment, the serious one. At the same time, I reached out to the Cards, and they left Sakura obediently, forming a protective layer around her. I focused a part of myself on them. Cards created by Clow. Do you accept this candidate as a potential for Master of the Clow Cards?

The reply returned immediately – yes – in forty-four voices.

So everything now rested upon Sakura.

'Now use the Clow Cards that you obtained and defeat me.'

She cried out that she couldn't, but I had no time to listen. 'Jump,' I commanded her. A summons. She repeated the word in a trance, striking the Card with her staff. She leaped from rooftop to rooftop, landing in a graceless heap a few metres away from me. She gasped out that she wouldn't fight me, that I was still Yukito.

I attacked her with my crystal shards and she ran, using Fly to escape from me. I followed her effortlessly, hitting her with my power, slamming her into the tower struts. Her reflexes were slowed by her humanity and her emotion, and she stood no chance against me. I felt curiously detached from myself, as if my body was acting independently. A part of me protested that she was only a child, that I was being too harsh; but she had Power, and Fight, and Sword with her; she could easily fight me if she chose to. If she was weak, one way or another, she would fail; and weakness of the emotions was the greatest weakness of all.

I could write a book about that.

She tried to use Wood against me, not wanting to hurt her precious Yukito. I heard Keroberos' panicked shout even as I turned the Card back on her, imprisoning her in a net of vines.

'Wood is a Card under the moon,' I said scornfully. Didn't she know the very basics of magic? 'You didn't even know that much? Then this is it. You have lost.The seal of the Cards will be released once again. And the catastrophe will befall this world.'

She protested, panicked denial as she realised what the catastrophe I spoke of truly was, struggling to free herself from the vines that trapped her. She nearly succeeded, so strong was the rush of fear and adrenalin in her. I raised an eyebrow.
'To think you would try to undo the magic that was reflected back to you. But I won't lose to someone like you.' I spoke the next words coldly, hurting myself as much as I hurt her. 'Only Clow Reed can defeat me.' And he was dead, gone, he had abandoned us and made us make such difficult decisions, such sacrifices, and for what? The satisfaction of a selfish desire that he could not even explain properly.

The vines spread over her, trapping her, concealing her from view. 'Everyone will forget the people they love,' I said flatly, activating the spell.

'Forget.'

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Sakura never noticed the effect my spell had, being the first to go under its influence. A wave of darkness extended from my hands, washing over everyone in the clearing, tendrils flying off to Tomoeda, erasing memories from Sakura's friends who weren't here, from her father as well. And within the square……

Keroberos. The Li boy. The camera girl. Near them, Touya, from his hidden perch. Sakura. And finally, the Cards themselves.

Its targets achieved, the spell returned to my hand and blind me to Clow. I relaxed, breathing out. An end to pain.

But it didn't stop there. Quick as light, before I could even wonder what it was doing, the spell reached into my own eyes as well, seeking out Yukito's consciousness. I struggled, but it was too late.

Everything was finished.

A/N: one long chapter to go. I'll post that up in a couple of days. Thanks to my reviewers! Didaskaleinophobia - tears stop yet? Or are you trying not to kill me for stopping here?

Niru