A/N: Step back and rewind to the chapter 'fore the chapter, to the beginning of the end, and watch as the story travels a different route. In other words: this is the ending I originally wrote. Think of it as my way of thanking you all for being so nice.
Chapter 21
The Aloof King
"Hey," Kurogane grumbled. "We don't have a lot of time- I know it's hard, kid, but we've gotta keep moving."
"Which way do we go from here?" Fai asked, making it a point not to look to the ground.
Syaoran pointed straight up, not trusting himself to speak, then pointed directly in front of him- the door was there, a fact Fai confirmed as he stepped over and closer.
A moment of silence passed, until Syaoran managed to pull himself to his feet and begin walking, shrugging the princess' hand off his back, keeping his eyes hidden under the fringe of his bangs.
"Are we not going to do anything about..." The magician asked, looking to the prone form laying on the ground.
Kurogane shook his head. "There's no time. Besides, carrying it would just slow us all down."
Fai looked back at the form laying prone on the ground, then back up to the princess and Kurogane. The princess nodded.
"Take your magic back. We'll need it," She whispered.
Fai nodded, and reached down, flinching at the grotesque way he'd need to reclaim his own eye. Everyone else made it a point not to watch, Syaoran trudging slowly toward the exit, Sakura watching the other teenager carefully, her eyes watering, but her look determined not to let the tears spill, Kurogane watching the doorway.
In mere moments, it was over, and he pulled the eyepatch from his face, blinking his crystalline blue eye, then closing it partly to allow it to adjust to the dim lighting. He stared at his hands, turned them over, but no other changes occurred. Half his magic apparently wasn't enough to turn him back from a vampire. He reached back down, and pulled the feather from the young boy's body, offering it to the Princess.
She sighed, and accepted it, stumbling as it merged with her chest, and the magician caught her before she could fall to the ground. Slowly, he led her to the section of wall Syaoran had disappeared through, and they found themselves at the foot of what appeared to be a nearly endless staircase.
Fai silently offered to assist the princess up the stairs and she accepted though she knew he was barely able to stand himself, watching Syaoran the entire time as he stood at the base of the stairs and stared straight up them.
"Are you ready for this fight?" Kurogane asked, his deep rumble of a voice shattering the pristine silence.
Syaoran took a deep breath, and turned to look back at them. "I've fought him once before, I know how powerful he is, and indeed he is incredibly strong... magically, at least- I never even got close enough to test his physical abilities, but he does carry a sword so I assume he knows how to use it." He looked back up the stairs. "If I had my choice, I wouldn't take any of the rest of you up there with me, but you're coming, aren't you?"
Kurogane shook his head. "This is the guy that killed my parents. I'm not letting him get away without taking a piece out of him. Hopefully more."
Fai stared at the stairs, tracing their trail as they wound far into the distance with his one eye. "My brother... my king... the curses... it's hisfault."
"It's his fault about the feathers as well," Sakura stated. "He started this whole scenario, it's up to us to finish it."
Syaoran watched them all again, searching them all with his amber gaze. "This is a trap, you know. He's incredibly familiar with all of our powers, all of our fighting abilities. We're in his world, we're surrounded by his power. We're at a severe disadvantage."
"Even so, we're going to do what we must," the magician said.
"Because we have to stop this..." Kurogane continued.
"Because enough has been ruined for whatever it is he hopes to do," Sakura stated.
Syaoran nodded, and turned for the staircase. He set one foot on the bottom step, and took a deep breath. "The dream must end."
-
Hours it seemed, they climbed the staircase, and it ended with them in a long hallway, lined with doors.
"He's trying to exhaust us," Kurogane said, and looked at Syaoran. "Take it easy, kid. Don't push too hard."
The brunette nodded assent, carefully prying open one of the doors to peek inside. Empty.
Door by door they checked, until Kurogane finally came upon one that led to yet another upwards twisting staircase.
"You know," Fai said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile despite the serious circumstances. "I do fear we're going to be very tired of seeing stairs before this adventure is over."
The staircase led to another long hallway, though this one contained only one door, and by the time they had reached the door, all were breathing heavily from their exertion, their legs weak from so much climbing.
"I hope for his sake that door doesn't lead to another staircase," Kurogane growled.
Syaoran shook his head. "The magic's too strong behind it. That may be it. Is everyone prepared? This is going to push you all to your limits, and possibly beyond." He sighed. "I only wish Eriol could've come with us..."
Everyone nodded to him and he turned toward the door, taking deep breaths, fighting off the weariness tugging at the edges of his consciousness. The door opened of its own accord long before they reached it, and they stepped through to find Fei Wong Reed himself sitting on his throne, staring disinterestedly into his viewing portal.
His cold blue eyes turned from the round object to the ragtag group standing before him, specifically at Syaoran, leading them all, sword held at the ready.
The wizard stood, his long black robes adorned with his bat emblem rustling, the only sound to accompany the travelers recovering their breaths after the long climb to the top.
"You've killed my precious creation," He said, voice as impassive as the clone's as he stared at Syaoran.
The young man narrowed his eyes in response. "I said once I'd protect Sakura... the Princess. Even if that meant from the one she loved most."
"You'd even save her from herself? How about from you?" Fei Wong Reed reached into the folds at the front of his cape. "Were I her, I wouldn't trust your protection. We see how well you guarded... the other Sakura..." And from the folds he pulled a long, pink wand, the top of which adorned with a pair of wings and a star in the center of a circle. Blood spattered the star, the handle, and seemed to be gathered at the bottom end as though dipped into blood like a quill.
Syaoran's face fell, and suddenly he looked like the bottom had just dropped out of his reality.
"Stay strong, kid," Kurogane stated, stepping forward, his own sword at the ready. "If you let him into your mind, you've let him win."
Fai stepped up on the other side of Syaoran, hand at the ready to cast a magic spell. "And he's not the only one protecting the princess. She's got Kurogane and I as well."
"A mad, murderous ninja and someone willing to throw away their own brother's life to save themself," Fei Wong stopped, turning to look at them. "I wouldn't trust either of you... and yet she does, foolishly."
"We've been through too much together for me not to- I've seen them all at their weakest and strongest moments," Sakura retorted, voice strong. "I've watched them change... and I know... I know what's in their hearts."
"They are weak and petty... but you would not believe me, would you? You might think you know of their true selves, but you will be proven wrong; that you know nothing of these men, and what you don't know will be your downfall. I will show you, when they break, folding under my strength, my truth, that you trusted the wrong people," Fei Wong stated, and drew his sword, throwing the wand to the side.
Kurogane snarled at the sight of it, readying his sword, glaring the sorcerer down. "So it was you..."
"Of course," Fai stated. "Though its rare for a puppet master to appear so quickly. Have you run out of toys?"
Fei Wong laughed then, a harsh, superior bark, and smiled at them all. "No, for I possess the two most powerful puppets of all. However, why should I use them if I know I can merely end this under my own power? I don't have time to play games."
"Nor do I," Syaoran retorted. "So let's end this."
"First, I must take my prize... well cultured, I see, though perhaps not fully ready. It will have to be enough," The sorcerer said, and everyone turned to Sakura as she cried out, some invisible force lifting her into the air. She began drifting toward him, but a moment later, whatever had grabbed her was severed by a strong gust of power, white and green wind wrapping around her form and pulling her back to the group of travelers. She hit the ground and stumbled backward, right into Syaoran.
"She's staying with us," the young man stated, holding his sword across them both, supporting the princess' weight with his left arm.
"So you have grown much more powerful than the last time we fought," Fei Wong Reed said, not sounding surprised. "But you cannot fight me forever." He raised his hand, and a single character flashed red.
Syaoran let the princess go, and she caught herself as he leapt in front of everyone, summoning a barrier of wind to stop the attack. Fire hit the shield, spraying in every which direction, blown about by the wind, until it finally dispersed and the attack ended. The wind shield also fell, and Syaoran was left panting, trying to regain his breath after that one attack.
"You know his attacks?" Fai said, placing a hand on Syaoran's shoulder to steady him.
The young man nodded. "Yes, it's all Chinese writing. I can read it to know what's coming, but I can't tell how powerful it's going to be."
"Much like how it is with my magic," Fai said, readying his hands. "What else can you tell me?"
"He's a master of Clow Reed's magical properties: Clow blended Eastern and Western magic- elemental magic and spells not based in elements, and so his repertoire is large. I... unfortunately can only lay claim to the Eastern portion of Clow's magic; most of what I know of the Western half are defensive things... binding spells... spells used for finding things... and even of the techniques of the Eastern magic I can use, only four elements are in any way powerful: Lightning, Wind, Fire, and Water. I can't use Earth, Metal, or Wood to much of any effect," Syaoran whispered to the mage, trying not to let Fei Wong hear any of it, though he knew their opponent was already aware of his weaknesses.
"And yet, from your explanation, it sounds like this 'Western' magic you speak of is much like mine," Fai replied, and Syaoran nodded. "Therefore, you fight with your best elements, and I will fight with my magic. Together, we might just be able to match him as between us we can channel both sides."
Fei Wong held his hand out, and symbols poured from it, turning about to wrap around his form, circling slowly. One suddenly grew larger, throwing itself out in the front, glowing yellow.
"Move!" Syaoran commanded, and everyone jumped out of the way as thunder cracked and the air buzzed with electricity and a lightning spell crashed between them all, blowing a hole in the wall behind them.
"He's just playing..." Kurogane grumbled, slowly shifting his position to the side, strafing in a circle to get towards the sorcerer's blind spot. He was caught by a wind from seemingly nowhere, and thrown effortlessly back to where his companions stood. The ninja growled and reclaimed his feet.
"We need to punch a hole in his magical defenses..." Syaoran noted, backing up slightly. "Physically is where we can win this fight."
A stream of characters struck out like a snake, and Syaoran raised his sword to deflect it. The letters wrapped around the blade of his sword and forcefully ripped it from his hands, sending it flying to the ground. The ribbon-like energy whipped back for Syaoran, and he met it with a fierce lightning attack. It hesitated for a moment, then broke right through the lightning, wrapping around the young man's throat and lifting him off the ground. He kicked and flailed, wrapping his hands around the burning magic, and attempting to pry it free.
Fai drew several characters and sent them to Kurogane; they wrapped around the ninja's sword, the blade glowing green, and he brought it down onto the ribbon. Sparks flew, and he growled with effort, until finally his sword broke through the bonds between the letters, and Syaoran fell to the ground, gasping for air.
"I see you finally realize the hopelessness of your situation..." Fei Wong said, mockingly.
Kurogane growled and charged, Fai behind him, casting a spell to aid his charge. The wind picked up again, but this time the ninja sliced right through it, again and again, until he finally hit the barrier of letters circling about the sorcerer. He brought his sword down as though to cut through it again, but it deflected him, violently, letters lashing out, piercing through his skin and body, picking him up and sending him backward until he the ground and stumbled, bleeding from numerous small, but deep stab wounds.
And suddenly Syaoran was there, leaping over the ninja's prone form, trying to take the sorcerer by surprise. For a moment, it looked like it would work, until the symbol for lightning appeared, right near Syaoran's torso, and with a violent flash of light, he too was cast aside. He landed gripping his stomach, fighting the violent, involuntary shaking of his muscles from the sudden electrical surge.
Again and again they charged, again and again they were deflected, coming away more exhausted, more wounded than before, and Fei Wong seemed to be none the worse for wear.
"Retreat now," the man stated, summoning up another stream of characters. "And you will all live- I am only after one thing..."
Syaoran stood, glaring the sorcerer down. "Bringing someone back to life..." He grunted, nearly falling back to his knees. "Is impossible! Even if you go back to the moment of their death, something will always happen."
"What would you know of these things, Xiao Lang?" the man said, the tiniest hint of anger touching his voice.
"I know... I know very well that the universe must remain in balance," He squeezed his eyes shut against another wave of muscle contractions, before staring down the older man before him. "And bringing someone back, defying their ultimate fate, it can't happen. Everyone... everyone will die one day. Death is a part of life. One day you will die, Fei Wong, for even if you can travel back in time using the princess' wings, time will continue to march on for you. I'll die some day, as will everyone else here. It happens, why try to fight it? Are you so weak you can't move on, can't accept and lay to rest the pain in your heart?!"
Fei Wong curled his lip at the young man, displeasure evident on his features. "You know nothing, Xiao Lang! Nothing! My dream will not only be able to bring those gone back, it will make me immortal!"
He looked at the princess. "Those wings... they won't make her immortal. They might extend her life span, as Fai's magic has, as your magic has, but they too will fade one day."
"And the power will be lost... will become useless... when I could easily make it so much more..." the older man said, looking up toward the sky.
"Wrong. Magic is inheritable, you've seen that," Syaoran retorted. "You are proof of that; I'm proof of that; Kinomoto is proof of that."
"But none of us," Fei Wong said. "Are as powerful as Clow." He waved his hand, and sent another attack at Syaoran. The fight was on again.
The young man avoided it once, once again, and then it caught him and threw him down. Another attack was sent out, and he raised his shield, this time being joined by several of Fai's letters, strengthening the shield. It held against the attack well, and as they both faded, Syaoran was running back for his sword.
Fei Wong frowned, tossing out attack after attack, which were either dodged or deflected by Fai and Syaoran's combined magics, until the young man had his sword once more.
He rolled out of it almost out of Fei Wong's peripheral vision, and the man turned toward him, putting Fai out of his range of vision. The corner of the magician's lips upturned, and he began preparing for an offensive spell.
Syaoran ran again, trying to turn the sorcerer's back to Kurogane as well, and the ninja, reading his intent, began slowly edging toward the mage. Another magical attack, another combined magical defensive, barely weathering the cripplingly powerful attack. The amber eyed young man stopped this time standing over the discarded star wand. Fei Wong's eyebrows edged up, almost as though surprised that had been his original destination.
The teenager picked the staff up, and paused as he felt the blood on the handle, tacky, gooey, but not yet fully dried. The magic tingled up his arm, into his body, and again he felt that warm, spring breeze that was his Sakura's power gently wrapping about his own, twining with it. He opened his eyes, and looked at his opponent, calm, but joy burned in his eyes, raised the edge of his lip up into something of a sideways smile.
"She's still alive..." he whispered, and hugged the staff to his chest.
Fei Wong grunted annoyance, and strung together several of his most powerful spells, sending them out in one long attack for both parties. Fai raised his guard, surrounding himself, Kurogane and the Princess with the most powerful defensive spell he knew. It barely withstood the sheer force of the magic, cracking and finally breaking at the end, leaving both he and Kurogane sprawled out on the ground. He jerked his head up to see how the weakened Syaoran was faring, and found him not only still standing, but with a shield that weathered attack after attack after brutally powerful attack.
"How is she helping you when she's not even here?!" Fei Wong bellowed, his calm exterior cracking.
"Oh, she is," Syaoran stated, watching as the wand turned back into its smaller, key form, and snatching it out of the air. He turned to look back into the darkness in the distance. "She's a lot closer than you want me to believe." His gaze turned to Fai, his eyes narrowed, and he looked as though he wanted to say something, but refrained from it. The magician pointedly kept his gaze fixed on Fei Wong.
Syaoran raised his sword, and charged, clapping the key together with the handle. He deflected one attack, two, three attacks until he was close enough to strike physically. He swung, hard, and felt the force of the shield protecting the sorcerer as a thing which jarred him to his bones. But still he pressed on, the key pulsing against his hand, helping to fill in the magic he had exhausted.
Fei Wong's shield cracked under the pressure, but Syaoran was thrown backward before he could do any more damage to it. He landed easily, and deflected the next attack as it was sent at him. His opponent growled angrily.
"I want to know... how this is possible- you're drawing on her magic!" he said, blue eyes narrowing coldly at Syaoran.
The young man smiled back. "It's something we learned a while back. We're both descendants of Clow. And we're both very close." He readied himself to go on the offensive, his magical circle spreading between his feet- an exact replica of his Lashin Board. "So our magics can combine." He smiled a challenge. "Don't you wish you had someone to do that with?" He held his sword vertically in front of him. "RAITEI SHOURAI!"
The lightning crashed forward, meeting Fei Wong's counterattack, and the two warred against each other for a split second before both magic sources were cut and the attacks faded.
"When did you find out you could do that?" The sorcerer asked casually, trying to seem as though he wasn't fascinated by the act.
"A while ago," was Syaoran's only answer as he attacked again, though in his mind he could still remember the night vividly.
Magic... her magic outside his apartment... the balcony...
Once again lightning clashed and collided against each other, though this time Syaoran charged, hoping to take Fei Wong by surprise. It almost worked.
She was shaking cold, and crying... crying... for Mizuki-sensei. He knew of the news- she'd been hit by a truck, or at least that was the story given to the public. It reeked of something else.
His sword hit the sorcerer's shield again, and though he was tossed away again, this time Kurogane followed on his heels, taking the shield from behind. Another crack formed before the ninja was tossed away, caught by Fai. The black-robed man frowned deeply, trying to find a position in which he could keep an eye on both groups, and failing.
He'd opened the sliding glass door, and she'd grabbed him, hugged him, sobbed against his chest. He'd felt something then... but he couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was. He inquired about her reason: She couldn't bring herself to go home, to see her brother, heartbroken as she knew he'd be; he'd heard the news first, she'd heard it from a worried Yukito.
Wind swirled around Fei Wong Reed, fire joining it until it was a fiery vortex, one that exploded outwards and forced all of the travelers back on the defensive. This time, Fai's shield held, but just barely, allowing for both he and Kurogane to launch a counterattack.
"Sy-... Syaoran-kun... can I sleep with you tonight?" She'd asked. His answer had been an incoherent something akin to 'EHHHH?!'. "No... not... I just... want to be close to you..." Her clarification didn't ease him.
This time, it was Fai against Fei Wong, the two character-based magics colliding in a shower of sparks and power. Fai's magic began to waver, and Syaoran took his opportunity. It was his shot at attacking the man from the back. His sword slashed hard once, twice, three times, taking chunks from the letters circling the sorcerer, weakening the shield, but still it wasn't enough, and he was caught by surprise- a sudden fire attack which left him sprawled on his back some twenty or more feet from the sorcerer, disoriented.
Her skin was cool from her flight over to his house despite the incredible warmth between them... or perhaps that was just him blushing, feeling her warm breath on his chest, lingering on the shirt he wore even as the stream of air stopped and continued suddenly with her hiccuping sobs. He could do nothing but squeeze his eyes shut and press his nose into her hair; to simply be there for her...
Another attack, one right after the other, led by Syaoran, though this time they were all deflected before even approaching range to strike the man's basic shield- he was catching on to their strategy, it was time for another switch.
"Syaoran-kun..." "Hm?" "Tell me a story..." "... Ah... ehh... I-... I don't really know any in Japanese, but I could try to transl-" "It's fine if it's not Japanese... I just need something to keep my mind off of all the sad things it keeps going back to..." "Uh..." Panic. Panic. Panic. What was he going to tell her? Something simple, something he knew right off the top of his head. The Zodiac story! No, she knew that... but... she didn't know Chinese, so maybe she wouldn't be able to tell...
Fei Wong was on the offensive this time, forcing Kurogane away from Fai, forcing the magician to try to erect two different shields as Syaoran was otherwise occupied being on the receiving end of the most powerful attacks to help. Another mad charge from the young swordsman, and this time the sorcerer actually caught him with a strange spell, one which whipped through the air, grabbed him, and threw him into the far wall, before lashing at him like a whip, cutting deeply into his skin until he finally regained enough of his sense to raise his shield.
And with every word he spoke, he felt her calm... and something tingling along his skin that was anything but physical sensation... until finally she sighed and her power washed over him, into him, finally relaxed. He answered silently, meeting her magical energy with his own, pushing back gently until the two seemed to pause for a breathless moment, and then split apart, twining around each other in a way that made them both stiffen in surprise.
She'd disappeared the next week... and I never felt that power again...
"Enough of this," Fei Wong stated, his voice impatient. He looked straight at Syaoran, but a second later, branches or vines of some sort burst from the ground beneath Fai, wrapping around the magician's extremities, lifting him high into the air. Both Kurogane and Syaoran paused as their opponent stopped them with a single look. "Playing time is over, this needs to end now. Stand down and hand over the princess, or I kill all of you, one by one, starting with this magician."
Still Syaoran and Kurogane stood firm, unmoving, unyielding. Behind the sorcerer Fai desperately tried to move his hands, to summon magic, but the binds of the wood were too strong.
"Do you think I jest?" Fei Wong said, and the branches twisted until something cracked and Fai cried out in pain.
Kurogane snarled and made a dash for the wood, only to be caught by a swirling vortex of magical symbols, ones that left him dripping blood all over the ground, staggering at the sudden influx of pain he felt. But still he pressed on, slower this time, but still deliberate, until he finally brought his sword down into the wood before him, hacking away, wood chips flying in every which direction. And there was Sakura, the princess, right next to him, trying to pry the wood apart with every ounce of strength in her lithe body.
Syaoran's eyes narrowed, staring at the vines which now began to expand outward as though to pull the magician apart. Another magical attack lashed out, this time hitting Kurogane hard enough he was sent flying into the princess, and they both crashed against the far wall. Something definitely broke on their impact, and the teenager felt his stomach leap at the sound.
"RAITEI SHOURAI!" He cried, sending his magic crashing into the binding wood around Fai. The wood cracked and creaked, but still didn't give out, and something hard and heavy caught Syaoran in the gut, sending him tumbling end over end across the floor.
Time froze as everyone's attention was suddenly on the magician, ignoring the sneering Fei Wong as the sorcerer turned back. "If I say I will do something, I will keep my word."
The branches twisted and writhed, bending and twisting the magician in directions human bodies were never meant to go. Syaoran tried to gain his feet, tried to muster his magic for another attempt at saving his friend. Kurogane as well struggled to stand up, his numerous wounds slowing his progress, his distance disheartening.
A single note pierced the air, pure and shrill- a whistle- and suddenly magical symbols erupted all around the wood holding Fai, slowing the movements of the branches and vines, one even slipped from his arm and he managed to fight off it grabbing him again.
Everyone's breaths caught in their chests at the sight. He would free himself, and the fight could resume.
Until the branch that had slipped from his arm suddenly shot out and caught him on the throat. The woods gave one mighty heave, and the spell around them shattered, and with the sound of the magic breaking came another sound; one which rose bile in the back of everyone's throats.
It was the wet, crushing, snapping sound of Fai D. Flourite being ripped in half.
"FAI-SAN!" The princess screamed, though her voice was airy from having the wind knocked out of her.
The magical branches all disappeared, and the two halves of the magician fell separately, hitting the ground with a nasty splatting noise.
Silence- perfect, pristine, virgin silence fell in the wake of that final impact. Everyone stood stunned, numb at the sight of glistening, exposed spine, of trailing intestines, of shining blood, of the twisted and gnarled wreck of a figure that had once been a human being. Had once been their friend.
Kurogane bellowed; feral, enraged, anguished. And he charged, charged right through the magical letters that pierced his body, exiting in a small spray of blood, slicing through the lightning spell, not even bothering to pause at the surge of electricity that seized his muscles.
"Kurogane-san stop!" The princess begged. "Stop, or you'll die as well!"
Syaoran couldn't move, couldn't hear anything around him but the pulsing of his own heart in his ears, and at the one phrase that screamed through his mind.
I failed...
"Syaoran-kun! Stop him!"
He continued to stare, as though fascinated by the expanding sanguine puddle.
I... failed...
Two streams of letters caught the ninja, piercing through his shoulders, lifting him off the ground and suspending him there, motionless, as a trio of lance-shaped spells lanced through Kurogane's torso, fading, only to do it again.
"Syaoran-kun, please! Save him!" The princess was sobbing now, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I... failed..." He mumbled out loud.
"Syaoran-kun!"
"I failed!"
Kurogane struggled against the bounds, eyes blazing red, grunting and growling and cursing like a madman.
You haven't failed anything yet.
He blinked and looked down into his hand, at the tiny key which resided there. It had ceased pulsing, ceased its warmth.
"Failing... would be to give up..." He looked to the princess, who smiled in relief despite the situation around them, to Kurogane, who was quickly losing his hold on consciousness, and finally to Fai's body, prone and unmoving, then back to the key, which sent one small wave of power into his arm. He clenched his hand over it and brought it up to his lips. "You're right. I should do what I teach."
One final bout of lightning, and Kurogane was sent flying, limp through the air. He landed next to Sakura, who quickly rushed over to his side, checking for vital signs.
Fei Wong turned back to Syaoran, blue eyes narrowed coldly. "There is but one left."
Syaoran raised his sword, standing his ground firmly.
"You think you could win this battle alone, Xiao Lang?" the sorcerer asked, and the teenager glared.
"This dream must come to an end, Fei Wong Reed," the young swordsman stated in reply.
The sorcerer's eyes narrowed, and he launched an attack. Syaoran jumped to the side, again, and again, before being cut off by another attack. This time he jumped up and rolled into a backflip in midair, landing on the ground only to continue dodging and running, all the while his mind raced for a plan to get inside the sorcerer's powerful defenses. An attack caught him, slamming into his stomach, his face, and sent him flying across the room until he rolled to a stop near Sakura.
He heard her whisper his name, but he was on his feet and running again before she could do or say anything else. This time, he actually attempted a charge, but the sorcerer caught him again, beat him soundly with magic, and tossed him away.
On his feet again, squinting against the blood that tried to run into his eye. He'd need both of them for this battle. Another charge, which ended the same way.
"Three of you were bothersome," Fei Wong stated simply. "But just the one? This battle is simple. Alone you are nothing, Xiao Lang."
The teenager just glared in return, wiping blood and sweat from his forehead, drawing his split and bleeding lip into his mouth and tasting his own blood. Off again for another attempt, sending spells and physical attacks after the sorcerer. Again he was repelled, painfully, forced to retreat behind his wind shield to avoid taking further damage.
This was hopeless... and yet he had to try again.
The fourth time he was tossed back over to the princess, and as he stood up, he felt a weight bowl into him from behind, a pair of slender arms wrap around his torso.
"Stop it, Syaoran! You're trying to fight him alone," She whispered fiercely into his back.
"Who else is here that can fight? Kurogane is dying, Fai is dead," he spat out the last words like they tasted bad. "What other choice do I have?"
"You could let us help you... let all of us help you. Yours isn't the only fate hanging in the balance here... and..." She squeezed him tighter. "You're not alone! Everyone... everyone's trying to help you... so... let them help!"
He blinked and looked around, to find Kurogane approaching from his side, slapping him heavily on the shoulder with his real arm, using his mechanical one to keep his stomach in place. "They're trying to help...?" He looked back over toward where Fai lay, and had to squint against the ethereal light he saw. There was the magician, standing over his own dead body, watching Fei Wong with his two-colored eyes. Next to the magician stood what appeared to be an exact copy of him, though this one looked younger, and had both his piercing blue eyes- the real Fai.
"Hyuu... Syaoran-kuunnn. You've got yourself into something of a dilemma this time," Fai... Yuui stated, and his brother continued to stare at the man. "I'm just glad you can see beyond the realm of the living. We'd like to move on, but we've got something we have to do."
"Will you help us?" the real Fai stated and Yuui laughed.
"Of course he will, as long as we help him, right? Go get 'im, Syaoran-kun. Everyone's rootin' for you!" Yuui continued. "Everyone! Can't you feel them?"
Syaoran closed his eyes, his senses expanding outward, and immediately he felt himself pulled in several directions at once.
Mother...
Sitting alone in a large room, eyes closed, head bowed. She was meditating.
Yuuko...
Standing in her own room, surrounded by her magical circle. She looked right up at him, eyes red and as impassive as they always were. "About time you figured this whole thing out." Then lowered her own head.
Kero and Yue...
Alone together in Penguin Park in their true forms. Above them, the evening sky stretched- the setting sun next to a midday full moon.
Eriol...
In his mansion somewhere in the England of Syaoran's home world, sitting in the large chair; the only thing besides the books he'd brought from his mansion in Tomoeda. Before him, a fire roared, and fog swirled thick beyond the large window of his study. He too kept his eyes closed, and his magic circle glowed beneath him.
Sakura...
The key in his hand pulsed, and he held it up to his chest, even as he felt the arms around his torso hold him closer. Both powers swirled about each other, around him, through him, joining the dozens of other magical signatures he could feel.
"What is this power...?" Fei Wong Reed queried, watching, unable to move as Syaoran's magic circle spread around the teenager's feet, lifting him from the ground. Growling, he tried to attack, but his spell was deflected easily.
The princess' grip around his middle loosened as she and Kurogane stepped behind him as the different segments separated from each other, from the Yin-Yang under him, and suddenly snapped upright into the air around him, slowly rotating. In the place of each of the circles bearing the character for an element, each circle held its own magic circle- the magic circles of all those who could and would help.
Syaoran slowly cracked his eyes open, watching as the different panels slid across his vision.
A sun with a smaller moon in a circle... Eriol... or was it Clow Reed?
The same symbol but with a large moon in place of the sun... His family's power... the power of the priest back in Clow Country.
A strange set of letters, less a magical circle than a written spell...Fai.
A pair of stylized wings... Princess Sakura.
A large star with a sun and moon on either side... Sakura Kinomoto.
The other three... His eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't know what the other three were, and, he noted, Yuuko's symbol was missing.
"That would be beyond the limits of my interfering. I can merely watch, and assist with words and prayers for good fortune."
Syaoran closed his eyes and nodded. "And the rest?"
"Bonds forged that cannot be broken, with people whose magic power is not enough to warrant their own symbol."
"You see and understand now."
"Don't fight alone, Syaoran-kun. That's not the way to win."
"He's not alone. He'll never be alone."
"So kid, now that you know this... do you believe it yet?"
"Believe...?"
"The Invincible Spell, kid!"
His vision snapped open, his sword held out in front of him, feeling more magic coursing through him than he'd ever felt before- ever known himself to be able to possess. His voice was calm and confident, completely sure of the words it uttered. "Everything will surely be alright."
"What?" Fei Wong asked, stepping back, flinching at the power which crackled in the air around the young man before him.
"And why's that?"
Amber eyes narrowed, directing all of his hate, his sorrow, every negative emotion he'd ever experienced during his capture, travels, and trials at the sorcerer ahead of him. Then he blinked and it was all gone- back to a calm, assertive, and serious facade. "Because this dream will end."
Fei Wong grimaced, pulling his sword finally, and stood his ground. Magic lashed out, but the symbols circling Syaoran suddenly sped until they stopped on the star between the sun and moon- and suddenly wind swirled to life about not only Syaoran but his two companions as well, shielding them easily from the powerful attack.
Power flared, the Yin-Yang disappeared, and he dropped to the ground running, his sword drawn, ready for an attack. The stylized wings aligned directly in front of him and suddenly he seemed lighter, quicker, much like he did the few times he'd utilized the Dash card. Fei Wong continued to viciously strike with attack after brutal attack, but each was deflected by the wind shield effortlessly.
Then he leaped, bouncing once and finally up into the air, much higher than he'd ever known he could jump. Clow's symbol flashed before him, before turning red and twining scarlet flame around the blade of his sword. He brought it above his head then swung down, hard. The sword caught on the shield, and sparks flew as the two magics warred violently against each other.
A sound like nearby thunder, and Fei Wong's shield cracked. Then again. Then again. Until finally he was able to repel his attacker. Syaoran flipped neatly in midair, and landed easily on his feet, completely unphased by being tossed through the air. Another attack from Fei Wong Reed, another easy deflection by the wind that swirled around the teenager, rustling his hair.
"His shield is weak. Finish it."
"Finish him."
"Finish this."
Syaoran slammed the point of his sword into the ground, and held his right hand before him, palm forward, fingers splayed- his left clutched the Key. The Yin-Yang appeared, centered on his palm, and suddenly the panels surrounding him aligned back to their center point, but remained separate, and remained rotating. Lightning sparked between the panels and the Yin-Yang.
Fei Wong tried another attack, but it swirled, absorbed into the Yin-Yang and made the circle with two moons glow a deep purple-blue. "What's going on here?!" The sorcerer looked shocked and for the first time, afraid.
"He'll never get it, will he? That old fool."
One after the other, the remaining circles glowed separate colors, brighter and brighter until their original shapes faded and all that was left was a circle of pure color and of pure power.
"RAITEI"
Fei Wong Reed raised his sword, trying to repair the cracks in his shield, fortifying his defenses against the attack Syaoran was going to hit him with.
"SHOURAI!"
The panels suddenly converged on the central Yin-Yang, while white light filled the entire arena, forcing all but Syaoran to avert their eyes against the painful glare, while sound like a sonic implosion beat against their eardrums in a wave of deafening static.
When finally their eyes had cleared, the ninja and the princess found Syaoran, bent over, panting in exhaustion, hand still up though the magic circle had faded, a mixture of blood and sweat dripping from his nose and chin; and Fei Wong, leaning heavily against the wall, his sword little more than charred and twisted metal, his monocle broken, his clothing in tatters, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. Unfortunately, the sorcerer was still alive.
"I... didn't think your power had grown this much, Xiao Lang," the older man panted raggedly, trying and failing to stand on his own power, finally resulting to something that a few moments ago would have seemed beneath his dignity- climbing up the wall, leaving bloody hand prints as he finally brought himself to his feet.
Syaoran stood straight, and wiped his forehead with his left hand, trying to ignore the painful surging in his veins that signified the exhaustion of his magic.
"Though... you were being helped, were you not?" He looked over to the body of Fai, and narrowed his eyes. "I knew... you wouldn't be able to win under your own power... you are... just that weak."
The teenager narrowed his eyes in annoyance, face drawing into a displeased look.
"And that you weren't powerful enough to kill me is so... unfortunate for you..." The sorcerer raised his hand at the twisted and bloodied corpse. Something glowed softly, emerging rectangular.
Syaoran stared at the magician's ghost, and was met eye to eye- gold and blue against twin brown.
"I'm sorry Syaoran-kun. I'm very sorry..."
He looked back, curious as to what the magician meant, and watched as the light took the form of a book. A pink, leather-bound book.
"Fai-san... what did you do...?" The princess whispered, staring at the ethereal figure looming over his own dead body.
"... I..." He fell silent and stared down pointedly at the bloody, twisted corpse on the ground.
"What's going on?" Kurogane grunted, now kneeling as he continued to clutch his stomach. Sakura knelt next to him, lightly resting her hand on his shoulder.
"Syaoran-kun's going to need our help..." The princess replied. "And soon."
"I'll do what I can, but what's going to happen?"
"The Card Captor is here..."
Syaoran stared at Fei Wong as the man opened the book, pulling out a card, and turning it toward his opponent- The Dream. Characters surrounded the card, merging with each other until the card was trapped in a black cocoon.
"You saw this in a dream?" The ninja whispered, and the princess of Clow nodded.
"I saw several possibilities as to how this could end," She replied, keeping her voice low. "To make sure no one else will have to die..." And she cast a glance at Fai's body, then to his ghost who smiled kindly back at her. "I'm not sure how we'll do it, but we need to help."
A scream echoed through the room, again, and again, and Syaoran bent over, clutching the sides of his head, trying to block out the sound which echoed in his mind as loudly as his ears.
The teenager suddenly jerked his hand up, staring at the key in it as it pulsed again- this time cold and painful, like it was sending shards of ice up his arm. It pulsed suddenly, and he dropped the key as reflex to the pain. It clinked against the ground, and then was gone.
Fei Wong Reed laughed. "I told you I had two of the most powerful puppets at my disposal. The first being your little magician friend. And the other..."
"The key which holds the power of the stars..."
Syaoran went ramrod straight, and the princess suddenly looked to the space behind him, previously unoccupied another figure now stood, dripping blood from deep cuts across her face, her arms, her wrists. She was standing as though something was wrong with her left leg, but didn't seem to be aware of the pain.
Slowly, the young swordsman began to turn around-
"Syaoran-kun! Don't!" The princess yelled, her face now ghastly white at the image of the girl before her; a reflection of herself, perhaps a year or two younger, battered and bruised. He stopped. "Don't turn around! Keep your eyes on Fei Wong, and when I tell you to duck, duck!"
"RELEASE!" Power flared, and the key returned to the staff it had been previously.
The book in Fei Wong Reed's hand glowed, then shot past Syaoran, coming to a stop just before the girl with the wand.
"Sword!" Her voice echoed, hoarse and abused as though still recovering from long hours of screaming, and both the princess and Syaoran winced, though he continued to keep his gaze forward.
Footsteps tapped in rapid suggestion as the other Sakura charged his back, closer and closer, until she readied her sword.
"Duck!"
And he did, dropping into a crouch as the sword cut through the air where his head previously had been, he lashed out backward with his foot, squeezing his eyes shut as he felt it connect with the person behind him, and felt them topple into him. He bent, twisted, and rolled over, planting his feet in her stomach, using their momentum to send his assailant over his head and into the ground.
He brought himself back to his feet, eyes still closed as the Princess had told him- he would trust her on this, but fighting blind would be difficult.
"Hey, kid, you saw what I taught the other kid," Kurogane called. "Use it!" He bent over and coughed, blood spattering on the ground from his lips. Sakura's eyebrows drew together in worry- his condition was getting worse.
The Card Captor charged again, and Syaoran raised his sword to defend against the onslaught, blow after blow he narrowly deflected or guarded against, forcing his eyes to remain shut and not look at the one in front of him now, though his heart fought against his resolve, wanting him to look up. He fought the urge back with the knowledge there was something probably very wrong- something that would cause him to hesitate, and that could lead to disaster.
"Syaoran-kun!" The princess called. "Lead her over here - follow the sound of my voice, I think I've got an idea as to how we can end this fight."
"What's causing her to be like this?" he grunted, dodging and ducking a pair of violent, quick slashes.
"I'm not sure- but she looks like her mind's not all there... or she's really tired..." The princess began, trailing off thoughtfully. She tried to remember when it seemed this whole situation started... Syaoran had hit Fei Wong, the sorcerer had pulled the book from Fai and-
She stiffened and gasped. "I know what it is! He's got her trapped in a nightmare. Remember what he did to that Dream card?"
Across the battleground, Fei Wong Reed frowned deeply, annoyed at their quick realization. He fought to keep his hold on the Dream Card, forcing what very little was left of his magic onto the Card Captor's mind, keeping it under his spell.
Syaoran nodded, continuing to give ground toward the princess. "A nightmare... we just need to wake her up then?"
"That might be easier said than done," Sakura replied. She blinked as she watched her battered other self pause. "Stop, Syaoran-kun." He did so, standing stiff and alert as he waited to see what his opponent would do. No one dared move, not wanting to distract him.
Slowly, the Master of the Clow raised her hands to her head, squeezing her eyes shut, clenching the sides of her skull and shaking her head violently. Blood flew from her hair and spattered on the ground, causing the princess to wince in sympathetic pain. In the distance, Fei Wong Reed grunted, struggling to maintain his control over the girl.
Syaoran squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, face contorting with the effort not to look forward, see what was conflicting the girl he was truly in love with. The Princess debated in her mind, once, twice, then decided on it, standing up suddenly.
The Card Captor screamed then, shaking her head again. "Don't! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" And thrust forward with her sword- not at Syaoran, but at the other Sakura. The princess of Clow jerked out of the way, feeling the sharp edge of the sword slice into the hairs of her side bangs as the cold metal of the sword glinted a scant inch from her nose. She rushed forward, grabbing the hand that held the sword and wincing as the other girl screamed again. "Let me go! Let me go please!"
Still she pressed on, stumbling to a halt directly behind her self from another world, holding her elbow at what must have been an uncomfortable angle, but she didn't want anyone stabbed. "Syaoran-kun! Brace yourself! And point your sword to the side!"
He took a half step back and twisted his wrist so the point wasn't facing directly in front of him. The Princess lowered her center of gravity, pushing her shoulder against the other girl's spine, between her shoulder blades, and then shoved forward, stumbling as she did so with her inability to use her right leg. Both girls plowed into Syaoran, and he surprisingly held both of their weights easily.
The Card Captor screamed again, and struggled violently, trying to tear her sword-hand from the princess' grip.
"Syaoran-kun! Hold her still!" The princess commanded, hoping she would be heard over the din the other Sakura was making.
He nodded, wrapping his arms around the younger Sakura's shoulders, pinning her arms to her sides. She struggled again, kicking and flailing, forcing the princess to grab her legs and hold her steady. The princess winced as she felt the way the other girl's left leg popped and ground against its hip socket. Either the leg was partially dislocated, or her hip was broken; and she couldn't feel any of it.
Still the screaming and fighting continued, with seemingly no progress made until Kurogane finally limped up, grabbing the back of the Card Captor's head and pushing her face against Syaoran's shoulder.
"Wh- what are you doing?!" The teenager asked, still managing to keep his eyes closed.
"Scent is the strongest sense tied to memory," the ninja answered, his voice raised to be heard over the screaming. "Even if she doesn't recognize your presence or the sound of your voice, the scent should be enough."
Syaoran nodded, and pushed forward, bringing his own nose close to the junction of her neck and shoulder and inhaling deeply. There it was- that springtime, floral aroma that was hers and hers alone, but with it was the sharp, biting, metallic tang of blood, and something else, something acrid and searing. Fire? Lightning? No, he realized, his lip pulling up into something of a feral, angry snarl. Magic.
Still she fought against the three of them, though she seemed to either lose her strength somewhat or to give up, conceding defeat. The sword in her hand clattered to the ground, and Syaoran let his fall with it, finally able to properly hug her tightly. He brought his lips close enough to her ear that with certain letters he would probably be able to brush the skin, and then began speaking, an old, familiar fairy tale, spoken in his native Chinese, though he knew Mokona would be translating it for all of them, unconscious though it was.
"Once, long ago, there was a man. He lived alone on a mountaintop, keeping himself as far away from other people as he could. He did this because he was different - he had the strength and lifespan of a thousand men, and if anyone found out about it, he knew they'd hurt him, abandon him. One day, a cat appeared at the man's house, and it told him that it had been drawn to him, drawn to his power. This, of course, gave the man an idea - if humans couldn't accept him for what he was, maybe animals could. And so, he wrote out invitations, and in response twelve animals heeded his call, joining him in his home on the mountain top, and every night they would have a banquet, singing and dancing in the moonlight until they all fell asleep. It continued for a very long time until one day, the cat collapsed - his life had reached its end. All the animals grieved over this fact, and all realized that one day, they too would pass away. And so the man, whom they called 'god', cast a spell on a bowl of water and told the cat to drink from it, and so the cat did. The god then told all the animals to drink from the water, split it evenly amongst them - the spell on that water would bind them together for all eternity, and no matter how many times they lived or died they would forever be together. But, the cat had interrupted, its voice hoarse, he didn't want eternity with the god. When he came back, he wanted to see the god smiling, out in the sunlight, surrounded by people. That no matter how fun it was, the banquet had to end. The other animals were shocked, what the cat was saying was like blasphemy! So they turned on the cat, and they continued to have their nightly banquets, knowing that even after they had died they would be able to be happy again some day, and one by one they all passed away, until finally, alone, the god died himself. But he wasn't sad, he knew they'd all be together again some day."
"And..." the voice in his ear was small, light, and thick with tears. "Did they meet again?"
He sighed suddenly, and hugged the girl in front of him tighter. "Once... once more they were all reborn together at once. And finally... finally they had their banquet again... And then the spirits of them all - even the cat and the god, were able to finally rest, knowing their promise had been fulfilled."
She let a shuddering sigh and sniffled. "That's a relief."
Syaoran opened his eyes finally to find he was standing alone, the princess standing a short distance in front of him, watching Fei Wong Reed as the man struggled with the Dream Card, watching as light dissolved away the last remaining of his magical binds and flew back to its master. The teenager narrowed his eyes. This wasn't over yet.
"Princess..." He murmured, and she looked back at him. "Watch her... I have one thing left to do." He backed away, and was reluctantly released by the girl who held him. He pointedly refused to let his gaze drift down to her as he bent to retrieve his sword then walked toward his ultimate adversary. "This has gone on far too long, Fei Wong. This dream will end now."
The sorcerer raised his sword, though mostly repaired it was still warped in several places. Syaoran charged, one after another he slashed through the air, metal clanging and sparking against each other as the magical blades connected again and again. The sorcerer was forced on the defensive and remained that way until his magic flared, just enough to shove Syaoran away. He attempted another attack, exhausted though his power was, lightning crackling in the air. The young swordsman braced himself- he had nothing left to defend with.
"Shield!"
And a shield appeared in front of him, deflecting the magical attack easily. Fei Wong frowned, squinting at Syaoran, who, now recovered charged again. Again the fight was composed of Syaoran taking an offensive and Fei Wong barely managing to keep from being injured.
Then something happened which twitched the corner of Syaoran's mouth up into a positively wicked smile.
"... Please... help him out... Power!" the Card Captor called from behind him, and it felt like someone had wrapped powerful but gentle hands around his wrists, to help bring power into his swing.
It took one attack, Syaoran swinging hard enough his sword bit halfway through the blade of Fei Wong's, then twisted it and wrenched it from the sorcerer's hands. He was suddenly left wide open and unarmed. The teenager planter his foot, ducked a little, and thrust forward, putting as much of the Power card's strength behind his own as he could. His sword didn't so much pierce Fei Wong's chest as it imploded it, the sheer power and force behind it buckling his ribs inward and forcing a great gout of blood out of the older man's mouth, before the sword buried itself several inches in the wall behind him.
Syaoran yanked his sword out, and the sorcerer began to fall forward, only to be forced back against the wall by a silver katana streaking through the air and violently beheading him. The teenager turned to look at the ninja, who stared at the man's head as it rolled away from his body.
"Mekyo!" Mokona's voice caused both of the males to jump, and the little creature suddenly jumped out of Fai's coat, covered in blood, but seemingly not realizing it. It pointed at the younger Sakura. "She's got a whole bunch of feathers!"
The Card Captor blinked in surprise, then turned back to the princess, her eyebrows raising that much more. "Oh... right..." She reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a handful of the pure white feathers. Her hands reached out shakily, blood dripping from her abused fingertips, offering them to the princess. "These are yours, right?"
The princess blinked, looked from the hands holding the feathers, to the smiling, wounded face and back again.
"... Sorry, I kinda got blood on them... I hope that doesn't mess anything up..."
The princess looked back up, to the one fully opened, shining green eye looking at her, then to its counterpart, swollen partially shut, a pair of deep gashes running across it, trailing from her forehead to her cheek. Then she shook her head, gently placing her hands over her younger reflection's, closing the hands a little over the feathers. "Those feathers... they're the only thing keeping you alive right now, aren't they?"
Syaoran, slowly walking toward the two girls, froze, face paling. He hadn't seen his Sakura's front yet, only the cuts and gashes across her back, her legs, perhaps the raw and bloodied skin about her wrists where she'd been bound.
The Card Captor leaned back, blinking. "Hoe...? Ah... I guess... there's no fooling you, is there... but I figured since they're yours, you'd probably want them back."
"Not if it means you dying," the princess replied firmly.
"Dying..." Mokona murmured, and then it seemed to realize what was going on. "Kurogane-san! Kurogane-san, you're bleeding! It looks really bad and... where... where's Fai?!"
Everyone looked down, except Kurogane who opened his mouth to say something, but ended up coughing up more blood.
"Fai? Fai where are you?!" The creature called, turning around and around, trying to find him, not realizing the bloody mound of flesh on the ground was the wizard.
"Manjuu," the ninja finally grunted out, his voice hoarse. "Turn around. Don't those clothes look familiar?"
There was a moment of silence as the tiny, long-eared Mokona stared at the body. And then it began shrieking.
"YUUKO! YUUKO! YUUKO!" It cried, and the jewel on its forehead projected an image up against the wall. "Yuuko! Fai is... Kurogane is..."
"I know, Mokona," the witch replied, her voice calm, though a slight edge of sorrow flavored it. "An-... And 'Syaoran'... and... Yuuko do something!"
"There is nothing I can do about Fai," She replied, shaking her head. "No amount of power in the universe can bring someone back from the dead. That was the lesson we had to teach to Fei Wong Reed. The best I can offer him are prayers and to see his spirit off properly to the realm of the dead."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," Fai's spirit replied, and the younger Sakura went ramrod straight, whipping her head around to stare at the ghost. He smiled and waved.
"Hooooeeeee..." the sound escaped her throat as a whimper, rising in tune and pitch until she finally leapt backward, landing on her injured leg and stumbling with a shriek of pain, only to be caught by Syaoran.
"... After all that has happened... you're still afraid of ghosts?" He asked, his tone teasing though his voice was strained, his face a bit paler than it should be as he finally got a look at her face, the front of her body, and all the damage that had been done there.
She opened her eyes only to turn pink and looked away. "... Ah... Yes... I am." She looked back at him, and her eyebrows inched up, her look softening as she reached up and wiped blood from the deep cuts on her face. "It's that bad isn't it?"
"Would you believe me if I said no?" He whispered, and she shook her head.
"Her life can still be saved-"
"What's the price?" Syaoran asked immediately, and Yuuko blinked, only to smirk.
"There is none from my end- all she needs to do is hold on to the Princess' feathers for a while- until her external injuries have healed. There are other wounds however, Syaoran, that will take longer to heal, physical and otherwise, and some may never heal at all..." The witch continued, and he nodded.
"As for saving Kurogane..."
He grunted. "I don't need it."
"If you don't get medical attention soon you will also die," Yuuko retorted. "And even that might not be enough. Your will to survive is strong, Ninja, however your body is not quite as steadfast as your mind."
"What do we have to do to save him?" Syaoran inquired, and Yuuko nodded.
"A similar price as was paid to save Watanuki when he fell from a window. It's too much for one person to do alone, however... between the three of you..." the dark-haired woman stated. "I do believe we have enough to pay for saving him. That is... if you're all willing to help..."
All three glanced to each other, then to Kurogane, who stared back at them all, looking a little angry and a little uncomfortable, but very much in pain. Then, simultaneously they nodded.
"As for the prices... Card Captor," and she looked at Sakura Kinomoto. "The blood you have lost- that precious and massive amount of magical blood will be your price. Yours will be the easiest. Princess," To the Princess. "Either you or Syaoran will need to take on his scars, while the other must pay a magical price."
The princess thought about it for a moment, then looked to Syaoran who watched her carefully. "Syaoran-kun, is there one you would prefer?"
"Actually, there is," he said. "That is... if you don't mind taking the scars..."
She nodded and he let go of the girl he held for a moment, chanting a familiar verse to extract his Lasin Board. He offered it to Yuuko. "Would this work?"
"That may be over-paying," the witch stated, looking at the board carefully. "That's a powerful and ancient family heirloom, it goes slightly above the price I would ask of you."
Syaoran shook his head. "It's only good for finding creations of Clow Reed... and there aren't really any left in our world. Besides... I can pretty much sense those things anyway, without the need for this compass."
Yuuko nodded and looked to the still-sobbing Mokona. "Then, I will take the edge off of both of the other prices to even out the total. However, though his life will remain preserved, you will still need to get him medical attention lest the wounds infect or he wear himself out. Kurogane, you will need to rest for a long time.. And... you will likely never be in peak physical condition again. In fact, you may never be able to complete a battle again from here."
He grunted in affirmation, looking annoyed, glancing over to the body of Fai. His look turned stony. "You don't need to do this for me. You especially, little girl. You don't even know me."
She nodded abruptly. "Nn, that may be true, but you did help wake me up... and you helped get rid of Fei Wong Reed... it's the least I can do to repay. Besides, you're not from our world. I don't know if I'll ever get another chance to properly thank you again."
Kurogane scowled. "We still have the trip home to make- who knows how long that will take."
"Not very long at all, I'd imagine," Yuuko interrupted, and the ninja sent her a fierce, red-eyed glare. "Your jobs are done, and I'm sure fate has acknowledged this. You have no more use for traveling through dimensions any longer except to get home. There's plenty of luck still between you all, though the God's Favored Daughter gave her excess up. Stay strong, you'll make it back home soon. Ah, and... Syaoran. About Watanuki..."
Both he and the princess suddenly gave the witch rapt attention. "Though circumstance will leave you in a world other than the one predicted, his life will remain in this world. Part of the price has been paid, the rest of it..."
"Anonymity," he replied, and Yuuko nodded.
"None will know of your exploits. None will know that youwere the one who saved not just one world, but an entire collection of different worlds. They will know Fai, Kurogane, and Sakura, but your name shall be lost to history. No one but those who live in your world and those who traveled with you shall know your name at all. And none but those standing there with you will ever know you were the one to land the critical blow," the witch stated.
Syaoran nodded. "That's fine. Most of what I've done to save the world... no one knows it anyway."
"And you're okay with that? Being the one no one will remember?" the princess asked, her eyes glimmering with the threat of tears. "That's... that's very sad, no one should be made to forget you."
He laughed, bitterly. "It won't be the first one someone has forgotten 'Syaoran'."
The princess looked confused, blinking rapidly, then looking to Kurogane who grumbled and bent over his stomach farther.
"To be forgotten..." the ninja finally grunted. "That's a fate worse than death. Is there no way wecan pay some of that off... because if everyone forgets this kid, then that means they've forgotten the otherone, too."
Syaoran shook his head. "Don't worry about me..." He took a deep breath and looked up to the ceiling. "However... that they would forget about him... that does make me kind of sad. He did nothing worthy of it... I was the one that made all of the stupid mistakes and hurt everyone in the end."
"Wrong," A voice said suddenly, and it echoed in the room in a way it shouldn't have. Syaoran looked over to see Fai, staring at him from his previous position. "You didn't do anything wrong, in fact, you did everything you could to make things right. And that's the last thing I have to say, Syaoran-kun. Don't blame yourself for any of it, you tried as hard as you could, heck, you went beyond what most normal people would have done- you gave him half your heart! And it may have been a gamble, but you wouldn't have done it if there was no chance of it working. You win some, you lose some, and you lost that one, people got hurt, and people are going to get over it. The princess may be heartbroken about his betrayal, I may be a little unhappy about the whole eye thing, and Kuro-wan-wan may be angry that he hurt the rest of us, but it's all in the past now. It was something that happened that you had no control over." The magician took a deep breath, and then smiled, his brother now only partially opaque behind him. His image began to fade away, his last words a soft echo in the room. "You tried. Now, stop kicking yourself. It's not your fault."
Syaoran took a deep breath and sighed, closing his eyes.
"Fai-san is right, you know," the princess said finally, and he jumped at the sound of her voice. "Stop hurting yourself. It's over now, we're done. We can finally... go home..." She trailed off softly, and looked down.
Syaoran and Kinomoto exchanged a look, before the Card Captor turned to the princess. "Hime-sama."
The other girl blinked and looked up, unused to being addressed so... oddly formally.
And the master of the Clow smiled, tilting her head. "Zettai daijoubu da yo."
Again the princess could only watch, confused, as the words were left somehow untranslated by Mokona's ability.
The younger Sakura's smile widened, and she clenched the feathers she held close to her heart as though knowing the princess wouldn't understand the first time she spoke. "Everything will definitely be alright!"
-
A/N: Now watch it be all 26 pages it was originally! XD I split this chapter in two where Fai died for dramatic effect... and for just how disproportionate this chapter was to all of the others, but I don't think I need to do it again. I've already milked y'all for your emotions on that as much as I will. There's a lot that's the same - there's a MAJOR thing that's different. And yes, Admiral Godunov DID splice THREE different anime into this one chapter.
To Parma-Violets: Whah yes, where he offered his arm to dance, that WAS an allusion to the second CCS movie.
I'm gonna just toss up both the original ending chapters at once. So yeah.