| Chapter Nine: Syaoran was tired. It was a bad day to be attempting this but nothing was going to stop him. Nothing. He looked over his shoulder to see Eriol behind him. A support. One he never would have expected in the days long passed. Yue and Keroberos also stood behind him, Keroberos looking ready for the end of the world and Yue emanating a calmness he wished he felt. Nakuru and Spinel Sun also stood behind him, surrounding Eriol and it was something that Syaoran hadn't been expecting. Of course, as Guardians they would be coming along for the ride. His own were. But now, maybe with the number of people on his side, this might just happen. Tomoyo stood off to the side with Meilin, both of them with worried looks on their faces. Syaoran glanced at them as he pulled out the Time Card and Tomoyo's eyes strayed towards Eriol who had his eyes averted before him. Her expression saddened when he didn't meet her gaze. Because she knew he felt her looking at him. Meilin gazed at Syaoran and she nodded, a small smile on her face. "Bring her home." Syaoran stared at her, a shiver running through him. I love you. For always understanding that I could never be in love with you. And for not letting it affect you. For not blaming me. And for loving me throughout all of it. He nodded back, slowly, and then turned his attention forward, lifting the Time Card up. "Time Card. I call on your strength as Master of the Cards. Open before me and take us to the point in time when Sakura was lost to me," he said in a firm voice, speaking loudly. He slowly pulled his hand away, staring at the Card as it floated where he had left it. And with his other hand he called on the Key of Clow, fingers fanning open above his head. A heavy atmosphere surrounded the Time Card, radiating soft waves of energy. And above him bright light flashed, streaking across the room. He looked up, hair flying from the power that suddenly filled the room and he narrowed his eyes, reaching into that light. A long object appeared in the brilliance, stretching out, and noise rang out resembling the unsheathing of a sword. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of his Sword and he took firm hold of it, bringing it down before him. "Time Card!" He lifted his blade above his head and stabbed downward, tip of his blade coming within centimeters of the Card. And the gentle waves surrounding the Card suddenly exploded outward, heat blasting him in the face. He felt his robes blow, hair shoved away from his face. The Time Card throbbed, emitting more pulses and its face shimmered like light reflecting off its surface. A moment later it spun, twirled once, and light broke, slowly forming a small oval. Something opened up in that oval of light, a rip in Time. Syaoran squinted through the powerful winds that threatened to blind him and he frowned when he made out a night sky, with stars shining above. He thought he saw a balcony and someone standing on it but he couldn't be sure. All he knew was that this was not where Sakura died. He closed his eyes and pictured the room where they had originally faced the Mage. The debris on the floor. The symbols on the ceiling over his head. The tile of the floor, the moon and the star design etched into its surface. And Sakura's face, terrified as Windy took hold of her. Take me there… The rip shifted, scene changing and whirling as he opened his eyes. Night brightened into artificial light, the candles of the room. Power was palpable as the landscape settled and he became aware of figures battling, green robes flowing, black cloak flying. Syaoran clenched his jaw and looked over his shoulder. "C'mon!" They pushed him on, the Guardians lifting off the floor. Eriol already had his Staff in hand, face firm. "Eriol!" Tomoyo cried, taking a step but Meilin restrained her, long hair flying around her face. She looked at Syaoran and smiled again, a wide grin. "Bring her back!" she shouted, embracing Tomoyo. Eriol glanced over finally, dark eyes mournful. And Tomoyo gazed at him, hopeful. "Come back," she called to him and he knew she meant for him to return after they had Sakura-chan, after they had set things right. He nodded to her, a gentle smile on his face. "Only for you." Syaoran turned to face the rip and lunged forward, sword in hand. It felt strange. Like something pulled at him but from all directions. Small hands or tentacles. He fought them, turned his eyes from the light that blinded him and he focused on the other side of the rip, aware of the presence of his friends behind him. If he led they would follow, he knew it. But he didn't think he had enough strength to make it to the other side, to make it through. Yue was at his side suddenly and he looked at him through narrowed eyes. The Judge held out his hand, expression blank and Syaoran found himself reaching out to take it, holding on for dear life. Yue nodded and then his wings carried him forward, dragging Syaoran behind. Syaoran looked over his shoulder to see Eriol, black robes flowing around his lean frame, Nakuru and Spinel Sun surrounding him like a shield, Keroberos leading. Then Yue was passing through, from darkness into light and the wind vanished as he fell out behind him, staggering. The rest of the group came through, light flashing once. Syaoran lifted his head, his frame heaving, and the Time Card came to float before him, hovering in mid-air. He looked at it, reaching upward to claim it. And his eyes fell on the scene, taking in all. Three people stared at him. A dark-robed Mage, hands out, fingers splayed before him. A younger version of himself, brown eyes wide in complete and utter disbelief, sword at the ready. And a small girl, only a few years younger than he was now, with big green eyes and short red hair. He stared at her for a moment, breath simply ripped from him. She stared right back, lips parted and then she looked from the boy protecting her in front to his older self, surrounded on either side by Eriol and the Guardians. "Syaoran?" he heard her whisper. The Mage recoiled, backing away from them all. Syaoran snapped his head to glare at him, eyes narrowing. The Mage was going to escape, he felt it. He was overcome with too much power and he was going to flee. With a curse Syaoran swiped at the Time Card and pulled forth another, stabbing down furiously. "Lock!" The Mage turned, flinging his arm at the wall several feet behind him and a white portal opened, light streaking around its rim. He took a step, black robes floating. No, he was not going to lose him now. Not now. Mist broke from the Card, filling the room and as the Mage made it to the portal, a yellow-green light flashed, settling faintly. The Mage lunged, ducking his head and flinging himself toward the light that was his exit and his body suddenly collided with an invisible wall, figure falling away to crash to the floor. Syaoran almost let a smile come to his face, a perfectly elated smile. The Mage rose onto his side, lifting a hand to the invisible power of Lock. His hand connected with it, sparks sizzling at the touch and angrily he banged at the field, as if trying to break it down. On the other side his portal gleamed invitingly, still holding open. Syaoran came forth, robes flowing around his frame, eyes set on the Mage. He would look at Sakura later, once he knew she was safe. Now he was going to finish this, for good. The Mage rose to his feet and whirled to face him, hunched over like a trapped animal. Syaoran glared back, sword in hand. "I remember you," he uttered quietly, eyes glinting like pieces of ice. "I remember the day you destroyed my life, right here in this very room. The day I died inside." He shook his head slowly, glaring coldly. "I'm not going to let it happen again." Eriol came forth from behind him, floating over toward Sakura and the younger version of the Card Master. "Sakura-san," he said quietly and he knelt, reaching out to touch her face. She stared back, clutching her arm, green eyes wide. "Eriol-kun?" He nodded, smiling sweetly. "We all missed you," he said softly. "Hoee?" The Mage suddenly lifted a hand, gesturing. Syaoran stiffened, ready for whatever he had to throw at him but he whirled when Sakura shrieked from behind, bright light streaking outward. A small glowing disc of power was opening up before Sakura's chest, twirling, forks of lightning seizing her. She hunched over, embracing herself with one hand and she gasped, breathing hoarsely, "He's…trying to take something! I feel…I feel-" Syaoran whirled back around, reaching into his robes as Eriol pulled the younger Syaoran forth, into a circle. He lifted his Staff and then slammed it down, the tip striking the floor. Black light exploded from the top of the Staff, bursting from the ornament. And a simple shield was erected, flinging away the disc from Sakura's body. She exhaled in a whoosh, falling against Eriol heavily and she blinked, wide-eyed. "He was trying to take my Cards! He was trying-" she said rapidly, in disbelief. "And he was going to do it, Eriol-kun! He had them!" Syaoran stabbed downward with his Sword, hair flying from the burst of power. "Arrow!" Sakura raised her head, looking all about. "What's going on?" she demanded, clutching at first Eriol and then the younger Syaoran before her, knuckles turning white. "What's going on? How does he have the Cards?!" The Mage turned once more, lashing out at the Lock with pure bolts of magic. His movements were frantic, were becoming all the more so as Lock seemed to swallow up all his power. He threw himself at it, trying to bash it down but he connected with a wall, pausing after several tries to hunch wearily. The Arrow Card came to float down before Syaoran, an arrow pulled back in her bow. Syaoran looked on, jaw set grimly. The Arrow Card let the arrow fly, hair lifting with the powerful gesture and the Mage turned to them, frame backing into the wall. The arrow split into three, lit with a blue glow and two of them struck the wall surrounding his frame on both sides. The third hit home, piercing the Mage through the stomach and flinging him backward once more against Lock's wall. Something coursed through them, all of them. A strange feeling of emptiness. Of non-existence. Syaoran frowned, blinked, as Arrow wavered but a moment later the feeling was gone and the Card had another arrow awaiting his command. He settled her hand, winding around her to float toward the Mage who had slumped to the floor, chest heaving for a breath. "Careful, Xiao Lang!" Eriol called to him from beneath his shield. Sakura looked from Eriol to the older version of Syaoran. "That is Syaoran, then? But…" she looked at Eriol once more, "How is that possible? How does he have the Cards? Are they his?" Syaoran paused before the Mage, looking down at him. The man slowly raised his head, hand soiled from his own blood and wrapped around the glowing arrow in his stomach. He caught sight of Syaoran and instantly began to flail, scampering to get away. "No. No more," Syaoran growled and he reached down, taking hold of the Mage's figure and lifting him, shoving him against Lock's magic. His hand took hold of the hood of the cloak and he ripped it down, away from the Mage. To find himself reflected in Kinomoto Sakura's furious green eyes. |
| All images and works done/altered by ShiNoFuriko and TasogareBan. Please do not steal and always give credit to where it is due. |