[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

May 7, 2001

I'm starting to wrap up this series now, minna, so this will be the chapter with all the action you've been waiting for (Excluding all you hentais out there of course, that will come later... maybe ^_^). After that, one more chapter to conclude everything and I'm done!

Don't ask me to write another CCS fic for a long while to come, I've got too many other projects lying in the wings that I simply have to get back to (Jonny Quest, Escaflowne, Biker Mice from Mars, and a few originals).

I'll still be posting on FF.n, just not CCS for a long while to come.

Card Captors

"Dimensions II - Test of Evil"

By : The MOUSE............................

Keroberus, mighty Guardian Beast of the magical Seal of Clow, felt completely and totally helpless as he paced the length of the Reception Hall back and forth relentlessly. He, Tomoyo, Meilin and Li Lerae had returned to the Hall when it had become clear that their only way into Mummaro's Gate was once again sealed to them. No amount of desperate clawing on the beast's part could even scratch the stones and not one blast of his fiery breath could even scorch them. All he succeeded in doing was tiring himself out and wearing his claws down to stubs from their once sharp points.

He turned and continued to pace, looking every bit like a caged lion going mad from inactivity. He could hear the room hum and buzz in worry for the missing Card Captors.

And with reason.

This was a powerful challenge for them, more powerful than going up against the Death Card, and they had no one with them to guide their actions or help them.

A low growl rumbled in his chest. He was Kinomoto Sakura's and Li Syaoran's Guardian since they were both the Card Captors. He was supposed to be their protector, even when he knew Syaoran could do an excellent job of it himself.

But he had been unable to do even that.

He, Keroberus, the greatest Guardian that ever existed!

He knew he should have been the one to enter the tunnel first before Sakura. He should have had. This whole mess would not have happened if he had only taken the initiative. But, as they say, hindsight is twenty/twenty. All he could do now was hope.

He turned again with another growl.

Onegai, be safe, kids, he pleaded silently.

* * *

Ever so slowly, Card Captor Sakura's senses surfaced from the unconscious oblivion. She forced her eyes open, but saw nothing save blurry shades of dark grey. She blinked her green eyes repeatedly to try to clear her vision, but nothing seemed to help. Instead she relied on her other senses to tell her where she was. Sakura's sense of touch told her she was lying in a basin-like bed filled with silk and feathers. Her magical senses were nearly overwhelmed by the dark energy all around her. And just on the edge of her senses she could feel the faintly glowing auras belonging to Li Syaoran and the Life Card. It was a weak ripple of energy, but enough to let her know they were still alive. Then something shut down around her like a cold and dark blanket and the feel of their auras were gone. It caused her to nearly choke.

Something in her screamed for her to get up, to get moving again. Sakura shifted slightly in the bed, her every nerve ending screaming to life in pain from stiff muscles and the Gate's retaliation to her magic. She managed to roll herself to her side and over the basin's edge with some trouble. She dropped to the unforgiving stone floor, only aggravating the pain she already felt. Using the bed for support and a massive effort on her part, Sakura pulled herself up to her feet. A wave of intense nausea hit the pit of her stomach as her head began to spin. She swallowed hard and stumbled towards one of the walls. She rested her forehead against the cold stones and sighed, waiting for the pain and nausea to subside. Before she even realized it she had begun to cry.

Oh, but it felt so good to cry!

Slowly she sank to her knees against the base of the wall, letting the heaving sobs and heavy tears just come as they pleased. She was overwhelmed, nearing her breaking point. This whole situation was rapidly becoming too much for her to endure, let alone overcome. Higato and Mesuinu's jealousies she could have handled. Eventually they would have lost interest and moved on.

But this?

Mesuinu was now dead and she was given the worst choice of her life. Live in darkness or the Universe ceases to exist. She couldn't see how she was supposed to free Syaoran, the Life Card, and even Higato while fighting against the dark one and the power of Mummaro's Gate. It was near impossible. She was only one teen girl. None of what little magic she knew was of any use in the Gate since it reacted to her the moment she tried to summon her cards. They were her only defense and offense. But so long as she was within the confines of the dark temple she was powerless. Sakura pressed her cheek to the wall in despair.

"Syaoran..." she whimpered ever so softly as she prayed for a miracle, her tears continuing to fall.

"Ne, Beloved, don't cry." a hollow voice pleaded in actual concern, a cold hand gripping her shoulder.

The young sorceress recoiled violently as cold fire raced over her senses. "Stay away from me!" she near shrieked.

The dark one blinked in surprise. "Sakura..." and he laid a hand on her arm.

She knocked it away quickly. "Don't touch me!"

Dark Syaoran looked genuinely hurt by her actions, watching her curl into a tight ball, hiding her face in her arms in real fear. He swallowed hard and carefully reached out a hand to touch her again, his hand hesitating just at the edge of her aura. He caressed the air close to her form, desperately wanting to, but not daring to lay a hand on her.

"I won't hurt you, Beloved. You have my word. All you have to do is give me your word that you will stay here, with me. I will give you everything you may ever desire. You don't have to be afraid of me, sweet one." he whispered soothingly.

"I have every reason to be afraid of you." she retorted harshly from the depths of her arms, her face still hidden from sight.

Black-eyed Syaoran could only stare at her, confused by her reactions. He could easily feel her power laying dormant deep within her, a power so great it closely rivaled the accumulated energies of the Gate. Power so strong should naturally be seeking more power. That was what he understood. Power sought power, was instinctively attracted to it. Even if it was an opposite force, power was power. It would explain why the Cherry Blossom was so completely attracted to Clow Reed's descendant. The Little Wolf was strong, disciplined, untapped magic radiated all around him.

So then why wasn't his own power drawing Sakura's attention?

He looked down at his hands, wondering if maybe he could see the reason for her repulsion. Two pale hands, two arms, a body, a normal looking face... nothing that should cause her this much fear and loathing.

"Why are you so cruel, precious one? Don't you know I would do anything for you? Aishiteru, my precious."

"You know nothing of love." she snapped. "You never will."

He blinked, stung by her words and something within him crumbled to ashes.

"I... I must attend to some final preparations." he stated as he got to his feet, stumbling slightly. He felt off-balance for some reason. "Feel free to explore the place that will soon become either your home or your tomb." and he walked away, once again leaving her alone.

Sakura waited a moment, then raised her tear-streaked face from her arms to look around. Satisfied that she was really alone she quickly scrambled to her feet and ran out of the small anti-chamber. She had to find the real Syaoran again and find a way to escape this cursed place.

* * *

Li Syaoran's mind drifted between two worlds, that of full consciousness and that of oblivion. He could hear Higato struggling against his chains to free himself, grunting in frustration at the lack of progress. The sound of a faint breeze wafting by caught his ear every so often, letting him know when the Life Card moved around from place to place. Aside from that the vast chamber was silent. This was what worried him the most. The fact that he couldn't hear the Card Mistress breathing. His last sight had been of his beloved Sakura collapsing to the ground after the Gate's vicious attack, an automatic reaction to her light magic. His warning had come too late to stop her. And now he had no way of knowing if she was still alive or...

No! She's not dead! She can't be dead!

He couldn't bring himself to even think of her forever gone from his life. He was presently too weak to feel or find her beautifully warm aura. The attack on her had arced across their bond, attacking him as well. He had to find a way to get his life force back to full strength. It was the only way to help Sakura.

"Life Card!" a hollow voice suddenly bellowed.

Inwardly, Syaoran grimaced. Mummaro, as he had mentally begun to call him, had returned to no doubt gloat about his apparent victory.

If you hurt Sakura, so help me, I will make it my vendetta to make you pay! the warrior screamed mentally in a heartfelt vow.

Quick footsteps neared the chained sorcerer until he could easily smell the stench of death and sweat from his double.

Ugh! When was the last time you bathed?

"Life Card, revive him." Mummaro ordered.

Syaoran had a mental double take at this command.

Why did he want him revived?

What was going to happen now?

He felt Life lay its hands to his chest, over his heart. A split second later a warm wash of energy coursed through him like a bolt of electricity. The shock forced him to inhale deeply, sharply, to fill his deprived lungs as his body almost snapped upright with renewed strength. The Life Card scrambled away from him at this, terrified of its own handy work.

Once the shock had worn off he allowed himself to glance around the room quickly. Sakura was nowhere in sight. Syaoran stood straight and defiant to his dark twin at this. Mummaro looked midway between being confused and enraged about something as the two glared at each other. The young warrior didn't care much about his enemy's state of mind. He was worried about Sakura and he knew the only one who knew what had happened to her, and where she was, was standing before him. But he also knew that if he kept Mummaro infuriated as he was then he wouldn't be making rational decisions, increasing his chances of escaping and helping his beloved Ying Fa.

He had to keep him off-balance.

"Where's Sakura?" the Little Wolf growled.

"Resting." Mummaro replied simply. "And being a very unappreciative and uncooperative guest."

Syaoran's frown became slightly confused. Guest?

"I do everything in my power to make her comfortable, to be the most gracious of hosts to maybe get her to smile at least once, but she won't even let me near her. Now how rude is that?"

The warrior frowned a smirk at his jailer, suddenly understanding why the dark one was being so gentle and doting to the Mistress of the Cards, despite the fact that she was supposed to be his enemy. Innocent and beautiful Sakura had unwittingly snared him, just like any man who came to know her. No male could resist the jade-eyed beauty for very long. That's why Mummaro had revived him. His thoughts and feelings were all jumbled because of Sakura. He was confused and wasn't exactly sure of what he was doing.

Perfect!

"Things not going your way anymore, Mummaro?" he taunted.

"Mummaro? Hai, I suppose you can call me that if you must." He looked at his captive's smirk and raised an eyebrow at him. "You do know I plan to kill you?"

Syaoran actually chuckled, still frowning. "She won't let you kill me."

"She can't stop me!" he scoffed.

"Then why aren't I already dead?"

Mummaro's black eyes blinked, stumped. Hai, why haven't I killed him already?

The Li Clan's finest warrior continued to smirk as his frown deepened. "You see? You don't want to hurt her. You know that to kill me will hurt her more that you ever could."

Mummaro pondered this. Hai, this is true. I don't want her to ever be hurt in any way.

"And to hurt any of her friends will make her hate you for life." Syaoran continued.

Hate me for life? No, no, can't have that.

"You don't want her to hate you. That's her power, you know. She's so pure that you can't help but love her. You want her to love you as much as you love her."

"I do not love her!" he denied.

"You do. Why else are you so dedicated to making her want to stay and to make her happy here? You're in love with her."

"I am the power of the Gate made flesh! I will not be affected by a simple girl!" he shouted with all his might.

"You already are! That's why you're doing all this! And that's why you took my old body! You know she loves me. And you think that by having my appearance that will make her love you. You can't make her do anything she doesn't want. She'll always hate you."

Mummaro blinked in shock. It was all true. Everything his captive had said was true. The new Card Mistress of Clow would never learn to love him as he had hoped. She was far too bright and he was too dark. He had hoped opposites would attract, but he could see now that her heart would be forever rooted elsewhere. She was tied to this mortal before him. He paused before a determined expression crossed his face. No matter how much he hated this decision, it was the only option left to him.

"Then, no matter her decision, my choice in the matter is clear. I should have done this when she first arrived here." he stated evenly, then turned and walked away.

Syaoran watched his dark double leave at a deliberate pace, horror slowly sinking into his gut. He had wanted to anger his twin, not help him decide this course of action. Sakura's life was now in much more pressing danger than before. He heard violent grunting from where Higato was chained. Turning his head to him he saw his Cousin fighting wildly with his chains to free himself. Blood now stained his wrists and arms, having worn them ran on his shackles. He, too, had realized that Sakura's life depended on how well she could remain hidden. Eventually, though, Mummaro would find her. There were only so many places she could hide and she could only suppress her aura for so long. The captive warrior looked to his own chains, gauging their strength to his own. He had to break free and find his partner. She needed him more than ever now and time was of the essence.

Can't break these things like Higato's trying to do, he reasoned. Only one way.

Summoning a deep inner calm he slowly began to tug his wrists through the restrictive shackles. His hands, being larger than his wrists, were the only things stopping him from being free. His years of intense physical and mental training enabled him to manipulate his hands' joints, effectively dislocating his thumbs just enough to allow his hands to finally slip from their bonds. This done his joints easily realigned, leaving not a trace of this procedure. He rubbed at his worn wrists in satisfaction. Delighted over his escape from his restraints, the Life Card happily clapped its hands and threw its arms around the warrior. He allowed himself a small smile at the card, patting its back gently to get it to release him. It beamed brightly for the first time since its capture.

He chuckled. "Well then, that makes two of us who're glad I'm free."

Then he turned to see his Cousin staring at him in shock, unable to believe that he had gotten free so easily. Syaoran frowned and walked over to him.

"I guess I have to free you too, ne, despite what you did to Sakura?"

Had Higato Allan been able to speak he would have shouted a series of harsh curses at the warrior. Instead, still being under the influence of Mummaro's spell of silence, he contented himself to throw hard kicks at him. Syaoran merely stepped back, out of his legs' reach.

"Hey, you want to stay there like that, that's fine with--"

He whirled around quickly, his senses screaming wildly for all of his attention at what they had just felt.

Sakura's aura.

She was alive and somewhere nearby now. He could barely feel her searching the many dark tunnels and chambers for a way back to this very chamber. Slowly he turned in place as he carefully sought through the dark eddies of magic for the exact direction her presence was radiating from. She was like a bright beam of light, a beacon calling to his soul. Higato now stood to his immediate left, the Card Mistress somewhere in the tunnels ahead of the teen sorcerer. She felt so afraid, so alone. Syaoran closed his eyes, picturing his soul mate in his mind in all her glowing splendor, focusing his whole being on her alone to pierce through the thick darkness that surrounded them to keep them from each other.

Sakura? he called with his mind. Sakura, can you hear me?

Syaoran?

Are you alright, my Ying Fa?

I... I can't seem to find my way back to you. I'm... I'm lost.

His heart ached at the terrified tremble he heard in her voice. She had always hated being alone in the dark. It terrified her. Fighting against the dark energies that threatened to swallow them up, Syaoran focused his mind on his adored partner and cast a part of his aura along their link. Her presence seemed to suddenly explode into his mind and along his senses. He could feel her trying to reach out to him, needing to feel the reassuring comfort of his warm aura mixing with hers. Syaoran pictured her clearly in his mind, imagining his hand gently caressing her cheek. He could tell Sakura both saw and felt the mental projection as he felt her begin to relax.

Shh, be calm, My Love, he whispered soothingly in her mind. Focus on me. I'll guide you here.

Higato Allan couldn't stop the gasp that escaped his lips when his Cousin re-opened his eyes. Gone was the deep amber color that marked the lead members of the Li Clan. Instead, Li Syaoran's eyes glowed a scintillatingly brilliant white.

* * *

Dark Syaoran entered the small anti-chamber where he had left the Card Mistress and looked around. The basin-like bed was empty. There was no sign of the lovely sorceress in the dim torchlight. Mummaro growled in ever growing frustration. Unquestionably she was not going to make any of this easy for him. He struck the bed with a clenched fist, making the stone structure explode in a cloud of dust, black feathers, and swaths of dark satin. He turned and stood just within the door of the chamber, looking down the tunnel.

"Where are you, my lovely?" he cooed, his voice quivering in mounting rage.

There was only one direction she could have headed in to avoid running into him. He stalked down the tunnel in that one direction, his black eyes easily piercing the dark.

"Come out, dearest. I promise I won't hurt you." he cooed. "I'll make your death quick." he ended in a low growl.

Mummaro sniffed at the stale air, hoping to catch even the slightest whiff of Sakura's intoxicating cherry blossom scent. In these tunnels such a scent would be very distinct and easy to pick out. But there was nothing but dust and mold on the air. Decidedly there were some very definite disadvantages to holding a mortal form. The usually heightened senses he possessed as a wraith of the Gate were greatly dulled now.

"Where are you?" he shouted down the passageway in frustration. His only answer was his own echo.

Dark Syaoran then froze.

He was going to howl in fury when he abruptly felt something.

There!

Just against the edge of his magical senses.

It was like the faint brush of mist against skin, dim yet definite. His rising anger against the Card Mistress almost caused him to miss it completely. He closed his black eyes and concentrated on the light feeling, calling on the power of the Gate to locate and identify it. Slowly, the magical sensation grew in intensity until it felt as if it had been directed at him all along.

There were two auras at work here.

Two very distinct presences wafting through the currents of spirit and sensation.

Mummaro smiled as he understood. It was the Little Wolf's mind and aura calling out to the lost Cherry Blossom, reassuring her that everything would be alright, encouraging her to continue to be brave. Clow Reed's descendant was guiding the lovely Mistress of the Clow Cards to him. She was heading for the main chamber. Mummaro couldn't help but laugh at this apparent step to his victory.

"Hai, Little Wolf, call to her. Bring her out into the open. I want you to see her die right in front of you and be helpless to prevent it." He frowned in pure hate. "Your punishment for taking her heart from me."

* * *

With her beloved warrior's mind guiding her back to him, Kinomoto Sakura walked the ill lit passageways of the dark temple, barely glancing at the writings and pictograms carved and painted onto the walls. She kept her eyes focused ahead of her, to the darkness where soon she would see light. She suddenly stopped walking, a small frown knitting her brows at some of the carvings that caught the periphery of her eye. She turned and scanned the ancient Japanese characters carved right into the stone.

There!

Neatly chiseled thousands of years ago was her full name.

She blinked and stared in utter shock. This temple was built thousands of years before she was even born and yet here was her name. Her fingers trailed over the carved characters in disbelief.

What's going on? she questioned herself.

"... Card Mistress..." a voice whispered on the still, dank air.

Sakura stiffened at the sudden and soft sound. "Nani?"

"... the Chosen One..." another voice whispered.

"Who's there?" she questioned the empty tunnel.

"... such power..." came yet another hushed voice.

She whirled around, the voice having seemed to come from behind her this time. "Show yourself!"

"... she is the one..." another hushed voice breathed definitively.

"Who are you?" she demanded of the dark, fear rising in her throat bitterly.

At a thought she looked back to the wall for an answer. Perhaps one of the carvings would yield some information to calm her racing heart. She gasped and stepped away from the stones in shock. Her name was gone, now replaced by three ominous words: you will die.

Hollow laughter filled the tunnel deafeningly. Sakura turned quickly in place to find the source of the cackle, fear induced tears streaking down her ivory cheeks. There was nothing. No loudspeakers, no person, no visible source.

Ghosts of the past!

She covered her ears with her hands to block out the laughter and dropped to her knees, her eyes shut tight as she bowed her body to the ground.

Syaoran! she cried out mentally.

An incredibly warm and caring sensation abruptly filled her, wrapping around her like a soft blanket. The voices and laughter stopped as her courage and confidence returned, bolstered by this intense feeling.

Shhh, Sakura, it's alright now, the distant warrior soothed. They can't hurt you. They're just voices.

What do they want?

To keep you confused. To make you panic to keep you from thinking clearly.

The teen sorceress sat back on her heels, her hands dropping to her lap in defeat. I can't do this.

Sakura...

No, Syaoran, he's won. He can't be destroyed from the inside and he'll never let us both leave. He's won.

Card Mistress, don't you dare give up now! She could feel the determined frown in his voice. Giving up is exactly what he wants because he knows he can't beat us otherwise. We will get through this... somehow. Never give up, that's exactly what you told me.

Sakura sucked in a shaky breath as she opened her eyes. It just seems so impossible.

Nothing is impossible, my Ying Fa, just hard. His aura began to gently tug at her once again. We'll do this together.

She wiped her tears away, a tiny smile touching her lips. Hai, together.

She squared her shoulders in sudden confidence and forced herself to her feet, her foot kicking something buried in the dust. Curious, she paused. It had sounded like metal and leather. Tentative hands reached out and brushed the dust and sand away from the hidden object. Worn, guilded leather appeared beneath her fingers. She blinked and cleared away more dust. It was a long scabbard sheathing a sword, a katana. A symbol on both the hilt and the scabbard caught her eye. Guilded in gold and silver was Clow Reed's own seal. Sakura laughed softly in disbelief.

A weapon from Clow-sama.

A defense for the magically defenseless.

How had he known?

Kero's words echoed in her mind. Expect the unexpected.

The cheerleader picked up the katana and hugged it to herself. Domo arigatou, Clow-sama.

Sakura gave the dust around her a wide sweep with her hand. She sneezed and sat back on her heels. There was nothing more. With a small frown, she looked at the weapon lying in her arms. This was a clue from Clow Reed himself from three centuries prior.

They had to use this weapon somehow.

She stood quickly then and ran down the dark tunnels, clutching the weapon close to her chest. Syaoran's mind tugged at her own, guiding her down the vast labyrinth of passageways. With each new turn his presence grew stronger against her magical senses. And somewhere behind her she could feel the looming cold shadow that was her soul mate's dark twin. Sakura pushed herself for more speed. She wanted to keep as much distance from this one as possible. A near overwhelming sense of danger emanated around him now whereas before there had only been a sense of want. Onwards she ran, following the pull of her soul mate's presence. The only sounds she heard were her heels hitting hard stone and her own panting breath. There was nothing else save a deep silence. Turning another corner she could finally see one of the arched doorways heading into the main chamber. She sprinted the last meters to the illuminated room. She burst past the threshold into the light with a growing smile. Just ahead she could see the Life Card circling the still chained and silent Higato Allan in curiosity.

And before them stood Syaoran.

She wasn't at all surprised to see his eyes glowing a pure white. Somehow she understood the why and how this had happened, even if she couldn't quite describe it to herself in words. Something deep inside her told the reason and the method, but not in any way that was easily explainable. All she had were feelings.

Syaoran began to blink, the rich reddish ocher of his eyes returning as Sakura ran closer. He readily returned the bright and relieved smile she gave him, warmly gripping her shoulders to hold her to his heart when she was near enough. She buried her face in the crook of his neck for a moment, then pulled back to meet his worried eyes, her own telling him she was fine now. Sunset gold orbs lowered to the weapon the sorceress held clutched to herself.

"What's this?" he questioned.

Her smile became confident for their future. "A gift from Clow Reed."

"Gift?"

She handed him the katana, which he promptly unsheathed. A clean, engraved blade gleamed in the chamber's light as if this was the first time this weapon was being used. The warrior looked it over in awe. The katana was ancient, beautifully crafted as only the ancient smithies could do, and perfectly balanced in his hand. He could feel the faint eddy of magic around it. He examined the carvings on the blade and smirked at the ancient Chinese spell written there in blessing.

"I wield the large sword of Heaven to cut down specters in their five shapes; one stroke of this divine blade disperses a myriad of these beings." he read aloud. Syaoran smiled. "Bless the man." he breathed.

In the blink of an eye he whirled around and used this new weapon to slice through Higato's chains. Allan could just stare in surprise, his grey eyes questioning his Cousin.

The warrior frowned at him. "I'm not heartless. No matter what you may have done, you're kin and don't deserve to be left behind. The Clan will be your judge, not the Gate." He then inspected the blade for any damage from cutting the chains and smirked at Sakura when he found none. "A very good blade Clow-sama had."

"I feel better knowing you have it now." she admitted, laying a hand to his heart.

"Ah, so that's what happened to Clow's katana." a voice mused from one of the chamber's entrances.

Syaoran, acting on pure protective instinct, immediately pushed his beloved sorceress behind himself to guard her from harm, the katana held before him to ward off the interloper. Higato stood at the defensive next to his Cousin. As much as he hated Syaoran it was nothing compared to how much he loathed the dark one. For once the two Cousins agreed on something. The Card Mistress had to be protected.

Dark Syaoran chuckled in amusement. "Ooo, two mighty Li men against poor little me all alone. And one of them has a magic katana." He near snarled. "How pitiful."

With a magically silenced howl Higato raced forward towards the dark one, murder in his eyes for his foe, ignoring the cries of warning from the Card Captors. For the little time he had known this creature of darkness it had managed to systematically ruin everything about his life. Sakura hated him, no doubt, for life. His Clansmen would never forgive him any of the actions he took against his Cousin. He had nothing left to lose. Honor was gone, but he figured he could at least go down fighting. He would be remembered for that.

Mummaro glanced at the approaching teen warily. "You bore me, Higato."

With a flick of the dark one's hand Allan was knocked off his feet and sent flying through the air against one of the chamber's massive pillars. He dropped against its base, momentarily stunned. Chains appeared from out of nowhere, snaking around the pillar to wrap tightly around Allan's chest, neck and head. He struggled wildly, silently, against these bonds that just wouldn't yield, only tighten painfully. The Life Card turned away, shutting its eyes tight as it covered its ears. Sakura buried her face in Syaoran's back to keep herself from seeing what would inevitably happen next. The warrior/sorcerer, too, averted his eyes. No one wanted to see anyone die when they couldn't prevent it. There followed a dull, sickening crunching sound and a gurgle of a final breath being expelled from crushed lungs. The Card Captors shuddered at these sounds. Another senseless death. Mummaro's gleeful cackle filled the air.

"I do so enjoy the looks of pure terror on their faces when they die." he gloated, clapping his hands happily.

"Monster." Sakura hissed.

Mummaro heard her, his head turning to see her still pressed protectively to her Little Wolf's back. Syaoran blinked at the expression of hurt that flitted across his doppelganger's face from the sorceress's curse. He was still affected by her, still loved her. The warrior straightened ever so slightly. This meant Sakura was safe for a moment more. The dark one's frown then returned.

"I did this for you, precious one." dark Syaoran growled to the Card Mistress. The male Card Captor couldn't help but feel a twinge of possessive jealousy at the way this creature spoke to Sakura. It was far too tender. "I just rid you of one more of your nuisances."

"He didn't deserve to die like that, no matter what he did." Sakura trembled, pressing closer to her soul mate.

His frown deepened. "Ne, you're a hard one to please, my lovely." he muttered.

Sakura's green eyes flashed at him angrily from over her warrior's shoulder. "I want nothing from you!"

His frown turned into a deep glower. "You'll beg me soon enough."

Mummaro raised a hand almost casually, dark mist collecting in the form of a large orb in his palm. Syaoran's body tensed, ready for anything. The dark doppelganger turned his wrist just slightly to the Card Captors and the mist began to take on a more elongated form. In a heartbeat a gleaming katana of blackened steel had formed in his hand. He smirked triumphantly at the Card Captors, confident beyond measure of his own skills and victory, watching in barely concealed amusement as his twin took up a defensive fighting stance, keeping the sorceress behind him. The dark one barely moved his free hand, scarcely a twitch, but causing Sakura to be tossed aside magically, away from her armed protector.

Li Syaoran turned in surprise. "Sakura!" he called to his stunned girlfriend in worry as she struggled to slowly pick herself up from the hard stones.

Mummaro laughed. "Worry more about what's in front of you." he taunted the warrior. He bowed to him in a mocking gesture. "Shall we dance, Little Wolf?"

Syaoran growled in menace and regained his fighting stance. "I'll send you back to the darkness that spawned you." he ground in promise.

Sakura shook her head free of the impact-induced daze as she felt the Life Card help her kneel up. For a moment she heard nothing. The chamber was completely and eerily silent. Then a voice she would recognize, even in her deepest sleep, let loose a war cry. The female Card Captor whirled around in time to see her Syaoran and dark Syaoran rush at each other, katanas held ready to strike. The fighters stopped just short of each other, their weapons colliding with a resounding crash. The teen sorceress had the hardest time keeping track of their movements. Every move they made was made a rapid blur from almost inhuman speed. Sakura made sure to keep her thoughts still and silent lest she distract her champion from this fight.

The young warrior blocked a blow from his dark double and leapt out of the way of an intended kick. He growled and swept forward for his own attack.

Lunge... and miss…

Retreat...

Swipe... and miss…

Kick...

Kick...

Block...

Parry...

Dodge...

L unge...

Thrust... and miss…

Kick...

Kick...

Swipe...

Parry...

Swipe...

B lock!

Mummaro was growing incensed that his opponent was lasting this long against him. Neither of them had managed to land a worth blow yet. But the Little Wolf was tiring, dark Syaoran could see it on his face and in his movements. The dark one threw katana blow after blow, kick after kick, being relentless in his attacks on his double.

Then it happened.

An opening in Syaoran's defenses.

Dark Syaoran smiled a pleased, evil grin and swung his katana at the unprotected area. Steel bit into flesh effortlessly, drawing blood from a fresh wound in the warrior's side. Syaoran cried out, his wail of pain mirrored by Sakura's own cry as she toppled to the floor, clutching at her own bleeding side. The Little Wolf stumbled back, managing to stay on his feet, and shot a worried glance to his beloved soul mate. She was writhing slightly in pain, succeeding in keeping her tearing eyes on her warrior. Fury rose within the Li Clan's future leader. Mummaro, in hurting the warrior, had also hurt the sorceress. No one was allowed to hurt Sakura. He glowered at his black-eyed twin, noting the surprise on this one's face.

"So, you really are linked." dark Syaoran murmured. "How very interesting."

Taking advantage of Syaoran's diverted attention, Mummaro struck quickly and without warning. With the butt of his katana he struck the warrior in the face, stunning him just long enough to slice at his shoulder. The warrior/sorcerer stepped back in instinct, but not far enough. He voiced his pain, dropping his katana in both agony and surprise from the move, unable to hold his weapon any longer. Each slice of the dark blade felt like cold fire to the struggling fighter. Not far away from the battle identical wounds, as that of the sorcerer's, manifested themselves on the Card Mistress's body. She grit her teeth hard to keep herself from screaming, small whimpers escaping her throat. Silently she wondered how her soul mate could still function under such physical torture. Syaoran's eyes constantly flickered back and forth, between his beloved Sakura and his hated dark double, as he was forced back against one of the pillars by menacing katana swipes. His injuries hurt atrociously from every move he was forced to make to avoid the dark blade. Syaoran saw his girlfriend holding her wounds in an attempt to stop the bleeding and the pain as the Life Card watched helplessly. Apologetic remorse filled him at the fact that she had to suffer every little thing he felt during this fight. He saw her abruptly struggle to stand, helped by the Life Card, just as his retreat was finally cut off by the pillar. The stone felt cold against his back. The sharp point of a cold katana tapping the underside of his chin drew his attention back to his opponent.

Mummaro sneered victoriously at his helpless and injured twin. "I always believed the great Li Xiao Lang was unbeatable." He took a swipe at the warrior's thigh, opening a deep gash. Both Card Captors cried out in pain from identical wounds, the sorceress falling to the floor again. "I guess I was wrong, ne?"

"Onegai..." Sakura pleaded in tears, dragging her injured body across the hard stones. "Stop this... onegai..."

Syaoran saw the dark one turn to the Mistress of the Cards, an expression of anguish on his face at the torment she was forced to suffer. "I cannot stop this, precious one. Only you can. Two words, dearest. Two words and all this comes to an end."

"Sakura, no..." the warrior begged his love, suddenly understanding what she was planning to do.

The blood stained katana returned to the Little Wolf's throat in menace. "Quiet, you!" He smiled at the sorceress. "Two words, sweet one." Mummaro prompted.

Sakura hesitated. "Will... will you let him go without further harm?"

Syaoran shook his head as best he could with the katana to his neck. "Sakura..."

"I said, quiet!" the dark one hissed, pressing his weapon hard to his prey's windpipe.

Darkness made flesh looked at his lovely prize, debating the soundness of letting her have this one request of him. Letting the warrior/sorcerer go would make her infinitely happy, but he was also a danger to the safety of the Gate... wasn't he? He paused. No, one man was hardly a menace for all his power. The Little Wolf had no magic near strong enough to reach the Gate so far underground after he left.

"Two words and I will let him go." the dark one finally agreed.

Sakura, onegai...Syaoran pleaded in her mind.

If you live then we all stand a chance to defeat him, she reasoned.

Don't do this!

It's the only way left. I have faith in you, you won't let him win. She closed her eyes, her voice a bare hush. "I'll... I'll stay."

The dark one smiled broadly in victory. "Honto ne, My Love?"

Tears fell from her closed eyes. "H-Honto."

He chuckled. She was his now. The lovely Mistress of the Clow Cards, the future's most powerful sorceress of all time, was truly and definitely his now. He took a step back from Syaoran, the dark katana vanishing into a puff of black smoke. He looked down on him in smug contempt and disgust.

"You have a few moments to say goodbye." he ground and walked to the center of the chamber.

The Card Captors scrambled over to each other, falling into each other's arms and clinging to each other tightly. Sakura wept openly in the arms of her partner, her face buried in the warm crook of his neck to forever imprint his scent on her senses. Syaoran held her as tight as he dared over both of their injuries, tangling his fingers in the silk of her hair, still not daring to accept the sacrifice she had just made.

Why, Sakura? he questioned redundantly. Why are you doing this?

Because it's the only way.

She pulled back just enough to be able to look into his devastated sunset colored eyes, noting the tears glistening on his cheeks.

Him... this place... we'll never be able to destroy them from the inside since our magic sets it off. It all has to be destroyed from the outside. He'll never let me leave, but you...

I can't do it knowing you're in here. And even with the rest of my Clan helping me we still don't have enough magic to do that.

With hesitant and trembling hands she reached for the Key of Clow hanging at her throat. She took it off and dangled it from its chain for a moment, just staring at the magical item. Setting her jaw she slipped it over Syaoran head. He blinked in shock at the move. He couldn't believe she was doing this. Sakura then held up her hands, palms up, and the Book of Clow appeared from out of nowhere. She looked at the vessel for the powerful cards long and hard, then held it out to her boyfriend. His hands couldn't quite reach for it. To take the book would mean that she would definitely die.

"Sakura, I can't..." he whispered.

She inhaled shakily, eyes on the ancient tome. "I transfer full ownership and control of the Clow Cards to you, Syaoran." she breathed, forcing the item into his hands. "They'll obey you now." She met his eyes. "If there was any other way..."

She let the rest of her hushed comment hang unspoken. There was no need to say it.

His fingers trembled slightly as he caressed her cheek. "I just wish it didn't have to be you to have to go through this. We... We never got enough time together..."

Sakura laid a hand to his heart. "We'll have time enough soon." she assured in a weak sob, a very slight and shaky smile adorning her lips.

He understood and the corners of his mouth turned up subtly, a languid tear tracing a salty trail down his cheek. "All of infinity"

Syaoran's expression became solemn once again as he cupped Sakura's face in his hands tenderly. He wanted to forever engrave her whole presence and appearance on his heart and soul. Part of him was silently glad he was going to die at the same moment she would when the Gate would be destroyed. He would never have to go on with a single moment without her in his life. That thought of existing without her was far too painful to bare. Knowing what was going to happen wrenched at his heart. There had been so many things he had wanted to show her of his homeland, of his family, the wonders of pristine nature in the neighboring islands. So many things he wanted to tell her, ancient secrets and magic known only to his clan, the true depth of his feelings for her. It was his greatest fear after he had gotten to know the ethereal Mistress of the Cards, to never live long enough to bare his all to her. And he would never know if she would have accepted him in the way that he had so dearly hoped.

A shaky sigh escaped his lips as he trailed his thumb over her trembling bottom lip. "I never got a chance to really tell you... to show you... just how much I love you, my Ying Fa." he whispered hoarsely.

She touched his smooth cheek, no longer trying to hold back her tears. "Your eyes told me, my Xiao Lang, showed me, everyday... And, in a little while, you'll be able to tell me again... in a whole different way."

Silently she wondered how it would feel to be dead, if it would truly be so different.

Would they still be so deeply in love?

Her fingers strayed to his lips and she swallowed hard.

"Aishiteru, Syaoran."

In a quick move he pulled her close yet again, crushing her to his heart, and kissed her soft and yielding lips, practically assaulting her. She responded by holding on to him for dear life, her fingers tangling in his soft hair. Neither wanted to concentrate on anything save this embrace, to sear it onto their hearts. Their kiss had turned into a frantic one, tongues meeting and teasing for what could be the last time. Syaoran wanted more of her; wanted to somehow deepen a kiss that couldn't deepen anymore; wanted to somehow mold himself into her so that they would never ever be apart as so he wouldn't have to leave her when this kiss ended.

"Time's up." growled the dark one suddenly.

The soul mates reluctantly pulled apart from their final embrace, staying forehead to forehead for a moment longer, sharing a breath. Neither yet dared to let go. To do so meant the end.

"Aishiteru, Sakura." the young warrior breathed.

Sorrowful emerald eyes met the drowning fires of his eyes. A fleeting smile touched her lips, if only for an instant. I'll see you soon, My Beloved, she sent him tenderly.

He swallowed hard and nodded. Until then, My Angel.

Mummaro glared at them both in clear and growing impatience. "If you two are quite through..." he growled, annoyed.

Then, not bothering to wait for a response, dark Syaoran waved a hand towards his double, surrounding him in a black bubble much like the one Mesuinu had used to bring the warrior to the Gate in the first place.

"Sayonara, Little Wolf." he cackled and the sphere blinked out of existence.

As Mummaro laughed gaily in celebration, the Life Card floated over to the immobile Card Mistress and wrapped its arms around her shoulders in sympathy of her plight. Sakura leaned against the gentle card, her cheek to its shoulder, and stared at the spot where Syaoran had once been. She closed her eyes, a deep calm suddenly invading her senses and heart.

"It'll all be over soon." she mumbled.

* * *

The Clansmen gathered in the estate's massive Reception Hall scattered to get out of the way as a large black sphere appeared in their midst. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the bubble vanished leaving behind its only passenger kneeling on the hardwood floor: Li Syaoran. Still too stunned by his sudden arrival to move yet, his Clansmen could only watch as the battered and bloodied warrior stood on wobbly legs. Keroberus was the first to recover from his initial shock and take a few steps forward. The mighty Guardian Beast of the Seal saw the young warrior/sorcerer look down at a book he cradled in his hands, his amber eyes glistening with tears.

The Beast gasped.

Syaoran was holding both the Book and the Key of Clow.

The future Clan leader took out two cards from the book, his hand trembling as he stared at them. Concerned and curious, his Clansmen began to approach him. They were stopped by yet another surprise from the warrior. Clow's magical circle appeared beneath his feet as he called forth his Clan's sword.

He tossed the two cards out before him. "Earthy! Death! Release!" he commanded, striking both cards with his sword.

In a swirl of mist the two cards began to take on a new form. Earthy, like all the other element cards, took on a female form. Its long robes consisted of fabric, stone and earth here and there. At it's side floated Death, a dark cloak much like that of the Shadow Card, a deadly scythe in its pale hand. Their new Master looked at them both and swallowed the painful knot threatening in his throat.

"Death Card, end all the dark magic and energy contained within Mummaro's Gate. Earthy Card,..." His expression was pained when he hesitated. "Destroy the Gate completely." he ordered.

The living cards obeyed without question, fading through the floor as if it were no more than water. Flanked by Meilin, Tomoyo and Lerae, Keroberus cautiously approached the now trembling warrior. Syaoran felt rather than saw them draw near.

"Xiao Lang?" his Okaa-san questioned softly.

"It'll all be over soon." the warrior stated flatly.

"What will be over, Li?" asked Tomoyo.

"Life." was all he replied.

The Guardian blinked at this and came around him to see his face. Syaoran's eyes were closed, an expression of anguish on his face, tears trailing down his cheeks.

"Where's Sakura? What happened?" the Beast demanded gently.

"I... I underestimated her again. I didn't... didn't know she was capable of making such a sacrifice." Syaoran faltered in answer. "She... gave me the Book and Key of Clow and just... stayed. She knew he'd never let her leave."

"Who would never let her leave?" Meilin asked her Cousin carefully.

"Mummaro... the power of the Gate made living... using my body, the one I lost to the Portal Card all those months ago..."

He suddenly let himself drop to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks in salty rivers. He didn't care what his Clan thought of him for showing such a weakness. He didn't care about anything anymore except what was going to happen soon.

"Forgive me, Sakura." he whispered. "To free you from that monster... I have to kill you."

* * *

Dark Syaoran twirled in place, laughing, near euphoric with joy. He had won. Not the victory he had originally planned for, but that could wait. For now he had triumphed over the Little Wolf in winning his prize: the delectable Mistress of the Cards, Kinomoto Sakura. He would enjoy her company very much. Then, when he would finally tire of her presence, if ever, he would kill her and free his darkness into the unsuspecting Universe. If anything he was patient. After centuries of waiting, what were a few more years? Everything would fall into place in due time. Everything had been meticulously planned over the millennia. Clow's descendants would be the first to go since they dwelt right above the Gate. They wouldn't move. He knew their mentality. The Clan would stay because they wished to remain near the Mistress of the Cards. The dark one smiled at a thought. The Clan's suffering would be even greater if Sakura lived for long decades before he killed her. Their knowing she was still alive and they couldn't do anything to save or protect her from him would be a deep soul torture for them.

"Ne, how shall we celebrate, my precious?" Mummaro suddenly smiled at Sakura.

She completely ignored him, still wrapped comfortingly in the Life Card's arms, still staring off at nothing.

The dark one frowned slightly. "Smile, my lady. Here, I can make anything your heart may desire… with certain exceptions, of course."

Sakura remained silent.

"Just make a wish, dearest. Your wishes will be my commands from now until the end of time."

A familiar tingle reached the edge of Sakura's strained senses, a feeling she easily recognized from her five years of experience. She raised her head from Life's shoulders and continued to look ahead of herself at nothing for the moment.

"Any wish?" she suddenly questioned.

Mummaro smiled broadly, pleased she was finally responding to him. "Hai, Love, any wish."

The tingling sensation grew stronger against her senses as her green eyes met his black ones boldly, a hateful frown marring her features.

"I want you to die." she bit out.

His expression fell at her words. A loud rumbling and a baleful howl filled the chamber as the Earthy and Death Cards manifested themselves. Pillars of stone thrust through the walls, floor and ceiling at every conceivable angle while the dark form of Death floated towards the dark crystal rings encircling the chamber. Dark Syaoran registered disbelief and some fear at this new development. This was a far cry from what he had expected to happen now. An attack had never been a consideration. He was supposed to have won. Clow's descendants were supposed to have been defeated. The roof of the Gate began to crumble from the Earthy Card's attack, dropping large chunks of stone down on both the dark one and the sorceress.

Dark Syaoran rounded on the passive Mistress of the Cards. "He may destroy me and my Gate, but your Little Wolf kills you as well!" he shouted over the rumbling.

Sakura's expression was placid. "So be it!" she voiced.

Mummaro roared and turned back to the two cards destroying his temple. The sorceress would be of no help to him in this. She was obviously prepared to die. His black eyes fixed on the Death Card hovering around the dark quartz rings skirting the ceiling. As he watched, each time the somber card would touch the crystal, the near black matter would lighten and the dark one could feel his powers drain at each touch. Dark Syaoran raised his arms to the two attacking Clow Cards, a ferocious expression on his face. Black lighting seemed to erupt from his hands, encasing his two enemies in cages of pure and painful dark energy. The magical beings writhed and contorted within their confinements, the Death Card's agonizing howl drawing a sadistic grin of pleasure from the dark one. Mummaro ignored Sakura's pleas to stop torturing the now helpless cards. She wanted him dead, he knew that for certain. He had no intention of granting her that particular wish. He knew if he could sufficiently damage these two cards with the power of the Gate, then they would be eternally powerless to ever stop him. The dark one could feel Clow Reed's creations weakening with ever volley. Dark Syaoran allowed himself a victorious laugh.

"No one can ever stop me!" he announced confidently to the chamber.

His triumphant expression suddenly changed to one of shock, his frame jerking slightly. The lightning ceased immediately and the cards were freed. Mummaro slowly looked down at his own chest. Protruding out of him, where his heart was, was nearly a foot of forged, sharpened steel, a dark red itchor dripping from it. The blade was then pulled back out the way it had gone in. Stunned and clutching at his wound, the dark one turned around stiffly, coming face to face with his Angel of Retribution.

"Meet Miss No One." Sakura ground.

Seeing its golden opportunity, the Death Card wasted no time in descending on the mortally injured dark entity to finish the job his former Mistress had started. Mummaro cried out, his protests strangled in the black folds of the Death Card's cloak. When it finally released its prey, all that fell to the stone floor was a now ashen and inanimate body. Sakura stared at the dead body, her form beginning to tremble. Seeing Syaoran, even this double of the Little Wolf, looking so dead was a painful sight. She was barely aware of Earthy and Death resuming their ordered tasks, or of the Life Card tugging at her arm to pull her out of danger unsuccessfully. Her emerald eyes alternated between the body of the floor and the bloodied katana still clutched in her hands. The sorceress was oblivious to the rubble once again falling all around her, nor did she feel the impact of large stones striking her body and opening new bleeding wounds. She was numb from what she had been forced to do.

She had stabbed someone in the back.

True, it had been the living incarnation of Mummaro's Gate's collected energies and, true, it had been inhabiting a body that had been dead for several months now and should have stayed that way, but to Sakura it was still shocking. Her, the teen everyone called innocent and kind, had killed someone. Her mind couldn't get passed that, no matter how much she knew she had done this to save the two Clow Cards and to stop the dark one.

Then a bright flash exploded before her eyes and all went dark.

* * *

Li Meilin Rae carefully dabbed her Cousin's bleeding injuries in hopes of stemming the blood flow. Only seconds before it had seemed as if something heavy had struck him and he had crumpled to the floor with a mighty gash on his head. Their Clansmen had gathered around all around the fallen warrior, worried and wondering where all these new injuries were coming from. Meilin looked to Daidouji Tomoyo busy bandaging the warrior's arm while mighty Keroberus and Li Lerae watched on in avid interest. The Chinese girl couldn't understand what was happening to the warrior that had once been promised to her. She knew he was in extreme pain, yet a peaceful smile adorned his lips. It was as if he didn't fear what was happening. A new gash suddenly appeared on his forehead.

"What's happening to him?" Meilin demanded as she mopped up a new flow of blood.

"He is mirroring the Card Mistress's injuries." the eldest of Elders replied before Keroberus could even open his mouth.

The Beast looked at the wizened men with a small frown. "How long have you known?"

"From the moment Xiao Lang announced he and she were partners. It is a part of the Legend of the Two."

"I have never heard of this part to the legend." Lerae voiced, hiding her confusion expertly.

"It was withheld to make sure any and all claims could be verified and validated." another Elder replied.

"What's the full legend?" Tomoyo thought to query, curious.

The youngest of the seven Elders stepped forward at this and cleared his throat. "If ever there be two to hunt for the cards of magic, let them be male and female. Let them feel animosity, let them feel jealousy, let them feel compassion, and let them feel love. The Card Master and the Card Mistress will be of one soul, feeling all from the other as if it were their own. They will share the greatest of joy, they will share most excruciating of pain. The very moment one of the pair should perish, the other will also enter the great beyond at their side. Let neither survive the other, let them be together throughout eternity."

Meilin's terra cotta eyes went wide at this, her hands clutching fistfuls of Syaoran's shirt. "But… he just ordered the cards to destroy the Gate… with Sakura still in it!"

Everyone fell silent in realization. With the Mistress of the Cards within Mummaro's Gate at its moment of collapse, she would most certainly be crushed and killed. And, if the legend held true, so would the Clan's future leader. So far, by all present appearances, this would certainly be the case. All those gathered in the Reception Hall remained quiet in respect and grief of the expected loss.

Even in his semi-conscious state, Syaoran was aware of the somber silence reigning around him. He could hear the occasional sad sniffle and awkward shuffle of feet from his Clansmen.

He understood.

They all knew, much like he did, that he was going to die.

It was inevitable.

The young warrior was resigned to his Fate, secure in the knowledge that he would soon be with his sorceress and she would finally be free of Mummaro's Gate. These were the only thoughts that eased the pain in his heart at what he had to do to accomplish this. On the edge of his weakening senses the warrior could feel the two Clow Cards beginning to return to him, their task completed. He could easily feel Sakura's agony from so far away. She felt so weak, her aura a chaotic jumble. But, for some reason his muddled mind couldn't fathom, her waning presence seemed to be getting closer as the two Clow Cards drew nearer. Syaoran could hear his Clansmen abruptly begin to babble amongst themselves as he sensed the cards arrive in the Reception Hall.

Something was odd.

He could sense a third card in their company and the Card Mistress felt so impossibly close now.

With a supreme effort he forced himself back to complete consciousness and willed his eyes to open, if only a slit. His dulled amber eyes saw his four Sisters weeping softly at the edge of the large crowd with his Okaa-san trying to comfort them. The Elders all had their heads bowed in respect. Meilin was cradling his head in her lap while Tomoyo tended to his numerous injuries. Both carefully watched his amber eyes scanning his surroundings. Syaoran looked from one girl to the other, noting the heavy tears in their eyes, before turning his head in the direction of the cards that had just returned from their mission. Keroberus was standing with them, seemingly talking to them. He figured that was possible. They were magical creatures created by the same man. Communication must have been easy for them. His tiring eyes abruptly caught sight of the third card, its glowing white robes and long pale hair floating on an imperceptible breeze.

The Life Card.

It seemed to be keeping the bulk of its robes wrapped protectively around something cradled effortlessly in its arms. The Little Wolf focused what little he could of his failing powers on that bundle to discern its contents and felt his senses become practically assaulted by the ever so familiar aura there. Despite his injuries and despite his pain Syaoran rolled to his side to push himself up in a half lounging, half-sitting position, a pleading, grasping hand reaching out to the Life Card.

"… Sa-… ku-ra… Sakura…!" he called to the card in an agonized, desperate cry.

Everyone, save the three Clow Cards and the Guardian Beast of the Seal, looked at the severely injured warrior as if he had gone mad from pain and grief over the loss of his sorceress. This was clearly not the lovely Mistress of the Cards he was calling to. This was simply a new Clow Card yet to be sealed. Yet the warrior seemed convinced the Japanese girl was there.

Keroberus smiled at the three magical creations before him, nodding once in urging. "Bring her over to him." he ordered gently.

Flanked by Earthy and Death, the Life Card floated forward, through the part made by the curious crowd, towards the woozy yet hopeful warrior of the Li Clan. The card held the bundle carefully and tenderly to itself as if it were carrying a fragile child. When it was near enough to the young sorcerer it kneeled down. A happy smile was on its face. Magically its robes began to unfold and peel away from the object hidden within. A surprised united hush fell over the gathered crowd.

There, lying unconscious in the Life Card's arms, was a living, breathing, dusty and severely injured Kinomoto Sakura.

"She's alive." were the words whispered happily through the throngs of relatives.

Sad tears were replaced by smiles as all watched the wounded warrior struggle to cradle his soul mate in weak arms, both Meilin and Tomoyo joining the couple in a group hug. Syaoran pressed Sakura to his chest, relieved beyond words at the feel of her heart still beating within her. Tomoyo suddenly pulled back from them and fished out her video camera to capture this moment on film while Meilin kept her hands on her Cousin's shoulders to help support him in a sitting position. With a trembling hand the Little Wolf tenderly brushed the stone dust from the Cherry Blossom's soft cheek, watching her long lashes beginning to flutter.

"… Sa-… kura…" he called mellifluously.

A sliver of emerald green shone through her barely opened eyelids. "… Syao-… ran…?" came a hoarse whisper from her lips.

"… Hai…" he smiled, feeling his consciousness beginning to slip away again. "… We… did it…"

The barest of smiles curled up the corners of her mouth. "… It's… over…"

"… Hai…"

His dizziness finally won out and he let his Cousin gently lower him to his back as he fought with his swimming senses to continue holding Sakura close to his heart.

"… I'll… never let… you… go… ever again… Ying… Fa…" he managed to whisper, his eyes closing.

Sakura's eyes were already closed, her hand curling into the tattered silk of his shirt. "… Xiao… Lang…" she murmured.

Then both fell limp and silent.

Worried at this, Meilin checked both of their pulses. She sighed a small smile. "They're alright." she informed her family members and friends. "They just passed out."

There was a collective sigh of relief as Tomoyo faced the grinning Guardian Beast of the Seal. "Kero, what happened?"

The mystical lion smiled to the teen videographer. "According to the Life Card that dark thing in the Gate was too busy celebrating that it never felt Earthy and Death coming for it. When it finally did the cards had already started their attacks. That dark thing tried to stop them, but Sakura managed to stop it, giving Death enough time to come down and kill it for good. That's when Life said Sakura got hit by some debris and passed out. The Life Card wanted Sakura to live. It convinced both Death and Earthy that Sakura had to survive the destruction of Mummaro's Gate because it was her destiny to capture all the Clow Cards. They protected her from the rest of the debris, then wrapped themselves around her to bring her up through all that rock and earth separating us from the Gate."

"But the Life Card is a free and unsealed card." terra cotta eyed Meilin stated. "The way I understand it is it didn't have to do anything to help her."

"That's true."

"So why did it want to help Sakura?"

"It wants her to be its Mistress." he responded simply, the Life Card smiling sweetly in agreement.

There was a slight pause as everyone let the Beast's words sink in. The Card Mistress was indeed someone very special to have a free card fight for her. At an unspoken signal from Li Lerae, a number of attendants moved forward and gently lifted the unconscious pair of magic users off of the hard floor. The young couple was safe now, the crisis was finally over. It was now time to conclusively and properly tend to their many bleeding and painful injuries. Both magic and conventional medicine would be used to heal the soul mates. Death and Earthy re-sealed themselves into their card forms and disappeared into the leather bound pages of the Book of Clow. The Life Card stayed close to the unconscious Card Mistress's side like a worried Okaa-san. Lerae allowed herself a smile. Both her Son and the lovely Japanese sorceress had survived one of, and perhaps the, most dangerous tests of their young lives. And they had done this in concord, together.

They were of two different lives…

They were of two different minds…

They were of two different bodies…

But they would be forever of one soul.

Concludes in Chapter 11 (part 20) of "Dimensions II - Test of Evil"