Falling Away

Memories are just where you laid them

Drag their waters til the depths give up their dead

What did you expect to find

Was there something you left behind

Don't you remember anything I said when I said

Don't fall away

And leave me to myself

Don't fall away

And leave love bleeding in my hands…

- Hemorrhage (In My Hands) - Fuel

Flashes of pain and glimmers of light. Piercing shrieks, lost wails. That was death. Souls with nowhere to go and nothing to feel. That was misery. Tears and hopelessness, knowing no matter what you did and how well you did it, it would never be enough.

That was love.

Li Syaoran hopped backward and threw up his sword, using it to shield himself and the person behind him. Streaks of lightning struck the flat of the blade, wrapping around its length but fizzing out moments later. His magic was stronger now, at its peak. He was going to win this.

Behind him, Kinomoto Sakura was down on one knee, clutching at her right arm. It was broken, she knew it was. And she was tired. Tired of fighting, tired of trying to win. It needed to be over and put to rest.

"Sakura!" Syaoran shouted, his gaze on the heavily cloaked figure before him. He turned his head a bit, not wanting to look away but needing Sakura to hear him. "Sakura!"

She looked up, wincing. "I'm here." She reassured him from behind. She stood slowly and switched her wand to her good hand, lifting it up before herself.

"Come forth, Windy!" she cried and light exploded before her, behind Syaoran. She gazed into that brightness, struck by its holy beauty. The warmth that came on calling on an old friend. To be able to fight side by side once more.

Mist rose from the light, clouding the room. Syaoran risked a quick glance behind himself and was instantly brought back to the matter at hand, sword lifting to ward off more streaks of lightning.

Windy was as glorious as ever, as lovely as when they had first met. She came into being from the mist, feminine form hovering in mid-air.

It was over. Once Windy got to their enemy it would be over.

But Windy wasn't moving. Her pale green figure remained hovering above Sakura, looking somehow lost. Syaoran turned to look at her over his shoulder, brow furrowing.

"Windy?" Sakura whispered in confusion. She gazed up at her friend. "What is it?"

The figure before them lifted a hand, fingers splayed. And he motioned, one quick graceful gesture.

Windy looked from him to Sakura.

"Windy." Sakura uttered, blinking wide green eyes, realization only then beginning to cloud them.

The card slowly turned, floating away from Sakura. Syaoran stared at the scene before him, watched as it played out. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the card. There was a strange expression on the element's face, one that closely resembled remorse.

My Mistress…

The cards spoke to her sometimes. Only a few of them had human voices. But she understood them when they cried, when they laughed. When they thrummed with power, it was to reassure her that she still had them when in need of them. And when they were silent it was because they thought of her.

I'm sorry…

"Windy!" Sakura gasped, taking an involuntary step back.

The card disintegrated into mist once more, smoke suddenly funneling outward and shooting toward Sakura. The young woman could only watch, frozen in place as she was surrounded, embraced by an old friend.

"Sakura!"

Syaoran took a step in her direction and Windy reared up, a pure blast of wind flinging him backward. He hit the floor hard and slid, coming to a stop at the feet of their enemy in robes.

Sakura cried out as intangible winds closed around her, and her arms were forced away from her body, latched onto tightly. Her broken arm was twisted upward and she shouted something incoherently, wincing, as a thin band of wind took hold of her neck and tightened.

Syaoran rose up onto his rear in soreness, Chinese robes dragging. Two hands grabbed him from behind, grabbing fistfuls of his robe and his hair. He instantly fought to free himself, swiping at the lean figure underneath the black, flowing cloak.

Windy took hold of Sakura roughly, lifting her off the ground.

"Stop, Windy!" she gasped, broken arm being tugged on.

The dark figure shoved Syaoran to the ground, straddling him, one hand wrapping around his neck. His other hand lifted and he waved, movements almost elegant. Syaoran watched him through slits for eyes, hands trying to wrench off the strong grip he had on his neck.

A choked scream ripped from Sakura as white bolts of lightning streaked before her chest. The forks of light joined into one single source, an expanding disc of flickering white light. It was painful, suspended in mid-air, spread-eagled, and it felt as if something was being yanked from her, pulled out of her chest.

Syaoran managed one punch, into the man's face hidden by the cloak. The man stumbled, recoiling backward and then, angrily, he gestured once more.

Sakura's shriek cut through the air, shrill. And the white light expanded, flooding the room.

Syaoran was aware of only one thing then. His body was lifted by the man, his strength suddenly superhuman. And he was flung, crashing into a wall several feet away. Pain flooded his body, gripping him and doubling him over. With a muffled groan he fell to the floor, the white light fading into black.

"Syaoran…"

His eyes came open slowly and he blinked, lips parting. The ceiling was overhead, a familiar ceiling but not his own. The room swam before him and he blinked once more, clearing away tears.

"Syaoran…"

He looked up, recognizing the voice. "S…Sakura?"

She stood several feet away, skin almost seeming to glow.

"Syaoran."

He rose slowly, hands sliding across dirt. The room was empty around them but dust and debris littered the floor, creating a blanket of dirt. He stood painfully and then faltered from the soreness in his limbs. "Sakura." He whispered, wincing. With a hiss he stood and he looked at her, taking a step in her direction.

She looked at him sadly from where she stood and as he focused he realized she was glowing. Her hair shone, skin shimmering.

"I come with a message." She said quietly. And she hesitated as he stared at her in confusion.

"A message?"

Sakura looked down for a moment, head bowing. But then she lifted her gaze once more to him, a tender look upon her face. "The Cards have been retrieved, returned to their rightful master. Know the face of your love for you shall not cast your eyes upon her again." Sakura said softly, as if repeating someone. And her eyes suddenly shifted, changing color. Her figure brightened with an inner light and her features melted, reshaping slowly into those of an eternally young girl.

"Illusion." Syaoran murmured, stumbling as he took another step.

The Card withdrew, figure suddenly fading. "Sayonara, Syaoran-sama." She whispered faintly and a moment later she vanished into nothing, a soft breeze blowing across the floor.

And Syaoran was left staring at the spot she had just stood.