The dragon stood on its four limbs, folding his wings slowly and carefully. "h-how?" it asked.

"I'm your son – your flesh and blood. I can feel you father, in a way that others can't" Syaoran said.

Then, just then, I remembered what I could do to remove this darkness. I called upon my staff which had its own light and raised it high.

"What are you trying to do? Light this infinity with your puny wand?" the monster mocked.

"No." I replied sternly, "I'll summon something that can do just that… Light, release and dispel!" I shouted. And my staff glowed brilliantly as the Light was summoned from its confinement. Just as soon at she was out, all darkness was pushed away; leaving only a brilliant – but not the type that was too painful for the eyes – white. And in the whiteness, the black dragon stood out like a large ink blot on a piece of white paper.

"Well now, what do we have here?" I heard Tomoyo say, "a blot of ink I see… and I just hate unnecessary blots. I guess it's time to do some cleaning!"

"I'm with you!" Eriol added.

Tomoyo and Eriol dashed past me and the Light, weapons in ready and Syaoran came following after them. Tomoyo, who was leading, attacked first. Her saber was spinning in her hand while the ring of water that surrounded it materialized and solidified.

"Humph… foolish mortals…" the dragon said, raising its wings high and then wrapping itself around with it. And suddenly, it became a small black ball and if formed a male human figure – tall and forbidding. "Let's play then." He said, his blood-shot eyes glowing like hot coals.

"Ring Boomerang!" Tomoyo said, throwing her icicle-surrounded saber.

The male figure just looked at it and in his hands formed a red-glowing whip. In a single strike, he countered Tomoyo's attack and hit her as well. But then, he was caught by surprise as the ground below him exploded. I looked at Eriol, who was smiling triumphantly.

"Wind Slasher!" Syaoran shouted again, sending a fury of shots.

Beside me, I can feel the Light's energy slightly grow weaker. "Are you okay?" I asked. The Light smiled and nodded. And then I decided to join them in the fight. "Arrow, Release and Dispel!" I shouted.

The tall figure jumped back and stood tall. That's when I realized how he really looked like an older version of Syaoran – though with flaming red eyes and jet black hair. Though it wasn't how I saw Lord Orochi before – as I remembered him as really ugly and fat. He avoided all of the Arrow's shots with ease.

"Is that all you've got?" he asked, then looked at Syaoran, "Is this all you've got?"

I could see clearly that Syaoran was infuriated when he suddenly dashed toward him. "You'll die father! I swear it!" he shouted.

"Clam down Syaoran! You'll never be able to hit him if you're like that!" Mr. Reed shouted.

Syaoran never listened though, as all angry people do, and just kept on hacking and slashing while his father avoided each attack with a creepy smile on his face.

"You better listen to what he says, Syaoran – though you hardly ever do." He said.

"Shut up!" Syaoran replied.

Then, I saw his right hand swiftly creating symbols. *A spell* I immediately thought, *Syaoran would never be able to notice that in his rage!* then I quickly returned the shot to its confinement and summoned the Shield card.

"Syaoran! Quick! He's casting a spell!" Tomoyo shouted.

"Shield! Release and Dispel!" I shouted, pointing my staff toward Syaoran.

"Too late!" Syaoran's father shouted, shoving forward his right hand and releasing the spell.

Eriol acted and ran towards Syaoran's father. "Earthquake!" he shouted, making the ground beneath Syaoran's father shake and disturbing his spell.

There was a massive amount of smoke so I couldn't see well until all subsided. And when everything did, I couldn't believe what I saw – Syaoran's father was staring at me, smirking and as for Syaoran, he was staring at the Shield which had just turned into stone.

"You have great eyes, princess." He said, "I never knew that my son was in such good hands."

Chills ran up and down my spine but I kept a firm look of defiance on my face. "I love him, and I'll never let you harm him!" I told him.

"Really? I wonder if he'll do the same?" he said, looking at Syaoran who was standing up and staring at him.

"Don't you dare harm her!" Syaoran shouted.

At that moment, I couldn't help but paste a look of horror on my face.

*Come and do that formation now!* Mr. Reed suddenly said in our heads.

Tomoyo and Eriol came running to my side and Syaoran teleported himself to our location. And then the Phoenix came and landed on Eriol's shoulder.

"Hmm… I wonder what will you do?" Syaoran's father said, "Protect her?"

"Let's do it…" Tomoyo whispered. And we all nodded.

They positioned themselves accordingly: Eriol to my back left, Tomoyo my back right, Syaoran to my front right, and the Phoenix hovering to my front left. I raised my staff and knocked the floor twice. Then below us, the sacred circle – which was the design on the back of all my cards – formed. I saw Syaoran's father moving towards us and I fought hard to keep my concentration on what we were doing.

Syaoran's father smirked and sped towards us. But then, he stopped. His limbs were suddenly held apart, like someone held on chains. He tried to break free but to no avail. Behind him, a simple pentagon glowed brightly.

"You forget us, young man." A voice, so loud and audible said. It was ringing with magic and power. It was my father.

"Don't treat us like that!" Mr. Reed said. I could almost feel his smile in his words.

I raised my staff again and a pillar of light enveloped us all.

"Spinel Sun!" Syaoran shouted, making the Black Panther with butterfly wigs appear.

"Yue!" Tomoyo shouted, summoning a tall man with long – I mean long – silver hair and a pair of wings.

"Kerberos!" Syaoran shouted, calling fourth a large lion whose mane has been replaced by a jeweled collar and who had a pair of wings.

And beside me, the Phoenix flamed up and became a female figure – one known to me as Ruby Moon, Meiling's guardian.

All of the four guardians drew their strongest weapons and readied to fire and we did the same as well. Then I chanted, "Powers of the east, south, north and west…

Of wind, fire, water and earth.

Give us power, with the help of light,

Defeat the evil from the night!"

In one stroke, all our energies combined into one and struck its target. There was a blinding flash – and my eyes squinted reflexively – then followed immediately by darkness. Then I felt the Light return to its card form. I slumped on the floor in a tired heap.

"Sakura! Are you alright?" I heard Syaoran's voice.

Panting, I replied an audible "yes."

"I-I can't believe it!" I heard Eriol's voice.

I opened my eyes and it slowly started to adjust to the darkness. I looked to where Eriol was and on his face was a look of confusion. Beside him, Spinel had his back arced and his face hissing – the look of a cat in a defensive position… or in anger.

My night-vision returned and I followed Eriol's gaze. It was a hair-raising sight. Usually, other creatures that see in night mode see in shades of green – but mine was different, I could see in a gray to white scale and only differentiating the colors red and green. Now, imagine seeing like that, add a creepy guy who looks like a ghost in your sight – with blazing red eyes and a smile on his face. My blood almost drained out of me. "Y-your still alive!" I shouted.

"It seems that he is stronger than we thought." Yue said.

*It's my fault – I couldn't keep him contained – his powers have grown far greater than I remembered.* my father said, his voice in our heads once again.

"I grow old man, I don't stay the same." He said.

Then all of a sudden Ruby Moon spoke, "I cannot stay any longer." Then disappeared.

"No…" Tomoyo said, and then all the other guardians disappeared as well.

*I'll amend for that…* father said, "Echo of Magic!" he shouted.

A scream of pain was heard and I looked once again at Syaoran's father. He was on his knees, his image 'rippling' – as I'd like to call it. Wounds appeared from here and there. Some were small and superficial, while others were long and a bit deeper. None were life-threatening though.

Then is stopped. And though a bit wobbly, Syaoran's father stood up. And smiled.

"Still not enough… but what will you do now? Now that your light is gone?" he laughed and then disappeared.

"He's gone!" I shouted.

"No. He's still here." Syaoran told me.

Then, someone approached me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Rest a while, Sakura, you'll need your power for later." He said. It was Mr. Reed.

I nodded my head and he led me to where my father was. He was smiling, though his aura was a bit weak. "I see you're tire too, father." I said.

*Yes. I'm an old man.* he replied.

"Tomoyo, to your left!" Syaoran suddenly shouted.

"Ahead of ya!" she replied, avoiding Syaoran's father's attack.

"Not bad at reading auras, I see." He said, then headed towards Eriol, who sent a fury of sharp rocks jetting from below Syaoran's father – but he was too fast.

I closed my eyes. *It's hopeless* I thought.

…don't say that…

My eyes snapped open. And all I saw was pure whiteness. Then I saw her, my mother – so familiar and beautiful. "Mother…"

She smiled. "Don't loose hope, Sakura. You're a Seraph and that's what they always have – no matter how awful and despairing the situation is."

"But what can we do? He's invincible!" I said.

Mother approached me and held my face between her hands. "Tell me, who are you and what you are."

"I'm Sakura. A Seraph. My father is Fujitaka, who is a great magician and my mother is Nadesiko, a Seraph royalty." I smiled.

"What is our power?"

"Light."

"What does happen when light shines on a dark place?"

"It lights up." I answered, looking at my mother questioningly.

"And the shadows?" she asked.

"They disappear." At that moment, understanding crossed my mind and I smiled at her. "Thank you mother!" I said, embracing her.

She embraced me as well and said, "Go, open your true eyes and wake. It's about time you showed them who you are."

I woke up with a loud explosion ringing in my ears. When my eyes finally adjusted, I saw that everyone – even my father and Mr. Reed, who were a few steps away from me – were wounded and bleeding. I almost lost thought of what to do next.

Father looked at me, smiling. *Did you have a nice dream?* he asked, with a look on his face that told me he knew who I met in that dream.

"Yes." I replied.

"Hmm?" Syaoran's father said – just right beside me.

"Sakura!" Syaoran shouted – his voice so far away!

I could feel the warmness of his breath touching my skin. His face was right beside mine. "I see that sleeping beauty's awake."

I didn't speak. Just acted. I summoned my wand, its appearance pushing him away, then jumped – or rather flew – aside. "It's about time I woke up too!" I said.

Mr. Reed and father jumped away as Syaoran's stood up. "Really? With that wound?"

"What..?" then I felt a sting to my side. I touched the spot and it felt wet… with blood. I slowly descended to the ground and Syaoran caught me before I reached it.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"I-I'm fine." I broke free from him and smiled. "Let me do my job. It's just a sting!"

"Job?" both Syaoran and his father said at the same time.

I flew upwards and raised my staff as it glowed brighter and brighter. "Yes, my job of lighting up darkness and driving away shadows!"

…I am a Seraph, the pillar of light!...

…hear mine plea, o dear havens!...

…open thy gates and remove mine plight!…

…let thy golden rays fall, raining on the darkness…

From above me, a beam of light appeared, growing larger and larger. As I faced the sky, I felt the warmness of it, the glow, and the goodness in it. And then in one blast, the light spread quickly like wildfire.

"Sakura!" I heard Syaoran, distress in his voice.

*I'm sorry, I can't stop now!* I thought.

…in places where shadows reign strong,…

…show them thy true power…

…teach mine friends thine hope's song…

…drive the shadows from their tower!...

There was the sound of fighting from below, a scream of frustration, worried shouts of warning… then I felt a sharp pain on my chest.

"…mine happiness is to see thy death, angel of light…" said a voice from behind. Then everything went blank…

Mother! ...she was flying towards me, her arms opened wide…

~*~

"Job?" I asked in unison with my father.

She flew away from me, saying that she'd do her job. But what was it? – I didn't know. But I just stayed where I was. No one was making every move anyway. I guess that everyone is feeling what my little angel would do.

"Yes, my job of lighting up darkness and driving away shadows!" she suddenly said, then began chanting in what I guessed as Seraph language. I didn't know what it was though.

Then I felt my father. He was moving again… he was raising his hand.

My concentration was disturbed when a beam of golden light fell from the ceiling of this infinity. And slowly, it grew larger until I was in it too. Then, it quickly spread all around us, lighting everything up. Then, sounds of fighting ringed. I looked around and saw shadowens filling the place. They attacked each of us in large groups. I was glad that Sakura was flying above.

But then, I felt my father's aura closing in on Sakura's. Looking up momentarily, I saw him flying towards her. "Sakura!" I shouted.

She didn't respond.

I couldn't shout any further as I was overwhelmed by my foes. I only kept track of them by their auras – even that I was loosing as well, since all my concentration went into fighting these damned things.

Then I felt father's aura right beside my Sakura.

I screamed in frustration and created a cyclone that blew away all my enemies. Tomoyo and the others were shouting warnings at Sakura and as I looked up, I saw father stab Sakura with his dark sword. Father removed the sword and a drop of blood fell on the bridge of my nose and rolled down my left cheek.

Feathers were falling from the sky and so was Sakura… I caught her before she fell on the ground and with my power, made myself stay up there at mid-air.

She was so cold…

…so pale…

…lifeless…

"Sakura!!!"

My vision started to flare white. "How dare you…" I said in an angry voice, "how dare you touch her!!"

"Not my fault but yours, you couldn't protect her."

I realized that I was standing again on the floor and I laid Sakura gently and saw how red her suit was getting. Then, her body glowed and disappeared. In her place, there floated a sword of the purest white I've ever seen. "Sakura…"

She was helping me, even after death. I knew this sword… this sword would kill him – the evil that was my father.

I immediately wasted no time into attacking him.

"Syaoran! Calm down!" Mr. Reed shouted.

But they couldn't understand the fury that was trapped in my body that was aching to be free. *Concentrate! You won't be able to hit him, just like before!* my mind shouted. I paused for a breath.

"Can't continue?" he mocked me.

I looked up at him and smirked. "Wrong." And then I hacked at him again, this time with a clearer purpose of defeating him than before. He blocked and parried with his dark sword but I kept on offensive, pushing him back. "I'll kill you father, if it's the last thing I do!" I shouted and at the same time slashing his side.

He backed a bit, holding his new wound. "Really?" he said, smiling at me. "Let's see you do it!" he dared, and immediately disappeared before me.

I silently cursed. I couldn't even feel him anymore.

…Behind me!...

"Too slow…" he said, and I felt his sword pierce my side.

The pain almost blinded me but I fought it. Then I pushed myself away before the sword could go any deeper and faced him. His face was a mask of surprise and I smiled. And in once quick attack, I pushed my sword into his heart, deeper and deeper.

He smiled. "Y-you know what I-I told her before s-she died?" he asked.

I stopped.

"Mei gaudium curo tui letum, lumen angelus."

I couldn't understand it but somehow, it was clear to me as common language spoken..

…mine happiness is to see thy death, angel of light…

I twisted the sword to finally end his miserable life. I closed my eyes and pulled the sword away, the pain in the side becoming worse.

…will you be able to forgive me, Syaoran?...

A voice, vaguely familiar to me whispered. I opened my eyes and saw my father standing straight before me, hands opened wide in an embrace. His face was gentle and he had a sad smile on his face his long black hair was tied behind his back and he was wearing a white suit just like what Yue wore – that was the official dress code of royalty.

My own amber eyes were staring back at me.

Somehow, I found myself smiling at him and embracing him like a little child. "I'm glad you're back… father." He embraced me tightly and I felt his smile.

"Thank you… son."

I let go of him and clasped his right hand with mine at my chest level. We smiled at each other and then he disappeared in a flash of light.

I continued to smile as I felt happiness inside me, like a heavy burden taken off my back after many years of carrying it. And then, tired as I was, I felt numbness on my hands and I couldn't feel the sword anymore. I heard a clatter of a blade falling down and I felt myself fall before the numbness took over my body. Wanting to sleep, I closed me eyes…

…is that you, Sakura?

…

…wake up, love,

…

Wake up…

"What…?"

"Syaoran, love, wake up…morning's come!" a lovely and familiar voice said.

I opened my eyes and saw Sakura.

"Am I …am I in heaven?" I asked.

She smiled and giggled a little. "No, it is I who has come back." She says.

"Sakura?" I quickly rose from bed and just as quick, pain shot through my body.

"Easy now, it seems that you haven't fully recovered yet." She said, easing me to bed.

I just smiled, held her face between my hands and kissed her.

"Welcome back, my life, my heart, my love… welcome back…"

~*~

-The End-

~*~

Yatta! I've done it! …finally… I'm really sorry for the lateness of this chapter! I hope it's okay with you… anyway, here are some notes regarding this chap.

Note: Is Sakura really alive or Syaoran died? And, who said the last line, Sayoran or Sakura?

- Yep. She's back flesh and blood. Besides, no one can lie in heaven. As for the last part, I'll leave you to guess who did ^_^ (I think it's easy enough)

Note: Is that mambo-jumbo you made just really mambo-jumbo?

- Nope. It's not mambo-jumbo. It's Latin – a rough translation of the English version of what the guy said. And when I mean rough, I mean really rough (though that last part – the lumen angelus – is translated as light angel and the is's there and all other conjunctions and stuff are not exact… ^_^;). don't know how to speak Latin okay?

Note: Anything else to say?

- Nope. That's it. If you have any other questions please e-mail me at [email protected]

And now, drum roll please…

*drum roll*