Note to people: I personally do not have anything against
Sakura. I just had to have SOMEONE be sort of bad. The Freeing A girl stood on a overhanging cliff, looking across the ocean.
Dressing in long, white, flowing robes, she held a "Lai!" "Huh?" She spun around. A boy her age came running over to her. The
boy had chestnut-colored hair, amber eyes, and "Hey, Li." she said quietly, "I wasn't sure if you'd come." "I wouldn't miss it for the world." he answered seriously, smiling slightly. Lai smiled. Li gently stretched out a hand and touched the silver streak in her hair. Lai blushed. "The last sign that you're the Guardian Card." Li said softly, "Which now you're going to get rid of." Lai shook her head somewhat irritably. "Maybe, but it's not as if it makes me look any better."
she retorted. Li considered her, his head tilted slightly to
the "It's not as if you need to look any better." he
said impishly, grinning. Lai blushed and glared at him. Li laughed. "Not fair," she complained, stamping her foot, "You always make me laugh." "And is that a bad thing?" he asked, mischievously. "I guess not." she sighed. "Good." Li said smugly, "I hate it when you're mad at me." He walked next to her and smiled. She blushed slightly. Lai smiled. Li stepped back. "Come on," he encouraged, "Putting it off isn't going to make it any better." "Ok." Lai faced the ocean and prepared to hold up the sword. "Waaaaaiiiittt!" Lai's arm spasmed with surprise and she fell over suddenly.
Li caught her. They both looked up to see two people "You're late." Li said brusquely to the brown-haired girl with green eyes. "Sor-ry." she said sheepishly, "Madison had to find her camera." "Camera?" Lai said blankly. "Of course she wants to tape you being freed!" Sakura exclaimed. Madison waved happily at Lai from behind Sakura. Lai said plaintively, "Can we get on with this, or are we waiting for the entire school to show up?" "Go on," Li laughed. Lai's eyes and face went serious and she faced the ocean again.
Raising the sword so it was pointing to the sky, "Clow Reed!" she yelled, "You once promised
me that freedom would be granted whenever I wished. I wish for Thunder crashed overhead, and clouds formed rapidly. "Clow Reed!" Lai shouted over the sound of savage
wind and crashing waves and thunder, "Release thy A bolt of lightning struck Lai's upraised sword. Li made a
move as if to go to her, but Sakura held him back. Lai "Lai!" Li yelled, running over to her. He gently
turned her on her back. She opened her eyes slowly and looked
up "You're free now..." he whispered. She nodded. New Life Lai walked to school, with Li. "You're still so nice." Li said softly. Lai blushed. "Aiya!" she exclaimed, "You've already told me that about five million times!" Li laughed softly. "And it's true five million times." Lai gave him her famous Darn-you-even-though-you're-right
glare. Li returned her glare with his famous Even though Li pretended to be looking ahead, he was really
looking at Lai out of the corner of his eye. Lai... they Lai was walking with her face slightly down, her face peaceful.
Li understood. For the first time in hundreds of "Hey, Lai!" someone called when they reached school, "You've changed your hair, cool!" Many similar calls came out, mingled with asks for dates by many boys. Li glared about him dangerously. "Geez, calm down, Li!" Lai laughed, "It's not as if I'm actually wanting to date anybody!" "Ppht." was all he would say. Lai glanced at him quickly, seeing that familiar look of grumpyness.
She sighed and shook her head. They hurried New Enemy! A shadowy figure stood upon the school roof, looking at the
children playing on the playground. One girl in "Play while you can, ex-Guardian Card." he muttered
quietly, "Soon you'll have nothing to smile, laugh, or play He laughed evilly and disappeared from the roof top. Below,
on the playground, Lai's eyes snapped to where he "So he's back." Lai whispered to herself. Fit of Jealously Lai stood in a hallway of the shcool, clenching her fist angrily.
She was angry. How could she?! was the thought Again and again, the image flashed through her mind. Li holding Sakura in his arms. Li and Sakura kissing. Li's expression of confusion and need to explain when he saw Lai. Sakura looking at Lai with a look of something like smugness on her face. Tears of rage and confusion ran down her face as she stood in the hallway. Nearby, a door opened. "Lai?" a tentative voice asked, "Can I talk to you?" That voice. That voice that once sent thrills through her very bones. That voice that she now hated. Li came out of the room. Lai had her back to him. Her fists were clenched angrily at her sides. "Listen, Lai." Li said urgently, "It was an accident! She did it so suddenly, I didn't know what to do! I didn't mean..." "No need to explain, Li!" Lai yelled suddenly, spinning
around. Tears were pouring freely from her eyes. Li was "Listen," Li cried, "Please, Lai...!" "Go be with her!" Lai cried angrily, "Go join Sakura! I should have seen it before! Just go away!" Li was taken aback. He stepped back a step. Before he could
stop her, Lai spun around and ran. Li stepped "Lai..." he whispered. This is all Sakura's fault! was the thought running through Li's mind. She had heard Lai coming. Sakura had grabbed Li before he knew what was happening. And she had kissed him. Li saw Lai's confused and hurt face over Sakura's head. He had tried to break away and explain, but Sakura hadn't let him. DAMN THAT SAKURA! Li ran in the direction that Lai had fled, his teeth gritted with determination. He WOULD explain. He would stop those tears from flowing from those beautiful eyes. Everything would be alright... ...he hoped. Tears of Heartache Lai ran blindly away from the school, sobbing heartbreakingly.
She ran into nearby woods and only stopped when 'I should have known how he felt about Sakura.' she thought,
'After all, they've been together for so much longer. "Poor little girl. Got dumped by your boyfriend?" Lai looked up sharply. Her eyes were red with crying, but
they were narrowed with hatred, and her teeth were "I should have know you were around, Fiero." she snarled. "You're always trying to kill me and make me unhappy." "Ah, but your ex-boyfriend and your friend Sakura were
not under my control this time." Fiero smirked, "They
did it Lai gave a snarl of rage and leapt at him, her sword out.
He easily parried. A furious sword duel followed. Lai Li burst into the clearing, his sword in hand. What he saw
made him freeze in horror, his eyes horrified, his mouth Fiero stood in front of Lai, his sword arm extended. The sword
was stabbed in Lai's abdomen, protruding from "I kill you at last, Guardian Card!" he spat. An animal-like scream of rage echoed around the clearing.
Fiero had time for one startled exclaimation before he An ambulence siren sounded. Sakura and many other students
stood by the edge of the woods. Sakura had her "I forgive you." Life or Death...or Disappearance Lai's still body lay on the hospital bed, her head wrapped
in bandages, as was her abdomen. Doctors were "They got her here quickly," one doctor says, "But she's lost a lot of blood. I don't know if she'll survive." "I don't think she will," answered another doctor, "Her internal organs are badly mangled. She'll never survive." Li's teeth were clenched as was his fist. How dare they give up before Lai was actually dead! How dare they! The heart monitor beeped slowly, but steadily. Li looked at
Lai's pale face. It was hard to believe that only For Lai to die without knowing was the final blow. Lai's eyes fluttered. "Lai!?" "Li..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Li...I've got to...talk to you.." she whispered. Li took her hand in his. "You're going to be all right," he whispered. His eyes were shining with emotion. "I know you will be." Lai looked at him wearily. "Just...listen...please." she whispered, "I've got to...ask you...to do something...for me." "Anything." he said softly. His eyes were locked with hers. "Forgive Sakura." Li clenched his teeth. Sakura was the reason Lai had fled
out of the school and been stabbed. Lai's other hand "Please..." "Why should I?" Li growled. "Because she didn't mean to..." Lai gasped weakly, "She...did...it on ...a dare." Li's face was stunned. "Madison...told me...how Nikki dared her...to kiss you." "I will forgive her." he promised. "Li..." she gasped. Her hand fell from his face. The heart monitor began to beep unsteadily. "Lai!" he exclaimed, standing up suddenly. "No! Don't leave me!" "Li...!" she gasped painfully, "Remember...! I...will...always...love...you...!" Her head rolled to the side, her eyes closed. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep The heart monitor showed a steady line. In his hands, Li felt hers grow cold. "NO!" he cried, "LAI! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Doctors burst into the room to find that Li had thrown himself
across Lai's cold body, yelling hoarsely for Lai not to The light faded. Lai's body was gone. Recovery and Discovery "Poor guy, he's still mourning for Lai." Sakura
murmured to Madison. They looked sadly at Li. He had his head "She forgave me for kissing Li." Sakura muttered, "I feel so guilty." "Class, Recess!" Mr. Terada called. Li remained
in the same position, though he raised his head and looked at Sakura and Madison paused at the door, looking at him. He
was looking at a book in his hands. They walked over "Hey..." Sakura said softly, "Are you O.K?" "Yeah, I'm fine." Li said roughly, slamming the
album shut and standing up abruptly. "I'm going down to
the "Sure." Sakura said, exchanging worried glances with Madison. Li sat in a swing, swinging a tiny bit. He was looking at
the ground. Images ran through his mind in a confused Lai waving happily at him after getting a hundred on a test. Lai clinging on him tightly as they went down a steep hill on a roller coaster. Lai looking annoyed when he took her diary and held it out of reach. Lai's angry face as she gazed at Fiero, that cursed jerk. And lastly... Lai's special smile for him, full of happiness and softness, kind and warm. Involuntarily, a tear slid down his cheek, which he angrily rubbed away. "Lai wouldn't want to see you sad," he declared aloud to himself, "Cheer up! At least she died knowing..." Died. The word sounded empty to him. It made him realize the true meaning of the word everytime he said it. Gone. Forever. Never would he be able to hold her again. Never would he feel her soft lips pressed against his. Never would he see her loving smile. Never Ever Again. Mr. Terada then called the class in. Li joined the end of
the line, slouching, his hands in his pockets. As they The thing he hated the most other than the fact that Lai was
gone, was the fact that people kept treating him as an Yes, he certainly mourned Lai was gone, but no, he wasn't dead, and he certainly wasn't dying! Why couldn't they do as Lai would have wanted them to, and treated him normally? Why? Why? WHY? Sakura looked at him, concerned. She could feel his anger,
his confusing, his guilt, his hurt. And, as a friend, she Recovery and Discovery PT. II Li looked around the room in his house. Sakura and the remainder
of the gang were sitting around. They were all "Happy Birthday, Li!" Sakura cheered, and placed a frosted cake before him. He took a deep breath. 'I wish Lai was here.' he thought, and blew out the candles. Sakura and the others did their best to cheer him up all afternoon,
and he was grateful, but not a smile appeared Li opened his presents. A cup, a green outfit (from Madison,
duh), some other stuff... Everytime, Li thanked the He pretended to have fun playing Pictionary, but Sakura caught him looking elsewhere. Sakura followed Li's gaze. Li was looking at a picture on the mantle. It was a picture
of Lai and Li. It looked as if Lai had jumped Li from Sakura glanced at Li sympathetically. He had returned his attention to the game. "Bye everybody." Li waved good-bye to the gang as they left. "Thanks." Sakura glanced at him worriedly as she left. The party didn't seem to have done much good. Li closed the door and leaned his back against it. His head was bowed. "Lai..." he whispered, "You promised we would celebrate my birthday together." Li trudged slowly to his room, glancing at the picture on
the mantle for a moment. Then he turned slowly to his Recovery and Discovery, Pt. II "Where am I?" "Who am I?" White walls surrounded the girl. She sat up in the bed slowly. "White robes..." she murmured to herself, "White everything." A man entered the room. He had white hair, blue eyes and wings. "You're awake." he said quietly, "Stay still; you're still weak." She lay down obediantly. He came over and placed a comforting hand on her forehead. "Your fever has gone down." The man said, "That's good." "Who are you?" the girl asked. The man, on his way out, paused in the doorway, his hand on the doorframe. "My name is Yue." he said gently, "Stay calm. You're in a safe place." The girl settled in the bed, turning on her side and prepared to sleep. "Who am I?" The question echoed in her mind. Images flashed through her mind. A brown-haired girl with
green eyes; the thought "Sakura, friend, CardCaptor" Who was she? And who was the chestnut-haired, amber-eyed boy who kept passing through her mind? Recovery and Discovery, Pt. III Li was on the road to recovery, or at least, he hoped he was. Now he participated in class and talked to people. But he never, ever smiled. Not once. He never laughed. Often at recess, he could be seen staring through the photo albums. At night, he had nightmares of Lai's death. One night, Li had a strange dream. He was standing in a white room, and someone was sitting with
their back to him. A girl in white robes, with shiny "Lai?" he whispered, reaching for her slowly with one hand. She drew back in fear. "Who are you?" she demanded. Li stopped, looking at her in bewilderment. She looked frightened. "Lai, it's me!" he said urgently, "Li!" "Li?" the girl said, shaking her head slowly, "I
don't know anyone named Li. Only Yue. He's the only one here.
What Li drew back a few steps. "Lai..." he whispered, "You...you really don't...remember me?" "NO!" she yelled. ------- Li woke with a start, her yell echoing in his mind. He was
sweating, panting for breath. He sat up slowly. Li stared "Lai..." he whispered. ------- The girl stared. Where a boy had stood moments before, there
was nothing. He looked so familiar! That Just then, Yue came into the room. He looked at her, concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked, a look of mild concern on his face. "I heard you yell." "A boy was here." the girl told him. "With
chestnut-hair and amber eyes. He called me Lai and said his name
was Yue looked at her gravely. "Your name is Lai." he told her. She gulped. "He
is Li. You were mortally wounded, but by bringing you here, I The girl named Lai crawled in the bed. Yue gently smoothed
the hair on her head. She smiled sleepily at him. He "Sleep now, little one." he said gently, "You have learned a lot in one night." When Yue left a few minutes later, Lai lay in bed, thinking. What did Yue mean, the key to her identity? She then remembered something odd. She had seen the look in the boy's eyes when she told him
she didn't remember him. That look of deep hurt, and Why? She decided to think of the problem later. Soon after, the girl with a name fell into a sleep full of
images of that boy, laughing with him, that seemingly familiar Rebirth Li was walking through the woods, remembering her yell of "No!" and her look of fear. He looked at the ground, not even knowing where he was headed, until he reached a clearing. It was the clearing where Lai had fought and lost to Fiero.
A large dark patch of stained soil was in the middle of He picked up a handful of the dark earth, looking at it. "Lai..." he whispered. Weeks of pent-up grief finally
got to him. Tears began to roll down his cheeks. Li bent his For the first time in his life, Li Showron cried. ----- Lai was running around her room. Yue was sitting in a chair, watching her with a smile on his face. Lai completed ten laps with an aerial flip, landing lightly before Yue. He clapped and she bowed. "See?" she cried triumphantly, "I'm in great physical condition!" Yue merely nodded. Lai fidgeted. "Am I dead?" she blurted. She looked at him with a look of desperation. "No, little one." Yue assured her, smoothing her hair with one hand. "Then can I return to everybody?" she asked eagerly. Yue looked at her sadly. "I am afraid not." he said softly. Lai bit her lip. "You don't remember why Li is important to you yet." "But...but can I spy on them?" she asked, 'Please
say yes,' she thought, 'I want to see Li again, for some strange Yue considered Lai's hopeful face for a moment and smiled. "Yes, you may." he said. Lai gave a yip of joy and hugged Yue joyfully. Yue laughed and patted her head fondly. "But stay out of sight," he warned her, "Remember,
they all think you're dead. Only help them if absolutely "Yeah!" Lai exclaimed, nodding eagerly. "Good." Lai suddenly was wearing white robes and holding her sword.
She smiled at Yue happily. Unexpectedly, she "Go then, sweet child." Lai disappeared. ------ Sakura was walking with Yukito and Madison as they passed through the woods when they heard Li's sobs. "Huh?" said Yukito, "Isn't that Li?" Li was kneeling on the ground, crying. "Oh, Li!" Sakura exclaimed, running to his side. Li didn't answer. Yukito looked around. "Hey, isn't this where...?" Sakura cut him off with a shake of her head. Li's sobs died down and he looked up suddenly. "Where is she?" he demanded, staring at Sakura. "Huh?" Sakura stammered. Li jumped to his feet, one fist clenched, looking around. "I sense Lai! She must still be alive! But where is she?" Sakura exchanged worried glances with Madison and Yukito.
There was a flash of light and Yue stood in Yukito's "Listen, Lai is alive, but she cannot reveal herself yet." he murmured in Sakura's ear. "She's watching everyone." Sakura looked around. There was no clue that Lai was around. "Where is she then?" she whispered. Yue glanced at a nearby tree top quickly. Sakura glanced there
quickly and saw a flash of white. Her eyes ------ From her perch high up in a tree, Lai watched the group below. "Yue?" she murmured to herself, frowning slightly, "What's he doing here?" Lai watched Li searching for her frantically below and felt a pang in her heart. "How does he know I'm here?" she wondered, "Is there some kind of connection between us?" ------ Li paused at the foot of Lai's tree, gritting his teeth in
frustration. Where was Lai? And why wouldn't she reveal ------ Lai watched Li pause at the foot of her tree. Suddenly, Li, looked up. Just in time, Lai hid. ------ Moments later, Lai was leaping quietly from branch to branch, away from Li and the others. So I have to hide, she thought. That's what Yue told me to do, and that's what I'll do. But for once, she wished she didn't have an obligation to listen to Yue. Attack and Revelation "Sakura!" "Wha...! Where's the fire?" Sakura yelled sleepily. She sat bolt upright in bed. Kero was yelling in her ear. "What is it, Kero?" she complained, rubbing her eyes. "There seems to be one Clow Card you didn't catch."
Kero said, his eyes closed and his arms crossed. "It's the Minutes later, Sakura was standing in her battle costume in
front of her house, wielding the Clow Wand. Li was "Let's go, Sakura!" he said with his old tone of impatience. Sakura smiled. Soon, Sakura and Li were dashing along the edge of the woods,
Kero hanging on Sakura's shoulder. Suddenly, there was a shoom. A dozen razor-sharp daggers zoomed towards Sakura. Li pushed her out of the way. "Watch it!" he yelled. Sakura drew out a card. "Windy!" Sakura yelled, "Release and Dispel!" She tapped the card with her wand. Windy blew in the opposite direction of them, deflecting a barrage of weapons. "Return to your power confined, Windy!" Sakura yelled. Suddenly, three long ropes came out of nowhere, wrapping around
Sakura, Li, and Kero, trapping their arms to The Attack Card then showed itself. It was a tall women, laden
with weapons. She smiled wickedly and began to Li's teeth were clenched. He tried to break free, but an electrical charge zapped up Li's line. He yelled with pain. ------ Lai was watching from the trees. She made a move to help them
when they were tied up, but restrained herself, Something snapped in Lai's mind. Next second, Lai was leaping from the tree, sword drawn. She
slashed at the lines holding Li, Sakura, and Kero. As she gazed down at Li, memories flooded back. "I remember!" she whispered, "Oh, Li, please wake up!" A tear fell from her cheek. Plip! The tear landed on Li's cheek. He moaned and stirred. Opening his eyes, Li saw Lai's face. She smiled tearily. "Didja miss me?" Lai asked impishly. Li's eyes widened. "Lai!" "I'mm so sorry for leaving you, Li!" Lai cried.
Li scrambled to a sitting position. "I...I blacked out or
something! Oh, Tears were pouring from her eyes. Gently, Li took her in his arms, hodling her tight. He pressed
his lips against her soft hair, murmuring words of "Yo, you two lovebirds!" Kero yelled, breaking into
their attention as he dodged a swipe from the Attack Card's In an instant, both L's were on their feet, swords in hands (they had dropped them). "Diversionary Tactics!" Li yelled. Lai nodded. They began to dash around, nipping in at the Attack Card.
Perfectly in syncopation, they confused the Attack Card "Freeze Card! Freeze the Attack! Release and Dispel!"
Lai yelled, tapping the Freeze Card with her sword tip. "Your turn, Sakura!" Li yelled. Sakura nodded and twirled her Clow wand. "Return to your power confined...Attack Card!" Sakura
shouted. She swung the wand down overhead. Within Li and Lai grinned at each other. Kero was doing loop-de-loops in the air. "Whoo-hoo!" he yelled triumphantly, "Welcome back, Lai!" Sakura hugged Lai. There were tears of relief in Sakura's eyes, and tears of joy in Lai's. "Thank goodness you're ok, Lai!" "Sakura, my friend!" Li stood by silently. Lai turned to him. Tears stood in her
eyes. With a cry, she ran into Li's arms. Two tears fell "Oh, I couldn't remember you, Li." she whispered,
"I had so many memories of you, but I couldn't remember
who "Then that dream was real!" Li exclaimed, stepping back a bit. His eyes were dry, but soft. "I guess so." Lai said. "But we thought you were dead." Sakura blurted, "How did you survive?" "Because of Yue. He took me to what he called the 'dream world' and healed me." "Weird." 'I'll have to ask Yue next time.' Sakura thought. When she looked back at Li and Lai, she blushed. Lai was in Li's arms, and they were kissing. Li's lips pressed
warmly against Lai's. Their eyes were closed, and Kero deliberately looked away, as did Sakura, their eyes tiny dots and their mouths squiggly lines. Silhouetted against the rising sun, the two stayed together
until Sakura yelled nervously that they were going to be ------ "Class, please welcome back someone dear to us all!" Mr. Terada exclaimed happily, "Lai Kayori!" Lai enetered the classroom to a stunned silence with Li and Sakura. Seconds later, there was thunderous applause. Lai was back. --------------------------------------------------------- Phew! Finally! Li's Heartbreak is done! Have any comments
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