An Unfinished Task: Part 9
By: Starlight Rose
Rated: PG
Email: starlighto_rose@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I wish I owned CCS but alas I don't own it. It's
owned by CLAMP, Kodansha, Nelvana, and maybe a few other
companies that I don't know of.

Here's the next to last chapter. One more chapter to go and I'll try to come out with it as soon as possible but you all need to write me and tell me what you think. Thanks to my beta-reader, Saturn Knight and Megs for the spells.

Translator's Notes:

Sui Ryou Shou Rai!- Water Dragon Come Forth
Dame!- No good!
Onegai- Please
Arigatou- Thank-you

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Several weeks passed and both Sakura and Syaoran avoided seeing each other afraid of what seeing the one they loved with another would do to their already broken hearts. Over the short time they had been reunited, their bond was strengthened and the sudden separation from each other left both individuals feeling lonely and incomplete. The separation caused marked changes in both their dispositions and behaviors.

While with Sakura, Syaoran had shed his cold and aloof nature, but after he stopped seeing her he returned to his former cold aloof self. His study sessions with her had been postponed indeterminately. He had canceled several of their sessions in the beginning, coming up with excuses to not meet with her. Eventually Sakura began coming up with excuses to not meet with him and soon neither even bothered with the pretense of continuing their study sessions. Syaoran also stopped having lunch with Sakura and all their friends and avoiding all their company as well thus removing himself from any chances of seeing Sakura again. Once he removed himself from everybody, Syaoran knew a feeling he hadn't known in months. He knew loneliness. But no matter how much he removed himself from everyone else, he could not remove himself from the boy that had stolen Sakura away from him. After seeing Christian the wound in Syaoran's heart would tear itself open, each time going deeper. Several times Syaoran had considered just returning back to Hong Kong and burying himself in his responsibilities rather than completing his year in Japan, but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to leave. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving and never seeing Sakura again, even if it hurt to see her, even if he was avoiding her, even if she didn't love him. Syaoran still loved her.

The change in Sakura was startling and to a large degree disturbing. Her once cheerful face was almost always solemn. Her once bright emerald eyes were now shadowed with bags caused by crying herself to sleep. She hardly ever smiled anymore and outside of going to class she hardly ever left her room. She knew that the drastic changes in her behavior worried her friends, but even for their sake, she couldn't act like she once had. She felt as if her heart had frozen and she didn't care about anything anymore. Syaoran's rejection just hurt her too much. She knew that she should be happy that he was happy with someone, even if it wasn't her. She tried to be happy for him, but she just couldn't. Her heart hurt too much, so she avoided seeing him, and allowed herself to go numb. She knew her friends were trying to help her, but she didn't want to be helped. She just wanted to be left alone, to allow her heart to mend itself. 'I guess eight years was too long for him to wait for me to tell him I loved him.' Sakura reflected to herself.

Christian Mauler watched the young couple separating themselves from each other and smirked triumphantly to himself. He laughed at how easily humans could be controlled and manipulated. How easy it was to play upon their doubts and fears to tear their minds asunder. It was funny how the cherry blossom and the wolf's powers increased when they were with each other, but once they were torn apart, their powers weakened considerably. Their willpower and confidence also weakened a large amount too. Soon the little flower's willpower and power would have diminished enough for him to claim her for himself. He hadn't realized when he had tried separating the two that it would ultimately help him to obtain the girl's power for himself, all he had wanted to do was eliminate any possible obstacles to his plan. But things had worked out better than he had anticipated. He just needed to wait a little longer and then he could make his move. The little wolf had not only played right into his hands, but was also helping him to capture the elusive cherry blossom that he loved so much. How amusing humans were. An annoying voice in Christian Mauler's head, that he'd started to think of as his conscious, begged him to leave the two alone. Christian just smiled and mercilessly silenced the voice.

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Another day had passed and Sakura still avoided Syaoran and he still avoided her. Sakura remained almost catatonic to the point that several of her professors had inquired about the marked change in her. Her grades were improving drastically considering that she threw herself whole-heartedly into her studies, to forget her pain. But still her professors worried. They were happy that she was doing so well in their classes, but still they missed the cheerful girl that would light up whatever room she walked into. They had tried talking to her but she skillfully evaded all their questions.

Sakura knew that people were worried about her and all wondered what had happened. She knew they had all guessed it had to do with Syaoran, but she was not going to confirm their suspicions. The only other person that knew for sure was Tomoyo, and Sakura knew that her friend would not tell anybody what had happened because Sakura didn't want anyone to know. Sakura was just relieved that her father and brother did not know about her state. Her father would have worried himself needlessly and her brother would have threatened to kill Syaoran. She had had a hard enough time keeping the overprotective Kero-chan from flying into Syaoran's room and beating him up, not to mention how hard it would have been for her to prevent her brother from doing so.

Sakura sighed to herself. She really did hate causing everyone to worry about her, but she just couldn't seem to help it. She knew that she should have just gotten over him, but she couldn't. She needed time. Suddenly she felt her head ram into something hard, but still slightly yielding. Looking up she found herself staring at a black shirt. Reddening she began bowing her apologies to the person she had inadvertently ran into. The person laughed cheerfully and said, "It's okay Sakura-san. I was looking for you anyway. This just wasn't how I had expected to run into you."

"Christian-kun..." Sakura said looking up at whom she had ran into for the first time. "Why were you looking for me?"

"Anou...I just hadn't seen you since our date and I was just wondering, did I do something wrong? I mean you haven't come by Syaoran-kun's and my room in a while. Was that date with me really that bad?"

"Oh no!" Sakura exclaimed inwardly wincing at the mention of Syaoran's name, "It has nothing to do with you. I've just been really busy recently..."

"So ka... well are you still busy? Because I was wondering if you would like to go see a movie with me this weekend. I really enjoyed going to the concert with you."

"Well...I have to study for a Calculus test this weekend. I'm sorry."

"Oh I see. I guess it's a really important test huh?" Christian asked a dejected and forlorn expression plastered on his handsome face.

Immediately upon seeing Christian's dejected face, Sakura felt a pang of guilt enter her. Her resolve crumbled and she sighed to her self inwardly but on the outside she attempted a weak smile and said, "I guess I could study on Saturday and Sunday and go out with you on Friday."

"Honto?" Christian asked excitedly.

"Un." Sakura replied.

"Great. Then how about I pick you up from your room at eight on Friday night?"

"Okay." Sakura replied wondering why she had agreed to the date, but it was too late to turn back now. "I guess I'll get going now." She said as she turned away from him and walked to her room.

Christian smiled to himself. That had been much easier than he had expected. The little cherry blossom's willpower and resolve was much weaker than he had thought it would be. Exerting his own will upon her was too easy. It would now soon be a piece of cake for him to capture her for himself. It was time for him to return to his room to gloat over his triumph to the defeated wolf.

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Syaoran sat in his room trying to do his homework, but his mind could not concentrate on his work. Instead his eyes kept wondering over to the little pencil case that Sakura had given him for White Day. Finally giving up on his work he picked up the little case and walked over to his bed and sank down on it. He lay in his bed holding the case above him gently feeling it's smooth surface, thinking of Sakura. He wondered how she was, if she was happy. It had been about three weeks since he had last seen her. He wondered how she would do on their calculus test on Monday since he had stopped tutoring her. He put the case down as he heard the door opening. He sat straight up in his bed as Christian entered the room in an obvious state of bliss.

"I'm so happy. I have a date with the most beautiful girl on campus this Friday." Christian said as he saw Syaoran.

"Good for you." Syaoran growled.

"Aren't you interested in who it is?"

"No." Syaoran replied coldly feeling his heart sink, already knowing who it was.

"Well even if you don't, I'll give you a hint. She lives on this hall and has gorgeous green eyes." Christian told him smirking.

Syaoran winced inwardly. He would not show that guy any weakness. Clenching his fists and he stood up mumbling, "I'm going out." He picked up his jacket and stormed out of the room. He needed to get away from that jerk. Syaoran sighed a long-suffering sigh. "Why him, Sakura? Why him?" He asked himself.

Christian smiled as he watched Syaoran storm out of the room. He walked over to Syaoran's bed and picked up the little pencil case. He felt the pink aura that the case emitted and immediately knew who had made it. 'How strong she is.' he thought to himself. 'Even small little trinkets that she makes with no magical powers at all radiates immense energy and power. It will be a pleasure taking her power. She was a pretty little thing too, it would be fun keeping her around for a while too.'

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Again it was a Friday night and Sakura was getting ready for a date, but this time there was none of the excitement and anticipation that surrounded the other date. Again Sakura wondered why she had even agreed to go on this date. She did like Christian, but not in the way that he wanted her to like him. Sakura wondered was she just trying to use Christian to help her get over Syaoran. Was that why she agreed? That thought made her feel a pang of guilt, but it wasn't because she might be using Christian. It was because she felt like she was betraying Syaoran, though she knew he wasn't interested in her. Sakura carelessly pulled a long sleeved red dress from her closet and put it on. She didn't bother putting on any make-up or doing her hair. After all they were only going to the movies.

Tomoyo silently watched her best friend getting ready for her date and felt a sense of misgiving overtake her. This just wasn't right. Mauler-kun seemed like a nice enough boy, but he just wasn't right for her Sakura. The only one that Tomoyo felt truly belonged with Sakura was Li-kun, but Li-kun thought that Sakura liked Mauler-kun and was determined to stay out of her way. Tomoyo sighed at the complexity of the situation. Sakura liked Li-kun and Li-kun liked Sakura, but both thought that the other liked someone else. That thought was apparently making both miserable if what Soujiro told her about Li-kun's behavior was any indication of his feelings. Tomoyo just could not understand why the two just could not work out their feelings for another. Tomoyo had tried to help the two straighten things out, but neither would trust their hearts to hope again so neither wanted to trust Tomoyo's words. It hurt Tomoyo that her best friend didn't believe her, but she could understand why. Tomoyo just prayed that Sakura's date tonight would not work out and Sakura and Li-kun could work things out in the end.

At eight sharp Christian knocked on Sakura and Tomoyo's door. Sakura opened the door and smiled weakly at him.

"Are you ready to go?" Christian asked brightly. The cherry blossom looked beautiful and delicious with her pink aura weakly surrounding her. If her outward aura was any indication of her condition then Christian knew that it would be no problem stealing her power from her.

"Hai." Sakura replied grabbing her purse and waving good-bye to Tomoyo. Tomoyo just watched her friend sadly.

*****************************

Sakura and Christian were walking back to their dorm after seeing the movie when Christian suddenly stopped in the middle of a large open space. Sakura looked around her and recognized that they had stopped at a place that she knew was particularly good for gazing at the stars. Christian looked up at the stars and sighed wistfully. "The stars are some of the most beautiful and powerful things around. It's a shame that most people cannot capture one for themselves."

Sakura looked at Christian quizzically and replied, "The stars are really beautiful, but why would anyone want to capture one? Isn't it better to just leave them the way they are up in the sky so that everyone can look at them and enjoy them?"

"Is that how you feel about it Sakura-san?"

"Un. The stars are always there to comfort me when I'm sad and I would be very sad to see one of them disappear." Sakura replied looking up at the sky.

Christian smiled menacingly as he crept up behind Sakura and wrapped his arms around her whispering in her ears, "I suppose you are right. The stars in the sky should stay right where they are, but what about the stars here on earth. What about the flower that holds vast amounts of star power within her?"

Sakura stiffened at his words and asked nervously, "What do you mean?"

"I mean the little cherry blossom standing here in my arms. Is it possible to capture her and her power for myself?"

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise and she tried to pull away from Christian, but found herself trapped securely in his arms. "Now, now. You shouldn't try to pull away from me like that my beautiful little star."

"Christian-kun, please let go of me." Sakura begged.

"After I spent this much time capturing you. I don't think so."

"What...what do you want to do with me?" Sakura asked in a scared voice. This was not the Christian-kun she knew. This Christian was scary and gave off a menacing aura that she never felt before. An aura suggested to her darkness, but not Clow-san's comfortable darkness, but and evil type of darkness.

"I'm going to do what I told you I wanted to do. I'm going to take your power for myself. You have a wonderfully rare and delicious power that I want. After I take your power you will become my little toy." Christian said pulling her closer to him and lowering his head to the curve of her neck. He licked her neck and murmured, "Delicious. If this is just how you taste, I can't wait to taste your power."

"Onegai...yamete Christian-kun." Sakura whimpered. Sakura was really frightened now. She tried struggling against him, but found her body completely paralyzed. She couldn't move. He controlled her body completely. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried softly thinking to herself, "Syaoran-kun..."

"Shush...it won't hurt a bit. Stop fighting me. Just let me have your power and then you'll feel much better."

Sakura bit her lip trying to contain her fear. She tried concentrating on her power like Kero-chan had told her to and tried to push whatever spell Christian had set over her away, but to no avail. He was too strong for her.

Christian gave an amused laugh as he felt her trying to push his power away from herself with her diminished power. "It's no use. I am much stronger than you are right now. If you were your normal self you might have been able to defend against me, but in the state you are in now, I'm afraid that is impossible. Now stop struggling." Christian commanded as he set a spell over Sakura, causing her mind to fog over.

Before her mind completely glazed over and she lost all her thought and will to resist she softly whispered, "Syaoran-kun, gomen ne."

Christian bent over her and prepared to suck up her power. He concentrated on her weak pink aura and lowered his lips to it tasting the sweet power that flowed through it. Just as he was about to suck her power into himself a large water dragon appeared out of nowhere and knocked him down. He let go of the paralyzed Sakura in surprise and watched in frustration as a soft wind swept around her softening her fall. Looking over to where the dragon had originated from he saw Syaoran standing with an intense angry aura surrounding him. Not bothering with any more pretenses he didn't bother getting up. Instead he concentrated upon levitating into the air and smiled at the shocked look on the little wolf's face at his display of power. This was about to get more interesting. The little wolf had more power than he thought he had.

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Syaoran wandered about the campus. He should have been studying, but he didn't want to be in his room as that jerk was getting ready for his date with Sakura. Syaoran knew that Christian would have gloated over the fact that he had a date with Sakura. Syaoran's heart felt shattered and broken enough without having to put up with that guy's gloating. He didn't know what he would have done to the guy if he had stayed around, but he had already promised himself that he would stay out of Sakura's way. If she was happy then that was all that mattered to him. Syaoran just wished that he could have been the person to make Sakura happy and not that jerk. He smiled sardonically as he realized that Sakura's older brother must have had similar feelings about him. Sakura's onii-chan must have felt annoyed that someone was taking his precious imouto away from him, but in the end he had been willing to give Sakura up to Syaoran for her happiness. Now Syaoran had to do the same thing and give Sakura up to Christian for the sake of her happiness. He just hoped that Christian would make her happy. Though he swore if that jerk ever hurt her then he would have to face Syaoran's wrath.

Syaoran continued to wonder about until he found himself at the tree where he had seen Sakura and Christian confessing their love for each other. Syaoran stood next to the tree and leaned warily against it. He looked up at the spreading branches of the tree with it's bright yellow, red, and orange leaves, the signs of winter approaching. Smiling reminiscently to himself he climbed up the tree and sat nestled among its welcoming branches. He sat with his back against the tree's trunk and his legs propped up on one of the tree's large branches and closed his eyes. Moonlight streaming through the tree'' branches bathed his peaceful figure and he sat there for several hours not allowing himself to think or feel.

Suddenly Syaoran heard Sakura's voice calling out his name in his head. He jerked himself upright quickly and almost caused himself to fall out of the tree. "Sakura..." he whispered to himself. Something was wrong. Sakura was in danger he could feel her distress. He felt her calling out to him. With one swift motion he had jumped from the tree and landed deftly on his feet. Calling his sword to him, Syaoran concentrated on trying to feel Sakura's power. Finally he found her familiar pink aura, but it was overshadowed by a stronger dark aura. Syaoran clutched his chest trying to feel where her aura had emanated from. Seconds that seemed like hours passed and he finally felt something tugging at his chest. He was familiar with this feeling. It was what had helped him in his final quest and he followed it willingly hoping that it would lead him to Sakura.

He finally did reach her and saw her held helplessly within Christian's arms. His heart pounded and he saw red as he noticed the tears streaming down Sakura's face. Softly within his mind he could her Sakura whispering, "Syaoran-kun, gomen ne." Without further thought he pulled out an ofuda and chanted, "Sui Ryou Shou Rai!"

From the ofuda appeared a large dragon made completely of water. The dragon rushed forth and did it's master's bidding slamming itself against the boy holding the card mistress captive. Syaoran watched in triumph as Christian staggered back from the impact of the water dragon releasing Sakura in the process. With dread he noticed Sakura falling as Christian released her. Pulling out another ofuda he chanted, "Fuu Ka Shou Rai!" creating a wind that wrapped itself around Sakura softening her fall. Syaoran stood vigilantly to with his sword drawn as he watched Christian begin to levitate himself off the ground. Christian turned to him and grinned ferally.

"So the little wolf want to play huh?" Christian asked menacingly.

"What have you done to Sakura? Leave Sakura alone. If you dare lay a single finger on her I'll make sure you regret it." Syaoran growled.

"Oh. I doubt that. You don't have enough power to be a threat to me. The only one that could have been a threat to me was your little cherry blossom, but since she was so weakened, by your rejection of her she really couldn't put up much of a fight against me."

Syaoran paled at his words. It was because of him that Sakura was in the condition that she was in. 'I'll make it up to you Sakura. I'll protect you even if it costs me my life.' Syaoran gritted his teeth and glared at Christian waiting to see what the other's next move would be.

Within the confines of her mind Sakura watched haplessly as Syaoran faced off against Christian. She wished she were strong enough to move, but found that she could barely think not to mention move. A heavy fog had settled around her mind, but through the fog within her mind she could hear Syaoran's voice saying, "I'll make it up to you Sakura. I'll protect you even if it costs me my life."

His words cut through the fog like a knife helping to clear her mind. 'Syaoran-kun does care for me.' Sakura thought. Gathering up all of her power and concentration she tried to burn away the fog in her mind. The fog resisted her, but in the end she succeeded in burning it painfully away. Her once glazed over eyes focused and she screamed out pain.

Sakura's scream attracted Syaoran and Christian's attention. Syaoran began to run quickly over to her when he suddenly felt a force holding him back. The force seemingly took over his body and he struggled with all his might to keep it from gaining control of his body. His will battled against the will of the spell-caster and for the first time Syaoran realized just how powerful his opponent was.

Christian Mauler grimaced to himself as he realized how powerful the two were when together. He was using all his power and concentration just to keep control of the cherry blossom's body and to try and take over the wolf's body. He was no longer able to control the cherry blossom's mind and this frustrated him. After three thousand years, he had finally found some opponents worthy of him and he could not believe that it was two kids. The strength the two of them possessed was amazing considering that they could resist his powers, but no matter that just made things more interesting. With two such powerful humans he could easily take both their powers. But the problem now was trying to take their power. The annoying voice within his head laughed triumphantly and mocked him telling him, "They are stronger than you think. You should have just left them alone. Now you'll pay for it. You will get what you deserve." Christian Mauler tried silencing the voice, but this time it would not be silenced since Christian did not have enough power to silence it. It knew that its liberation was near and it rejoiced.

'They can give me more power when they are alive, but I'm sure they can still give me power once they are dead. This game grows tiring. It is time to end it.' Christian thought to himself. Summoning up more of his power that he had acquired through three thousand years of draining powerful sorcerers, he launched another attack on the wolf. This time he was successful as the wolf was no longer able to hold out against him and he successfully overtook his body. He grinned triumphantly as he felt the voice within him react with immense distress. "Now it's time to have some fun. Let's see how it feels to kill the one you love the most with your own hands ne, little wolf?"

Syaoran's eyes widened in horror as he realized that he had lost the battle. The jerk had managed to possess his body and he was helpless to do anything about it. He summoned up his power to try and push the dark power away from him, but found himself unable to do so. Syaoran found his body raising his sword of its own accord and moving towards Sakura's paralyzed body. Syaoran realized what the jerk was trying to do and again redoubled his efforts to break free. He could not allow himself to hurt Sakura. She was the one person he loved the most and wanted to protect the most and he would not allow himself to hurt her. He screamed out at her as tears of bitter frustration welled in his eyes, "Fight him Sakura! You can do it. You must do it. Break free and run! Onegai! I don't want to hurt you."

Sakura stared at Syaoran wide-eyed and tried to do as he told her to, but found herself unable to move. She struggled against Christian's powers but found she was too weak. Crying out in anguish she turned to face Christian and asked him, "Why, Christian-kun, why?"

Christian just grinned at her and said, "Because I want your power."

"If it's my power you want then you can take it, just please leave Syaoran-kun alone. I'll gladly die if you'll let Syaoran-kun live. Onegai!"

"Ma, ma, how sweet, but I'm afraid I can't do that. The little wolf also has a lot of power too. Much more power than I thought he had and so I'll take his power too, but only after I take your. You will die by you love's hand then he shall die by mine. Oh yes maybe I should tell you, I am not Christian Mauler. Christian Mauler was a weak pitiful human whose body I possessed seven hundred years ago so I'll thank you to not call me that anymore."

"Kiisama, I don't care who you are, but you will NOT make me hurt her!" Syaoran growled as he approached Sakura and raised his sword. Blood splattered on his face as Sakura screamed in horror. Syaoran collapsed to his knees panting heavily his sword imbedded within his thigh.

"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura screamed her power surging through her releasing her from her paralysis. She too fell to her knees panting heavily from the exertion it to break free from the spell.

"Masaka..." Christian said stunned. Both of them managed to break free of his spell. "Fine then, if you are no going to kill her then, I will." Christian stated raising his hands as a ball of energy appeared in it. With one swift motion he threw the ball towards Sakura.

Sakura stared at the ball; unable to move knowing that even if she did move it would not be in time. Suddenly before her appeared a figure. The ball of energy hit the figure full on in the chest and the figure began to fall towards her. "Syaoran-kun!" Sakura screamed again. "Why? Why did you do that?"

"Because I had to protect you. You are the one person that I will always protect." Syaoran whispered hoarsely. "Sakura you must defeat him otherwise he'll kill both of us and do who knows what else to others."

"Don't worry Syaoran-kun. I promise you I'll take care of it. I'll be strong and defeat him. Just please be okay." Sakura pleaded with Syaoran tears filling her eyes.

"I know you will Sakura, but he's strong. Probably stronger than Eriol even. You'll need help. Unfortunately Keroberus and Yue aren't here to help you, so I'll help you. You can use my power."

"Dame! You're too weak to give me your power Syaoran-kun."

"Daijobu desu. I'll be fine." Syaoran told her as he removed a pendant from around his neck then removed the Dragon's Eye from the hilt of his sword and placed the Dragon's Eye into the center of the pendent. A bright flash of light engulfed the piece of jewelry as the Dragon's Eye and pendent joined together. Syaoran held the piece tightly in his hands and transferred as much of his power as he could into the pendant. Finally done he hand the pendant to Sakura and told her. "Wear this. It'll increase your powers. Hopefully enough to defeat him. You can do it. Remember you undefeatable phrase, 'Because it's Sakura, everything will be fine.'"

The being in Christian Mauler's form laughed as he watched the two. How foolish of the boy to sacrifice himself like that. How foolish it was for him to give the cherry blossom all of his power. Even with their powers combined they wouldn't be able to defeat him. The being was sure of that so he let them play out their little scene before clearing his throat to get the girl's attention.

Sakura stood up from Syaoran's injured body and faced the being. Sakura was thankful that she had never been able to rid herself of her habit of carrying her Clow Key with her. Removing her key she began her familiar incantation, "Key that holds the power of the stars, show your true form. Under the compact, I, Sakura, command you, RELEASE!" Sakura stared at him confidently and said in a clear firm voice, "I don't know who you are, but I'm not going to let you hurt anyone."

The being stared at the girl that stood before him and grinned. The girl certainly did not lack courage and he was amazed at how her power increased because of her desire to protect and save the boy. Hapless inside his own body, the real Christian Mauler watched and hoped. He hoped that the bright star standing before them would be able to end his seven hundred years of suffering and he swore to himself to help her however he could. He would not be weak and pitiful anymore. He would help her make sure that the being controlling his body would never hurt anyone ever again.

Knowing that this was her only chance Sakura pulled out the Light card and commanded it, "Remove this dark being from this boy's body, LIGHT!"

The card flew out of Sakura's hand and entered Christian Mauler's body. She found the soul of the creature and surrounded it trying to expel it from the boy's body as her mistress had instructed her to. The creature fought the Light trying to shield itself against it's antithesis and it was successful. It was slowly pushing the Light out, but suddenly it felt as if something had smashed its very being. The creature's shield gave out and it screamed in agony as the Light trapped it and burned it. It tried to escape out of the Light by flying from its host, but it couldn't. The Light and the creature looked in surprise at what was retraining it and holding it within the boy's body and found Christian holding tightly onto the creature.

Outside of Christian's body, Sakura watched as it convulsed as she saw the Light entering it and she almost saw a black shadow fleeing from the Light. Suddenly she saw two transparent arms reach out from the body grabbing the creature and holding it in the burning Light. She saw a form appear behind the shadow being and gasped as she noticed that the form looked like Christian. The figure looked up at her and begged her, "It's no good, Sakura-san. If you expel him from my body, he'll just possess someone else's body. I won't let him do that! I won't let him cause anyone as much pain as it caused me!"

"You fool!" The shadow creature screamed, "What do you think you're going to accomplish by this? Keeping me in this cursed Light will not destroy me. Do you really think you're powerful enough to contain me!?!"

"I'm not powerful enough to contain you, but Sakura-san can destroy you while I can still hold you. I won't let you hurt anyone else. I will help her destroy you."

"If she destroys me, you will die as well!" The creature screeched.

"I don't care! Sakura-san! Please destroy him now. If you kill me while he is still in my body he will die with me! I can't hold him much longer. Please hurry up and kill me!"

Sakura stared at the battle that the shadow creature and Christian were waging. She looked at him with horror and shock written all over her face as he pleaded with her to kill him. "Christian-kun, I can't kill you!" Sakura cried.

"Just do it! Please, I'm fine with it. I've lived too long already. Please Sakura-san." Christian pleaded with her again looking at her. "If you don't do it now, then we'll never be able to destroy him and he'll hurt more people like he hurt Syaoran-kun. You promised Syaoran-kun that you would defeat him. Are you going to break your promise to him, when he gave all his power to defeat this creature?"

Sakura started at his words. Syaoran-kun. She had promised him that she would defeat the creature no matter what. Now she could, but she was hesitating. Nodding her head grimly Sakura pulled out the Sword and summoned it. Her staff transformed into a sleek blade and she closed her eyes. Walking forward reluctantly, she plunged the sword into Christian's chest. Christian's body crumpled and the shadow creature screamed in agony as it felt the sword pierce it's being. Christian whispered softly into her ears, "Arigatou, Sakura-san."

Sakura opened her eyes as the cards returned to their original form and watched as Christian's body turned to dust leaving only a spectral form of him standing there. Christian smiled at her and told her gently, "Please don't cry Sakura-san. I'm finally free from the hell that that creature put me through. I finally did something useful. I'm sorry about all the trouble that we caused you, and I hope helping you destroy that creature helps make up for the trouble we caused you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Christian-kun."

"You did save me. For seven hundred years I was trapped within my own body. I watched helplessly as that creature hurt or killed so many people including my own family. I tried to stop him several times, but I was too weak. Now I was able to finally do something about it. Thank-you for helping me Sakura-san. Please thank Syaoran-kun for me too. And tell him I'm sorry for what that creature did to him and you. I hope you and Syaoran-kun can be happy together. Sayonara Sakura-san." Christian said as his spectral form faded away.

Sakura nodded as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Turning around she walked back to Syaoran's body lying on the ground. Kneeling down Sakura shook Syaoran's body trying to wake him up. Several times she tried to shake him awake, but he remained motionless. "No...Syaoran..." Sakura whispered hoarsely. "Syaoran-kun. Please wake-up! Please be okay! I need you to be okay. I need to be able to tell you I love you. Wake-up! Syaoran-kun! WAKE-UP!"

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Oppsie. Did I just leave this chapter at a cliffhanger? *grins evilly* I'm so sorry, but hey the more people write the faster I'll write and post the next chapter. Please do tell me what you think of Christian now. You all got what you wanted. I based Christian's death scene on Aki of Ayashi no Ceres's death scene. Of course it's not as well written, but oh well. And don't flame me about Syaoran yet. I have one chapter left. I'm not saying what will happen, but you're not allowed to flame until then.