I don't own Cardcaptors. Enough said.

Syaoran paced back and forth, his steps getting quicker and quicker. Why hadn't she replied yet? Granted, he didn't always responded immediately, but that was to be expected - the Li household was very restrictive, and talking with his almost girlfriend was not something the family elders approved of. But she had never complained about the time in between conversations before. She always said how happy she was that he was able to sneak the calls and emails.

So why the sudden silent treatment?

It worried him. Though they hadn't officially been going out, he'd told her how he felt, and she reciprocated those feelings, and then he had to go back to Hong Kong for training, and later to a small town run by the Li family. But things had definitely changed between the two.

He loved her.

He just never told her.

Not in so many words, at least. But she knew he kinda liked her, and the brief calls were enough to show she felt the same. It's not like it would've worked out as it was. A long distance relationship, based on more than friendship, would never last. Not when she was in Japan and he...wasn't.

Until he was released, the stolen moments on the phone were the best he could do. And he always made sure his emails, when he could sneak off to the school's computer lab, were confident that it would be soon be over, and that he couldn't wait to see her again.

The brown-haired teen sighed in relief as he checked the email he kept from the elders and saw he had an email from her. He checked quickly to make sure no one could see what he was doing and opened the email with a pounding heart.

His relief was short-lived, however, when he saw the three words sent from Tomoyo.

She's in trouble.

Time seemed to stretch as he packed an overnight bag. It was a day's train ride to outside the Li's barrier, and he couldn't use his magic to see Sakura until he passed that border. Syaoran would be in serious trouble when he came back, but if Tomoyo said she was in trouble, there was no way in hell he wasn't going to her.

He climbed out his third story window and climbed out the tree. There was nowhere he would want to go, so the elders had never bothered to use magic to seal him in. The short jump from the lowest branch was nothing he couldn't handle.

The grass was soft and supple under his feet as he ran towards the train station. He had fifteen minutes to get to the train station, buy his ticket, and dodge the people to get to the platform. Nothing too outrageous. The walk was about fifteen minutes, so he could get there in about five at the full on sprint he was at.

The only thing he had left was the set of guards that were always watching the gate. He was almost positive he had avoided catching their eye, but it was always better to be on the edge.

As he suspected, he made it to the station with plenty of time left. There was a short line at the counter and the platform was right in front. It seemed luck was on his side.

The train came to a grinding halt and a few people boarded. The station didn't have many departures or arrivals, since it was located in a small town run by magic. Not that its inhabitants knew that.

Syaoran handed the conductor his ticket and took a seat. Some stuffing was pushing its way through the cracked red vinyl and Syaoran picked at it aimlessly as he waited for the train to arrive at its next stop.

Something made him turn towards the door. He didn't know what - call it instinct - but he was glad he did. For a tall man cloaked in darkness boarded the train. A man whose shiny bald head sent shivers down his spine.

One the elders had personally come to see him home.

Knowing he couldn't be found, Syaoran ducked quickly under one of the seats and crawled forward until he reached a seat that was occupied. The lady didn't seem inclined to a teenage guy coming out from under her seat. He would just have to bide his time.

Many long hours passed before the high heels left his vision. Syaoran blinked and stretched as he emerged from his dusty and gum-filled hiding place. But he didn't have time to relax. He saw the elder stand up and start making his way towards him.

There was a door leading to the dining car just in front of Syaoran. When he opened it, he was greeted with nothing but darkness. "Shit." Syaoran muttered under his breath as he lit a small fire in his palm. Now he could see, but the elder knew exactly where he was.

He sprinted to the other side of the train car, weaving and jumping his way through the tables. The older man had no qualms about using his magic and merely blew them all to the side. He was gaining ground on Syaoran. If he caught him, there was no way he would ever be let off the compound, even when he did finish his training.

Syaoran threw open the door, only to find the ground racing beneath him. The next train car was a good six feet in front of him and, with all the cabling attached to it, impossible to jump. Time for Plan B.

There has a ladder attached to the side of the compartment. Thanking all the spirits, Syaoran started to climb. But just as he reached the top, he knew if he went up there, he would die. It wasn't like it was in the movies. The wind alone would be enough to knock him hard enough into the ground that he would break every bone in his body from the impact. He climbed back down the ladder, only to be face to face with the man chasing him. The roof was suddenly sounding a lot better... at least he might be able to use his magic to cushion the fall.

Just as he was scurrying up the ladder to give it a shot, the elder shot out his hand and grasped Syaoran's shoulder. He cringed. He was in trouble now.

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