I decided to try writing a series next. Hopefully, this one will receive positive feedback. Well, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura.

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Prologue

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"Well, see you!" Syaoran waved a casual hand back at his buddies and left the football field, chestnut locks blown about by the wind. He tucked his belongings under one arm and placed his cap on his head, somewhat shading his intoxicatingly deep amber eyes.

The blazing afternoon sun shone down on him and burned his tanned skin, but he ignored it. He was used to it anyway. People milled about minding their own business and haggled vigorously with shopkeepers for a specific item, something very time-consuming. Syaoran never understood why they did that. Wasn't a fixed price a much faster way of completing their shopping?

A sudden gust of wind blew his cap off his head, sending it sailing above the heads of surprised citizens. Children squealed and tried to catch it while canines snapped their jaws and threatened to tear Syaoran's precious cap to shreds.

Syaoran groaned and started to chase after his airborne cap. He must not lose it, he must not! That was his favourite cap, after all.

I knew I shouldn't have worn it to football practice today, he grumbled inwardly.

Dodging classy ladies with pretty parasols over their dainty heads and portly gentlemen on the sidewalk, Syaoran was hot in pursuit of his cap. Some people stared at him as though he were some exhibition at a show, whereas others ignored him outright. That suited him fine. What he was doing was not their business anyway.

The wind seemed to be taunting him to chase his cap, pulling it out of his grasp as soon as Syaoran came close enough to catch it. Soon the brunette was pretty pissed off at the wind, pursuing his cap with renewed vigour.

The breeze drove it even higher so that it threatened to lodge itself amid the branches of a tree that grew along the sidewalk. More than once the poor cap was bumped unceremoniously against a bough and started to fall, but for some mysterious reason the wind would always pick up as soon as it lost strength. The cap would be whisked even higher into the air, always bouncing and teetering.

"Oh no you don't," Syaoran growled and increased his speed. He was now a blur of movement, legs carrying him as fast as he could go. He was not a national runner and renowned football player for nothing. His hair streaked back due to the wind that rushed past it, whipping it out of his angry amber eyes.

The wind finally chose to drop its load, gradually lowering the cap so that it hovered closer to the enraged boy. Syaoran continued to chase it, a determined glint in his eye. He was closer it to now…just a little bit further…

Suddenly his cap disappeared round a bend, and Syaoran had to refrain from cursing under his breath. He was from a respectable family, after all, and he should not – correction, must not – curse.

His sport shoes screeched to a halt when he saw his cap landing on the dusty floor. Oh no, now it was going to get all dirty and stained with dirt. He would have to wash it once he got home….

"Got you!" he snarled as he snatched the cap off the ground. Dusting it with one hand, he scrutinized every inch of it before placing it on his head, a sense of victory and relief flooding him.

"Hm?"

Syaoran cocked his head to one side, looking every bit the heartthrob of the neighbourhood. His casual chestnut brown bangs fell into his eyes and enhanced his already striking features. What with the cap drooped over one eye and his sexy pose, it was no wonder girls fawned over him wherever he went.

His ears pricked up at a barely audible sound, very muffled and uncertain. Had he heard that? Or was it his imagination? Syaoran decided to wait for a while to confirm his suspicions.

One minute passed, and nothing else was heard. No sound, no movements, nada. He stood there patiently and allowed the wind to caress his hair. This time, he kept a firm hand on his cap lest the wind chose it as its plaything again.

A piece of crumpled paper rolled past him, rustling forlornly as it was blown along.

All was silent in the semi-dark lane. Trees whispered to one another and pointed at the lone teenager standing by himself, telling each other secrets only trees would know.

Still Syaoran waited, unmoving, one hand tucked into the pocket of his tracksuit. His keen amber eyes searched the area while his sharp ears were always alert, ready to pick up the slightest sound.

After five minutes of endless silence, he finally decided to dismiss it as a figment of his imagination. Perhaps it had been a stray moving about amid the rubbish –

Syaoran stiffened, eyes trained on the rubbish bin. His ears had detected yet another sound, and it seemed to come from the big green bin yonder. The sound was soft and ethereal-sounding, like a whisper lost in the wind, but he had caught it just the same.

Taking stealthy steps so that he would not scare whatever or whoever it was away, he approached the bin, trying his very best to avoid inhaling too much of the stench drifting from the pile of rubbish in it.

His ears pricked up once more. Yes, there was no mistaking it now. It was a sob, barely perceptible as it was.

So that would mean whatever it was, it was human.

Syaoran's brow furrowed. Who was it? And more importantly, where was he or she hiding?

He decided to take a peek into the disgusting-looking rubbish bin. It was not a very appealing choice, but if he had heard correctly, which he was sure he did, whoever it was had sobbed, and sobbing usually meant a person was sad and was in need of help or comfort.

Steeling himself against the stench, he peered into the bin and nearly retched. Forget the terrible stench. The sight that greeted him was horrible. Rotting fruit and meat were jumbled up in a heap there, mingling with smelly kitchen waste and other dispensable items.

In short, it was a disgusting sight to behold.

Syaoran decided to withdraw his head at once. No one would hide in that bin anyway, he thought, scrunching up his nose in disgust. Heck, who would?

His ears distinctly picked up a stifled sob followed by a sniffle and a rustle of fabric. It lifted his courage and made him all the more determined to help the person in need.

Holding his breath, he closed his eyes and walked around it, praying that nothing too extreme would jump out at him.

"Hello? Anyone?" he called. His amber gaze fell on a huddled bunch of rags before moving away, thinking it was nothing but what is was: rags.

How very wrong he was.

A dirty face peeked out from among the rags, tear-streaked and messy. Vibrant coloured eyes of the rarest emerald hue stared at him with evident surprise.

As for him, he could not take his eyes off her either. He was fascinated by everything about her. Her porcelain smooth skin was the colour of the lightest caramel, just a shade away from giving her a pale appearance. And her huge doe-like forest green eyes really captured his attention. They were so…deep.

"Onii…chan," she murmured, delicate rosy lips barely parting. Syaoran found himself watching its every move, entranced by its lusciousness and the way it seemed to be formed with such perfection, the lips curving like two crescent moons adorning her dazzlingly beautiful face.

Suddenly the girl started forwards and snaked her skinny arms around his waist, hugging him. Syaoran was dumbstruck. He had never been comfortable among girls, and she was no exception. He realized with growing apprehension that he had been examining strands of silky brown hair at close proximity.

The girl nudged her head deeper into his chest. A sob escaped her as she clung onto his shirt as though for dear life. Syaoran gawked at her weird behaviour.

"Er…" he stuttered.

She responded by snuggling into him even further, her hug tightening.

"Miss…"

Syaoran was very uncomfortable. Watching her cry all over him really piqued his pity for her. What had caused her such sorrow?

Without him realizing it, his hand had descended on her back and was slowly patting her in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. He was shocked at what he felt beneath his fingers.

He could feel every one of her ribs, and the bumps on her backbone were visible even through her thin dress. It was dreadful. Syaoran tried to get a better look at her face, hoping that it had not shared the same fate her frail-looking body did.

Thankfully, it did not, although it was stained with a great deal of grime, as was her hair. Her brown locks fell lifeless from her shoulders, a carpet of matted hair.

"Come on," Syaoran said as calmly as he could, running a hand through her hair. He pulled back right away when his fingers threatened to entangle themselves in her hair.

The girl looked up, emerald eyes searching his face, expression questioning. She was so adorable despite the dirt that caked her body.

When she did not budge, Syaoran sighed and slipped an arm beneath her body and carried her in his arms, bridal style. He handled her as though she was a fragile piece of work, ready to break at any moment. She looked it, anyway.

Syaoran stared into the depths of her emerald orbs, taking in the deepness in them with a passion. They seemed so…different from the eyes of others. Syaoran could not put his finger on it.

A shiver went down his spine when the girl in his arms lifted a finger to trace his cheek. Syaoran forced himself to tear his eyes away from her and focus on his destination:

Home.

And he was bringing her along with him. He could not leave her out on the streets alone, after all.

END OF PROLOGUE

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Author's Notes:

Well, I'm still unsure whether I should continue this story or not. So…hm…let's decide it this way. I won't continue if there are less than five reviews okay? That's not much to ask for…plus I really need to know if I should continue this or not.

The action will start in the next chapter, if there is going to be one.

Bye!