Unwithering Flower

"Karenai Hana"

by Feathery Quill

Prologue

Frightened screams filled the town of Tomoeda as dark shadows loomed across the sky, leaving not a speck of light behind. A girl around the age of thirteen flew above the buildings, but the powerful winds made it difficult for her. Loud thunder erupted from the sky. Streaks of lightning raided the town threateningly. Still, she persevered. She had to find them! She had to!

Her two companions frantically called out to her to come back but their cries were lost to her ears. Dark figures with cloaks marched into town. Sparks of green appeared to come out of their hands, taking the lives of people who were struck. Their piercing cries seemed to echo in her ears. Their bodies dropped down one by one. She couldn't bear to watch.

That was when she heard them. She could hear the agony and fear in their voices when they screamed her name, and she tried desperately to find them. And when she did, it was already too late.

Eyes void of life stared back at her on the ground. She couldn't move. Her feet were frozen on the spot. Before her, lie the dead bodies of her friends,…and her father.

Chapter 1

"Just seeing your happy face makes me happy, Sakura-chan."

--

The high-pitched whistle of a teapot echoed throughout the vast kitchen of the Li Mansion. Silently, as if on autopilot, a girl with long raven hair poured the steaming green tea into a cup and placed it carefully in a tray with food and a pair of medicine tablets. Ruby eyes followed her every move as she monotonously arranged the spoons and fork, adding the final touch with a small vase of cherry blossoms. A bit satisfied, she lifted the tray and started walking to the kitchen door. But before the girl could step a foot out, the ruby-eyed girl spoke up.

"Tomoyo," She called out with uncertainty and a noticeable hint of concern. The girl named Tomoyo halted only for a second as if contemplating, and walked out before the other girl could continue, and disappeared behind the wall.



Meiling sat down on a chair, defeated. She was clearly concerned for her friend but what could she do? She sighed, rubbing her temples to rid of her growing headache. She was starting to feel tired of all the things that had happened lately. Everyone in the world seemed to be in a state of depression. She couldn't blame them really. Even she herself, even Tomoyo, who seemed to Meiling the most optimistic girl in the world. Well, that is to say, second most – only to Sakura.

Quietly, she poured herself a cup of tea and raised it to her lips, savoring the aroma that reached her nose. There was a time when it was all happy and carefree. But that was a long time ago. Well, it felt like it was a long time ago but she couldn't be quite sure. A lot of incidents occurred, horrible ones. So horrible that it destroyed the lives of people she loved, and also herself.

She sipped her tea and almost dropped the cup when she felt the stinging pain on her tongue. She cursed while sticking her tongue out, letting out a vague mumble of "thuck"(1). Someone would have thought the situation funny. Syaoran, she thought wryly, would have been laughing out loud if he were there – but he wasn't. She was alone in the kitchen with a burning tongue and a stained shirt from when she spilled some of her tea. She cursed out loudly again when she realized that she was currently wearing the shirt that Sakura had given her for Christmas.

'Sakura,' she thought ignoring the pain for a moment. What had happened to her friend and former love rival was devastating. Among them all, Sakura had suffered the greatest loss. Everyone mourned along with her for the death of her father and the deaths of her other close friends as well – Chiharu, Naoko, Rika, Yamazaki, Mizuki-sensei… All of them. Gone in a blink of an eye. She could still hear their screams, calling out for help. Her nightmares were filled with them. She couldn't even imagine what Sakura must have felt.

She blinked when a small drop of water fell into her cup. She reached up and felt her cheeks wet. She hadn't realized she had been crying.

"Meiling," a voice from the doorway averted her attention. When she realized who it was, she quickly turned away, trying to discreetly wipe her tears. But it was too late.

"Meiling," the voice called out again but with more caution. Syaoran appeared at her side, taking notice of her swollen eyes. "Are you alright?"

She could've answered him immediately that she was fine. But she didn't trust her voice at the moment, so she kept quiet. Syaoran tried to catch her gaze, which was difficult because she had her head bowed low. Nonetheless, he spoke again. "Meiling, Mother wants to see you." Receiving no response, he continued. "She's in the family room with the elders. Daidouji and I will be there too once she finishes helping Sakura with breakfast."

The falter in his tone when he spoke Sakura's name didn't escape her ears. She knew he was suffering too. Obediently, she nodded and went off to the direction of the family room. Syaoran watched her go without a sound.

--

"Sakura-chan, I cooked your favorite noodles today." Tomoyo said, coaxing her friend to eat. But Sakura just wouldn't open her mouth. She would sit all day in her bed and stare emotionlessly at the wall. She wouldn't dart her eyes to Tomoyo, or even look at the food in front of her. It was as if she 

shunned herself from the world. Her psychiatrists weren't able to do anything, and Tomoyo could only do so little to help.

"Sakura-chan," she tried again, mustering all the strength she had not to break down and cry right then and there. She raised the spoon to her friend's mouth, silently hoping that the aroma of the food would sway her into eating it. When she received not a sound or movement from Sakura did she finally put the spoon down.

"You have to eat, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo almost cried out desperately. "You shouldn't do this to yourself."

But all Sakura did was stare ahead. Her green eyes that used to be vibrant were blank, as if there wasn't a soul in them. The medicine tablets were still on the tray. But even those couldn't help her.

Tomoyo thought of all the times when Sakura was once so energetic, lively emerald eyes staring back at her with all the happiness in the universe. Her smiling face seemed like it could light up the whole world. But as she looked at her best friend now, it felt like it was a million years ago.

Tomoyo was about to resume persuading her to eat when the door opened, revealing a tired-looking Syaoran.

"Daidouji-san," Tomoyo didn't budge from her seat beside Sakura when Syaoran addressed her. "Mother wants to talk to us right now."

"But Sakura-chan… I have to help her eat." Her voice was soft, but firm. Syaoran almost had to drag her out when she refused to move. Her gaze never left Sakura until she left the room. Syaoran grasped her by the arm. Whether it was she he was restraining from going back to the room or himself, she didn't know.

--

When they arrived in the family room, Yelan was already waiting for them. Syaoran and Tomoyo greeted her and sat down beside Meiling on the couch opposite Yelan. He immediately noticed the letter in his mother's hands and recognized Eriol's name on the front. Why the sorcerer had sent them a letter he would soon find out.

"Xiaolang, Meiling, Tomoyo, I have requested you here for one reason." Three pairs of ears listened intently. "This morning I have received a letter from Hiiragizawa Eriol asking me that Sakura, with the intention of helping her recover, be sent to London." Syaoran made a move to protest at this but Yelan held up a hand, signaling him to settle down.

"He included that an old friend of his owned a school in magical London, and while Sakura is hopefully immersed in the new culture, he wished that she may be able to learn how to accept the awful things that had happened, and eventually recover." Yelan paused in order for them to sink in what she had just said.

They were familiar with magical London, and about the wizards and witches that live there. Syaoran had been spending his time reading in the private library, sometimes accompanied by Tomoyo and Meiling during their free time. He had read about a part in London that was hidden from non-magical people, and was quite fascinated with the culture. Maybe, deep inside Sakura, the old enthusiastic girl 

that she once was, would could come out and share the same fascination too? He doubted it but that's all he had at present. Hopes and doubts.

"May I assume that all three of us are going as well?" Tomoyo spoke up beside him. Yelan nodded in response.

"Mother, who is this old friend that Eriol mentioned?"

"His name is Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Yelan said while taking a glance at the letter. "Clow had been friends with him in the past. Eriol met up with him a few weeks ago and asked him if the four of you can stay at his school for several months or so."

Silence rang in the room for while until Yelan spoke again. "Personally, I think this would be good for Sakura-san. The Elders has also agreed to this. I understand that Sakura-san needs time to heal, and so do we." She looked at all of them, and continued. "It is sad to say that this place we call home is preventing us to be healed. We can't escape our bad memories by going to a different place but it might help her, and us, to recover more quickly. Eventually, we will learn to accept what had happened."

The room was once again reverted to silence. Each contemplating and trying to make a decision. It would be relieving to escape the nightmares for a while. This will serve as their little vacation. Hopefully, there would be progress with Sakura-chan, and themselves as well.

The silence stretched, and it seemed like several hours had passed before they finally came to a decision.

"Auntie," It was Meiling who spoke up this time. "if that is the case then," She looked at Syaoran and Tomoyo, silently asking them with her eyes. Both gave her a nod in return. "…when will we be leaving?"

A/N:

If you're confused, just replace "th" with "f"

Please leave reviews and suggestions as I am still unsure of the plot. Thank you!

-Feathery Quill