The Strength Within

By: Firefly.Tenshi

Full Summary:

Syaoran comes to Japan searching for the cards 1 year too late. Sakura went through a traumatic event while becoming the Cardmistress. She takes a leave of absence before Syaoran came. Syaoran becomes best friends with Eriol, they were inseparable at school, but when Sakura came back that all changed. Eriol spent all his time with Sakura and she clung to him for support. She too weak, quiet and feeble for the cards to choose her as the master or so Syaoran thought. What happens when he discovers her identity?

Syaoran – 14 years old

Sakura – 13 years old

Eriol – 14 years old

Tomoyo – 13 years old

Touya – 19 years old

Yukito – 19 years old

Prologue:

"God Eriol, why does she have to follow us around all the time? It's so annoying. Everyone at school thinks it's weird. Every time I try to ask a girl out, she turns me down because she sees that girl behind me," complained a handsome, amber-eyed thirteen year old boy. He was sitting cross legged on the creamy white floor. His navy-eyed friend shook his head at him while leaning against the full mirrored wall.

"You only tried once and you later found out she was two timing two guys .She doesn't mean any harm Syaoran. Plus, she doesn't mean any harm Syaoran. You know she has been a bit shy and scared ever since that incident when she was ten. You should understand, more than anyone, what she's feeling," reasoned Eriol.

"But it's been like three years since that happened. You would think she would get over it."

"Syaoran, please continue helping her out, you don't know what else she's been through. Her only friend is that girl with a pale complexion and dark hair, what's her face? Oh well, doesn't matter. You're graduating in a few weeks anyways and she's has another year in middle school to go, so don't do anything stupid."

Syaoran sighed in response. Even though it infuriated him, he couldn't argue with Eriol's reasoning. The girl they were talking about was Kinomoto, Sakura. Syaoran met her when he was twelve, she was apparently took a leave of absence for a year from school citing personal and health reasons just before he arrived. Syaoran came to Tomoeda, Japan when he just turned ten. He was supposed to come earlier but one of his sisters had gotten severely ill and there was no way in hell was he going to leave her because of his duty to the Li Clan. He met Eriol and they started off on a weird start. At first, he was repelled by Eriol's annoying habits and mysterious appearance. Slowly he found that Eriol turned out to be a great listener and conversationalist. Without knowing it, Eriol had become the best friend Syaoran never thought he would have. Soon after, Sakura came to school and everything changed. Eriol started to spent time with Sakura whenever he was free, leaving little time for him and Syaoran to hang out. Only recently did Eriol start to spend more time with Syaoran, but they were no longer as close as they were before.

"Alright break's over," Syaoran stated. He pushed himself off the floor and drew out his sword. He positioned himself into his usual fighting stance, pointed his sword at Eriol. He was tempting Eriol to draw his sword.

"You always start with the same stance. It's becoming redundant."

"Shut up. Stop irritating me. I know you're trying to prevent me from concentrating."

"Me? I would never do such a thing." Eriol was amused by Syaoran's response; he always got agitated easily. Eriol lifted himself off the mirror and drew out his sword. He readied himself for the upcoming bout and eased himself into his familiar fighting posture. Placing a mysterious smirk on his face they started their barrage of attacks. They swiped, parried, and jabbed their way into a drenched sweat. They were on one knee and used their sword to lean on; they looked up at each other through their damp hair and smirked.

"You've gotten better, but you always leave your left flank open," Eriol irked out in between sharp intakes of breaths.

"Coming from you it must mean I'm lacking training," Syaoran barely retorted. Eriol and Syaoran took their left hands and slapped them together into a simple handclasp. They leaned on each other to get to the bench where they could catch their breath. Both of them exhausted but had huge grins on their faces; they loved this feeling. The feeling of going all out in a heated battle of equals, something they hadn't done for almost two years. They sparred in Eriol's mansion in one of the training areas. They took showers and changed into fresh clothes. Shortly after, Syaoran took his leave and went home. He went to sleep content with the practice he just had. He had put all their effort into winning, but it ended in a tie. All it meant was he had to get better.

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