The Rebel

Chapter 1: Judge Caught Taking Bribes

Sakura slipped between the narrow gaps in the trees with surprising agility. By her calculations she was being followed by at least five men. She took note that they were all armed with revolvers meaning they weren't likely to have any magic. They stumbled through the forest in contrast to Sakura's steady flight. Her hair auburn hair whipped behind a tree and they lost sight of her all together. The men stopped to regroup. Each one of their faces seemed to be more forgettable then the next. They are all just faceless parts of the larger group. They had been trained to lose all individuality and think of the big picture, not themselves.

Sakura look down at the men from where she was crouching on a nearby tree branch. She watched as one man ordered the rest to spread out and check the surrounding area. When they had spread out Sakura floated down from the tree and ran back out of the forest avoiding confrontation. She glanced behind her occasionally as she headed back towards the city. In the shelter of familiar alley ways Sakura removed the scarf that covered all of her face but her sparkling emerald eyes. She also shook her hair out of its bun and headed for the old book store.

A man watched her unnoticed from around the corner. His sunglasses glinted in the street lamps as he put them on and followed behind her.

The bells jingled in the bookstore as Sakura entered. The boy behind the desk looked up seeming to relax at the sight of her.

"Are you that tense every time a customer comes in Eriol?" Sakura asked slumping into a chair behind the desk.

"What customers?" Eriol smiled sitting across from her. "How did it go?" He asked scanning her over through his round glasses.

"I picked up a few painters on my way out of there, but I managed to lose them in the woods. They shouldn't pursue it. It's just a judge taking some bribes." Sakura said. Eriol looked concerned but didn't say anything.

"The painters are trying to cover it up by saying that the judge received the money as an inheritance from an aunt. They have a death certificate and will…the whole thing. But…" She paused grinning. "I have pictures!!" She held up and envelope waving it in front of Eriol. He snatched from her excitedly and peaked at the contents.

"Sakura this is amazing! You're the best !" He exclaimed.

" I know." She smiled, "So can you print it in time for tomorrows issue?" She asked. Eriol nodded as he sat down at his computer. Sakura stretched and headed upstairs. She was exhausted.

Eriol must have passed out sometime very early in the morning after finishing the paper because the next morning Sakura found him lying face down on his bed. He hadn't even bothered to get under the covers or put on his pajamas. He had only mustered up enough energy to take of his pants and shirt and through them on the floor. So when Sakura figured she would go across the hall and help Eriol get up, she was slightly embarrassed to find him somewhat exposed in only his boxers. Sakura blushed and turned her back towards him clearing her throat loudly. When he didn't even budge she walked over and poked him in the side with her outstretched finger. Eriol woke with a start and quickly hid himself under the covers when he realized his nakedness.

"We've got to deliver those papers" Sakura said as she walked out the door and shut it behind her. Downstairs were stacks of freshly printed newspapers with her picture of a Judge accepting a duffle bag of money on the front cover. Their newspaper was titled "The Rebel". She smiled and sat down to breakfast with her morning paper and read about her own investigations of corruption in the government. Of course she was not credited for her photos and information, nor was Eriol credited as the author. No one could know they were the ones printing these stories. Their little newspaper pissed off a lot of high powered people. It was a dangerous job, but it got information out there to the public.

Sakura looked around before closing her eyes in concentration. The refrigerator door opened and the milk flew out and poured itself over her cereal.

At five Sakura had shown signs of having magic when she made a boys hair fall out after he pulled her braid. She was sent to a school to train her powers with the other magical children in the city. There were only seven in the whole city under the age of sixteen at the time. There she learned to draw power from the earth and control her magic and make it stronger. All magic is drawn from the earth and through intense training Sakura had mastered her powers and become a very strong Chi-sen. Chi-sen how they refer to people with magical powers. Chi-sen are highly respected and very rare. Everyone from Sakura's class now had a high power government job.

Sakura put down the milk and opened her eyes to find Eriol watching her. He blushed when their eyes met; clearly not over his embarrassment from that morning.

"Be careful, Noriko" Eriol said as he began making his breakfast. Eriol was a worrier. It bothered Sakura that he was always so worried about her, but she know that no one could find out that she was Sakura Kinomoto. They government was looking for her and had probably connected her with "The Rebel" by now. During the day she posed as a totally non-magic girl who owned a bookstore with her "husband" Eriol Hiiragizawa. At night she investigated leads and Eriol printed "The Rebel" in their basement. Noriko was her alias. Eriol had given it to her because it translates to law or rule, to reinforce her image of a law abiding librarian!

"How is my favorite couple?" Tomoyo asked entering the kitchen. Toya and Tomoyo came in through the basement every morning to help distribute the paper. The siblings were affiliated with the underground rebellion, and probably Eriol and Sakura's best friends.

"Hmm, I sense some tension." Toya said sitting next to Eriol.

"Oh, could it be a lovers spat?" Tomoyo joked hugging Eriol and Sakura to her. "Ooo looking good" said Tomoyo picking up the paper and flipping through it.

"So what's on the agenda for tonight?" Toya asked.

"I was thinking of trying to break into that old factory again" Sakura said, Eriol opened his mouth to argue, but Tomoyo got their first.

"The one that's always surrounded by painters? You'll need back up, let us come!" She offered excitedly, but Sakura shook her head.

"I'd just be going to scope out the place for a way in, I wouldn't be attacking just yet."

Tomoyo pouted as Eriol and Toya gathered the papers in wheelbarrows and brought them down to the basement.

"Well atleast let me make you a stealthy outfit for sneaking around in!!" Tomoyo

said. Sakura rolled her eyes as she escorted Tomoyo down to the basement. Behind all the newspaper equipment was a hidden door that led to a tunnel. Tomoyo and Toya each took a wheelbarrow of papers and disappeared into the dark.

Sakura let Eriol get some rest while she ran the shop. The shop was almost always empty anyway and nobody ever bought anything. Infact she would consider it crowded now that there were three people looking around. She was looking at the computer when a man came over and leaned on the counter. She looked up and saw he was wearing black sunglasses and white gloves. He looked at her over the rim of his glasses at her. His brown eyes took a searching look into her emerald ones. She noticed almost immediately how handsome he was, with chocolate hair and piercing eyes. She began to feel uncomfortable and looked down.

She was used to getting hit on by men that came into the store, but this guy gave her an uneasy feeling. Plus he was wearing gloves in the middle of summer.

"Can I help you" She said calmly.

"I was looking through this book and noticed that page 42 was missing." He said placing a book on the counter.

"I'll take a look at that." By the time Sakura looked up the door was jingling on his way out. Sakura flipped through the pages …40, 41. When she flipped to 42 it was perfectly intact but it had a note attached to it. Sakura read the note and quickly shut the book slipping it into a drawer at her desk.

Alright everyone Chapter one is done. Please review!! If you have editing suggestions I am grateful, but I am more interested in opinions and stuff. So the characters in this are not exactly like their Characters in CCS. Yeah, Tomoyo and Toya are siblings .

Chi-sen is a made up word. Chi is Japanese for earth and sen meaning wizard.

Thanks for reading 3.