CCS-3: Illusions of Love

Ch. 1 – Sakura's Arrival


Author's Note: Again, this chapter is setting the scene and tying this story to CCS-2. If you haven't read my Cardcaptor Sakura Sequel, CCS-2 it is probably okay, I don't think you'll be lost. However, if you're curious about who Kuen-Jie is, you may want to read it, if you haven't already. I will be working on Ch. 2 asap. I have a few things to tend to first, but it should be within the next day or two. Please look forward to it!

Disclaimer: Cardcaptor Sakura and all original characters of the original story are property of CLAMP. While I have made up and will be making up a few characters for this story, only those characters that I have made up and the idea for this continuation series are my own. Thank you. Please enjoy, and please comment. I'd really like to know what you, my readers, think. ^_^


Sakura stood in the door of the Li family's private jet at their private hanger. She found Syaoran waiting for her on the ground at the bottom of the stairs into the aircraft. Sakura was wearing one of Tomoyo's outfits, the style of which wasn't like the crazy creations that she used to make back during Sakura's card capturing days. This outfit was actually quite practical and mature. It was a "long t-shirt" that was worn as a dress. The length came to just above her knees. The sleeves were 3/4 length and the neck line was round. It was black with a thick line of pink cherry blossoms "falling" from the right shoulder down diagonally across the front. A pink crocheted belt was worn loosely around her waist. Her shoes were black knee high boots. She wore a pink crocheted hat and a pink crocheted scarf. At the age of 18 she was slender, with the type of body that many would call a runway model.

"Syaoran!" she called with a wave from the top of the stairs before she rushed down them, full of excitement. She hadn't seen him in nearly 6 months. About four steps from the ground she leapt at him. Syaoran caught her effortlessly while laughing at her excitement. For once, Sakura had the chance to look down at him, as he held her off of the ground. She placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him feverishly. "I missed you!" she stated the obvious. Syaoran smiled up at her and hugged her.

"Okay, Okay, break it up you two! There will be plenty of time for that when you're married," Kero stated as he flew towards them from the door of the jet. Sakura blushed and Syaoran lowered her feet to the ground. Standing next to him, she was about 10 centimeters shorter then he was. He was dressed in a pair of slacks with a green Chinese style long sleeved shirt.

"How was your flight?" he asked, taking her carryon bag and then her hand to lead her away from the jet.

"Rather enjoyable," she replied cheerfully.

Most of her luggage had already been delivered to the Li's mansion. She carried her purse and Kero fluttered after them to the awaiting limo. Once in the vehicle, Syaoran cuddled her as they waited for Wei.

"You two are way too lovey-dovey," Kero complained as he settled on the seat across from them.

"You're just jealous," Sakura teased her little guardian. "I think that I'm going to have to make a female companion for you."

"You can do that?" both Kero and Syaoran exclaimed in astonishment.

"Well, no. Not yet. But I'd like to try it one day. Clow created Kero and Yue after all. So I'm sure that it's something I can figure out," Sakura replied.

Syaoran kissed her hair. "You never cease to amaze me."

Soon, Wei opened the front passenger side door and nodded to the driver. The limo then pulled away from the hanger and continued to drive home. Knowing that he wouldn't get to spend much time with her once they arrived at the mansion, Syaoran took advantage of this time with her and continued to hold her while listening to her chatter about what was going on in Japan. "Rika and Terada sensei have set their wedding date," she told him in excitement. "I'd like to attend. It will be in the spring," she looked at him for his response. He was stroking a strand of her short cropped hair. Though he was looking directly at her, his expression was distant. "Syaoran?" she spoke his name, curious as to whether or not he even heard what she was saying.

"Humm?" he answered, his voice sounding dreamy and deeper than usual.

Sakura blinked at him in wonder. "Syaoran? Are you even listening?"

"You cut your hair," he said, still stroking the strands that peeked out from under her crochet hat. "It brings back old memories," he smiled and his eyes finally focused on her face. Sakura blushed and looked down at her hands, momentarily stunned into silence.

Kero rolled his eyes at them and tapped on the window that separated the front and back seats. When it was opened he fluttered through it. Watching those two was too sickeningly sweet, and even his sweet-tooth couldn't handle it.

They arrived at the Li Mansion 45 minutes later. Wei opened the back door of the limo for them and Syaoran led her up the front walk. He paused at the door before opening it and raised his hand to stroke her cheek. Sakura tilted her head and looked up at him with curiosity. For a moment, Syaoran considered running away with her, knowing what awaited her inside, but rather than face the wrath of all of the women of the Li family, he pushed the door open and gestured for her to walk inside.

Sakura crossed the threshold and was overwhelmed by a chorus of, "Welcome home," and "Congratulations." She was caught by surprise when Meilin pounced on her, closely followed by all 4 of Syaoran's sisters. "Hoe!!!" she exclaimed for the first time in years.

Sakura was led further into the house by the escort of 5 women. She soon discovered that there were many visitors, most of whom she had met before but didn't remember their names. She recognized a few of the clan elders and some of the other members of the Li family. Her head was spinning from the mass of conversations going on around her. Though she had learned Chinese, she was having difficulty translating so many conversations at once. She looked back over her shoulder for Syaoran and found that he was still standing by the door. She gave him a pleading look for help but he only mouthed that he was sorry and watched her apologetically.

"Congratulations on your graduation, Sakura-san. Welcome home," Sakura turned to find Syaoran's mother, Li Yelan, speaking to her in Japanese, much to her relief.

"Xie xie, Thank you," Sakura responded in Chinese.

That afternoon Sakura was kept busy with her surprise welcome & graduation party. She was constantly surrounded by Syaoran's sisters and Meilin, who walked her around the rooms to reintroduce her to the guests. Everyone gave her their congratulations and spoke with her for a moment about what she would be taking in college, or how pretty she had become and how lucky Syaoran was. She couldn't even sit down for a break without being surrounded and approached by someone. She began to wonder if she could get use to this kind of a life and yearned to be back at her quiet and peaceful little home in Japan. The only break that she could get was when she made the excuse that she had to go to the bathroom. Even then, it took forever for her to make it there, having to cross the crowded room and being stopped every so often by someone who wanted to speak with her.

Once in the bathroom she closed the door behind her and locked it. Sliding down the door to the floor she rested her head back against it with a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. Her head was pounding. Couldn't Syaoran have warned her about this, she wondered, but then reasoned that even as the heir of the clan, his sisters and mother were probably too much to contend with.

Sakura jolted when there was a knock on the door. "Sakura? Are you alright?" Syaoran's voice filtered through the door. Sakura stood to unlock and open the door. She peeked out to verify that he was alone before pulling him into the bathroom with her. After she closed and locked the door again she approached him to rest her forehead against his chest. She felt him wrap his arms around her slender form. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked with concern.

"I'm not used to this. I have a headache. Why didn't you warn me about this??" she rattled off in exhaustion.

Syaoran gave her a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry, it couldn't be helped. It's impossible to oppose my mother or sister's, and I was threatened with bodily harm if I told you."

Sakura looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow. "What kind of bodily harm could they possibly do to you?" she asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

Syaoran smirked at her question. "You don't want to know."

Sakura laughed at the thought and rested against him.

"We will be having dinner soon. Things will calm down then," he told her and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Sakura sighed, unwilling to go back out into the lion's den, but realized that she should go soon before someone came looking for her and caught them both in the bathroom together.

Reluctantly, Sakura returned to the party under the agreement that Syaoran would stay by her side. Their appearance together changed the topic of conversation and soon everyone was talking about how good they looked together or if a date had been set yet for their wedding. The thought made her head spin. How could they possibly get married when they both had 4 years or more of college to go through?

Dinner was served in the large dining hall. Sakura had been in the room on a couple of occasions in the past, but it never ceased to amaze her how large the room was. The long dining tables were obviously made to order. Together, there were 4 in all, and every seat was taken. Conversations turned into a quiet buzz and Sakura finally found that she was able to think.

After the main course, everyone gathered back into the banquet room for dessert and "quiet" conversation. One by one people began to leave, wishing Sakura luck in her endeavors. When the last guest finally left, Sakura sank deeply into a chair with a sigh of relief. "You must be tired," Yelan noted. "I'm sure you would like to turn in early, since your classes start tomorrow." Sakura nodded. "Your things have all been put in your room," the woman stated and helped Sakura to her feet.

"Thank you, Li-san," Sakura replied.

Yelan hugged her and then framed Sakura's face with a hand on each of cheek. "I am very happy that you are here. If you ever need anything, please come to me."

Sakura was touched. Syaoran's mother was always so nice to her, despite the woman's regal appearance. "Thank you," Sakura replied. When she was released, Sakura took advantage of the opportunity, while Syaoran's sisters were distracted, to retreat to her room.

Her room had always been the same, ever since she had first visited during the conflict with Kuen-Jie. She climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked down the hall. Her room was right next to Syaoran's, where she had been put years ago for her protection when the rebel elder, Kuen-Jie wanted to kill her and take the cards for his own use. She opened the door to find the room cluttered with gifts. She concluded that they must have been brought today for her welcome/graduation party. She always received more gifts then she knew what to do with whenever she came to Hong Kong. She really wasn't sure if it was because she was Syaoran's fiancé or because she was the owner of the, once known as, "Clow cards." Probably both, she reasoned. She walked further into the room, which contained a reproduced antique Chinese daybed made of cherry-wood, with a matching bedside table, 7-drawer dresser with mirror, and armoire. At the foot of the bed there was an antique style Chinese stool with a pillow top that had been claimed as Kero's bed. There was a single bay window in the room, which contained a window seat and a gorgeous view of the garden. A beautiful scroll painting on silk showing three cranes among peach trees hung on the wall across from the bed. Sakura noted a new piece of furniture that had been added since the last time she was there. On the wall beneath the scroll there sat a beautiful cherry-wood desk. Sakura approached it and ran her hands over the ornate designs that had been carved into the wood to match the rest of the bedroom set. On top of the desk there sat a computer.

Sakura was too tired to be excited about the additions to her room. She found her luggage and rummaged through it for a pair of pajamas. She then went to the bathroom, which was shared between her room and the spare room next to hers. After locking the door that led from the bathroom into the spare room she quickly changed and then retired to her bed for the night.