Chapter 3:
The Meeting.

"When the war is over we'll be together, won't we?"

"….if the war is ever over."

"Oh, it'll be over," she insisted with a coy smile. "If it isn't soon, I'll make it be."

He grinned. "And how exactly do you plan to do that when no one else has been able to?"

"Well, I can't tell you."

"…why not?"

"Because then you might take the idea and make the war over before me."

Syaoran grinned more. "You don't have any idea."

Sakura merely smothered his face with a dirty jacket. There wasn't much to do at this site and so the two had snuck out back and created a little bed for themselves out of the officers' dirty laundry. The clothes Sakura was actually supposed to be cleaning at that very moment, but was obviously not getting on to that very well. They made a much better bed for the two of them, anyways. Syaoran should be training but he said he needed a break. Sakura hoped that was his secret way of saying he'd rather spend the day with her….much like she'd much, much, much rather spend the day with him.

"They'll find us," he insisted with a yawn.

"And when they do I'll blame you for the whole thing."

"Great."

Sakura smiled and poked him. "Unless you answer me this."

"Hmm?"

"Will we be together when the war is over?" she repeated.

Syaoran's face sort of turned darker, but maybe it was the shadows from the tent. "…I guess."

Sakura poked him with a frown.

"Okay, okay." He poked her back. "We'll know each other after this."

"We can live together after this!" She was positive Syaoran turned red from that. "We'll go to the next country over--move away from Clow!"

"…after fighting for it, you just want to leave it?" He sat up with a hard face. "What's the point of even being here then?"

"…that's not what I mean. We'll live here of course, but we'll visit that other country. Just for awhile."

Syaoran released a sigh.

"I said something wrong."

"You say everything right," he corrected with a grin. "That's the problem……"

Sakura looked down to the words she had written in her notebook with a frown. This was very wrong. These characters were nothing like Syaoran and Sakura from her book. She showed Tomoyo the little dialogue she had written and her friend agreed. Yukito, her brother's friend said so too. She tried getting Oni-chan to read it but he would have nothing to do with her writing and said it crept him out that she was writing herself as the character. Sakura hit him on the head with the notebook before turning back to Tomoyo.

"It's strange, isn't it? I've never written them like that before…."

"They're not that different," her friend mused. "But they are at the same time…"

"It's strange," Sakura repeated.

"Everything about you is strange," Oni-chan commented. Sakura glared. "Why does it matter anyways? You're done with writing the thing."

"Yes but…"

"You're writing a sequel?!" Tomoyo clasped her hands excitedly.

Sakura waved her hands to the idea. Sudden thoughts of the weird encounter with Syaoran came to her mind as she did. She didn't tell anyone about the boy who looked like her imaginary character and didn't plan on it. She thought on him enough though and even as she tapped her pencil against the odd dialogue that night the bizarre resemblance between what her mind pictured as Syaoran and the person she had seen was uncanny.

"But what to do about this?" she wondered, poking at the dialogue. "Sakura wouldn't be doing the laundry…and he wouldn't be sneaking around….they wouldn't have been in separate areas anyways because Sakura always had to be watched." Sakura made a face "…this girl seems clueless too. Sakura knew about both sides, but this Sakura doesn't seem to know about either."

It happened to a lot of people who wrote, though. Character's names would just sort of stick with them even when they were starting a new story. She didn't plan on sharing or publishing this anyways so Sakura let her mind absently lead her pencil across the notebook:

"….You've put yourself in the most danger, Sakura" Her heart skipped a beat as his expression transformed completely. "If they find out what's in that book…that you wrote this book…-----"

Sakura all but threw her pencil across the room in alarm. She did not want to write about that!

The coffee house where she had first started reading was a really great place for people in high school. During exam week everyone was around with books they intended to study but only ended up being used as coasters. Open mic was often of a higher importance than the books too. And although she really, really had gone in with Tomoyo with every intention of studying she pretended not to be too relieved when someone requested she read a chapter from her book. Even if it was only to fill in dead sound, since everyone who wanted to read it had by now, Sakura smiled brightly and randomly opened her book to a chapter.

She knew it was over when her legs began to give in. Across the whole stretch of their estate she had run from the flames and the screams with every intent on making it to a nearby site. Kurogane and Fay needed to be told immediately that the rebels were advancing farther into their field and she seemed to be the only one who had made it out. That was too quick of a thing to say though. Soon Sakura found the fire spreading faster than what her legs could keep up with.

There was no escape and no clear path to Kurogane, she realized. The only way to get to them now was to get across the river. But it was a ridiculously stupid thing to do and an almost certain death trap in itself. Was she going to drown or burn, she wondered. Under that strain Sakura took one last teary-eyed glance at her home before taking the icy plunge. At first she thought she could actually make it when she was submerged but it ended up only being the shock that disillusioned her. There was no plausible way her and her tired legs were going to make it to the other side of the bank. Her body was already going into convulsions from the freezing temperature, leaving her with only mobility enough to flap her trembling arms rather futilely.

This wasn't the way she was supposed to die, her mind screamed but he rest of her being was finding her morals less important as the seconds faded. Her body was so past the point of feeling in the icy water now that Sakura didn't even feel the arms wrap around her from below. She barely realized her waist was secured in another's warmth. And as the boy lifted her in his arms and trudged out of the cold water with almost inhuman strength, Sakura could only gasp for air and cling to the stranger in wonder.

Was he an enemy? It was her first hazy thought. Was he going to kill her? Was her second half conscious thought.

Somewhere in between being covered in his warm, dry jacket and falling asleep in his arms Sakura got her answer. She didn't ca….re---"

A strange rumble made Sakura's voice squeak. She flew off the stool she had been sitting on as the book and the microphone became air borne. When she looked out to locate them she saw that it wasn't just a sudden twitch that made her fall. The whole coffee house was upturned, leaving customers on the floor and drinks spilled over the forgotten books.

Tomoyo was already at her side. "Are you alright?!"

She held her friend back as they looked at the scene with wide eyes. "W-what…what was that?" she breathed.

EARTHQUAKE.

Sakura stared at the headline of the paper the next morning. "Have we ever had earthquakes before?"

"Doesn't matter, cause we have them now."

"Why don't you ever answer my questions directly?" she flared. Oni-chan just smirked before reaching for a drink from the refrigerator. "…do you think there will be more?"

"Guess we'll have to wait and see."

Sakura didn't like the prospect of this answer either. Especially when later that evening she found herself alone in the house again. Between threats of more earthquakes and visions of that boy who looked like her imaginary Syaoran her exam practice sheets didn't have a chance. Sakura found her comfort in the frantic pacing of the house. She kept herself close to the phone though and made herself uneasy by jumping at every tiny sound and when it started to rain, she wanted to cry along with it.

At once point she found herself laughing from her own paranoia but it was quickly cut off as a knock came on the door. Out the window next to the front door Sakura could see the rain coming down harder than before. When lightening flashed she saw the silhouette extend his hand to knock again.

She was terrified. She wanted to reach for the phone but she couldn't move. And when the doorknob slowly began to turn, when she realized she didn't lock the front, Sakura felt her body start to shake. The door opened, the silhouette entered.

Sakura was already passed out.

"Who are you?" was the first thing she tried to ask him.

"Syaoran," was his empty reply.

Sakura felt more uncomfortable being in his arms after the short exchange but it wasn't enough to push him away. Her legs were still dangling without much use, besides that. She knew she had to run away though. From his dress she was positive he was a rebel, that he was almost assuredly one of the people who had burned her house. The thought made her restless and ill. She wanted to be mad and she knew she should have every right to lash out and strike him for taking her hostage and burning her dreams to the ground. Though, for the strangest of unknown reasons, Sakura couldn't bring herself to do it. She took to a silent attack instead, staring at him the whole way.

"They'll kill me," she told him at one point.

"I won't allow it," was his heavy reply.

Too heavy, making Sakura look away from his hard face. They had to have walked for twenty-four hours straight though she wasn't actually sure since she was falling in and out of sleep for most of the time. But it was morning when they came up to a muddy, grubby sort of camp so she knew at least that much time had to have gone by. Everyone stared as Syaoran carried her through and Sakura found herself staring back, hoping she was coming off as menacing, even while knowing she was in a rather pathetic way.

Her first meeting with the leaders had been sort. She refused to leave Syaoran's arms, and had actually, much to the amusement of the others present, wrapped herself so completely around him that not even the strength of two officers could remove her. Something was said about her between Syaoran and the leader, but she missed it over the roars of laughter.

"When am I going to die?" she asked bluntly as Syaoran carried her away from the laughing men.

"You're not going to die."

"You're using me as bait?"

"No."

"Then why did you bring me here? I at least have the right to know, don't I?"

Apparently she didn't because Syaoran didn't respond. Instead he gently pried her off of him and set her next to a tent. She didn't go inside though and looked off past it to the hills in the distant. If she ran would they strike her down? Dying for your cause was a noble thing and yet, in that moment after escaping death, Sakura didn't find it the most appealing thing in the world. There were a lot of trees though…if she found coverage in them and then ran would they notice?

Syaoran handed her something to eat and unconsciously answered her question. "They're nowhere near here."

"Where are we?"

"Far south."

She looked down to her plate. A single roll.

"…our supplies are short."

Sakura swallowed awkwardly. "I know…." Then added softer as she handed the food back to him "…we cut it off two weeks ago."

"Three." he corrected.

"Hey!" Two people who had been in the leader's tent passed by them, laughing. "Sure you can handle her, Syaoran?!"

Sakura threw the roll at them.

It wasn't until later that Sakura found out they were to use her against her friends in a way that was worse then hostage. In a way that they never intended either since she was ultimately the one who decided to do it. Before that, though Sakura found out that Syaoran had been one of the people at the house burning. She was expected to die, but if she was to live then she was to be brought to the camp. Syaoran was just carrying out an order and though she never had a passing thought of him wanting to save her of his own accord, she felt slighted in learning that it wasn't for that reason she was saved by him.

"What did you get for bringing me back, anyways?" she asked as they ate their rolls one night.

"You."

Sakura smiled "…That's not a very fair reward."

"I think it is."

"You don't really have me." She moved closer to him, stealing his roll when he didn't look her way. "You only have to make sure I'm not attacking you or sending in secret messages."

Syaoran looked between her and his roll. "…I guess I got nothing, then."

"Well, then you could have let me back there for all that was worth." He remained silent. "It would have been much less trouble that way. Don't you think?" she grinned. It was her attempt to lighten the situation but it didn't come off that way.

She had meant nothing by the words but Syaoran wasn't humored and answered very seriously, "Just because it was trouble doesn't mean it wasn't worth it." He took his roll back. "You didn't want to die and so it was worth it."

"I don't understand you," she said after some silence. She let herself relax more easily against him as she said, "….why are you on this side, Syaoran?"

"This side?"

"Of the war." Sakura felt her cheeks darken "Would you ever want to be on my side?"

He was silent for a long time before saying, "I am on your side."

She pouted. "No. We're on you're side."

"Which is your side, since I already told you I'm on you're side." He glanced at her red cheeks. "Right?"

Sakura smiled and she swore she saw the faintest smile come from his lips too. "Maybe there was a reason I was supposed to live." She nudged him. "You know, I was asleep when the fire started so I should have died but…it was the weirdest thing. I heard something on my window. It almost sounded like someone was throwing rocks against my…." Her words faded off as she watched Syaoran toss a rock into the fire.

"What's wrong?" he asked after she had been silent for awhile.

"….nothing" Nothing could be founded on the simple action but there was something in the soft way he had said it that made Sakura's heart skip a beat. "You were ordered to burn the house, weren't you?"

Syaoran tossed another rock into the fire. "….and anyone in it."

She felt a chill run up her spin. "Did you know where my room was?"

"It's where the fire was started."

"…..were you one of the…did you start the fire?" This part was said almost against her will, because she was afraid he had. When he shook his head she released the breath she had been holding. Though when he said, "I was outside waiting," she felt her heart speed up dramatically. She wanted to ask him so badly if he had thrown the rocks, but she just couldn't bring herself to and flushed darkly.

Instead she watched with a worried expression as Syaoran stood up and offered her his hand. There was something lighter about his normally set face when she put her hand in his though, and somehow she knew she had just received the answer to her question.

As soon as their hands were connected Sakura hopped up and quickly kissed his cheek. Both turned red from the action but Sakura smiled and swung his hand with a simple explanation: "You never got a reward."

TSUBASA:RC does not belong to me.