Disclaimer: Card Captor Sakura is strictly property of CLAMP.

Hey everyone, here I am again. Thank you to everyone who decided to take the time to review, some of the comments you all left me were very nice. =D

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well.

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Inscribed in the Blade

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Chapter Three

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Sweat matted her brow as she drank greedily from the cool river. Smiling tiredly, Sakura absentmindedly patted her steed fondly as he, too, gulped up water. She and Kero had traveled far in just five days; they were already in the forest separating the South from the North. They could easily reach the Academy by nightfall if they pressed hard, but Sakura decided that it would be much more agreeable to both rider and horse if they both indulged in a good night of rest.

"Just a little farther, Kero-chan," Sakura cooed to her horse. "We'll be in the first Northern village in a few hours… though we'd probably do our best to remain discreet, okay boy?" Kero flipped his watery mane at her, getting her clothes rather wet, but the droplets felt cool against her burning skin. Sakura laughed. "That feels good!" she giggled as she reseated herself on her horse's back. "But goodness… who would have thought that there could be such a hot day in autumn?"

"Yes, it does seem strange doesn't it? But then, the Earth is not limited by seasons, even if it prefers to follow a regular pattern. I dare say that if it wants to give us an unreasonably hot afternoon in fall, it will do so without asking for our consent."

Sakura whipped her sword out with lightening speed and turned around. "Who is it? Come out!" She demanded, quickly lowering her voice to sound more masculine. It was a good thing she had donned her disguise before crossing into the border.

Out from behind a sturdy-looking tree, a boy with stunning sapphire eyes smiled good-naturedly at her. "Whoa, whoa. I apologize," he flourished a bow. "I didn't mean to startle you. I was actually here before you were… I think, but I seem to have dozed off."

She eyed him suspiciously, a feeling a dread growing in her chest. How much of her ramblings had he heard? "Whose side are you from?" Sakura questioned, not sheathing her weapon. "What's your name?"

"Well now, it's rather rude to ask someone's name without giving yours first you know," but the boy didn't seem upset at all as he stood up and patted the dust off from his hakama. "My name is Hiiragizawa Eriol, from the Northern Hiiragizawa Clan, of course. And I can see from the emblem on your sword that you're a Northerner as well. So put away your weapon."

Sakura thanked kami that she had remembered to replace all her Southern crests with Northern crests. Now, she just wasn't sure whether to be relieved or panicked that she had already run into a Northerner… and a nobleman at that. There was a large chance that this boy probably attended the Academy as well.

"I… apologize," she hesitantly lowered her katana. "My name is Kino Kura…my father is a duke farther up North… but what're you doing so deep in the forest, Hiiragizawa…san?"

"I could ask you the same question, Kino-san. What's a nobleman's son from so far up North doing so close to the South? If I remember correctly, the Kino residence is on the other side of Hiroshima," the boy smiled at her genially. "To answer your question, however, I am attending the Academy, which is nearby. Since entrance for the newest class takes place tomorrow, most students have the day off today. I was just exploring the woods when I fell asleep."

She was sweating. He knew of the Duke's family.

"I…" Sakura's heart pounded. A lie, she needed to think of a lie. "I got lost!" she blurted out, red faced and embarrassed… or at least that's how she hoped she appeared. "I've never traveled much before, and so I must have ridden right past the Academy without realizing it. It wasn't until I was fairly deep into this forest that I realized I must already be at the border. I feel kind of foolish now for refusing to take my manservant with me. I wanted to feel independent… now I just feel silly. I'm…" Sakura stared hesitantly at the sapphire-eyed student. "I'm one of those new students joining the Academy tomorrow."

Sakura's fists unconsciously tightened on the reins, as she prayed desperately for him to buy her story. It was plausible enough wasn't it? Silly nobleman's son got lost… it wasn't unheard of…

They boy scrutinized her, and she scrutinized him. For one fleeting, terrified moment, Sakura was sure that he did not believe her, but her new acquaintance merely smiled and shrugged.

"Then I suppose this is your lucky day. I'll take you to the Academy," he said before whistling loudly. Out from behind some trees, a large red horse came forward, and nuzzled Eriol on the cheek. "Ruby, are you ready to go home?"

Sakura stared at the large horse. Ruby… was an impressive chestnut-colored mare with a white star on its forehead. For the first time, she realized how careless she had been. If the boy had been a bandit, he could have been calling for his friends to come attack her. At least, she thought, he hadn't been lying to her about being a noble. There was no way that horse could belong to anyone poor.

"Um… thanks," Sakura said shyly as Eriol swung up onto his horse. It seemed she was safe, if only for the moment. And even better, this way, her arrival at the Academy would seem much more formal… with Eriol by her side, it would look as if she had someone to vouch for her. Her only regret was that she wouldn't be able to stop in the village for the night and ask around for some local news. This would take more improvisation.

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's about time I started heading back anyway. If Yelan-sama found out I was this far away from the Academy, she'd kill me," he said to her, laughing as they rode out of the forest. "Don't tell on me, yeah?"

She smiled back at him. "I won't as long as you promise not to tell the other guys that I got lost on my way there. By the way, who's Yelan-sama?"

Eriol's keen, sapphire eyes sharpened on her. "Yelan-sama is the mistress of the Academy… didn't you know?"

Sakura panicked. "W… wasn't the name of the Academy's mistress Li?"

"Oh. Yes, yes it is," her companion relaxed. "I forget that most people do not know Yelan-sama by her first name. I am a good friend of her son, Li Syaoran."

"Li Syaoran… Li Yelan-sama… I see," Sakura said slowly to herself.

She didn't notice that, as they rode on, past the woods and into the town, that Eriol continued to throw furtive looks her way out of the corner of his eye.

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"This is it," Eriol said as they reached a huge gate. There were guards surrounding the entire estate, which was enormous. Sakura now knew why Eriol had seemed suspicious of her story. It would take a blind man to miss something so huge and impressive. It also made her wonder how Eriol managed to escape Academy grounds for his day off. The men manning the entrance looked rather intimidating.

"Wow… I must have ridden farther west than I thought. This is kind of hard to miss, huh?" Sakura attempted a smile, which her companion returned cordially. One thing she had discovered about Eriol during their short trip was that he was not only extremely polite, but also extremely intelligent and unfortunately, sharp.

"Open up the gates," Eriol commanded the guards. "I'm bringing in a new student." They seemed to recognize him as they moved to obey his command quickly, and bowed the two of them in.

As the gates behind them closed, Sakura felt a lump rise in her throat. Now she was trapped in enemy territory whether she wanted to be or not. There was no turning back. Clearing her throat gruffly, she managed a half-hearted whistle. "This place is pretty amazing, eh? Thanks for bringing me here, Hiiragizawa-san."

"Call me Eriol, without suffixes, please. We've been riding around together in scorching hot weather for at least four hours now. We're already friends," he said amiably. "Oh, this is Kinosuke-san, the man in charge of the stables. Leave your horse with him. Don't worry, he'll take good care of Kero, and he'll send your belongings over later."

The two of them dismounted, and it was with a nervous, heavy heart that Sakura watched her horse being led away. Her trusted companion wasn't by her side anymore… at least Eriol seemed nice enough, even though he was suspicious of her.

"Thanks Eriol. You can call me by my first name too. You really saved me today," she said as he began walking in the direction of a large, Japanese house.

"Kura-san then. Don't mention it. I'm going to take you straight to Yelan-sama, the main dojo is over that way" –he pointed- "but your situation is a bit unique. To be honest, I know that most newcomers "officially" join tomorrow, but most arrive a week in advance. You're pretty late as it is."

Sakura mumbled, "lost" under her breath, and he laughed. "I'm not blaming you or anything, but most of the rooms have already been assigned… and to be honest, you're a bit old to be joining the Academy now aren't you? How old are you anyway?"

"I'll be sixteen tomorrow," she answered automatically. The few facts about her identity she had reviewed over and over in her mind until she was sure she would never forget them. Her real sixteenth birthday took place in the following spring… but that didn't really matter right now.

"Ah, well. Most boys come here when they're eleven or twelve, so you'll probably be the only new student your age. But still… sixteen, that's not too bad. You still have four years with us before you become of age…" Eriol looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "May I ask why your family waited so long before sending you here?"

A/N: In Japan, boys and girls come "of age" when they are twenty. They even have a special term for "twenty years old" – "hatachi".

Luckily for her, this time Sakura had her story planned. "Well, you know where my family lives… so you've probably heard a thing or two about my father as well," she began. "Most people call him a crazy old Duke… and I must admit, Otou-sama is a bit eccentric. To be perfectly honest, I think he completely forgot about the rest of the world until just a month ago. He came out of his fog long enough to enroll me at least."

"Nothing you can do about eccentric fathers. But anyways, I'll pop by to wish you a happy birthday tomorrow, good luck," Eriol grinned at her as the large shoji door opened and a servant bowed her into the building. "I better not go see Yelan-sama just in case she noticed I wasn't on Academy grounds today."

Perhaps she looked a bit forlorn and unsure as the door began to slide shut, because Eriol's arm shot out and he grasped her shoulder reassuringly before it shut. "Hey don't worry," he said, giving her one last smile. "Don't mind what rumors you've heard about Yelan-sama being very strict, they're very true… but she's a good person!" And with that, he disappeared from her line of sight.

"This way please, Kino-sama," the servant girl bowed and began leading Sakura down the hall. "Yelan-sama has been expecting you."

"Thank you," Sakura was dismayed to find that she didn't sound as confident as she would have liked. But there was no turning back now.

After what seemed to be a full five minutes of walking… the building was big, the servant girl bowed her into a large, magnificent room filled with Chinese-looking ornaments and furniture. Sakura was mildly surprised. She had heard rumors that the Li Clan had originated in China, but she had never paid them any attention.

"Li-sama," she bowed respectfully to the woman sitting on a large, redwood chair covered in gold-plated carvings. It looked like a throne. "I'm sorry to have arrived so late, I met with some difficulties on my journey."

To her surprise, the elegant, regal looking woman actually stood up and walked over until she was in front of Sakura. Two long, pale fingers pressed her chin upwards until Sakura's emerald eyes were staring into Yelan's black ones.

"You remind me of someone I once knew… but your eyes are not at all like your father, the Duke," she said. Sakura felt chills go up her spine as the mistress of the Academy spoke. She was not speaking hostilely, but something in the way this woman spoke and carried herself demanded respect... almost fear.

"I… I'm told I look a bit like my second aunt, Li-sama…" Sakura stuttered through her lie. The moment the words left her lips, she wanted to smack herself in the face. What if Yelan-sama knew what the real Kino Kura's second aunt looked like?

"I see," the tall Chinese woman withdrew and returned to her chair. "I am sorry to hear that you had problems on your journey. It is good that you are here now, safely… though it is regrettable, since all of the rooms in the main dojo are now occupied. Some last minute pupils from the local nobility showed up earlier this week."

Now that she was farther than simply a few inches from Yelan-sama's face, and had released the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, Sakura could see the Academy mistress' face clearly. Sakura swallowed. Li Yelan was beautiful. Her skin was soft and pale, and her lips were full and red. She looked the picture of a Chinese queen. Sakura was properly awed.

"I… I see…" she managed to whisper.

"Keiko," Yelan said, and Sakura was startled to find that there was a servant standing in the back corner of the room. "Bring Kino-san to Syaoran's dojo, and see to it that his luggage is taken there as well."

Yelan turned to the small table next to her chair and immediately picked up a brush, and began writing in rapid, smooth calligraphy on a white piece of parchment. "I have no choice other than to have you live in a separate dojo together with my son until a room can be arranged for you. Give him this letter and he will understand." She finished writing and held out the folded piece of paper to Sakura.

She took it and bowed low before following the servant girl out of the room. As soon as she stepped out of Yelan's quarters and into the cool night air, Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. The mistress of the Academy was indeed powerful… it made her nervous lying to such an imperial woman. Hopefully this meant that the most difficult step of her journey had passed.

"This way please, Kino-sama."

Sakura followed the servant down to the left, in the opposite direction of the main dojo Eriol had pointed out earlier. The estate was huge… and the servant girl, Keiko, was leading her through many small paths cluttered on either side by more towering buildings. Sakura hoped that she would be able to find her way around in the morning. Maybe Yelan-sama's son, Syaoran, would help her.

When they reached a small dojo on the top of a hill overlooking a large Sakura tree-filled valley, it was empty. The servant looked a bit puzzled, but led Sakura into the building. "This is your room, Kino-sama. I'll have your belongings brought here presently."

Sakura looked around the room. It was a rather nice room… about ten mats long and ten mats wide. There was no furniture other than a pretty-looking low, mahogany table in the center of the room and a matching dresser standing against the back wall. When the servant returned, she returned not only with Sakura's belongings, but also with a fresh futon and thick blanket.

At Sakura's request, Keiko simply put everything in the corner to let Sakura unpack herself.

Sakura looked around her tiredly. She could start unpacking all of her clothes into the dresser… and she could change clothes and comb her hair… but she was surprised to find that her eyelids were quickly becoming extremely heavy.

She had… been scared and nervous many times today. First with Eriol popping up out of nowhere and questioning her… and meeting Yelan-sama shook her quite a bit. Sakura barely had time to lay out the futon before she was fast asleep, long having forgotten that she was supposed to give a letter to the only other resident of the small dojo.

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Tsuzuku…

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Well, how was it? I hope you all enjoyed Sakura's grand um… arrival to the Academy. Her wonderful meeting with Syaoran will have to wait until the next chapter though!

Please review!

kami: God

hatachi: twenty years old (when Japanese people come of age)