Reality's Dream

Chapter 2: A Sign For Hope

"Sakura, do you mind if we went to my house instead? Mother returned early from her trip in Peru and wants to see you." Syaoran asked as they got into the dark green Explorer in the dojo parking lot

"You know I'd love to see your mom. Besides it will mean Toya will be stuck with dinner duty." Sakura grinned evilly while sliding into the beige interior. She and her brother definitely had an interesting relationship to say the least. And Sakura loved nothing more than to pay him back for all the times he annoyed her.

Syaoran let out a slight chuckle finding the sibling rivalry rather amusing. Though he was glad when Sakura was on the winning side of the feud for the obvious reason, he also was motivated by the instinctual loathing he and Toya shared. Toya did not approve of Sakura's friendship with Syaoran more than any of her other male friendships, but neither could understand why.

As they pulled into the familiar driveway Sakura took in the lush garden that was covered with a light mist from the afternoon rain. One of her favorite things about Syaoran's house, if you could call it a house considering the extreme size of it, was the gardens. In the back was a wonderful display of the finest flowers around filled with stone benches, little swings, and even a little maze with a beautiful pond in the center. It was so serene filled with a soft splendor that Sakura found soothing. The garden was her favorite place to escape when life was getting messy, a place to clear her thoughts.

Wei took their jackets as they went inside. "Mother," Syaoran called, "We're back!"

Down the winding stairs stepped a regal middle aged woman, black hair cascading down from a high pony tail. She gave a quick embrace to her son then went to the girl beside him. "Sakura, I'm glad you could come," as she placed a kiss on Sakura's cheek.

Sakura smiled at the woman who was like a second mother, "I would never pass up on a chance to see you."

All of a sudden a sound like a herd of stampeding elephants filled the room and Sakura was swarmed by four brown haired women shrieking and poking and prodding.

"Oh she's still so cute!"

"Little brother and her were practicing again!"

"You must sleep over tonight!"

All four looked at Sakura expectantly. "Okay. Okay. I'll stay. I'll just need to let Dad know."

Yelan, the mother of Syaoran and the four screaming sisters, nodded to Wei, "Please see that Sakura's room is ready after dinner." Sakura had had a room in this house for years, right next to Syaoran's. It was like a second home; she even kept a separate set of clothes here considering she slept over at least once a week.

"Right away Mistress Li. And the cook would like me to inform you that dinner is ready." Wei said with a bow as he left to perform his mistress's request.

Dinner was filled with talk of Yelan's trip to Peru to scout out new possible excavation sites of the Incan culture. She was the funding behind many of Sakura's fathers trips and Yelan liked to do a little hands on exploration before beginning a project. But throughout the discussion, she couldn't help but noticed her son's slightly more cheerful attitude. But when she questioned Syaoran he merely responded that it had been a good day. Yelan did not miss the small falter in Sakura's expression.

As the two teens began to leave for their rooms Yelan called out, "Sakura would stay for a moment. There's something I have for you."

Glancing quickly at Syaoran he said, "I'll meet you in my room later."

Sakura took a seat next to the older woman noticing a small box in her lap. "When I went to Peru I found something of extreme interest. There was a myth of a young man and women who were in love but were separated by their families. The young woman's family arranged her to be married to another man. The lover told her to have faith, that he had a plan for them to escape and gave her a charm to look at any time she needed to be reminded of his love. This charm had been a symbol of hope, hope for their love."

"That's a beautiful story. But how did it end?" Sakura asked.

"That's the actually beauty of the story. It doesn't have a true ending. The myth is so old that there are so many versions of the fate of the lovers, some happier than others. But that's the meaning of hope, the possibilities before you are both good and bad." Yelan then lifted the tiny box for Sakura to open. Sakura sighed at the contents. Resting inside was a small stone on a leather cord. The stone was a cool blue gray, like the ocean before a storm. And on its smooth surface was etched a swirling design. To Sakura it looked like waves of water pierced by a ray of light.

Sakura reached out to embrace Yelan expressing her gratitude. "I found this and thought of you," Yelan spoke as she rose. Then with her elegant hands she plucked the necklace from the box and fastened it around Sakura's neck. "Always remember to keep hope. Some people just take longer to see what's right in front of them."

Sakura's eyes shot up trying to find the meaning in what was just said but only found mysterious eyes twinkling back. Reiterating her thanks and bidding good night, Sakura headed up the stairs to see Syaoran as Yelan watched thinking, 'Have faith Sakura, my son will see you eventually. Just give him time.'