The Strength Within

By: Firefly.Tenshi

Full Summary:

Syaoran comes to Japan searching for the cards 1 year too late. Sakura went through a traumatic event while becoming the Cardmistress. She takes a leave of absence before Syaoran came. Syaoran becomes best friends with Eriol, they were inseparable at school, but when Sakura came back that all changed. Eriol spent all his time with Sakura and she clung to him for support. She too weak, quiet and feeble for the cards to choose her as the master or so Syaoran thought. What happens when he discovers her identity?

Syaoran – 14 years old

Sakura – 13 years old

Eriol – 14 years old

Tomoyo – 13 years old

Touya – 19 years old

Yukito – 19 years old

Chapter 3: Sakura's Support

"What's wrong Kinomoto? It can't just be because your father is teaching our class," he asked. She just sat there, crying softly. Syaoran sighed again. He was sighing a lot these days and mostly it was because of her. After awhile, Syaoran heard her sniff slightly and her tears seemed to die down.

"Li, how would you feel if everyone around you is trying to protect you? I mean my brother stayed back a year in high school so he could help me last year and Eriol is always late to school because of me. Tomoyo always tries her best to put on a smile for me and cheer me up, even when she's having a bad day or feels sick. You, I'm always causing you problems. You take me to classes and walk me home even if you don't want to. I'm also getting in between your friendship with Eriol. Now my father takes this job and I know it's because of me. Even if he denies it, I know deep down he wants to look out for me. He's probably still researching and lecturing at the university. He's going to get sick if he doesn't get enough rest. I'm such a nuisance to everyone. I shouldn't even be here, I shouldn't," she cried. Syaoran looked at her in surprise. He was surprised that she was capable of saying these things or even realizing what was happening around her, she always had a soft smile on her face. He had never seen her cry in such a way. He also wondered what she meant by the last thing she said. He had no idea what he should do. He couldn't stand to see girls cry. He put his hand on her back, trying to console her.

"You know something. I think it's great that you have a lot of people who care about you. To them, you aren't a nuisance. They want to protect you because you are precious to them. Don't you think they'd be sad if you weren't here anymore? Tomoyo can't get someone to model her clothes, Eriol and Takashi wouldn't be able to get some gullible enough to believe their lies and your family, well they're your family," Syaoran replied. Syaoran had nothing to say about himself, he thought she was an annoyance.

"What about you?" she asked softly. He dreaded this question; he didn't know what to say.

"Uh, I, um," he stammered. Suddenly words came to his mouth. "I wouldn't be able to search for the secrecy behind you. Why everyone cares so deeply and what happened to you in the past. I have to admit, at first I wondered why you were so special, but now I can see it. You change everyone around you. Plus, I wouldn't be able to ever see your face clearly; what your eyes look like. I would never figure out the mystery of Kinomoto, Sakura."

Sakura looked up at him in surprise. She clearly never expected anything like this to come out of his mouth. Syaoran was surprised himself. That was the most honest words he had ever spoken and didn't even know this information before he said it. Syaoran just noticed her eyes; they were a beautiful emerald colour. He never expected her to have such stunning eyes. He stood there frozen, just staring into her eyes. She quickly back looked down and Syaoran looked away blushing. Sakura wiped the tears from her face and smiled softly. She looked up at him, but intentionally he still looked away from her. He stole a glance at her. He couldn't believe he said that to her.

"Okay come on, let's go back to class," Syaoran said. He grabbed her hand and held onto her as he jumped down then set her down on the ground. "How did you get up there anyways?"

"Er, um, well you know. This tree is easy to climb for me because of my athletic skill," she said.

"Athletic skill, you? You never joined a school team in the time I was here, how in the world do you have athletic skills?"

"Well, I lost motivation to participate in school sports before you came," she said quietly and looked done at her feet.

"Come on, let's go Kinomoto," Syaoran said as he walked into the school and Sakura ran after him.

"Sakura, you can call me Sakura," Sakura said quietly.

"Then I suppose you can call me Syaoran," he replied. They walked in silence to class. Syaoran knocked on the door and Fujitaka opened it. He let out a sigh of relief seeing Sakura. He let Syaoran into the classroom but stopped Sakura from entering. He excused Sakura and him from the class for a few minutes. Syaoran just assumed it was a little father-daughter business. Then he heard a few people in the back making fun of Sakura so he threw his glare toward them and they stopped right away. Father and daughter entered the classroom. Sakura sat in her seat and Fujitaka continued his lecture.

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