Chapter 8: Night in wood
By Shirrlly
At the same time, two people were leaning against a tree. They both soaked anh shivered. They were Syaoran and Sakura. Because of her worry to Tomoyo, Sakura rushed ahead and didn't care about whoever came with her. Till when she recognized, nobody was around. At that time, she worried herself about her situation. She searched for a loser and she lost herself. Sakura was born not to be afraid anything but those unreal ghost. Moreover, she had only a torch which was nearly dying off. Sakura shivered and was afraid to watching around. She heard a rustle behind her which made her more frightened. Thus, she ran blindly towards without paying attention to anything in front of her. A human's voice yelled.
" Be careful!"
Too late. Sakura slipped and fell into river. Sakura could swim but this section was quite deep and ran very fast. She was unexpected so that her strength was soon away. Someone dove into water and swam towards her. When that person came near, she found out her enermy – Syaoran. She couldn't deny help in this situation; so, he clung to him and let Syaoran take her to the bank. After put her against a tree, Syaoran was out of breath then talked surly.
" What the heck did you do? Why did you split out of your group? You are lose. You did me a disservice to find you. You even ran blindly, see? Now we are soaked to the skin."
" I... I don't pay attention... I worried about Tomoyo. I was too scared to be alone in the wood. And, I heard something chased me, so..."
" Why does your stupid kind of people still exist?"
" Hey, don't be aggressive. Why are you alone here? Where are your servants?"
" Your servants announced that you were lost. We hadn't found out Tomoyo at that time so I ordered my group continue their work. Your servants and I split up to find you. When I heard the sound and went to see, I saw you ran at the top of yourself. I called you but you heard nothing. Ridiculous!"
" I'm sorry. I really didn't want to soak you on purpose. It's just... I'm... scared."
"It's okay! It is too dark to find the path. We can be lost deeper. Moreover, we both ger wet." This was the first time Syaoran had seen Sakura resigned so he could not get angry with her.
Then, Syaoran sighed and checked around. He came back and told Sakura to sleep for regaining health and they would find the way in daylight. Syaoran ought to fire a fire but he did not bring anything could creat fire so they must bear it. However, Syaoran had just closed his eyes for a while, he heard the sound of Sakura's teeth hit agaisnt in shiver. He opened his eyes and approached her.
" Are you cold?"
" Yes. My clothes all are soaked. We must stay here without fire, I'm cold."
" How can we do? My clothes was as wet as your."
Syaoran was confused how to warm her. They hadn't been in this situation before. Therefore, they did not knew how anh what they should do. Suddenly, Sakura talked.
" How about rubbing two stones against each other? Maybe we can get fire."
Syaoran found two stones when Sakura gathered some fry branches nearby into a small pile. Syaoran bit his lips and rubbed it but was useless. A light stroke at the sixth time and caught the wood then the fire flamed up. Sakura sighed in relief.
" Thank god! At least, we are warmer now."
" Uhm, you're useful... sometimes."
Sakura blushed and turned away. This was the first time since they knew each other, Syaoran told her something pleasing. Syaoran was also surprised when he realized that he had just complimeted Sakura, his sworn enermy, He told embrassed,
" Come near the fire, it will be warner."
Sakura was still cold because of her soaked clothes despite the fire. Syaoran saw that and he sat besides her and hugged her.
" Okay, don't misunderstand. You will not feel too cold and scared anymore. But, you must not tell anyone about this. Try to sleep."
Sakura surprised to see Syaoran and closed her eys. She felt his gentleness eventought he did not admit that he worried about her. She gradually fell asleep in his arms. Vice versa, Syaoran could not sleep. This was the first time he had hugged a strange girl and she was his enermy. He saw she was small and weak like a wet little cat, lost all of the ordinary subborn.
" Strange, how can she be lovely sometimes?" Syaoran thought and the shadow of a soft smiled appeared on his lips.
After coming back villa, Touya was announced that Syaoran and Sakura were not come back. After that, two groups of them was back and reported about it. Touya became worried. He tore his hair out and groaned.
" Not only Tomoyo but Sakura? What are they doing?"
" Calm down, Touya. I think perhaps Syaoran is with Sakura." Eriol calmed him down. " We need find them as soon as posible. Ms. Satoko, please look after lady Daidouji. Call doctor to examine to her."
After reminding the old maid, Eriol went with Touya to go on their new search. They sought the wood in and out till the early morning the next day. Then, they heard a call unexpectedly.
" Touya, is that you?"
They quickly ran toward the voice and saw Sakura and Syaoran safely approached them. Touya worriedly came to Sakura and grabbed her shoulders.
" Did you get injure?"
"I'm okay! I just fell into river so my clothes got wet and the dark prevented us from finding way. Syaoran rescued me."
"Thanks, your brat. Come back now. I wish noone would lose this time."
They came back villa.
Coming to their room, Sakura jumped onto Tomoyo's bed.
" Tomoyo, are you alright? Where had you gone?"
" Why do you always asked me a lot of questions at the same time?" Tomoyo frowned.
Then Tomoyo slowly told everyone about her story.
When Tomoyo came to the edge of wood yesterday, she saw Eriol nowhere. Thinking that Eriol would be late so she stood there to waid for him. A sound appeared all of a sudden at the inside part of wood. She came there to see but saw nothing. She heard that sound again so she went deeper in the wood. Again and again, she was so deep in the wood and knew no way to come out. She knew she should not move a lot, if not she would lose deeper and deeper. She stood there with hope that someone would find her. After a long time, a black-clothes person appeared unexpectedly and intimidated her. When that person raised his sword to beat her, Touya appeared and rescued her.
Queen knew the story. She was so worried that she ordered to strengthen defence and prepare to come back capital as soon as posible. She did not want any regetable event happened any longer. Eriol agreed with her and prepared urgented.
That afternoon, while Tomoyo was reading book with Sakura, Queen came. She gently told Sakura out and let her chatted with Tomoyo.
" How do you feel? May had you been so scared?"
" No, I'd been okay. Thank you for caring about me."
" I don't understand why I felt familiar to you. It seems that I haven seen you somewhere. But perhaps I'm misunderstanding."
" I have no bliss to meet you before."
" I heard from Crown Prince that he accidentall made you injure. I appology you about that. I like you and hope that I could see you again."
Then, Queen went off the room.
Meantime, Sakura wandered around the garden and thought about what happened yesterday. A strange feeling fufilled her heart. When she saw Syaoran as reading book by a pear tree right in front of her, she turned to get away but walk on a dry leaf. Syaoran jumped and looked up.
" It's you, Sakura?"
" Yeah, I don't want to disturb you so... but... Well, I have disturbed you now."
"It's okay. You can sit down here."
" I'm pretty sorry and thank you about what happened yesterday." Sakura hesitated.
" Oh, you're welcome. Oh, it's the first time I have heard you speak gently like this."
" I... I... Read your book. I must go now!"
Then, Sakura stood up and went away leaving Syaoran watched after her with a strange tender look.
