Hello everyone! Well its finish well chapter 9 is anyway. Sorry for the late update. I had help with it and I also want to thank them! Thank You:) Hope you all enjoy it.

I don't own Card Captor Sakura

So here it is... Chapter 9 of Land of Hestia


Seven years later:

Everything seems to have changed this last seven years. That's what Sakura thought. Ever since her friend left her seven years ago, she hasn't stopped training and has kept her promise by waiting at the lake every night; training every day to get stronger and to see if he would come back. After a couple years she lost faith but she still kept on waiting, hoping he would return.

The forest's trees had gotten taller, the baby animals had grown up and had their own families, and new flowers bloomed while the older ones didn't. The lake scenery was different, with more colors and new plants. But the lake and the old oak tree where Sakura and Syaoran sat down together didn't seem to change at all, but it looks like it lost its spirit. Sometimes, however, Sakura could swear she saw Ping, Syaoran's pet wolf, but Ping too left with Syaoran. Syaoran sisters got older and stronger, and so had Tai. Actually Tai was trying to convince Sakura to go out with him. Fuutie was jealous at first but after seeing Sakura telling him to leave her alone, she knew Sakura was a loyal friend. Every one knew Sakura was upset over Syaoran's departure but that only made her work harder to become stronger just for him.

Swish, was all you could hear from the forest trees and plants. A figure or what looked like a figure was moving fast, really fast. You couldn't make it out because of its speed, but it was heading to a certain spot in the forest. The wind blew creating a howling noise making the night cold and eerie. The figure finally stopped in front of the lake and next to the old oak tree, and now you could see that the figure was that of a female. Her long auburn hair swayed in the wind as a result of her abrupt stop. Her clothes were a shade of pink and white; her top was white with no sleeves and a half turtleneck with two strings attached to the left. Her skirt was long, down to her ankles with two slits up to her thighs, with tight black shorts. (You know the outfit Sakura wears in Naruto like that) Her skirt was blowing along with her hair making her look like a goddess of the night. The wind blew again with a harder gust of air, making her hair move in front of her, and that's when you could see her beautiful emerald eyes shining with loneliness.

"Shiefa, why did you follow me here?" Came a sweet yet strong voice that came out of the mouth of the young goddess.

"Oh how did you know it was me?" Came the young voice of a 14-year-old girl with long black hair tied up into a high ponytail and brown eyes.

"Hmm, because I can sense you," the figure said turning around facing the young girl with a smile.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you had gotten better at that Sakura." Shiefa said scratching the back of her head and smiling sheepishly.

"I hope you don't mind that I followed you. I was hoping we could… umm… maybe hang out a little bit." Shiefa said looking down at her feet, with a blush staining her cheeks. (She really looks up to Sakura.)

"Sure, I don't see why not." Sakura said smiling while walking towards the girl.

"Alright! Lets race back and maybe you can help me train a little," Shiefa said eagerly.

"Alright, lets go," Sakura said laughing a little. "Shiefa?"

"Yea Sakura," Shiefa answered, looking up at her.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about this place," Sakura whispered looking down at the girl with a serious look on her beautiful face.

"Umm sure, of course I won't Sakura." Shiefa said sounding baffled.

"Thanks Shiefa it would mean a lot to me," Sakura said gazing straight ahead as if longing for something. Shiefa just looked up at her and gave her a small smile.

"Alright let's see how fast you are Shiefa. Ready, set, Go!" Sakura said running away from the girl laughing.

"Hey that's not fair Sakura! Come back here!" Sheifa screamed running after her.

"Hey, you should always be ready for the unexpected." Sakura said with a smile on her face slowing down a little so her "little sister" would catch up. Too bad Sakura didn't take her words to heart. For soon her whole world will turn upside down.

"Hey Shiefa, you're to slow," Sakura said looking down at the panting girl that ran over a couple of miles.

"Well –pant- you're too –pant- fast for me- pant/sigh-" Shiefa tried to say, holding her hands on her knees.

"Ha, you just need practice that's all," Sakura said trying to make the girl feel a little bit better.

"Sakura, Shiefa there you are." Fuutie said running up besides them. You could see her brown eyes shining.

"Where have you two been?" She asks as she looks at both of them, making her brown shoulder length hair move. "What happened to you?" Fuutie asked pointing down at her sister.

"Oh nothing, we were just racing." Sakura said smiling at her friend.

"I'm guessing you won Sakura." Fuutie said not sounding too surprised.

"Yep, I sure did." Sakura said smiling and nodding her head.

"Hey, you cheated!" Shiefa said standing up straight.

"No I didn't," Sakura said laughing.

"Yea, Sakura never cheats and plus you're probably just too slow." Fuutie said smiling too as she teases her younger sister.

"Hey!" Shiefa exclaimed, Fuutie just ignored her sister's yell and started to talk.

"Well anyway great timing. You were just going to miss a meeting with the elders; they're going to give us an assignment. Well I hope," Fuutie said hopefully.

"Oh really," Sakura said sounding surprised at the idea of doing another assignment this month.

The girls were now walking down the corridor where the meeting room was and heard voices. They quickly walked in and took a seat in the back. They sat next to a woman with black shoulder length hair and a 2-month-old baby with brown eyes like her mother's.

"Hey," the woman whispered softly watching the girls sit down beside her.

"Hello Feimei," the three girls greeted.

"So, what did we miss?" Shiefa said looking at the elders and her parents talking to each other.

"Well nothing much, they are arguing whether they want to give an assignment out to Dan and James." Fuutie pointed at the two boys.

"Oh I can't wait till we don't have to attend these meetings." Shiefa said sighing after about ten minutes of listening.

"What do you mean? You have only been here for a couple of minutes? And plus you always have to attend these meetings, you're a Li," Feimei said looking at her younger sister.

"Why? We don't do anything," Shiefa said in an agitated voice.

"It's just because you're a Li, that means you have to. And that's that." Feimei said, "I know you don't like it, I don't either but we have to go, well you three do; I'm not really a Li anymore." Feimei said smiling down at her 2-month-old baby girl.

"Well I can't wait to get married so I don't have to attend these meetings anymore." Shiefa said crossing her arms over her chest, puffing her cheeks. The girls all just smile at her and turn their attention back to the meeting.

"Well then it's decided that Dan and James, year of 4 will do the assignment." One of the elders said holding up a scroll that held the assignment for the boys to do. The two boys bow their heads down and then kindly took the scroll.

"The meeting is now out of session, you may all go back to what you were doing." Another elder said. Everyone in the room bowed down and walk out of the room in a hurry while talking to their friends.

"Well that was boring," Shiefa exclaimed putting her hand behind her head.

"They always are," Fuutie responded rolling her eyes.

"Well I can't wait till I'm in year 3 so I won't have to attend these meetings," Sakura said happily.

"Yea, you're lucky," Fuutie said looking right at her friend.

"Well who knows maybe you'll never get there." Came a voice from behind the girls. They all turn around to see a girl with black hair in two pigtails with red eyes.

"Meiling that's mean to say," Feimei said scowling at the young woman of 19.

"What? I'm just saying what could happen," Meiling said shrugging like it was nothing.

"Listen Meiling, if you can't be nice then don't even bother talking at all," Feimei said putting her daughter in a different arm and glaring at the young woman.

"Sorry." Meiling said not sounding very sorry at all. She just walks away making sure she pushes Sakura shoulder, making Sakura move a little.

"Don't listen to her Sakura, she's just jealous of you," Fuutie said glaring at the back of Meiling's retracting figure. Sakura just frowned, while everyone gave Meiling a dirty look.

"Whaa!" came a cry.

"Oh no it looks like May is upset now," Fuutie said while rocking her baby back and forth.

"Oh, you poor dear." An older woman said walking up to the girls and reaching out for her granddaughter. Taking her granddaughter out of her daughters' arms and rocks her back and forth hushing the baby.

"Thanks mom." Feimei said grateful for her mother's action. "She's been a handful lately and I don't know why or what's wrong. The doctor said she's fine but..." Feimei started to say but was cut off.

"You're a new mother of course your concerned, don't worry she's fine." Her mother said looking down at the sleeping baby.

"Wow mom, you're good." Shiefa said in amazement.

"Well I better be, I had five children," Yelan said raising an eyebrow at her younger daughter.

"Hehe," Came a nervous laugh from Shiefa. Everyone smiles, watching the sleeping baby while Feimei took her and walked away.

"Well girls, what have you three been up to?" Yelan asks looking at the girls.

"Nothing much you know, the usual," Fuutie said looking at her sister and friend.

"Yep," Sakura and Shiefa said nodding their heads.

"Ohhh, really?" Yelan said raising an eyebrow. The girls just smile and nodded their heads quickly, a little too quickly.

"Hmm… then I guess you three wouldn't have heard anything about someone playing tricks on the elders, now would you?" Yelan said looking right at the girls.

"No, of course not." Fuutie said surprised at what her mother said.

"Yeah, mom why would we do something mean to the elders." Shiefa said acting a little nervous.

"Umm I don't know." Yelan said as she walks off. "Well I hope that you're not pulling tricks but if you are please stop before you get in trouble. I'll see you three around." Yelan said as she disappears in one of the rooms.

"Good job you idiot, are you trying to get us in trouble." Fuutie yelled glaring at her younger sister.

"Your sister didn't mean to. She was just nervous" Sakura said trying to stop a fight before it begins.

"Yeah, what Sakura said?" Sheifa said looking at Sakura then to Fuutie.

"Hey!" Sheifa yelled, as she watches Sakura and Fuutie run off somewhere laughing.

"Uum huh." Came the noise from Sheifa as her cheeks puff out and her face turns red from anger.

Laughter was all you heard from the two girls as they ran away from Sheifa.

"You don't think we were to mean to her do you?" Sakura asked in concern.

"Nah, she'll get over it, we're just playing." Fuutie said smiling, as they kept on running down the hallway, dodging people as they go.

They kept on running into the rooms that they shared. The hallway they were in was big but not only that, that's where everyone sleeps. Everyone that lives here sleeps in this hallway. Sakura and Fuutie decided to share a room when they were 11 saying they didn't want to be alone. Of course the elders didn't like it at first but with a little help from Sacha they finally got to share a bedroom. They were trying to get Shiefa in here too but they said two in a room unless you are married and have kids. Some rooms were just for one person, and some were large enough to fit a whole family almost like a little house.

"Hey Sakura what do you think if Syaoran was still around." Fuutie said throwing herself on her bed looking up at the ceiling lost in thought about her older brother.

"Uumm" was the only response that came out of Sakura. Her eyes show what she felt; her green eyes were sad of remembering.

"I miss him a lot, you know I know he was cold but he had a good reason to be. The elders were on his butt all the time he could never act like a kid. He couldn't run around and play tag with us, he had to stay out and train physically and mentally. It wasn't fair, being stripped from your childhood." Fuutie said sounding depressed thinking about her brother. As she was talking Sakura hid her face with her long hair covering her pretty eyes, but if you looked closer you could see a single tear falling to the floor.

"I hope he comes back home soon, and I hope he's happier too." Fuutie said sounding happier as she looked down and then looking up at Sakura to see how she felt.

"Yeah, me too." Sakura choked out; bringing up her face up as she smiles at her friend.

"You know, I bet if he didn't go you and him would be really close." Fuutie said smiling and then changing the subject about her brother's childhood, then winking at Sakura.

"Ha, who knows what would have happened." Sakura said smiling at the thought of her and Syaoran getting closer.

"It most likely wouldn't happened because Meiling would have been all over him." Sakura said trying to change the subject again before something weird came out.

"True but Syaoran couldn't stand her, he really seem to like you though." Fuutie said smiling loving the way she was making her friend feel indifferent.

"Well I think nothing would have happen so we can stop talking about it." Sakura said walking over to her friend hitting her playfully with her pillow. But in truth she would love for something more with Syaoran.

"Ok but I think you two would have made a great couple." Fuutie said laughing as she shields herself from the wrath of Sakura. When Sakura heard that she blushed five different shades of red. Fuutie just smiled and looked up at her friend who stop hitting her with her pillow.

"I'm your best friend wouldn't it be weird?" Sakura asked wondering why her friend was saying this to her.

"No, that's why I would want you to be with my older brother, I trust you." Fuutie said proudly.

"Thanks, I think?" was all Sakura could say.

"No problem." Fuutie responded with a huge smile.

Bang-Bang, came a loud noise from the door, breaking the girls conservation and making them both jump.

"You get it." Both girls said together looking at each other.

"No you get it; I got it the last time." Fuutie said

"No I did." Sakura agued back.

"I don't care who got it last just let me in." Came a loud, powerful, male voice from the other side of the door. Both girls jumped and ran to the door together. At the same time the girls grab the doorknob and opened it quickly, both faces were full of different emotions and red from embarrassment. The person on the other side of the door looked at them both and just raised an eyebrow.

"Well I'm glad you two finally came to the door." Came Sacha's voice amused at the two.

"Sorry dad." Fuutie said putting her head down.

"Yes, I'm sorry for not answering Mr. Li," Sakura said bowing down looking at the floor.

"Sakura how many times do I have to tell you, don't act like I'm superior, you're like family." Sacha said smiling at the girl. "And don't worry about it, just answer the door next time without fighting, you two." Sacha said with good humor.

"Yes sir." Both girls said at the same time with Fuutie bowing like Sakura.

"Ok you two stand up straight will yah." Sacha said sounding agitated. At that both girls stood up and look right at Sacha. He looked much older than the first time Sakura saw him, his hair was turning white and wrinkles were showing, probably from all the stress from the elders. Well that's what everyone else thought.

"Why are you here dad?" Fuutie said wondering why her father was here, he never came and knocked on her door before, so she was really curious on why he was there.

"Well I wish I didn't have to but the elders made me." Sacha said sighing.

"They wish for you two to have your own rooms from now on." Sacha said looking at the girls faces, not very pleased ones at that.

"But dad why? We haven't done anything wrong or caused any kind of trouble." Fuutie yelled.

"I know but the elders think it's for the best." Sacha said again.

"But-but that's not fair," Fuutie cried out again.

"The elders are never fair," Sakura said looking right at Sacha with a cold glance.

"They do whatever they want," Sakura said still sounding really cold.

"I'm sorry girls, I wish I could do more for you two but this is out of my control, you two know that," Sacha said not pleased with the arrangement himself.

"I know dad," Fuutie said very disappointed.

"Yes sir, I know too," Sakura said

"They want you two to be separated in two days. Sakura you will move down into the other hallway away from the families." Sacha said very business like now.

"Yes sir I understand." Sakura said since it was all she could say. Fuutie just stood there very pissed off.

"I'll see you two at dinner," Sacha said and left the girls alone.

"I hate the elders," Fuutie yelled, slamming the door as Sakura just stood there and winced at the loud noise and softly agreed.

One week later:

"Hey Sakura!"

Sakura was in her new room by herself just meditating, resting in peace, when she heard a yell from the hallway screaming her name. Opening her emerald eyes and looking around she then she rolled off her bed with a big thud. She popped her head up and trying to get up only to once again fall back down. She looked down and saw her legs tangled in the bed sheets. Groaning to herself she freed herself, got up, and opened her door only to see Shiefa and Fuutie smiling from ear to ear, much like a Cheshire cat.

"Yes, is there something wrong?" Sakura asked raising her eyebrow.

"No but we wanted to see if you wanted to come into town with us." Shiefa said sounding very excited about the thing.

"Yea of course!" Sakura said happily forgetting her mood as she stepped out of her room, closing the door and walking with the girls to go out to town.

The town had changed a little, more houses and more people. The festivals were more elaborate, the market was bigger with more shops, and was livelier. The girls walked in the front gate and walk around looking at the shops that were out with jewelry, food, pottery, furniture, clothes, exc. Some stores were indoors, like the bookstore, medicine, some glass work. One of Sakura favorites stores is the bookstore and medicine store. Sakura was fascinated with healing and reading new things. That was something she was trying to master at the academy. Fuutie loved clothes and anything having to do with girly stuff, and Sheifa, well she loves boy things, she was the tomboy out of all the girls in her family. Fanran she was engaged so she really doesn't talk with them, she's too busy making arrangements and Feimei, well she was the typical older sister starting a family with her husband. One store was mostly for the academy and for the assassins too. What is in there are weapons of all types, clothes, bags, holders, bombs, and some potions too. It was really a good shop for that profession. Of course the girls had to stop and get some equipment, for the academy didn't supply anything only a few things. (The elders once again are cheap.) The girls had a great time stopping at the bakery, picking out clothes, Fuutie's idea of course who was dragging Sheifa who cried the whole time, some of Sheifa shopping, and finally they went to where Sakura wanted to go.

Ring-ring. Came a bell sound. The store was in the back of another store; it was kind of hidden. The store had an eerie feeling, with books all over the walls, and in the middle was a table with weird bottles with stuff in them. The light in the store was very dim and the windows were closed half way. Right as you go in, you could see the clerk behind his desk reading a book with huge glasses on his face and shelves with more stuff on them. If you didn't know any better it could pass as a magic shop. As he heard the noise of the door he looked up with a smile on his face.

"Well hello Sakura, and how are you doing on this fine afternoon dear?" The clerk asks, walking out of the counter. Sakura and her friends walked in, Sakura greets the clerk with a huge smile and went to hug the older man, and as her friends looked around wondering when the store got there and how Sakura found it.

"Hello Tom, I'm doing great and how about you?" Sakura said smiling the whole time, as she let go looking down at him, greeting the older man as if he was one of her family members.

"Good-good dear, just hanging out, trying not to hurt my old aching back, dear." The man Tom said laughing jolly, holding his back.

"Tom I hope your eating right," Sakura scolded.

"Yes dear, you're worst then my wife," As the older man said this they both laugh and back off a little.

"So did you get any new books in that I could go over?" Sakura asks looking around the shelves. Fuutie and Shiefa were looking at the table wondering what half the stuff did.

"I wouldn't touch that dear." The older man said as he watches Sheifa pick something up with her hands. Sheifa just looked up at the older man then looks back down at the weird item she held then put it down nicely so it wouldn't brake and kept on looking, not saying anything, just with a weird look wondering what in the whole had Sakura dragged them into.

"Well I got some more books on medicine using Mother Nature. Its better then the other edition I gave to you earlier. I saved it to see if you wanted it." The older man said walking behind his counter and pulling out a big book. Sakura followed the old man and picked up the book and started to skim though it. Fuutie and Shiefa, being whom they were got curious and peaked behind Sakura shoulders to see what she was looking at.

A couple minutes later the older man's voice broke the silence in question.

"So is it to your liking?" The older man asked.

"Yes it is Tom, and thank you for thinking about me when you saved this," Sakura said with great gratitude, and after that slowly closed the book and put it on the counter to Fuutie and Shiefa disappointment, for they were really getting into the medicine book.

"But I hope you don't mind if I buy more stuff. I'm going low on herbs and stuff," Sakura ask looking at the man wondering if that was ok.

"But of course it's ok, you're my favorite customer," the man responded, smiling at her.

"Shot you're not only my favorite customer but my best," the man kept on saying, making Sakura blush a little and her friends wondering what in the world was going on.

After about half an hour Sakura and the others finally left with bag of equipment for Sakura, and Fuutie and Shiefa were just happy they got out of the eerie store.

"So Sakura how did you find that umm.. interesting shop?" Fuutie said putting her index finger on her chin taping it lightly.

"Ummm… I really don't know. When I first came into town it was the first thing that got my attention, and about the third time I came into town I just had to go in to see what was in there." Sakura said thinking about how she came to find this place.

"Oh so then that's why you became fascinated with herbs and nature and wanted to be a healer rather than a fighter." Fuutie said understanding why Sakura all of sudden declared when they were younger that she wanted to help and not hurt.

"Yep," was all Sakura could say with a smile on her face. As the girls continued to shop they didn't realize that someone was watching them the whole time.

The rest of the day went really fast for Sakura and her friends and they were just happy they were going home into their warm beds after an exhausted day of shopping.

They kept walking back to the cave/home/academy, when finally Fuutie decided to say something.

"You know I had this feeling all day that someone was following," Fuutie said making a hushing noise so only Sakura and Shiefa could hear.

"Yea me too," Shiefa said looking around but trying not to look noticeable, and as for Sakura she just agreed, and tried to feel any kind of aura. After a couple a minutes Fuutie and Sakura already knew who it was, and when they did figure it out they weren't too happy about it.

"Tai come out, we know your there." Fuutie said yelling looking up at the tree. As soon as she said that a figure jumped down from behind them.

"So you girls are getting better at this stuff huh." Tai said grinning from ear to ear.

"It took you three a while to notice that I was following and who I was. Slacking, you girls should be ashamed of yourselves." Tai said still grinning like a bad dog.

"Well at least we have a life and don't follow people around all day!" Shiefa exclaimed, beat red from anger.

"Well-well-well don't we have a mouth?" Tai said looking down at the young girl raising an eyebrow.

"Hey! At least..." Sheifa started to say but was cut off by Sakura.

"Look Tai please leave us alone, we just want to go home, and I really don't feel like dealing with you right now." Sakura said, sighing and rubbing her temples with her free hand.

"What makes you think I was going to do something? Just so you three know, I was doing something rather important." Tai said.

"Really? That's a surprise." Sheifa said earning a deadly glare from Tai. Tai was going to say something but this time Fuutie cut him off finally deciding to join the conservation.

"Alright whatever, we're leaving. See you around Tai," Fuutie said grabbing her friend and sister's hands while walking away from the cocky man.

"I can't believe that guy." Sheifa started to say. But those two girls weren't listening, but instead they were in there own thoughts.

The evening went on like always; having dinner, getting ready for bed, and waiting for the next day to start. The moon was out, no clouds were in sight, you could see the stars perfectly as they glowed down to the soft ground, you could hear the wind but it wasn't strong, just a nice breeze to cool you off. It was a lovely night to walk and that what Sakura planning on doing.

Tonight was a lovely night to train for it was not too hot and the breeze would cool you off. Sakura went alone to the place where Syaoran and her trained every day it was a routine for her now. With movements that looked more like a dance than attacks and every kick, punch, spin was in harmony that you could never guess that they were attacks. She truly did grow emotionally and physically though the years. She was close to become one of the top ninjas in the academy, also with the benefit of healing the sick and wounded. People looked up to her, well mostly Sheifa does, and Sacha and Yelan were very proud for her. She was content but not all that happy, she was young when Syaoran left but she truly did care for him, maybe more than a friend. She was always acted happy, carefree, and optimistic, no one really knew she wasn't happy. But life went on and so did she but she kept on waiting, just like she promised him.

So she waited just like she promised, every night at this spot, trained, practiced healing and reading up on it, finding herbs, and making friends with the wild life. Before Syaoran left he taught her something about the wild life, and she uses it, well she made a friend. But tonight Sakura was in no mood to train for long, she rested, wanted to relax and read the new book she just bought today. Reading, to her, was a past time and she loved it. She sat under the old oak tree where she and Syaoran used to sit together and settle down to calm her nerves. Today was a fun day for her, but of course Tai had to ruin it, he was always bothering her and today he just got on her nerves. He doesn't understand the word "no" and I'm not interested. Anyway, besides that her life was good, great people, great everything, but she did miss home, in Larkspur, and her real family and her old friends. She was always wondering what they are up to and how they are doing. She misses Tomoyo and singing with her on the piano, and everyone listening; she even misses her older brother teasing her by calling her monster all the time. But she kept her head up high and kept them in her prayers, and she knew one day they will all meet again. She especially was looking forward to meeting Syaoran again and maybe getting closer to him.


Ok so what do you think? I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Please tell me what you think. If you have an idea or opinions feel free to tell me. Please review, and please enjoy. I'll see you all later.

Baby Wolf Cherry Blossoms