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 – 19 years old

Sakura – 18 years old

Eriol – 19 years old

Tomoyo – 18 years old

Touya – 24 years old

Yukito – 24 years old

Chapter 9: Sakura's Bitter Reunion?

"Ugh, my muscle still hurt from yesterday," Syaoran said as he walk up. He cautiously dragged his body out of bed and into the adjoining washroom. He filled the bath with hot water and turned to his left to look at himself in the mirror covered wall. His hair was dishevelled, his skin paler, his eyes colder and developed stress lines on his face. Yet, girls threw themselves at him every where he went and had become the top model representing the Li Corporation.

Syaoran didn't go back, he cringed at that thought. It had been five years since he left Tomoeda. He knew his mother, no rather the elders wouldn't want him to go back. There was no reason for him to go back since he couldn't become the Card Master and he still needed to become the leader of the clan. Syaoran took off his pyjamas and entered the bath, submerged himself slowly into the hot water. He felt the hot water slowly wash over his aching muscles, he had taken an ice cold bath yesterday but today he needed the warmth. He had undergone the harshest of training methods while maintaining a good reputation at the private secondary institute he attended. He was going toward his A-Level and AS-Level examinations which were coming up shortly.

He got out of the bath and threw on his dark jeans and a white button up shirt. Syaoran grabbed his black blazer and a pair of green tinted sunglasses. Today he had somehow convinced the elders to allow him one day of freedom where he can do whatever he wanted to. Oh wait, that was what yesterday was about, he had to beat his master in a one-on-one no weapons match which he managed to do. He went down to the dining hall sat down and took a few slices of bread, egg (sunny-side-up) and a glass of chocolate milk.

"How are you going to spend your day Syaoran?" his mother asked as she took a seat opposite him.

"I really don't know. I haven't had a free day in a long time. I was thinking I could just visit downtown Hong Kong," Syaoran replied.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," Yelan replied. Syaoran nodded and finished the last few bites of his meal. He excused himself from the table and went to the garage where his motorcycle, a custom green and black Honda Interceptor, was waiting. Okay, so he didn't just have one motorcycle there were twenty-five cars and ten motorcycles all customized to his taste. These were a gift from the clan for his sixteenth birthday. He didn't need all of this, but couldn't refuse the generosity of the clan. Syaoran pulled on his helmet and got on his bike and sped off on to the streets of Hong Kong through the back entrance to the Li compound.

He entered the main city he steered around traffic, not really paying any attention to what was around him. Syaoran parked his motorcycle on the side of the road, and got off to roam around. He didn't know what to do, there was nothing for him to do. Today had no structure, which had become routine to him. He took off his helmet and put on his sun glasses. He walked down the street just observing the people. They seemed so happy and care free. He sighed, he never went back to Japan, the one place where he could act like that too. Well not that he let loose, but he had become close with them knowing they were genuine. He could never be sure of the people of his home country, somehow, they just saw him as a Li and never got to close or they wanted his money.

"Is that Li-sama?" he heard one person exclaim. Soon everyone seemed to be whispering and he was drawing a crowd around him. He broke out into a sprint, running away from them. 'I can't believe they recognized me so fast, damn it!' he thought.

Syaoran found himself at the harbour front overlooking the water. He leaned on the railing for support and panted heavily. 'And I thought I wasn't going to do any training today.'

"Syaoran, help me!" he heard someone call out. His head snapped up and he looked over the ocean then behind him for the voice. The voice seemed so familiar, yet not so familiar.

"Please, help me! I need your help. Syaoran! Syaoran!" the voice got more desperate. He could feel something, a mysterious power of some kind. He followed the aura which led him back into the city. Suddenly his sense were clouded, he stopped and stood perfectly still. he let his focused on what he wanted. He found it, the mysterious aura was coming from a store right in front of him. As he entered, he was overwhelmed by the scent of herbs and spices. He walked through the length of the store, and as he came closer to the back of the store it became stronger. It was coming from a book, as he picked up the book he was suddenly lifted off the ground.

He was on the roof of the building the store was located in. Syaoran looked around, thick fog surrounded him. He took out his sword and called forth wind, the fog dissipated. The site that it left behind made his heart fall. There was a girl lying unconscious on the ground. He ran to her, her body face down on the ground and her face turned to the side with her long honey brown hair splayed all over her face. His heart stopped, was this Sakura? What happened to her? He pulled her into his arms, careful not to hurt her. He softly pushed away her hair and got a good look at her face. It was Sakura! Why was she here?

Unexpectedly, all around him appeared the few close friends he had from Japan. Eriol, Tomoyo, Touya and Yukito were all within arms reach. Syaoran's eyes widened, tears sprung to his eyes but he blinked them away quickly. What was going on, why were they unconscious?

They started to regain consciousness, Syaoran smiled slightly. The thought of talking to them again gave him such happiness and comfort. He looked back down at Sakura, she was starting to disappear! He looked back up at the others and they started disappearing too, even as they woke up. After a few moments, they had all disappeared.

"You actually thought we were all here?" Sakura laughed. Syaoran looked down at her, she smirked with her eyes filled with malice. "You didn't come back for so long without a phone call, letter or even email. Did you expect us to come here for you? Don't make me laugh. Whenever we needed you, you were never there and you'll never be there."

"Sakura what happened? Tell me!" Syaoran yelled. Sakura just smirked then disappeared. Syaoran felt like he had just been punched in the gut. His hopes were so high, he wanted to his Japanese friends so badly but it was all a cruel trick. Syaoran punched the roof then stared at his bloody fist. The magical presence had completely disappeared, he couldn't sense anything suspicious no matter how much he concentrated.

Syaoran couldn't comprehend what just occurred. Was it an illusion or a dream or a prophecy of the future? It didn't seem like a dream, he was fully conscious, or rather he thought so. He looked around the roof for a way to get down. There was no access door or ladder to climb down. He would have to use his magic, which he had developed further. He developed spells and chants for illusions, simple healing, and many other tricks. He first healed his hand then created used his wind charm to carry him down with an illusion so people don't witness this seemingly impossible event. Shortly after, Syaoran returned home and immediately requested an audience with his mother.

"What is it my son?" Yelan asked him after he entered her study and bowed customarily.

"I would like to attend the University of Tokyo for further education," Syaoran stated. His mother wasn't one for small talk, especially when it came to urgent matters.

"What is the cause for this abrupt change in heart?" she asked, surprise clearly evident in her normally strict eyes.

"I never said I wanted to attend education here. Today something disturbing occurred. I witnessed some kind of illusion where the Card Mistress and Clow's reincarnation were attacked. They were all unconscious when they appeared before me and they all seemed so real, but then they just disappeared."

"I see. I had also sensed a foreign presence but it disappeared soon after and I couldn't locate it soon after. That must have been the cause. I'm not sure that sending you to Japan would be the right course of action. I will have to talk to the elders about this. You are dismissed Syaoran," she said. Syaoran clenched his fist and bowed rigidly then walked out of the room with the little composure he had. He realized Wei, his care giver was still in with his mother. Normally Wei would leave with him. Syaoran leaned against the door to hear what was happening.

"Mistress Li, please allow Master Xiao Long to return to Japan," Wei started and Syaoran was surprised.

"Why should I let him go Wei? He is my son. I don't want him to be away from home anymore than he has to. He's still my child," his mother answered, this shocked Syaoran even more.

"I know you love him dearly, but he is growing up and will be the leader of the clan soon enough. But right now his heart isn't with the clan. If his heart isn't here, how can he become a true leader? Let him resolve the issues in his heart and when he returns, he will surely be fully committed to the clan."

"I already know all you say. I just needed someone to say it. Thank you Wei, I'll convince the elders that he must return to Japan."

Syaoran quickly hid behind a wall as the door opened. He heard the door click shut and Wei take a few steps.

"Master Li, you can come out now," Wei called out. Syaoran cringed slightly, Wei knew him too well. Syaoran came out of his hiding spot and smiled slightly at Wei.

"Thank you," Syaoran said.

"This is the little I could do for you. Earlier I could only watch you undergo pain, but I just wish to help you in anyway possible," Wei smiled.

"But Wei, you do so much for me. You need not do more. I am truly lucky to have you," Syaoran admitted.

"As am I to be able to take care of you," Wei smiled proudly. Syaoran nodded and walked to his room and Wei followed.

Later that day, Syaoran was informed that he would be returning to Japan after he finished his A-Level and AS-Level exams and passes the required pre-examinations he would enrolled in University of Tokyo. His major already decided for him, political science for a Master's or even a Doctoral in Law.

'Shit, I need to cracking on study,' were Syaoran last thoughts before he went to sleep.

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AN: I hope this chapter wasn't too confusing. So Syaoran's going to head back to Japan for college. Thank you for reading.

To ohlala82: Thank you for your suggestion. I kind of wanted to have that feeling that Sakura was in Hang Kong because she won it in the draw but then it felt too much like the 1st movie in Cardcaptors Sakura and I wasn't too sure how not to make it the same. Also I have a plan for when Syaoran and Sakura truly meet. I hope you weren't disappointed and if you were, please email me and tell me how I can improve.

To Hououza: I was thinking along the same lines as you. I was sure whether to bring Sakura to Hong Kong or to bring Syaoran to Japan. I couldn't seem to find a reason to bring Sakura to Hong Kong so I made Syaoran go to Japan. I hope you had something like this in mind.

To everyone that reviewed: AngelEmCuti, Cherry Akira Li, AdaZu, rosedreamer101, Colette G., takari love, Nightwing's Gurl 2023, LollipopCHAOS, Didaskaleinophobia, Rayoshi Yazuki, purplemonster27, coreagurl, KimikoHime, Kyo lover with little sanity, Hikari Clow Reed, Rogueunlimited; I am so happy that you all reviewed and enjoyed my story. I wanted to thank you earlier, but I always forgot but now I explicitly thank you for inspiring me and helping me.

Please review!!!

OMG what is this? I updated after just a week O.o… What has the world come to? I just thought you guys deserved a little treat. I hope you liked it.