Hi everyone! In this chapter, the story is based on Sakura's POV since it's basically just her and her thoughts. I'll try to make the chapter as long as I can, hopefully so I can make up for the last chapter. :) Please review!
12. A comfort
I walked down the empty street, away from my house for some fresh air. Last night was the most horrible day of my life, who knew that Syaoran would actually see me as the cardcaptor? I mean, sure, I know he would figure it out some day, but not yesterday. No, I didn't know that it would be so soon.
I sighed and looked up at the sky, admiring its hidden beauty. It was dark, and stars were there, all shining dazzlingly and lighting up the sky, one by one. I wish I was one, I really do. Because if I were a star, I wouldn't have feelings, and I could just watch over everyone without feeling bad, because I'm alone, and I shine alone, too.
Why did I fall in love with him in the first place? He was a cardcaptor, and I knew. I also figured out that he could be a big threat to me since he's from the Li clan...They have way too much power, and who knows what the punishment and consequences are? Kero warned me, Yue did, too, then why didn't I listen to them? Why hadn't I ignored him and just keep his secret in the first place?
Oh, right, I have a heart.
Curse it.
I sighed and kicked a pebble with my boot, tucking my cold hands in my pockets. It was getting really cold since winter is on its way, the leaves on the trees already had turned brown and all fell from their branches. Now I wish I was a leaf, because all I had to do is be beautiful and die quickly. How easier could it get? But then again, I don't want to become ugly before I die.
But what am I talking about? I'm certainly not beautiful now.
At least, that's what Syaoran probably thinks.
I stopped at a tree and leaned against it, bringing my head down to stare at my unpolished shoes. I was at a park, the Penguin Park, where almost all of my memories gave birth and settled itself here. I remember walking home with Syaoran one time, and we stopped here, also playing on the swings near the slide. He pushed my off the swings once; apparently, he was pushing me too hard. I came back by pushing his figure near the slide; eventually letting him hit his head on the blue plastic. I laughed at him, and he started to chase me around the field next to this park, even the dogs that were walked around were scared by us.
I chuckled at that memory, we seemed so close back then. Sometimes I would see us together, walking, or in this instance, sitting on the swings and talking about everything. He told me a lot about his family, that he had 4 sisters and a mother; his father had passed away from a heart-attack when he was young. He knew martial arts very well, and is also quite good in sword fighting. I asked him to show me once at his house a few days ago, and he did; at the end, he picked me up in his arms since I was paralyzed by how brilliant he was. Then he tossed me onto the floor when I told him to drop me. I loved hearing him laugh, I really did.
"What are you doing out here in such a cold night?" I suddenly heard a male voice ask me. I jumped up, ready to kick that person's butt, but I ended up staring at a calm and smiling Eriol in his blue coat and black gloves. I immediately calmed down.
"Sorry, Eriol, thought you were some...bad man, or something." I said, embarrassed, and leaned back against the tree.
"No worries." He said, and came next to me to lean as well. "And could you answer my question?"
I kept staring at my feet and shrugged truthfully, I had no idea why I was out here either, I know I could've stayed home.
I felt Eriol's gaze leave my face and looked up to the sky. He was smiling, I could feel a lighthearted aura coming out from his body. "It's beautiful isn't it? The stars?" He murmured.
I looked up as well and sighed, staring at the shining balls of light again with a wanting expression. "Yeah." I replied, putting my whole heart into it. "I wish I was one."
"I don't think you would like that." I heard Eriol chuckle and I turned my head to look at him. "You see, even though the stars are beautiful, do you think that you would like to be, all alone, in the cold sky?"
"Well, I wouldn't be alone," I said, "there's plenty of other stars as well. And besides, it wouldn't be that bad."
"I talked to Syaoran today." Eriol said, reflecting my previous thoughts. I didn't look up. "Somehow, he seemed much quieter, even though he has always been a quiet boy." I looked at him when he said "boy", wasn't he one, too? "I know something's wrong, but I don't know what. Do you?" He turned his face to me and smiled, waiting patiently.
I wanted to shrug and act like I don't know, but I guess that my eyes betrayed me, as I heard Eriol sigh. "You don't need to worry, I know that he has magic, and so do you." I looked up and stared at him, half shocked, half horrified. "And...I'm guessing that I should tell you that I'm the reincarnation of Clow Reed." That made my eyes go even wider.
"W-what?!" I yelped, standing up straight while Eriol just smiled gently. "You're Clow Reed? You're kidding me!" Eriol just shook his head.
Realizing that I have been too loud, I cleared my throat and sweat-dropped. He probably thinks that I'm a freak right now. I leaned back against the tree again, still staring at him, and continued, "You're really Clow Reed?"
"I still had some magic before I died," He replied, "and I split my soul in half. One half has all of my memories, the other is the rest of my magic, which isn't a lot, most of them was used on splitting it. I have the memories of my past, though I don't have my magic. My magic, don't be shocked Sakura, is in your father's body, he's is the other part of my soul." I almost chocked when he said that.
"My father's...the other half of Clow Reed?" I asked.
"Yes." He said, still smiling. How come he's always smiling?!
"Wait, so, you don't have any magic?" I asked.
"Not much, though, I can see the future like I could before."
Huh? That's weird.
"How come your magic went into my dad's body?"
"He hasn't realized that he has magic yet, but when he does, it will be used so he can protect you. I saw you, before I died, in the future, and that you have set all the cards free." Come on, why hasn't he come earlier to stop me? "So now I can looked over you, doesn't matter if I have my magic or not." I frowned.
"How come you haven't come here earlier?" I asked, but I couldn't frown anymore when I saw him 'beam' at me.
"Then that will change the future. We can't decide futures, Sakura, it is all set for us." How come he sounds so mature?
Oh, right~he is a man.
"So...you should know what happened to Syaoran." I whispered, immediately feeling guilty for bringing this up.
"Do I?" Eriol prodded, looking a bit concerned.
Just a bit.
"Tell me more about the Li clan, Eriol." I pleaded. "What will...happen?"
"The Li clan isn't as bad as you think it is, Sakura." Eriol said. "It was, as I saw before, the elders were very strict. They claimed the cards for a while, but I decided to remove them from their clan as a punishment for unacceptable behavior. They used to be extremely vain, thinking that they have all the power because of the cards, and all the leaders know how to use the cards, though most of them just uses them for selfish causes. After I have removed them to your father's basement, they seem to have quiet down, but they haven't had a leader for the past few generations because the leader needs to have the cards in order to rule. That's why Syaoran is here, to claim the cards, if he doesn't, it would usually be his family to punish you, not the clan." I winced. "But don't give up your cards, Sakura, they couldn't do anything to you, they're not as powerful, and I'm sure that Syaoran wouldn't turn you in."
"How do you know?" I asked quietly, a bit pissed of the way I'm acting. I must look very weak. "Syaoran probably hates me now because I didn't tell him who I was."
"He can still be the ruler, you know?" Eriol asked, though I felt something strange from the way he talks, he sounds a bit...amused. "But, there's a consequence."
"What?" I asked, a bit frightened.
"There's a huge possibility that you would become the cards' next mistress, Sakura. And if you don't want him to loose his position, you will need to marry him in order to help."
Wait, what? What did he just say?
"Could you repeat that, please?" I asked quietly, almost squeaking.
"I said you would need to marry him."
.............
WHAT?!
"HOE?!" I jumped, feeling my face heat up to its highest extent. "MARRY? WHAT?!"
"You asked me." Eriol said gently, smiling.
I heard dog bark at me at me across from the field. Apparently, I am way too loud.
"I'm not saying that you have to." Eriol said. "But, that's the bright side."
"Yeah, very bright." I asked sarcastically, "What kind of rule is that?"
Eriol just shrugged, looking innocent. "The rule?"
I collapsed against the tree with my jaws hung open and my eyes wide, then I scoffed a bit. "That's stupid." I mumbled.
But marrying Syaoran....that would be...nice.
Oh. My. God.
"Think about it, Sakura." Eriol said, straightening up. "I'm sure you two will be okay." His smile was the most reassuring thing that I knew, I could definitely trust him.
But could I trust...me?
