Chapter 21: Promised Trust

A/N: Thanksfor all the great feedback I received in my last chapter. You have no idea how much it means to me! I get so excited every time I see an email from . It's readers who make the story alive, not the writer (aka me!) Because you helped make my story alive, here's the next chappie for you!

"Mother?" Sakura whispered on the phone. Syaoran watched Sakura press the phone into her ear. After what seemed to be an eternity, Sakura said, "Wait for me. I'll be there, for sure. Please."

More talking.

"Okay" said Sakura and she hung up.

Syaoran's heart shattered to see Sakura looking so beautifully sad, yet he is powerless to do anything to heal her situation. His confession- well that would have to come later.

"Sakura, please tell me what's wrong," he said. He pulled her into his embrace once again, and put one of his hands on her back, imagining he could suck out all the sadness living in Sakura's soul.

"They're…they're," stuttered Sakura, "They're safe. But my brother was in an accident. But they're safe. I don't think my mother is doing as well. They're hidden at a safe house right now, and I have to get there."

"Tell me where and I'll get you there," said Syaoran. Wherever she was going to go, he will take her there, and he will come along too; because protecting her is his responsibility.

Sakura's eyes flashed. She stuttered, "It's um…Clow Reed's house."

Syaoran was a bit taken aback, "THE Clow Reed? The artist?"

Clow Reed was a famous artist, whose paintings were well known throughout Japan. His masterpieces were found in several museums, and some of his artworks were purchased by politicians and celebrities.

"Yeah. That guy," said Sakura. She knew that name sounded familiar.

"I'll give you the address when you're in the car. I need to go to the washroom before we go," said Sakura, "Wait here for me!"

She left the room and walked to the washroom. She went inside, and locked the door.

She sighed. She felt a little bad for Syaoran, because he trusted Sakura too much, to the point of naivety. She opened the window and looked down.

"Dang, that's a bit high," she thought. There was a pole on the wall outside, so Sakura gingerly stepped out of the window and tried to grasp to the poll. She felt herself slipping, and she flung her body around the pole and slid down. She landed quickly and painfully on the ground. She probably had around a `Syaoran involved with any more dangerous situations, let alone what she was going to face now. She ran from Syaoran's house until she spotted a taxi. She hopped in and gave directions to the taxi- her own house address.

In the taxi, Sakura was about to reach into her pocket for her cell phone, but it wasn't there. She had left it in the room. Syaoran was going to find her missing anytime soon…

*back at Li Residence*

Why is she taking so long, Syaoran thought impatiently. He left the guest room and went to the washroom and knocked on the door.

"Sakura? Are you okay? We should go soon," said Syaoran.

No response. He tried again. Then he started banging on the door. Then he focused all his strength on his right leg and kicked the door and it sprung open. Instead of finding Sakura, Syaoran, in his horror, found an open window where Sakura had jumped through.

He swore silently to himself and ran out of the house, trying to see Sakura was lingering around. He panicked. He has no idea where she is now. Does she even know Clow Reed, he thought?

He tried calling her, and it picked up.

"SAKURA! WHERE ARE YOU?" yelled Syaoran.

"Master Li? Miss Kinomoto had left her phone in the room," said Syaoran's butler. Syaoran ran back into the house and grabbed Sakura's cell phone. From the phone, he checked the last person who called her. It was Touya.

Holding his breath, Syaoran dialed her brother.

"Sakura?" a voice was heard on the other side. But her brother's voice was panting, as if he was in pain.

"Sakura is coming, but she had left her phone with me. Can you please tell me where you are? She might be in danger! She's coming to look for you on your own!"

"Who the heck are you?" Touya hissed, "Why do you have my sister's phone?"

"I'm Sakura's friend. Please, believe me! She left my house and her wounds aren't finished healing, and she's coming to you!" said Syaoran exasperatedly.

"Wait..are you Syaoran?"

Syaoran was a bit surprised. How would Sakura's brother know about him? He would have to ask him or Sakura later, if they're both safe.

"Yes! Please tell me where you are!" said Syaoran desperately.

"We are at home, Sakura's home."

"Okay, I'm coming."

Syaoran hung up, and ordered his butler to drive him to Sakura's as fast as possible.

**back at Kinomoto's residence**

Sakura bursted in her house.

"Touya?" she cried out.

"Sakura," said a weak voice. Touya limped to Sakura. His left leg was bleeding, and his face bruised.

"We have to get you to the hospital," said Sakura, "Where's Mother?"

"Sleeping…" said Touya, "She's not looking well. We don't know how long we have here. Haruko may be able to find us."

"What happened?" demanded Sakura. Her face was being stained with tears.

"Don't cry, Sakura," Touya said, and hugged her, "You have that black box you found here right?"

Sakura nodded.

"Keep it safe. Here's the key to it," said Touya, and put a necklace with a key around Sakura's neck.

"You have to keep that away from Haruko. Promise me, Sakura, keep it safe," said Touya.

"I promise. What is it? And I want to see Mother, and Touya, you have to get help" said Sakura.

Touya ignored her question, but complied to her request. He and Sakura headed upstairs, and her mother was lying in Sakura's bed.

"Mother!" yelled Sakura and hugged her. Sakura's mother was laying in bed. Her dark eyes looked like they were drained from her life. Her limbs looked weak, like a tree branch that has been damaged by extreme weather. Even her hair, fell lifelessly over her pillow.

"Sakura," she said, and hugged her daughter.

"You got skinnier," said Nadeshiko (Sakura's mother's name.)

"I have to get Touya and you to somewhere safe," said Sakura.

"No, your stepfather won't find us here. He won't think that we would run back to this old place," she reassured Sakura.

"Don't worry about us, Sakura;" said Touya, "We were so worried the whole time you were here."

She shook her head.

"I'm fine… what happened?" said Sakura.

"He found us in the hospital. He wanted the artifacts. He and his men tried to come after us, but I asked one of the doctors to hide Mother first, and ran out as a decoy. They caught up to me, and did a bit of damage I guess," said Touya, "But we're fine now."

"How did he know…" asked Sakura.

"We don't know that yet," said Touya.

**downstairs in Sakura's house**

Syaoran finally reached Sakura's house. He paced back and forth, unsure what to do. Why did Sakura run away? He was furious of course, but he wanted to see Sakura so badly. He rang the doorbell.

"What?" exclaimed Sakura when she heard the doorbell, "Did they find us?"

"Oh no no, your friend Syaoran called earlier," said Touya.

"How did he call..I left my phone at his house," said Sakura, "Crap! Why did you tell him where I was?"

"He's worried, Sakura, I couldn't say no. You need more people like that."

"I thought you hate people like that."

"I did," said Touya, ruffling Sakura's hair, "But since I'm not here often, I am glad someone here cares for you too."

"I can't get Syaoran involved," said Sakura, "He doesn't know anything. I'm not answering the door."

"I'm glad my beautiful Sakura here has charmed someone," smiled Nadeshiko, "I want to meet him."

Sakura sighed, and went downstairs and opened the door.

Syaoran angrily pulled Sakura in his arms.

"What the heck were you thinking?"

"Come in quickly and close the door," yelled Sakura, yanking Syaoran inside the house and locking the door, "No one can know we are in here."

"Why did you leave? I thought something had happened, thank goodness I called your brother!"

"I needed a talk, Syaoran, where you weren't five feet away from me," said Sakura.

"You're still injured!" said Syaoran angrily. Why doesn't she understand that he vowed to stay by her side.

"SAKURA!"

Touya's voiced thundered down to Sakura's. She ran up, grasping the railing, as her injury started to inflict pain upon Sakura again. Syaoran followed closely behind. When Sakura went into her room, Nadeshiko was coughing violently. Blood splattered over her dress.

"I don't have long, my cherry blossom," said her mother.

"No!" cried Sakura, "I haven't seen you for so long, don't leave me now."

Sakura cried between sobs, "Please mother, we will get you help right now."

"Don't! You will draw more attention, which is what I don't want," said Nadeshiko, wiping Sakura's tears with her sleeve, "And you must be Sakura's friend," she said, nodding at Syaoran.

Syaoran nodded, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kinomoto."

Despite her cough worsening, she smiled at Syaoran, "Take care of her please."

"Mother, hang in there, please," said Touya. Tears also trickled down his face, and slid off his strong, angular jawline.

"I'm glad to have you children beside me," said Nadeshiko, "It's time to meet your father again. Touya, take care of Sakura, be the best older brother you can be. Please don't blame your father for this, he's gone."

Sakura's tears became a waterfall that flowed quickly from her emerald eyes.

"Forgive him, I know you have been holding it as a grudge for a while, even though he's gone. It's not his fault he was in the Mafia," said Nadeshiko.

Syaoran instantly went numb. Sakura's father was affiliated with the Mafia?

"MOTHER!" exclaimed Sakura horrifically. Syaoran is too far into this now.

"Cherry blossom, you have to let people know the real you to be sure they will protect you," said Nadeshiko, "And by looking at Syaoran, I have to say he must have put up a lot from you already."

"Mrs. Kinomoto, I will protect Sakura, no matter what," he said firmly.

Sakura's mother smiled at him.

Suddenly, she had another coughing fit. One hand covered her mouth, the other hand gripped Sakura's hand so hard, and she punctured Sakura's skin. Sakura was unfazed to the scratches and cried harder.

Between gasping breaths, Nadeshiko looked at her two children. "Touya, Sakura, I love you..."

With one last violent shudder, Nadeshiko's hand was limp and her eyes closed, as if she fell into a deep sleep.

Sakura continued sobbing; Touya pulled Sakura in his body and they both knelt beside their mother, crying.

Syaoran just stood there, stunned at everything he just witnessed in the past hour. The pain he saw in Sakura's eyes broke his heart, and he could not do anything to heal that pain.

"I can call my driver and get you all out of here," he finally said, "We can bring your mom to another hospital. I know the doctor well and he can…"

Certify her? Put her in a room of ice? Syaoran didn't know how to finish his sentence.

"Sakura, we should leave now," said Touya softly, "And follow Syaoran?"

"I don't want to go," cried Sakura. She didn't want to believe what just happened.

"We have to," said Touya. He pulled Sakura up. A sharp pain from her wound travelled up to her head and she suddenly fainted.

"SAKURA!" yelled Touya, and caught her from falling. Touya then went down one knee; his left leg was weak.

"I'll carry her," said Syaoran, and lifted her up.

"Is your car outside?" asked Touya.

"No, I told him to drive away, but I can call him and my driver will come," said Syaoran. Syaoran dialed Yong-Chi's phone number and told him to drive to Sakura's house right away.

When he arrived, Syaoran gingerly placed Sakura in the seat, and helped Touya carry Nadeshiko. Once they were all in, Syaoran ordered the driver, "Li Medical Clinic."

Syaoran felt awkward in the car. He was seated all the way on the left, with Sakura's head resting on his lap. Touya was on the right, still carrying his mother. His eyebrows were furrowed, his lips formed a grim line.

"My father runs many medical clinics, mostly in Hong Kong, but he has a branch here in Japan," said Syaoran, "I know the doctor, and he can make sure your mother will rest in peace."

"Thank you, Li. You have shown yourself to be furiously loyal to Sakura," said Touya, "I am forever in your debt for this."

"It's nothing," said Syaoran.

"You must really love her, don't you?" said Touya, glancing at the unconscious Sakura.

Love? Were Syaoran's feelings so deep for her?

"I…I guess...I never thought about it," said Syaoran.

"I trust you to treat Sakura well. No matter where she came from," said Touya sternly.

"Of course," said Syaoran.

Touya nodded. He knew what he wanted to know. They continued the rest of the car ride in silence. When they reached the clinic, Doctor Senko arranged preparations for Sakura's mother immediately. Sakura and Touya were given beds in separate rooms to get their injuries treated. Syaoran sat by Sakura's bed waiting for her to awake.

He held onto her hand.

"Sakura…you can't hear me right now, but if you can, please wake up. Every time I see you like this, my heart breaks a little more. Like…if you keep putting nails in a fence, and even when you take the nails out, the holes are still here. Now, my heart is full of those holes. Every time you leave, run away, and get hurt, I feel like you nailed my heart."

A/N: Long chapter for you all! Let me know what you think!

Note – I don't really know the procedures in handling someone who passed away, so I improv-ed it here in my story. And the mafia that Sakura's dad is in is related to artifact smuggling. Anyway, I'm not going to let Sakura fall in love with Syaoran so quickly yet, because I like to take things like this slowly. She just confessed to Yukito not too long ago! Let Sakura x Syaoran's relationship squirm a bit- there will be much more trials later on! Please review, review and review!