Love On Horseback:
Part Two
Madison and Sakura walked home together from school, Tuesday afternoon. Sakura now finally usually walked home with Li, but Meilin has pulled away. Li had reassured Sakura that he would tell Meilin about the trip. Sakura couldn't wait. A whole week, just her and Li! A real vacation, one they both need and deserved.
"Really! Oh! I wish I cold go and film you!" Madison squealed.
Sakura sweat dropped I really don't think so, Madison. His aunt only mentioned me."
Madison frowned. "How did she know about you?"
Sakura blushed. "Apparently, Li told his mom…"
"How sweet!"
"…and she told everyone else." Sakura finished.
Madison gasped. "Everyone else!? Do you know how many that is!?"
Sakura grimaced. "I really don't want to know."
Madison giggled. "Well, I hope you have fun. A ranch, huh?"
Sakura smiled. "Yep! She had some horses too!"
Madison smiles mischievously. "Maybe Li will show you how to ride?"
Sakura blushed. She'd thought of that. She had to admit, the idea did excite her. "I'm really looking forward to this!"
Li opened the door to his apartment, Meilin still hanging off of his arm. "Meilin let go." Li grumbled.
Meilin put on a sad face, and slowly let go. Li pulled up hand and opened a letter. It was from his Aunt Rena, that he had gotten from the mail.
Meilin watched over shoulder as Li read the letter.
Dear Li,
Enclosed inside are two, first class airplane tickets to Hong Kong. You're mother said she'll send Wei, since he's here, to pick you up. He'll bring you to the ranch. Your cousins await your arrival and hope to see you soon.
-Aunt Rena
Meilin frowned. "Why would Auntie send you tickets to Hong Kong?" She gasped. "Are you finally coming home?"
Li sweat dropped. "She actually invited me to visit, for winter vacation."
"What!? She invited you and not me!? Who's the other ticket for!?"
Li backed up a bit before answering. "Aunt Rena kinda, sorta wanted…Sakura to come up."
Meilin's face got very red. "How does she know about that…that…"
Li cut her off. "Mom told her! So she wants to meet her!"
Meilin fought back tears. "What…what does she have that I don't?"
Li placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't think of it that way. It doesn't mean anything against you. It's just…" Li paused. "Sakura and I are meant to be. Sakura is very…special to me. But I'll always have a place in my heart for you." He smiled.
Meilin gave a weak smile in return. "I know. As long as you're happy." Then she turned and went out the door from which she came.
Li frowned and looked down at the letter. True, it had two tickets, but…
How'd they come so soon? Then it hit him. She sent them ahead of time. Very sneaky. That's Aunt Rena for you.
He smiled, then pocketed the tickets and went to finish his homework.
For Sakura, then rest of the week went by quickly. Soon Saturday came and Sakura raced around her room, trying to finish packing.
"How could I forget to pack!? I'm going to miss my flight!" Sakura panicked.
A soft knock was heard at the door. "Come in!" Sakura yelled, grabbing some more clothed and stuffing them into her suitcase.
Her father opened the door and chuckled. "Almost ready?"
"No! I forgot! I'm so sorry!"
Mr. Avalon waved the thought away. "Don't worry about it. How about this, I'll go and pick up Li and we can come back here to get you."
Sakura smiled. "That'll be great!"
Mr. Avalon nodded and left. Kero came out of his drawer. "I still don't understand why I can't go! I don't trust that Li brat!"
"No Kero. You're not coming. This is just him and me."
Sakura continued to pack her things. She came upon a shirt that Li had given her for her birthday a while back. I have to bring this! She put it in her suitcase and added in some other essentials.
After a while, she heard a car horn. She ran to the window. "Coming!" She ran to her bed and tried to close her suitcase, only to find she couldn't. She sat on it and it still wouldn't close.
Someone knocked on her door. She growled. "Come in!" She pushed down on her suitcase.
"Problem packing?" A voice said. Sakura looked up to see Li standing at her door with an amused expression.
"Li! You're…you're here?"
Li smiled. "Need help?" He walked forward and Sakura slowly got off the suitcase.
"Well...um…" Sakura blushed. This is so embarrassing!
Li rearranged her things a little more and managed to close the suitcase without any problems. He picked it up and turned to Sakura. "Ready?"
Sakura blushed some more. "Yeah." He nodded and held out his hand. She took it and together they walked out of her room.
They were met by a very unhappy Tori at the front door. Sakura growled, but Li squeezed her hand. He pulled her forward and they bravely walked past Tori, who simply glared at Li, unable to do anything, because of his little "chat" with his dad.
Li put the suitcase in the trunk, then opened the car door, allowing Sakura in. He moved in next to her, ^_^, and Sakura's father started off to the airport.
Once Sakura had said good-bye to her father, Li gave his thanks and they went to their plane. It took off, and Li offered Sakura the window seat.
"Wow! It's so pretty!" Sakura said when they were finally up in the air.
"Not as pretty as you." Li said. Sakura blushed and held Li's hand as they continued over the ocean towards China.
Later, Sakura fell asleep, exhausted from the packing and traveling. Li gazed at her and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. You're so innocent and naïve. It makes me want to protect you even more. Hopefully nothing but fun awaits us in China, but I have a feeling, more is to come than riding horses.
Li looked out the window over Sakura's sleeping body. Something was bothering him, and it grew as they neared his homeland. Something was there. And whatever it was, Li would stop it from harming Sakura.
A boy with blue eyes and blond hair bowed before a dark figure. "Please."
"Why should I grant you such a wish? I ask one thing, to destroy the cherry blossom and her protector, and you could do neither."
The boy trembled. "I need more power. Grant me enough, and I promise you the little wolf will not bother you again. Please Shaulin."
"Brian." Shaulin said. "You are my descendant. So I will be lenient this time." Shaulin held out his hand and black energy formed into a sphere. It flew at Brian and enclosed him. He began to glow with a black aura and stood up smiling. "You will not escape me Sakura. Not this time. And if you try to stand in my way, Li, I will destroy you. You thought you defeated me, but you were wrong. And you'll find out how wrong soon enough."
Then Brian and Shaulin laughed, and Brain disappeared into the darkness. Destination: China.
A/N: How'd you like that? A little explanation about how Brian came back and some more S+S romance, but just a little. I have more planned for the cherry blossom and her little wolf as soon as they get to Aunt Rena's. If they get there is up to you. Shall I continue? R+R!!!