City Under Siege:
Chapter Four
Infiltrating the evil
Is a difficult task from the start
You will be tested
To see the true nature of your heart
As Sakura and Syaoran were led down the school, they saw that it had changed. No more were the hallways full of lockers and classrooms. Everything had been replaced. Dungeons and dark rooms replaced the nice and neat classrooms where Touya and Yukito had once learned. Hallways were transformed into passageways, stonewalls replaced the lockers and the floor was cold granite as well.
Sakura's key and cards were taken away, as well as Syaoran's sword and his cards. They were led to a metal door that seemed identical to all the others.
"You are to stay here." Their escort said.
Together!? Sakura panicked.
Oh boy. Syaoran echoed Sakura's worries with his own.
Sakura and Syaoran slowly went inside the room. It had no windows, and one large bed in the middle. They stared at it in fright and jumped as the door slammed shut behind them.
Sakura slowly walked in and looked around the room. "There doesn't seem to be any other rooms…besides the bathroom." She looked once again at the bed.
Syaoran just stood there staring. I can't sleep in bed…with her.
Sakura looked over at him and giggled. "Nor I with you."
Syaoran shook his head and smirked at her. "You weren't supposed to hear that!" The tension subsided.
Sakura shrugged. "You're projecting your feelings very strongly." She said. She looked at him and smiled. "You take it. I'll sleep on the floor."
Syaoran stepped forward. "No way. I'll take the floor."
"I wouldn't make you do that." Sakura responded.
"You think you have a choice?" He ran at her and she let out a little scream and ran for the bed. He tackled her on the bed and pinned her. "See. You take the bed."
She smiled up at him, her lips curving in such a way Syaoran thought he was going to melt. "Actually, technically, we both have the bed now."
Syaoran blushed a deep red and quickly got off her. "Gomen."
Sakura got up and quickly lunged back, pinning him. "Don't be." She smirked and tried not to laugh.
"Alright, you win." He conceded and slowly got up. "We both take it."
She nodded. "Good choice. I thought I was going to have to pin you again." She winked. Then she became serious. "How are we going to get our stuff back?"
Syaoran sat next to her. "You can sense the book right?" She nodded. "We'll have to sneak around tonight and see if we can find it. The security isn't as bad at night, we might have a chance."
She nodded. "Tonight." She got up and went under the covers. She rolled up into a ball and looked strangely at him. "You gonna stay awake all night? If we're going to be any snooping around, I don't want you to fall asleep." He hesitated. She rolled her eyes. "Afraid I'll bite?" She teased.
He mock-frowned. "There's no guarantee that you won't."
She threw a pillow at him. "Baka! Sleep there then!" She pulled the covers up to her neck and closed her eyes.
He put the pillow down and went under the covers. "Yeah right, and freeze my butt off in this stone room." He curled up, his back to Sakura and closed his eyes.
He's so cute when he gets defensive like that. Sakura thought.
"Thanks." Syaoran replied.
Sakura blushed madly. This is going to take some getting used to.
I agree.
And with that, they finally went to sleep.
Sakura smiled as she dreamed of Syaoran asking her out on a date. She felt someone nudge her. Sakura, wake up.
She mumbled in her sleep. "Umm…Syaoran-kun, I will."
She was nudged again. Wake up.
No response. I said WAKE UP!!!
Sakura jolted up and smacked Syaoran in the head. "I'll have to remember not to do that one ever again."
Sakura smirked. "Sorry."
Syaoran rubbed his head and looked at her. "Just what were you dreaming about?"
Sakura blushed. "Nothing."
Syaoran smirked. "Oh I see." You are so easy to read.
Sakura picked up her pillow and hit him with it. "I am not!"
"Okay, jeez, I was only practicing." He said in defense.
"Yeah right." She got up. "So why'd you wake me up?"
Syaoran got up also and helped Sakura to her feet. "You do want to get our stuff back right?"
Sakura's eyes widened. "I forgot!"
"Maybe that's cause you spend too much time in dreamland."
Sakura smiled at him. And you don't? I'm not as clueless as you think.
Sakura walked by a shock stricken Syaoran and tiptoed to the door. You coming or not?
Syaoran turned to her and nodded. No more verbal communication. Only in the room or we'll get caught for sure.
Sakura nodded and stretched out her senses. She could feel the book and slowly opened the door.
No one's close to our proximity. Syaoran told her.
Let's go. Sakura went down the hallway and followed her sense of where the book was, Syaoran following her. They dodged the guards and finally came to room, where Sakura was sure their weapons were being held.
Sakura slowly opened the door and found the library, or what used to be the library. Now it was a dark room. Sakura frowned. Her study?
That's what I think. Syaoran looked around. You go to the right. I'll take the left.
Right. Sakura started off and Syaoran did too. Syaoran went slowly around the room, until he came across a scroll. He opened it and gasped. Syaoran-kun! I found them! Sakura sent to him.
Syaoran closed the scroll and went over to her. He walked up beside her and saw their weapons being held in a shield of some kind.
How do we open it? She asked.
I'm not sure. Then Li remembered. I found this. He handed her the scroll. When both hands touched the paper, there was a bright flash and both cardcaptors disappeared.
Sakura opened her eyes and saw Syaoran next to her, but they weren't in the same room anymore.
"Where…where are we?" Sakura said grabbing Syaoran's arm.
He shrugged and examined their surroundings. They were in a room Syaoran was familiar with. "This is the Spell Casters Room." Syaoran said.
Sakura nodded and looked down to the far end of the room. There was a figure, hidden in the shadows. She gasped. Syaoran went instinctively in front of her.
"You need not fear me. I'm only here to help you." The figure said.
"Show yourself!" Syaoran challenged.
The figure obliged and stepped into the light. Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. "Clow-san!" She said.
Clow Reed bowed. "Nice to see you, Clow Card Mistress."
She bowed to him. "Hai, nice to see you too, but aren't you…"
"Dead? Yes, but I left some of my magic in this scroll to warn you. You must beware of Natsuo. She is not what she appears to be." Clow Reed warned.
Syaoran frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Here, let me show you." Clow Reed said and suddenly, the room changed. They were now in another room. Clow Reed was kneeling against a bed. On the bed was Natsuo.
"Don't leave me, Natsuo." Clow-san said.
Natsuo smiled. "I'll never really leave you."
Clow nodded solemnly. "I know." He chanted some words and Natsuo began to glow brightly. Slowly, right in front of the young cardcaptors' eyes, Natsuo's body turned into a Clow Card!
Clow Reed took the card and held it in his hands, looking at it longingly. "Now you will always be with me."
The vision ended and Sakura and Syaoran returned to the room with Clow Reed.
Clow Reed looked down at the floor. "So you see? She's doing all of this, because she thinks I'll return. I can't tell her that I can't." He paused then turned to the two. "But you can."
They looked up in surprise. Clow Reed closed his eyes and chanted some words. Sakura and Syaoran started to glow. When Clow-san stopped, he smiled at the two. "When the time comes you will know what to do. I have given you the powers of the Move Card. Syaoran, you also now have the power of the Fly inside you." Syaoran nodded. Clow-san nodded his head. "You can use the scroll to help you. Please bring her back to me."
The vision ended and Sakura and Syaoran were returned to the study.
Just then both of them froze when they felt Natsuo's presence enter the room. Syaoran hid the scroll under his shirt. They turned around the corner and were instantly face to face with her.
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you two doing here?"
"We…uh…we heard a sound. Thought we'd better investigate." Sakura lied.
Syaoran caught on. "Actually I heard it and brought this wretched girl with me." He said indicating Sakura.
Sakura mentally winced, even though she knew he was just saying that, it still pained her.
Syaoran regretted saying that, but he had to convince Natsuo that they weren't in this together.
"You are not allowed out of your quarters after hours." She said. "You must be punished."
Sakura started to panic. To make things worst, Natsuo brought out a whip. "Get down on your knees." She commanded Syaoran. Syaoran did as told, he couldn't let her know he still had his free will. Natsuo turned to Sakura and handed her the whip. "Punish him."
Sakura's eyes widened. Natsuo was getting impatient. "I said hit him!"
Sakura looked worriedly down at Syaoran. He didn't turn his head to her, but stayed on his hands and knees. I can't!
Do it.
Nani? Sakura was shocked. Syaoran, you don't think I'm…
DO IT!! He pleaded with her.
Sakura closed her eyes and lifted the whip. She brought it down on his back, making a deep gash in his back. She winced as his pain came through to her.
"Again." Natsuo said.
Sakura did as told, making another gash in his side.
Syaoran clenched his teeth against the pain, as each blow came forth, more blood spilled, he wasn't sure how mush longer he would last.
Natsuo continued to have Sakura whip Syaoran until his back was completely covered in blood. Sakura had to use all of her strength to keep from having her hands shake. Finally, Natsuo called it to an end. "Take him to your quarters. Wash him up. He's learned his lesson." With that Natsuo turned on her heel and left the room.
Sakura slowly helped Syaoran to his feet and helped him back to their chambers.
Sakura slowly let Syaoran sit on the bed, while she ran to the bathroom and got a bowl of cool water and a washcloth. She came back and immediately started to cleanse his wounds.
Hot tears fell down her cheeks as she saw every swipe on his back, each one at her hand. She cleaned the washcloth and repeated the routine. I'm so sorry. She thought as more tears came forth. She let out a little sob.
Syaoran's hand immediately came around and stopped her hand. "Don't be. You did what you had to do."
Sakura shook her head and looked down at the ground. She closed her eyes as more tears threatened to fall. "I...I hurt you. In a million years I never thought I'd do something like that. Putting you through so mush pain and…"
"It wasn't your fault. And I don't blame you." He smiled at her. "If you hadn't Natsuo would've caught on." He explained.
Sakura didn't buy it. Her sobs continued until Syaoran wrapped her arms around her, despite the pain in his back, and pulled her into a hug. Don't cry, please. He asked her. Seeing you sad is more pain than any weapon or whip could ever do.
She looked up at him and he whipped the tears away. "Feel any better?"
Sakura nodded. "A little." Then she gasped. "Oh my gosh! I must be so foolish! Here you are loosing blood and I'm crying! I'm so absent-minded!" She immediately went back to dressing his wounds until his chest was wrapped in many layers of bandages.
She sighed sadly. I'll never forget what I've done to you this night.
Syaoran sighed. He wished there was something he could do, but there wasn't. What was done was done, and he couldn't change the past. But maybe, with Sakura's help, they could change the path of the future.