Stars On Ice:
Part Two
Li walked again to Sakura's house alone. He told Meilin he was going to walk Sakura because of what happened yesterday and surprisingly she agreed. She said she understood and that if that boy came near either of them, he could count of her to help in the fight. Li smiled and thanked her as he left. Obviously, Meilin thought Brian was a jerk too.
Li arrived at Sakura's house and carefully knocked on the door. He heard footsteps and Tori answered the door. Li bit back a few choice words he knew were inappropriate and asked. "Is Sakura here?"
Tori glared at him a moment more, but opened the door. "She'll be down in a minute."
Li nodded and walked in. Tori closed the door behind him. "Listen brat." Tori said. Li spun around to face him. "You know I hate your guts right?"
Li nodded. "The feeling's mutual."
"Yah, well." Tori scratched his head. "For doing what you're doing now. Thanks."
Li frowned. What is going on here?
Tori looked at Li's confused expression. "That kid, Brian, really freak her out, and well, since I can't take her everyday, because of work, it's good to know she's not going alone." Tori gave a slight smile.
Li smiled back.
"Anyway, she's upstairs. You can go up and see her."
Li's mouth dropped and Tori left him like that and went into the living room.
Li went upstairs and knocked on Sakura's door. "I said I'll be right down!" Sakura yelled. "I have to get ready before Li gets…" She opened the door and saw Li standing there, trying not to laugh. "…here." Sakura blushed a deep red.
"Oh, hi Li" Sakura managed. "I thought you were Tori.
"Oooh." Li said, fully understanding.
"Will you come in?" Sakura said opening the door. Li walked in and Sakura continued to pack her ice skates into her bag.
Kero popped out of the drawer. "What is the Chinese brat doing here?!"
Li glared at Kero, and spoke through clenched teeth. "I'm giving her an escort to the skating lesson."
Kero crossed his arms. "I could help you know."
Sakura closed her bag and swung it over her shoulder. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't think you should go into public."
Li smiled. "Not that anyone would be afraid of a stuffed animal anyway."
Kero growled, but Li just ignored him and opened the door for Sakura. She went through and Li turned to stick his tongue out at Kero. Kero growled again and flew at Li. Li simply closed the door behind him. He smiled at Sakura and they heard a thump and a groan on the door. (Kero smashing into the door)
They walked downstairs and met Tori at the front door. Sakura tensed up, while Tori just stared at them. To rub it in, Li was a gentleman and took Sakura's bag for her. Tori's mouth dropped to the floor, while Sakura smiled broadly. Li opened the door and they walked out of the house, leaving the shocked Tori behind.
Li and Sakura walked to the rink mostly in silence. Li felt his heart pounding in his chest and he tried to keep his hands from shaking. Sakura seemed to be constantly looking around for Brian. Li saw her worried look. "Sakura." He put both bags, his and Sakura's, in his left hand and held Sakura's hand with his right. "Don't worry. I won't let him hurt you. I promise."
Sakura gave a weak smile and nods. "It's just his aura seemed so dark and powerful. His words keep echoing in my mind…"
"Who are you?"
"Your worst nightmare."
Sakura shivered at the memory and Li squeezed her hand in reassurance. "Come on. Let's get to class."
Sakura nodded and they took off.
From the bushes, Brian sneered at the couple. "So, she thinks her little wolf will protect her? Think again cherry blossom. I want you and I always get what I want." Then Brian made his way to the rink.
Mrs. McKenzie stood in front of the class explaining the day's plans. "Today we're going to learn some of the basics. Learning how to go backwards, stopping and simple turns." Mrs. McKenzie started to show the class how to do them. Sakura and Li paid attention, though they already knew most of it. "Okay, now class. Free skate. Practice what I showed you and I'll come around to help you." Everyone cheered and took to the ice.
Meilin had made some friends in class and for once was leaving Li alone. He and Sakura skated around the rink, playing different games, and doing some simple tricks.
"Sakura I got an idea." Li said. He skated a little ahead and turned around. Now that he was going backwards, he held out his hands. "Grab on!" Sakura skated up and clasped both of his hands. Li continued to go backwards then looked at Sakura. "On three."
Sakura frowned. "On three? For what?"
Li didn't answer he just kept going backwards. "One…two…three!" Suddenly, Li turned around and pulled Sakura around too. They did a one-eighty, on the ground, and now Sakura was going backwards and Li was skating straight.
"Li! We're going way too fast!" She exclaimed, but laughed at how they were still holding hands while pulling off such a stunt. Sakura smiled. "Fine then! One…two…three!" She called out and they swapped places again.
"Sakura! No fair!" Li struggled to not fall down while going backwards. They laughed and Li let go of one of Sakura's hands, so he could go forwards again. Though the stunt was over, they continued to go around, still holding hands.
After a while, Mrs. McKenzie came over. "That was very good. You two are getting better."
"Thanks!" Both exclaimed.
"I want you to be in my advanced class." She stated.
That stopped both kids in their tracks. "What?" Li asked.
"You think we're good enough for that?" Sakura asked.
Mrs. McKenzie nodded. "You're already doing tricks far ahead of the other students. Will you?" She asked.
Sakura and Li looked at each other, smiled, then turned to their teacher. "Sure!" They exclaimed.
Brian was watching from the dark corners of the rink. He growled deep in his throat. How dare that kid hold hands with my prize!
He sent out his energy throughout the building. If he couldn't have her, no one could…
Mrs. McKenzie was laughing with Li and Sakura when all three stopped and heard something. She felt it. Dark energy, the same she'd felt in Brain was here now and something was going to give…
As if on cue, the whole building began to shake.
"It's an earthquake!!!" One kid shouted.
Mrs. McKenzie looked up and saw a piece of debris fall from the roof. "Look out!" She dove to the side and grabbed Li and Sakura with her.
The giant piece fell right where they had been standing. Mrs. McKenzie stood up.
Li helped Sakura up too. "It's Brian. He's back." Sakura whimpered on the verge of tears again. Li pulled her close. "Don't worry. I'm here."
Sakura nodded and his words seem to comfort her. "How will we fight him? We can't use our weapons in front of everyone." Li looked up to Mrs. McKenzie.
She nodded. "Everyone, to the fire escape now!"
Everyone began to run to the exits, Mrs. McKenzie grabbing anyone left behind. She took one last look back at the two card captors in the middle of the rink before evacuating the building.
Li pulled put his sword and his lasenboard. Sakura called out her key. "Key of Clow. Power of Magic. Power of Light. Surrender the wand, the force ignite. Release!!"
"Force of light with ancient spin. Send forth the magic power within. Force know my plight, release the light!" His lasenboard lit up and pointed to one of the far corners.
Li jumped in between Sakura and where his lasenboard said Brian was. "We know you're here! Show yourself!!" Li demanded. Suddenly the rumbling stopped and all was still.
Brian stepped up from behind the edge wall of the rink. "So? The little wolf has come to defend the cherry blossom?" He taunted. Brian did an amazing jump-flip in the air and landed a hair away from Li's face. Li neither stepped back nor flinched. Brian stared him right in the eye. "Well, I've got news for you. You won't be able to stop me. One way or another, she will be mine."
Sakura tightened her grip on her staff. Li replied through clenched teeth. "Don't bet on it." He pulled out his sword and attempted to slice Brain from shoulder to hip.
Brain showed some excellent reflexes and back flipped out of the way. "You're fast. But I'm faster." Brain's form seemed to waver and he was suddenly behind Sakura.
She screeched as Brain grabbed her arms and held them tight. Sakura pulled her staff forward. She brought it back into Brain's stomach, making him release his hold on her.
She ran to Li's side, who held his sword in a defensive position. Brian held his stomach, yet smiled at his adversaries. "So the cherry blossom had thorns?" He said.
Sakura glared at Brian. "You bet I do! Now who are you and what do you want!!"
"So anxious to get to know me, I see?" Brian taunted. "Be careful for though the ice seems safe, it is full of cracks. If you're not cautious, you might find yourself falling though thin ice!" Brian brought up a fist and smashed the ice in front of him.
A large crack split the ice and quickly made it's way towards Sakura and Li. Sakura used Fly and Li used his skill to jump out of the way. They came down next to each other, back to back, looking for Brian. But when they looked, he was gone.
They felt for his aura, but didn't feel anything. They relaxed a bit and turned towards each other. They thought the same thing. Suddenly, ice-skating has gotten a whole lot more complicated.