Hello, again! Well, here is the third chapter. I hope you like the third chapter. I am trying very hard to make this interesting! A little bit of the angst quality is toned down. Now, we have the story starting to get a little somewhere. I got a feeling I am going to be getting over my head here... Oh, and sorry about the triple posting of chapter 2. Darn computer...
Disclaimer: Standard yadda yadda. You know the drill.
Dusk to Dawn: Chapter 3
Waking Up
Sakura followed her best friend through the busy snow-filled streets. Tomoyo was chatting away lively to her best friend about her hopes for her yet-to-be-born child. This was the most fun she had had in a long time with her best friend. Sakura had pushed away her own suffering to be happy for Tomoyo. Now the two were tripping gaily down the streets. A line of female bodyguards were there to protect Sonomi's two greatest joys. The two were so used to them that they did not notice their ever watchful gazes.
Tomoyo had stopped in her tracks to peer at somebody she thought she recognized. Sakura was carrying her own bag wistfully waiting for Tomoyo to go on with what she was saying. She blew through her bangs. Her reflection caught her attention and she turned to look in a store's window.
The snowflakes were drifting gently through the air. In Tomoyo's dark hair they were like stars in heaven. In Sakura's they were like frozen tears. Sakura pushed the thought away and made herself smile at herself. A dimple she never noticed became present in her right cheek and she laughed at her mirror image. She covered her mouth with one daintily gloved hand. With her eyes closing in her usual fashion when she smiled or laughed, she froze when she thought she saw a familiar white shadow. Her pretty laugh was spoiled as she turned to stare in the same direction Tomoyo had.
"Tomoyo...did you just see someone...?" Sakura asked sharply.
"I...I don't know. I thought I just someone right now, myself."
"It looked like..."
"Syaoran-kun, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked puzzled as she looked up at her best friend.
Sakura held her fists clenched. Her eyes were narrowed as she stared out into the falling white curtains. "No...it couldn't be," she whispered.
"Then who?"
"We...must be seeing stuff, Tomoyo-chan. Uh, let's go finish finding the material you need for that new dress," she said lamely, trying to push a thousand thoughts out of her head. Sakura led her friend away from the edge of the sidewalk carefully. Yet, while she charaded an air of intent listening to Tomoyo-chan, her eyes were watching for any more shadows.
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Tomoyo sat on her bed with yards of new violet dusk material on her lap. She was tracing the edges of the fabric with one hand. Her other ivory hand laid on her bulging stomach. She was absently sweeping her hand back and forth in a steady ancient rhythm. Every now and then she would stretch her bare toes out in response to the baby's shifting motions.
Sakura laid outstretched next to her watching Tomoyo's hand's movements. She wore a bittersweet smile. She was bursting with happiness for her two closest friends. Who knew that the two opposites would marry and now be expecting their first child?
"Tomoyo-chan...what is it like?"
Tomoyo looked up surprised at the sudden question. "What is like?"
"You know, expecting a baby. How does it feel? I was just wondering..." her voice trailing off wistfully.
"Oh! It is so wonderful! It is so very strange and different! Yet, it is very deja vu-ish. I really can't describe it. Beautiful maybe?" Tomoyo's eyes lit up as she talked of the unborn child in her womb.
"I don't think I fully understand, Tomoyo-chan. When the baby moves, what is that like?"
"Like being tickled from the inside," she smirked suddenly at a new thought. Sakura was too innocent to comprehend it.
"Another heartbeat beating in time with yours from the inside..." Sakura mumbled in a distant voice.
"Nani?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking aloud to myself," Sakura brushed off quickly. Tomoyo tilted her head to the side at the putting off.
"No, really. What is it, Sakura-chan?"
"I just keep thinking of how it would have been," her words trembling thoughtfully then a forced laugh and smile, "Never mind me though! How is this material to be used, Tomoyo-chan?" Tomoyo squinted her eyes at her Sakura-chan but decided to let Sakura be for now.
"I was thinking of making a new costume."
"A costume? What do you mean? For who?"
"You, silly," her eyes crinkling in laughter at the shocked face.
"Me? Why me? I have no need for one."
A third voice joined the conversation, "You never know when trouble is going to follow you, Sakura-chan. You wield powerful magic and there will always be new opposition for it. A new rival could show up any day to change the path your life is taking."
"Rival? Change the path my life is taking..."
Eriol smiled his charming mask of a smile. Yes, this new challenge that he was sensing might just give Sakura something to worry over. He kissed Sakura's hand while she stared dazedly at the material that Tomoyo was now folding serenely. She knew and had seen the same images that her husband had. Her Sakura-chan would find happiness again she was sure of it.
"Sakura-chan isn't the type to stay depressed and sad forever, Li-kun. She isn't like that. You must tell her how you feel..."
"
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Sakura brushed her hair out and turned to look into the mirror. Sighing, she traced her reflection with her fingertips. She was denying to herself that she may have seen him. But then again, Tomoyo-chan had thought she had seen him too. It was so very confusing to her.
"Oh, well. I might as well get some sleep," she mumbled at her reflection.
"Yes, you should," said a voice from her shoulder.
"Kero-chan! Where have you been?" she questioned the golden magical beast.
"Uh...nothing!" he stuttered at her suspicious gaze.
"That would explain the crumbs on your mouth..."
"Cough! Anyways... Did you have fun today shopping with Tomoyo-chan?"
Sakura nodded at him then glanced in the mirror again.
"Why do you keep staring in the mirror and sighing, Sakura-chan?"
"Eriol said it isn't over. Well, not exactly. Tomoyo-chan bought new material today for a new costume for me."
"New costume? But the cards have all been captured. The Hope was the last one."
"I know. Let me think. He said, 'You never know when trouble is going to follow you, Sakura-chan. You wield powerful magic and there will always be new opposition for it. A new rival could show up any day to change the path your life is taking.' What is that suppose to mean, Kero-chan?"
"A new rival? Hmm... Clow Reed said something once about that whoever held the cards would surely be pursed forever for the right to possess the power they carry."
"Just what I need... more enemies."
"What you need is...," he left off what she needed. Sakura looked up at him curiously, "Never mind, Sakura-chan. Let's go to bed. I'm stuffed!"
"Ah ha! I knew you were raiding Tomoyo's kitchen!" Sakura cried out victoriously and then grabbed Kero by the tail and dragged him to bed.
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A shadow watched the petite Mistress of the Cards climb into bed. It sighed and placed its hand firmly against the tree it stood in. A hand slid through messy hair and a small sigh escaped the lips.
"What she really needs is a beautiful distraction," it whispered to the night.
It stood where it was and bit its lip sadly. No, it was not the time to let know. With a bow of its head, and a magical chant in a foreign language, it disappeared into the night.
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Eriol carried breakfast in bed upstairs to his wife. With a slight push of the door with his foot, he entered the room to find her still asleep.
Her dusky purple hair fell in curls all over the pillows and she held one hand under her ivory cheek. The other one, slid from the ruffles of her lacy sleeve and rested on her stomach protectively. He smiled to himself, pleased at her.
She did not love him. He did not love her either. At times though, he felt he might be falling for her when she laughed happily and followed her beloved Sakura-chan around with her ever faithful video camera. He smiled at the lovely vision she made there in their bed. Even in her sleep, she was thinking and caring about the child that was theirs. Love was not necessary to make them happy. Just a consensual agreement so neither of them would ever be lonely.
He sat down the tray next to her on a table. His hand swept away a curl on her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him.
"Ohayo, Eriol-kun," she muttered sleepily.
"Ohayo, Tomoyo-chan. Would you like some breakfast in bed?"
Tomoyo had a little difficulty in pulling herself up into a sitting position. Eriol's hands slid down to her sides and helped her. She smiled up at him sweetly. He was good to her. He would make an excellent father in a few months. She reached for a brush she could not reach and he handed it to her.
"Domo. Just wait a minute please. I want to work these tangles out of my hair so I won't look so bad."
"You are very beautiful, Tomoyo-chan. You don't need to brush your hair."
"Sweet talker," she accused as she dropped one finger on the tip of his nose.
He smiled at her and got up and pushed a small table to her side of the bed. He placed his own chair on the other side and set the heavily laden tray on it.
"I hope you are hungry this morning. Hopefully, you won't be having any case of morning sickness again."
"Iie. I feel fine. I think I have gotten past that point. Seeing that this is what the, o, sixth month? I didn't exactly get here on my own anyways. I had a little help you know."
"From yours truly," he teased her, kissing her cheek.
Tomoyo smiled at the tender gesture, "Mmm... from what I read though about the delivery, I don't think I'll let you come near me after that."
He laughed, "You know, pregnancy suits you so well. Maybe you oughta stay in this condition a few more times. " She blushed at his words.
"Hentai! You just like how I got this way! And whoever said, I'd give you that pleasure again?"
He chuckled down at her. With a sweeping motion, he stepped around the table and pulled her into his arms. She muffled a small cry into his shoulder as he kissed her throat.
"Eriol-kun...," she drawled out.
"Hmm?"
"What about breakfast?"
"Never mind that n--," he was interrupted from a slight gasp on her part. "What is it?" he asked a little shaken up.
"The ....the baby!"
"What about it???" he asked a little shaken up.
Her hands covered one of his and drew them to rest on top of her stomach. She smiled up at him with her eyes twinkling.
"Is that...?"
"Yes, the baby..."
"Well, I guess he wants to eat breakfast then."
"He?" she asked as she raised one eyebrow quislingly.
"Uh...just guessing," he smiled down at her. He took the opportunity to kiss her delicious mouth and then pressed a bowl of rice into her hands.
"Domo, Eriol-kun," she whispered as she took the chopsticks to her lips.
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Kero sat on Sakura's vanity table. He was keeping yet another late night vigil on her. He was still worried over her mental and emotional state. He would just have to have to try harder. Then there was the unsettling announcement Eriol had told Sakura tonight. Kero scrunched his eyes shut and tuned into the magical world. If there was anything to harm his Mistress, he would sense it before she did.
He looked around in the still night of Tomodoea. He thought he felt a flicker of something resist him. Then it went out like a candle being snuffed out. He sharpened his senses there, but it was gone. Hmm...well, maybe it had been earth magic. He then opened himself to check the area surrounding. No... nothing was coming up.
He opened his eyes and sighed. Nothing to help her. He flew off the table and fluttered down to land on her pillow. She sometimes cried at night. Her tears would slid down her cheeks and her hushed sobs would shake the bed as she cried again into the night. He passed his paw over her cheek. Her lashes fluttered at his touch. Kero smiled. Even in sleep, she was aware of the bond Mistress and guardian shared. He plopped down next to her face and curled under her chin. A soft sigh escaped Sakura's lips as she muttered out a lost word with the implications of her dead lover.
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He jerked awake. He was in a room. A small tiny room and only a gentle breathing spoiled the silence. Yet, he felt like it was the only sound he would ever hear. He sat up and pressed his the back of his palms against his eyes. Showers of stars appeared behind his lids but he ignored them as he concentrated on sensing where he was.
He knew this feeling. It was everything to him. The soft feminine aura that reached out hungrily to his. He felt invisible hands caress his side. He let himself open his eyes and look to where those hands were working on his tired, aching muscles.
A soft breeze stirred the air as yet another happy sigh escaped the dainty closed lips. She was dreaming. He could tell. How he ended up here, next to her, he could not tell. But he was not going to question it. Her mind whispered to his...
"Where have you been?" she asked child-like. He could about see her looking up at him with those emerald orbs.
"What do you mean?"
"It has been so long since then. Closer to a year than you know."
"Since what? What are you saying, Sakura?" he asked her urgently. Her mind voice was fading away. He gave a slight gasp as images from her memory flowed into his mind.
She was sobbing violently. Tomoyo kept pressing handkerchiefs into her hands. She was returning them to Tomoyo-chan just about as fast as Tomoyo could hand them to her. Her shoulders were shaking her small frame violently. Every breath was haggard and wrenched from her being like her own life being drawn away.
"Sakura-chan...," Tomoyo whispered to Sakura. Sakura calmed down just enough to look up through a veil of tears.
"How could he....how?" her shrill scream fell apart as her voice broke.
Tomoyo stepped forward and pulled her best friend into her arms, "Sakura-chan, he did not mean to. You must calm down. Please! You'll hurt yourself if you don't stop this!"
"What do I have to live for now, Tomoyo-chan? He is everything to me! Everything! And he left me..."
Sakura's eyes slid to a casket. With unsteady steps she stepped forward and pushed open the top half. Her hands slid in first. His eyes were drawn to her left hand. The ring! She was wearing his ring! Why was she opening a casket though? Then with a heave she forced the lid all the way up into a sitting position.
His own face was staring blankly up at Sakura. His eyes shut and his mouth set. His eyebrows still had managed to work themselves into a scowl. He looked so angry even in death...
He jerked his thoughts away from those. No! Was it a vision of the future? He could not believe it. There was no way this could happen. Then again, the pain he was receiving was very fresh. It was bitter and he could taste the bile in his own mouth as he once again had a flash of laying in that casket. There was no way... he could not be seeing the past, could he?
A soft muttering drew his attention. Her mind voice was so heavy with sleep and pain at this point he could not understand her. So he turned to her, hoping to get some answers from the sleeping Mistress of the Cards.
Her eyes were shut softly and her bottom lip was trembling slightly. One second her hands were relaxed with one pale star press against her cheek. Next second she was clawing at her sheets and her mouth drew wide in a silent scream. He watched the tears rush from her eyes and dampen the loose strands of hair about her face.
His heart twisted and he reached out to her. He had to calm her down. He watched in horror as his hand went through her. He could feel her body heat take a drop where his hand went through. He pulled it away hurriedly.
"Sakura...," the name tumbled from his lips as he called out to her. Yet, she did not open her spring green eyes to his searching.
"I'm dead, aren't I, Sakura?"
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Well, I hope chapter three makes some sense. It doesn't make any sense to me. But I am trying to build a plot up here! I need some ideas though. I really need an idea for plot. Domo! Remember I'm only writing because it has been requested!