A/N: Thanks you to those veery few people (Like, three)who reviewed chapter five

A/N: Thanks you to those veery few people (Like, three)who reviewed chapter five. You guys gave me some new fodder to work with in this chapter and I love y'all (even if one was almost verging on a flame ^_~) Okay, to break it down (for those who may care), Li may be called Syaoran at those touching S&S moments (If I put any in). Nikki, Chelsea and Rita, and Madison will always be called by their English names, and the same goes with Zachary. I use his Japanese last names because I have no idea what it is in English. Torako Tenshionnami Kaylell will stay at that unless Jared is talking to her. His pet name for her is Angel, and Saruko always makes fun of it, just like a big brother should :) I haven't seen the second series yet so I can't very well put in those characters until I do. Phew! Now that that's over, I can finally start this chapter!

Chapter 7

So Zachary met Jared and they had a short conversation, Jared scowling at him a lot of the time, and Zachary wondering what his problem was the rest.

So you're Zachary.

Yup. I guess you must be Jared.

Right. I've heard a lot about you.

Is that a good thing?

Zachary quirked an eyebrow.

Not for you.

Oh. Sorry to hear that.

You should be. Listen, why don't you lay off Torako for a while?

Why should I?

Because if you don't, terrrrrible things could happen.

Oh yeah? Like what?

Zachary looked at the camera sceptically.

Have you ever woken up to find that you had absolutely no bones from the waist down? Let me tell you, it's not too great. And that was only when I took her favourite Barbie doll and shaved its head.

Zachary looked at Jared and blinked.

Uh, I've got to go now. Talk to you later.

Not if I talk to you first.

Jared bade him an ominous farewell. Zachary surrendered the computer to Torako and waited for her to say something.

"Oh, you have to leave? Too bad." Torako told him. "I'll walk you to the door."

~*~*~*~*~

"I am telling you Li, this chick is vicious! I bet you and Sakura were never like this."

It was the next day after school. Li and Zachary were sitting atop a picnic table under a tree, watching the girls (Madison, Sakura, Nikki, Chelsea, Rita and Torako) play Frisbee on the soccer field. As it was autumn, crinkly leaves were falling all around.

"Erm, well in a way we were. We just weren't ever so…open with our…hatred. But hey, look at us now!" Li grinned.

"What do you mean Li, the fact that you worship the ground she walks on? That you'd shave your head, and crawl to the ends of the earth in a pink sequined Speedo if it would make her happy?"

"Well I wouldn't say that…" Li trailed off. No doubt that painted an interesting mental picture for both of them. Li shook his head. "All I'm saying is, we're friends now. Once we started to work things out we just kind of…clicked."

Zachary snorted. "In a way."

Li glared. "In a way."

"I wish I knew how to make her give up."

Now it was Li's turn to snort. "The answer's simple. You can't. This means too much to her for her to give up on it. Plus it's obvious that fate has something greater in store for both of you. The key thing is that you work together."

Zachary listened in interest. "Fate? What does that have to do with it?"

Li sighed and lay down on the picnic table. "Well, I've been thinking. When Sakura and me were battling the Clow Cards, Sakura was the only one with the power to actually seal the cards, and she became their mistress. If you believe in fate, there was a reason why I couldn't seal them. That's because it was Sakura's destiny to be the mistress of the cards."

"If I believe in fate." Zachary looked down at him. "So where does that put us?" Zachary motioned to Torako, who had just jumped five feet into the air and caught the Frisbee without even messing up her hair, landing perfectly to boot.

"Don't you have a guardian beast for this kind of thing?" Li asked him after they watched the girls for a few seconds.

"Yeah, but he's annoying." He poked his finger at his backpack, which was making snoring sounds.

"I'm flattered. Well, the way I'm seeing it, is that since both of you have the power to seal cards, this rivalry probably won't end for a loooooong time."

"Like how long?"

"Like until you die long."

There was a large pause, in which Zachary looked at the ground, then at Torako, then at the ground again, scratched his ear, and then back to Li.

"I'm not sure I can handle that." He said in a stressed tone.

"Too bad. Unless you know how to change fate."

"You're so depressing. I wonder how you ever managed to make any friends?"

"That's okay Zachary. You can thank me later." Li patted him on the back and then ran to go play Frisbee with the girls, leaving Zachary there still mulling over what to do, and not doing a very good job of figuring it out.

A couple minutes later, something odd happened. The wind picked up and leaves started swirling everywhere, which wasn't the odd thing. Torako gapped out and began looking around, totally forgetting about the game that was going on around her. As a result, the Frisbee hit her square on the forehead and she fell over. When she got back up she had a red splotch on her face where the renegade disk had hit her.

"Torako, are you alright?" Rita asked her.

"Oh, I'm okay, thanks." She replied absently. After a silent moment of rubbing her forehead she just looked at everyone and said, "I think I'd better get home. See you all tomorrow." She picked up her backpack from the ground and began to walk home, still holding her head.

"We'd all better go home too. It'll be dark out pretty soon." Nikki pointed out. "Wouldn't want to get caught by any ghosties!" she grinned.

Sakura shivered in spite of herself.

"Are you cold? Do you want to wear my jacket? Are you okay?" Li shifted into his chivalry mode.

"Er, sure." Sakura couldn't say she minded. She smiled sweetly at him, making him melt inside as he put his coat around her shoulders. They both turned around to see the other five girls with looks on their faces that very nearly squealed "Aaaw, how cute!"

"What?!" Li nearly yelled. "It's just a jacket," he said more quietly.

Everyone else forcibly lost interest and retrieved their bags, Nikki and Chelsea going one way, Rita going towards the school (Nobody even knew why she tried to hide her feelings for Mr. Terada anymore, since it was soooooo obvious), and Li, Sakura and Madison all joined Zachary under his tree.

They all looked at him for a minute, while Zachary was still lying on his back. Suddenly he sat bolt upright, crossed his legs on the tabletop, rubbed his hands together with a clap and said, "Okay, who else here feels a supernatural presence?" looking from face to face. Everyone perked up when he said that.

"This time will you wear the outfit?" Madison said going starry eyed, and pulling it out of god knows where.

"I'll be glad to," he said, much to the shock of everyone else. "Get your video camera ready too." He added as he went to put on the battle outfit, giving his backpack a small boot to insure Quan was awake. He slept as much as Kero did, if not more!

When he came back, this time he had the full thing on, and Madison finally got her camera full of him. His pants were dark ocean blue, with gold piping about four inches from the bottom, but weren't poofy like Li's, and an embroidered gold dragon design that looked as though it were crawling up his right leg. His top was a bit like a vest. It had those Chinese-style button things, and was also blue. Underneath was a white shirt (like the one Li wore under his green robes), and he carried the hat in one hand.

"What's wrong with it?" Madison asked him, without putting the camera down.

"It's too dorky."

"No it isn't. Come on; just try it on, please? For me?"

Zachary didn't say anything, but jammed the hat onto his head. The huge thing drooped over his eyes, along with the peacock feathers and the giant fake jewel that was stuck to it. Sakura and Li started laughing.

"There, now would you like me to find an Indian and a construction worker and start singing 'YMCA'?" he crossed his arms.

"Zachary, don't slouch. You're supposed to be a warrior. Act like it."

"Fine, you keep the hat, and I won't slouch. Now I've got a card to capture, so if you'll excuse me…" he walked out of the camera's range of view.

Zachary unzipped his backpack to let Quan out, but he was asleep again.

"Wake up you useless excuse for a guardian beast. We've got business to take care of!"

"Hah? Wa? Oh! Oh, I was just resting my eyes! I'm awake now." He flew up into the air, blinking his little round eyes in the sudden light of the sunset.

"Zachary, how do you know that there's a card around?" Madison asked him.

"Well, as everyone knows, my powers have been getting stronger by the day, right? Well I can see auras now, like Li and Sakura. You guys probably didn't notice because you were so caught up in the game, but when Torako went into that kind of daze, her aura was blocked."

"And you think that it could be one of the cards?"

"I know it's one of the cards. And the reason why Torako went home so fast without saying hardly anything? It's because she forgot her pendant at home. I noticed that this afternoon. She went to go get it, hoping that I wouldn't realize that a card was around, so she could seal it herself."

All three of them looked at him, shocked.

"Wow, I don't know where that came from but I think it's the most intelligent thing I've heard you say in my life!" Li said.

"Well don't just sit there talking about it! GO get that card!" Quan yelled.

"Oh, right!" Zachary exclaimed, and ran to the middle of the field. There, he called out his sword.

'Sword of Rahn,

Power of magic,

Shroud of stealth,

Obey this command,

Release yourself!'

White glittery things that were appearing gathered together in the shape of Zachary's sword, which turned solid in a flash of blue light.

"Erm, Quan? Just one problem. I don't know where the card is now."

"You'll have to wait for it to make its next move then."

"It might do something bad by that time!" he protested, thinking about his friends.

"Oh pish-posh. It's The Auror card. It can't do anything serious. All it does is block your aura so that other magical persons can't feel your presence.

"Oh, is that all?" Zachary replied in a mocking tone.

And so they all waited for the card to make its next move, Madison being the only one who wouldn't see it. One minute passed, then another thirty seconds, and finally, "Zachary! It's in Sakura!" Li yelled. And it was true. Sakura's eyes went droopy as though she was about to fall asleep, and Zachary ran up to her to seal it. Just as he was almost there, Torako stepped out from behind the tree that they were all standing in front of without anybody noticing except him and sealed it before he could blink.

"Return to your power confined, Auror!"

As she sealed the card there came a great flash of blue light and everyone else shielded their eyes. When they opened them again, Torako was standing with the card in one hand, her wand in the other. She swayed side-to-side for a moment, and then fell over unconscious. Everyone went to her except Zachary, who stayed in his place for a moment scratching his head. "Why didn't I see her there?!"

"Why don't you open your eyes once in a while you stupid twit! It might help!" Quan screamed, then flew back into his backpack muttering unintelligible curses.

Madison still had the camera rolling. Sakura was looking a bit pale from her encounter, and Li was trying to get Torako to wake up.

"Come on cuz, wake up. It's not bed time yet." he smacked her cheeks lightly a couple of times before her eyes flickered open.

"What? Where am I?" she had that half-awake expression on her face.

"Torako, it's us! You just captured the Auror card!" Madison told her, still being relentless with the camera.

"Oh! Yeah!" Torako sat up with some effort and looked at the card, which she still gripped tightly. There was nothing on it but something that looked like mist.

"Huh."

"How come I didn't know you were there?" Zachary wondered out loud again.

"I can already hide my aura. It takes a lot of energy from me though, and I was hiding myself for a long time."

"Which would explain why you just passed out." Li added.

"Right. I'm sorry Zachary, but you know-"

"Forget it," he interrupted her, "You had a strategy, and you captured it. No need for an apology."

Everyone looked up at him in amazement. Could it be that the immature Zachary was finally starting to grow up a little bit?

"Oh…okay. You aren't upset that I tricked you?" She said, a bit meekly.

"Nope. Besides, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

Torako reached up for the hand Li offered and he pulled her to her feet. In two seconds she landed hard on the ground again. It was like her legs had turned to jelly.

"Whoops. I guess I'm still a bit too dizzy." she laughed light-headedly.

"Come on, I'll carry you home." Zachary held out his hand this time.

"Oh no, that's-" but Sakura interrupted her, whispering behind her hand.

"Just let him. He's been dying to show off to somebody for a long time."

There was a silent moment, in which they both looked at each other, and finally Torako met Zachary's eyes and said submissively, "Okay." He pulled her to her feet and then picked her up just as she was about to fall over again. With a sigh she put her arms around his neck to keep from falling and Zachary began to walk. Madison followed, shooting what she would define as a 'super kawaii' moment, and in the mix missing one she'd been dying to shoot since grade four. Li was just about to follow when he noticed Sakura hadn't moved yet, and was looking a little forlorn.

"What's wrong?" He asked her.

She sighed. "Nothing, nothing at all."

Li held out his hand to pull her up, and before you could say "complete fluff" she was swept off her feet too. Sakura gasped.

"Li?"

"Hey. You look a little down. Anything I can do to help?" he murmured in her ear.

"Yeah, a Ferrari would be nice."

Their eyes met for a moment, and then they both burst into laughter, ending with sighs at the same time.

"I'm so glad I have such wonderful friends to cheer me up." Sakura rested her head on his shoulder, deciding once and for all that she wouldn't want to be anywhere else on a cold autumn evening, or any evening for that matter.

Up where the other three were, Torako yawned. "Zachary, you really don't have to carry me. We could just rest a minute till I get my strength back." She yawned again.

"No really, it's okay. Think I can't handle it?" he said, all too seriously.

"No." by the way she could feel his muscles through his thin white shirt, she was almost positive he could handle it. "It's just weird, that's all." She yawned again and within thirty seconds she was asleep, and Zachary learned how hard it was to carry dead weight.

They had been walking a while in silence when Li looked down at Sakura, oblivious to the fact that she was daydreaming in ecstasy.

"Sakura, I've been meaning to…ask you something…"

"What is it Li?" she snapped out of it.

"Well, you know how the Winter Dance will be coming up soon right?"

"Mmmhmm, in a month or two."

"Well, I was wondering…wouldyougowithmeSakura?" he blurted out, ending on a high note.

"We always go Li, you, me, Madison and Zachary."

Li felt sick. For some reason she didn't seem to understand what he had just said.

"No Sakura, I mean just you an me this time." Their eyes met.

"You mean like a-"

"Date."

"Oh… Oh!" and it finally sunk in. Her heart started to beat faster than it ever had before, and she was sure he could feel it.

"Yes! I mean, yes." She tried to make herself sound less eager.

Li laughed. "Oh Sakura. You're so cute." He smiled at her.

She blushed. "Why did you ask so early?" she quirked an eyebrow.

"We-l-l-l, I didn't want anybody else to ask you first." Now it was his turn to blush in his famous fashion. "Is that okay?"

"Perfect." She smiled and cuddled up closer to him. Madison had finally realized what was going on and turned her camera on them.

"On no! I missed something didn't I? Don't lie I can tell!"

"You're too late Madison." Li told her, without his smile fading.

"Did you two kiss?" she finally took the camera away from her eye and looked at them in a way that made them both laugh.

"NO!"

Madison let them walk by and then followed with her camera, but put it down and paid a little attention to herself for a change. 'I'm so alone. I don't have anybody who loves me as more than a friend. Oh well,' she thought, 'at least I can keep myself occupied with blonde haired older guys.' And grinned to herself.

~*~*~

When they finally got to Torako's apartment Zachary set her back on her feet again. Li and Sakura decided to just head for home immediately, but Zachary and Madison decided to walk together after they dropped Torako off.

"Torako, would you mind if we came in and we could talk a little bit?" he asked her.

"Okay. But if my brother is home shield your eyes. His little whore friend might be visiting again.

Zachary and Madison both blinked and looked at each other. "Okay." They said in unison, a little confused.

When they went into the apartment it was completely dark inside, but the door was left unlocked.

"Saruko? Are you home?"

"Go away." Saruko moaned from the living room.

"I swear to god, if you and that bitch are doing something freaky in my living room I'll-"

"That bitch is never coming back." Saruko moaned again.

"What?" Torako finally flicked on the lights. Zachary and Madison had puzzled looks on their faces.

Torako found her brother sprawled out on the living room floor staring at the ceiling. "What happened?"

"Torako…Nadia is a man."

"WHAT!?"

"She…no he, told me today. I broke up with her…him."

"Wow. He sure fooled me."

From the kitchen they heard snickering.

"Oh can it Zachary!" Torako yelled.

"Wha-at? It wasn't me!"

"Right. Whatever. Let's just go in my room and talk. Madison, if you like you can watch TV. Just ignore the sloth-like creature on the floor."

Zachary followed her to her room and she closed the door. "Heh heh, I knew there was something about her…him." She laughed and then turned serious. "What was it you wanted to talk about?" She kicked off her shoes, flung her schoolbag in the corner, and plopped down on her bed, lying on her stomach with her head on her arms, crossed in front of her.

"Okay. We have to work something out here."

"Not this again." Torako rolled her eyes.

"YES, this again. Just listen to my idea."

~*~*~

In the living room Madison had flicked on the television and was now curled up in a corner of the couch watching the 1990's version of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Saruko found the motivation to peel himself off the floor and sit beside her. "You like blood-suckers girlie?" he teased half-heartedly. "That would explain why you hang around my sister."

"Vampires are so romantic. I love the idea of them. I've never seen this movie before either."

"Romantic? How can you find something that eats people romantic?"

"Besides that, I mean."

"Oh, of course."

It came to the part when poor dead Lucy pops out of her casket with blood pouring from her mouth and a stake driven through her heart, and Madison jumped half a mile.

"Hey, it's okay." Saruko told her. "I can see you aren't in to gore very much."

She shook her head and he put an arm around her shoulders. "Maybe you shouldn't watch this then." He murmured.

"I'll be okay." She smiled and nestled closer to him.

"Wait. You aren't a man are you?"

"No."

"Okay then."

~*~*~

"So that's the bottom line." Torako stated.

"Yup. It all comes down to a final judgement. Li told me so himself."

"Then that means-"

"No matter how many cards each of us capture, we could both loose them all, and they'd go to be captured by someone else who might not be any relation to your family. We'd forget any of this ever happened, our friendships, everything that's happened since the book was opened." Zachary finished.

"Wow. Are you sure? I mean, couldn't it be different for us?"

"I don't think so."

"So what do we do?"

"I think the best thing would be to work together until then. What do you think?" he asked her.

"I think…well…okay. We work together. But I DON'T need your help."

"Okay, okay, I get it. The point is, we need to get these cards captured soon, and it will be a lot easier if we work as a team. Deal?"

"Deal."

They shook on it, and walked into the hall to the scream of someone on the television.

When Madison and Saruko herd the door open they parted and she immediately jumped to the other end of the couch.

"Ready to go Maddy?" Zachary asked her when they entered the room.

"Uh, yeah I guess." She walked to the door and waved goodbye to the brother and sister, then she and Zachary left.

On the elevator ride down Zachary kept looking at her funny. After he turned to look at her and tried to pretend he wasn't about fifteen times, Madison turned to him.

"WHY exactly do you keep staring at me like that?" she put her hands on her hips.

"I think there's something wrong with your makeup…and your hair."

Madison gasped and pulled out her mirror compact. Her hair was slightly frizzed and her lipstick was all smeared to one side. She immediately started blushing.

"I uh…Zachary…I…"

"Don't worry about it." He smiled impishly, and after a short pause, "At least we know you're not a man."

They both broke down into hysterical laughter.

~*~*~*~

A/N: How was that? Hee hee, poor Saruko…Please review! Thank you Hitoki ^_^ you always review so this chapter's for you.

Hehehehhe this is so funny XD um, a corny one-liner? Er...how bout Quan or someone saying to Zachary,er...when hes trying to catch a card...look out or something, and he gets whacked, then someone says open your eyes you stupid twit, it might help...gah im awful at stuff like taht ^^;;; continue!