I'll Be With You Forever

By: Kitty Meow

Aye there everybody!! Chapter 5 is finally out!! Yay!! *hears absolute silence* Starting from last chapter, I had added a few more sections to my chapter and for this chapter I have added a question section. Please check it out! Anyway... if you wanna skip my useless ramblings/excuses, you can scroll down to the row of happy faces (this will be available to you every chapter!). Don't forget to R+R!!!!!!!

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Author's Notes:

Well, I know I haven't put anything up in a long time but you can hardly blame me!! School is back and where there's school; there's homework. And so...I've had a ton of homework that I can barely trudge my way through and I haven't had a lot of time to type my story up. I've also started thinking that this chapter (continuing from ch.4) is starting to get extremely long but instead of cutting it, I'm gonna write it all out, that's the reason why it all took so long. I've taken the liberty of adding a few sections to my story to "spice it up" so to speak, which started last chapter. Another thing, the Chinese I have used is strictly Cantonese, so if the words don't sound like the ones in other stories, it's because they used Mandarin. Anyway, the reason why I used Cantonese (did I mention that I speak it?) is because (I think) that Hong Kong is Cantonese. I almost forgot to tell you, I was reading the greatest books and I just couldn't stop so I've severely neglected that I had a computer! Please, find it in your heart of hearts to forgive me! *grovels at readers' feet* Oh dear, it seems that I've written (or said) too much already, I'll have to leave you to the story now ^ _ ^(). R+R!!!

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Names:

Japanese/English:

Sakura Kinomoto/Sakura Avalon

Syaoran Li/Li Showron

Meilin Li/Meilin Ray

Touya Kinomoto/Tori Avalon

Tomoyo Daidouji/Madison Taylor

Fujitaka Kinomoto (Sakura's dad)/Aiden Avalon

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Translations:

Japanese/English/Chinese:

Sakura/cherry blossom/ Ying fa

Syaoron/ little wolf/ Siw Long (pronounced "see-you long")

Aishiteru/ I love you/ Ah I ne (pronounced "Ah (a in "all"), I, ne (sounds like me)

Airigato/ thank you

Hai/ yes/ hai

Hoe/ something like "Oh no"/ Iye ya

Si fu (pronounced "see fu (fu as in tofu"))/ master

Gaki/ brat

Kaiju/ monster

Otou-san (or) tou-san/ dad

Oni-san (or) ni-san/ brother

Moshi, moshi/ something like hi

Ohayo/ good morning/ Joe sun

Ja ne (or) ja/ goodbye

Konichiwa/ good afternoon

Sayonara/ Goodbye / Joy gean

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Comments on reviews:

Evey: As always, thanx a bunch by reviewing!

wen_eve: I thank you very much for your sentimentality, it is greatly appreciated by ones such as myself!

Also, a special thanks to those of you that have me on their favourite list!!!! You're the best!! And, how could I forget? A thank you to all of you who take the time to R+R!

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Question:

This section is provided so that the first person to answer CORRECTLY, I will reward them with a picture drawn by me personally of anything. Of course there are a few exceptions, the things I will draw are CCS, Pokémon, Final Fantasy, Escaflowne, Chocobos, Digimon (I'm not very good at that), or a made-up character (be specific). I will not draw anything hentaish, or not related to Anime. You can of course request something that wasn't listed and I'll tell you if I'm willing to draw it. On last thing, in order to send you the picture, you're gonna need to include your e-mail address. Look carefully because the answer will appear in the story!! Now what you're all waiting for, the QUESTION!!!

1. On the Li mansion gate, what mythical animal "guarded" the namesake?

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Disclaimer: *sigh* sadly, I do not own any of the CCS characters, if I did, I'd be literally rolling in dough. So please, don't sue poor little ol' me, I'm broke!!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

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Chapter 4: Painful and Cheerful Memories

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*~Sakura~*

Sakura was amazed by the sheer size of the building but was even more dazzled by the large amount of unoccupied space. The massive golden gate itself held the Li name (represented in Chinese characters) engraved in the very center. Miniature dragons surrounded the namesake, as if to guard it from thieves or intruders. A grey-white marble wall surrounded the whole estate so Sakura's view was limited to only what could be seen through the shimmering gates.

The dazzling gates soon opened to reveal the whole lay of the Li estate. Everything was beautifully organised and Sakura wondered how they could keep everything so organised. Casting a furtive glance this way and that, Sakura scanned the scene before her. It was more breathtaking then what she'd seen through the glimmering gates. Syaoran seemed indifferent noticed Sakura as she suddenly forgot the estate and focused on Syaoran. -My impassive hero, - thought Sakura as she fought a sudden urge to touch him, to make sure she wasn't dreaming. But no matter what the urge, she knew it wouldn't be possible, she had no right. Syaoran wasn't even her boyfriend and he hadn't even talked to her all those long years. Secretly, she promised herself that she would tell Syaoran her true feelings about him, no matter the consequences. As the limousine reached the front doors, Sakura looked determinedly towards it.

*~Syaoran~*

Syaoran looked toward Sakura as the limousine finally came to a complete stop. Glancing indifferently at Sakura, he gave a fond smile that was barely noticeable unless you knew him. The small smile was soon wiped off his face as he remembered what the Clan would do if they caught him. Syaoran's brow furrowed and his blank expression became a scowl as he recalled the memory. Turning his back to Sakura, he allowed the memory to wash over him.

*Flashback*

A short Chinese boy about six years old skipped happily down the street with a broad smile on his face as he headed home. The stone-paved street was deserted, seeing how close he was to his Clan estate. Though no one would say it to the Clan's face, everyone was strangely nervous or afraid of the Li Clan, they thought that the Clan was either inhuman or incapable of emotion. With a smile still gracing his face, Syaoran slowly opened the outer gate, stepped in cautiously and then opened the main doors. Slipping silently inside, he went to greet his mother but her face was void of all emotion and was deathly pale.

"What's wrong ma-ma?" asked Syaoran worriedly, the smile briefly disappearing.

"I must consult with Elders at once, Siw Long. Wait here. Don't move," replied his mother brokenly.

When Syaoran's mother came back, behind her were the five head Elders with menacing yet disappointed expressions on their faces. Syaoran looked quizzically at the Elders, not knowing what he did wrong that could require their immediate presence. "Do you understand the severity of your misconduct, Siw Long?" bellowed the high Elder, the elderly mad standing in the middle of the semi-circle the Elders had formed.

"I don't see what's wro-," started Syaoran but cut himself off because of how informally he had been speaking to the Elder. He then carefully rephrased his sentence and replied, "No, high Elder. I don not understand what incorrect action I have committed."

"What you have done is indulge yourself in meaningless happiness with that...*shiver* smile on your face. The future leader of such a powerful Clan must not smile unless his Clan has accomplished something great. You must not smile for your own personal, useless accomplishments. Do you understand?" asked the Elder, but continued on without waiting for an answer. "Your punishment will be twenty lashes (which Syaoran winced at) and four days of isolation without food to think about your crime," stated the high Elder with finality. Syaoran's mother was standing stiffly by one of the numerous red, marble columns so as not to interfere. She gasped and had a shocked expression on her face, but she quickly masked it with her usual indifferent expression.

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Syaoran, despite his young age, walked impassively down the hallway leading to the punishment chamber. Though his expression was emotionless (as he was trained to be), he was experiencing inner turmoil. He was asking himself questions like, What's wrong with smiling? and, Why so heavy a punishment for it? But his questions drained away to pure fear as he stood in front of the punishment chamber's heavy wooden door. Preparing to knock, he raised a fist but to his surprise, the door opened automatically. Peering inside the dark room, he stood still to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim, wavering light. After he believed he could see clear enough, he slowly stepped into the room with his hands balled into fists, trembling ever so slightly at his sides.

Syaoran took a clear look at the room as he stepped inside fully. To his consternation, the room was not the torture room he had imagined but a room devoid of any objects at all. The floor was tiled marble and at each corner stood a plain marble column.

Then he spotted him. The "punisher". Holding a lash in one had and dressed all in black, the man looked like he had stepped out of some medieval time period. Losing his composure, Syaoran slowly stepped towards the menacing man and looked at him with an expression of utter helplessness. But instead of the menacing and cruel smile he awaited to see on the towering giant, he saw a sorrowful smile. -Ironic,- thought the little boy, _I should be the one that's sad, not hi-,-Syaoran didn't have time to finish his thought as a searing pain ripped through his back.

Six-year-old Syaoran gritted his teeth against the pain as the whip came down again. All through his life, Syaoran knew he would never forget that feeling...it was just too painful to describe.

Syaoran fought to remain conscious as the blissful blackness blinked in and out. He knew that he'd have horrible scars left over from the unforgettable experience.

*End of Flashback*

Syaoran sighed heavily. It had taken many long months to physically recover from the punishment but it took even longer to psychologically recover. Ironically, soon after Syaoran's healing was over, the head Elder had passed away and the no-smiling law was removed. The majority of the people in the Clan believed that it was strange and foolish to be punished for smiling and thought that the old Elder was just jealous of others but kept the thought to themselves.

Sighing once again, Syaoran tentatively reached behind his back to where the scars were. With the memories still clear in his mind, he winced at the phantom pain that was no longer physically there, unaware of Sakura's quiet inquisitions.

*~Sakura~*

"Syaoran?" Asked Sakura worriedly. -What did I do wrong?- Sakura asked herself, -Did I hurt him?- At that thought Sakura's heart plummeted as her unconscious habit of fiddling with her star key came back. Once again, except this time much more quietly, more timidly, Sakura asked, "Syaoran?" When, yet again, the chestnut coloured haired boy did not answer, Sakura got more and more uncomfortable. Suddenly, Syaoran's hazel eyes closed a look of pure pain crossed his usually expressionless face. -Oh no! I've hurt him!! What did I do wrong, no, no, no, no, no...-Sakura thought as sorrow clouded her emerald eyes. -He hates me. He hates me. He hates me. He hates me...-Sakura's mind thought over and over again as she turned her back to Syaoran.

*~Syaoran~*

As he opened his eyes, the first thing Syaoran saw was Sakura's back. Somehow he had unconsciously turned to face her as the images of pain and torture still flashed through his mind. Then, seeing Sakura's back to him, Syaoran thought to himself, -You baka!! Baka, baka, baka!! She's probably angry at you for just dazing off and ignoring her!!- Priming himself for the worst, he gently spun Sakura around to face him. He was prepared for anything...but this.

Sakura's tears cascaded down her cheeks, some making their way onto the yielding floor. Sakura's eyes were closed and her head was bowed, seemingly oblivious to the fact she had been turned around. Syaoran just didn't know what to say so he just followed what his heart told him to do. He embraced her, putting all his love and compassion into the simple touch.

*~Sakura~*

Sakura felt comforting arms reach around her and was utterly confused. -Who's that?- Sakura's mind asked herself in it's still saddened state. Slowly, as she raised her head, Sakura's eyes fluttered open revealing two emerald orbs, glazed over from tears. As the image of Syaoran became clear, Sakura's mind immediately believed this to be a dream but either because for the extremity of sorrow, joy, or confusion, she didn't care. Letting herself give in she returned the embrace and leaned her head on his chest. Allowing the scent of autumn and sandalwood lull her to sleep, Sakura fell into a deep slumber.

*~Syaoran~*

The hazel-haired boy looked tenderly at the brown-haired beauty rhythmically breathing in a deep sleep. Unable to resist the urge he slowly trailed a callused (by sword fighting) finger down one side of the slumbering sorceress' flushed cheek. He felt his breath shudder as he revelled in the feeling of her skin. Sakura shifted ever so slightly, causing Syaoran to sharply draw in a breath, hoping she didn't feel his feather-light caress. There was no need to worry though because Sakura only moved to snuggle closer and contentedly sigh, "Syaoran..."

To Syaoran's mortification, the limousine door slowly opened, revealing the patiently waiting chauffeur. As the scene slowly sunk in the chauffer's mind, his eyes widened at Sakura and Syaoran's seemingly intimate embrace. Slowly, the sorcerer could feel the familiar heat gradually rising to his cheeks but his pride forced the blush back...a little.

Carefully lifting Sakura into his arms, Syaoran headed resolutely to the mansion's main entrance, motioning the chauffeur to bring Sakura's luggage.

Syaoran lightly stepped up the marble stairs to the main doors of the massive mansion, still carrying his precious burden. Feeling Sakura stir, he lightened his steps, so as not to wake his still slumbering princess. Wary of his sisters and mother, Syaoran attempted to quietly sneak in unnoticed. He was close, so ever so close, but not close enough.

*~Unknown~*

The shadowed figure stood in a nearby tree, safely covered by the dense deciduous tree leaves. He could slowly feel the sudden overtake of jealousy when Syaoran held the female card captor ever so protectively and intimately. Disappointed at himself that he had allowed the feelings of jealousy cloud his mind, the figure quickly shook it off. Then positioning himself more comfortably on the tree branch, he allowed his mind to wander. Soon eerily golden eyes gleamed evilly underneath the dull black hood as the figure thought of the "little wolf's" slow and painful death. After though, he smirked, knowing that once Syaoran was out of the picture, he would have his cherry blossom all to himself. She would be his...

to be continued...

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*sniff, sniff* I'm in such a dramatic cliff hangy type of mood that I'm going to neglect the comedy section just this once.

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Preview of next chapter:

What will the reactions of Syaoran's sisters and mother be when they discover Sakura?? Why does the shadowed figure want Sakura so much? How does he know Sakura at all? Will the two magic wielders ever confess their love?? Find out next chapter of...I'll Be With You Forever!!

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Author's comments:

*nervous laughing* ehehehe, I um, sorta, a, um, forgot to put the "unknown's" history in there. Oh well, I guess I'll have to put it in next chapter ^_^ (). Any ways, moving on, I didn't actually include the action part into my story yet. Trust me, I'm getting there, I just have to make the perfect setting for it!!! So, don't forget, R+R!!!!