"Ah! Sakura-sama!"

Part 3

Overnight

By Killiko "dying from the lack of Kit's 'A Capella'" Jun
Killiko_jun@yahoo.com

A/N: Many apologies for such a delayed chapter! ^_^;
You guys tell me if I should keep my chapters in Word format
from now on, or as a part of the e-mail, okay? Your input is very
special! I'll _try_ to keep the chapters consistent, but I
was on a long Writer's Block. Gomen nasai minna-san!

Oh yeah, I'm Cantonese. Geez, what's the chances of THAT
being? ^_^; Just that whole language discussion made me
realize just how much I actually understand! ^_^ Too bad
I don't speak Mandrain. I try, but damn, I sound so stupid!

Oh yes, in future chapters, there will be some minor...
alterations *evil glint* You shall all see.

This chapter is dedicated to my friend NET for being so
insistent about more chapters. And to everyone else
who has been asking for more then the 'two-shot' I
started! ^_^;

~~~~~~~~~

Cherry blossum petals drifted slowly around them, and
a light rain began pattering down. And then it began to pour.

Sakura giggled impishly as she tried to cover herself
from the rain. The wet-puppy look from Syaoran made her
almost crack up deliriously. Kero huddled near Sakura,
glaring at 'the brat'.

"What in the world was that?! Brat, you've got some
explaining to do!" he yelled.

"W-what?" Syaoran, for once, was caught by surprise
from Kero's accusations.

Sakura saved him though, "Kero-chan, I thought you
would recognize it when a contract has been made between
a mortal and a goddess. I merely asked for Kami-sama's
confirmation."

"C-confirmation? Wish?" the gears in Syaoran's head started
to click again, "WAIT! Don't tell me that what I said..."

The Goddess just nodded and smiled brightly, "Yep!"

"Ack!" Syaoran irked, ruffling his hair in disbelief, "please,
please tell me you're kidding!"

Sakura tilted head to the side, another one of her cute
smiles tugging at her lips, "Nope! I don't joke about these things!"

A few moments of silence passed between them as
Syaoran blinked. No, this couldn't be true. If he remembered the
exact words he had spoken, that would mean that Sakura
would be… staying… with… him for… a looong time.

He envisioned his family's approaching wrath, fiery halo
of red fury and all. What was worst was what if Meilin...?

Oh, of all things holy! Why?! Syaoran mentally banged
his head on a metaphyscial wall.

A sneeze caught his attention. Syaoran was brought
back to the present as Sakura continued into a chain of sneezes.
He gazed into the rumbling, grey sky above him, letting the
rain drip down the bridge of his nose before he walked up to
Sakura and wrapped his jacket around her slim shoulders.
It was only manners to do so, though he was still uncomfortable
with the whole wish ordeal.

She gazed up at him, surprised, but her face lit up with one
of her electric smiles.

Syaoran fought down his blush with much effort and headed
towards his motorbike. After strapping on his helmet and
promptly tossing one to his female companion, he glanced at
Sakura sideways.

"Can't you just magic some warmer clothes or an umbrella
or something?" Syaoran asked.

"Well, if you know anything you stupid brat, you'd know that a
contract takes alot of a Goddess! Right now, she doesn't even have
enough power to summon a toothpick!" Kero growled as he huddled
closer to Sakura, "Come on Sakura-chan! Let's just find somewhere
warm to stay the night!"

Sakura nodded, the very action itself making her head spin a bit.
She plopped down behind Syaoran, her arms wrapping him in a
gesture for more warmth. Syaoran's face lit up like the fourth of July
but he managed to revv the bike to life. Sakura rested her head
on Syaoran's back and she could feel the gentle rise and fall
of his building.

Her head thudded dully as the bike cut through the street.
With much effort, she mumbled in her companion's sweater.

"There's a..." Sakura took in a ragged breath and coughed,
"there's a temple nearby. I-it's been abandoned for years now..."

"Where?" Syaoran inquired as he slowed down the bike.

Sakura closed her eyes and concentrated, "Two blocks
to your left, past the second intersection, through the overpass
and near a park..."

"Alright... repeat the directions again?" Syaoran asked.

But, he received no answer as Sakura had fallen unconscious.

"Sakura-chan has fallen asleep. The drain must have been
too much for her," Kero reasoned, "Hurry up and find a place to
stay because she's the most vulnerable now. Didn't you hear me
you stupid gaki?!"

"Why don't you just shut up! The bike is already going
as fast as it can already!" Syaoran yelled as the speed meter
increased drastically.

Minutes later, the trio had reached their destination.
Kero immediately flew towards the temple, eyes scanning the
aea. Indeed, the temple held some sort of magical field.
He prayed to Kami-sama that the demons didn't know of
this place and began to chant a protective barrier and detector
spell. His small body began to glow golden and sparkles of
magic trailed behind the magical beast.

Syaoran gazed a bit at the creature in silent wonder.
It was almost breath-taking the way the beast contrasted with
the glooming darkness.

He shook his head and turned his attention to
the slumbering Goddess. She was still wrapped
tightly around his form, but Syaoran felt that she would need
much more than his body to keep her temperature up.

The young Chinese man parked his motorbike
inside the Temple grounds, hoping that there were no
haunting spirits or whatnot nearby. Then, almost regrettably, he
unlatched Sakura's arms from his form and lifted her body
from his bike.

His mouth dropped in a frown as he realized that
Sakura's cheeks had gained an unhealthy glow of red.
His suspicions were confirmed as he brushed his cold
knuckles on her forehead. She was having a fever.

Hurriedly and ignoring the ache in his own
head, Syaoran huddled Sakura' body in his arms
and rushed to the interiors of the temple. The rain
thundered down mercilessly outside and the wind
swayed their onslaught to batter upon the temple's
paper-thin doors.

Syaoran reverently laiy Sakura down,
somewhat disappointed that there wasn't even an
old futon in the room. He ran out of the temple
once more, remembering that he forgot his duffel bag
on his bike.

When he returned, his chest was heaving
and his whole body was sopping wet. His socks
made puddles of water over the hardwood floor but
he had endured worst. Syaoran's nose wrinkled in
concern as he studied Sakura's sick form. He took off
his jacket, which had been drenched from the storm,
and took some towels from his duffel bag.

Syaoran remembered one day when his
sisters had brought him to a training trip. His eldest
sister had said that if anyone had ever gotten sick,
and he didn't have any medicine on hand, the best
way to keep the person safe and from falling any more
sicker was to create and keep body heat within the
person. Of course, Syaoran's wet ofudas would probably not
do anything in this situation and would probably burn
the decrepit temple to the ground.

He laid the towels vertically across the floor,
grumbling a bit at the lack of any heaters. He also
cursed the loud, magical beast that flew in from the
storm. Of course, Kero splashed Syaoran as
he shook his wet fur, thanking the mortal for calling
him an [expletive]ing [expletive].

Syaoran unfolded a thin blanket and after
placing Sakura onto the towels, wrapped her tightly
with it. He glanced around in the room, but found
that it spun in his vision.

"W-what are you doing you gaki?! Don't try to
molest Sakura!" Kero raged in front of Syaoran's
face, his paws posed threateningly at him.

"I-I'm not trying to do that! Stupid... stupid
stuffed animal..." Syaoran found that he was losing strength with
even trying to fight with the mangy thing. His eyes were
half-lidded as he found the floor fastly approaching his vision.

"MMMppppfffth!!!' Kero's scream muffled underneath
Syaoran's weight.

With his head propped near Sakura's arms and
his tired body curled near the Goddess' vincinity, Syaoran
finally found sleep.

Kero whined piteously.

~~~~~~~~~

She dreamt of many things. She dreamt of slurred colours
and children laughing. She remembered how Valhalla's
angellic choir would rise in cresendo and move her heart
to tears. She saw the times when she would be caught
gazing almost longingly at the mortal plane... but couldn't
explain just why.

Above all, she longed for the touch of a pale man's
fingers. She desired his feathery whispers and soft-spoken
eyes of tenderness. She wanted to see him smile instead of
frown upon her.

And there he was, a light so pale and so out of reach
that she gasped in surpise and longing.

But, the light winked out of existence and she found that
she was cold once more.

"I... no, please don't leave me. I know who you are.
Please. At least you should let me say goodbye..."

But no one answered her.

Holding back her tears and a sigh of fatigue, she
wrapped her arms around herself. Then, from the oblivion,
a figure strode towards her, its outline shrouded and wavy, like
spider's thread.

She reached out for the figure and she caught the
smell of autumn and the vision of poplar trees. It stood still,
watching her intently but there was such longing that echoed
her own feelings...

The figure suddenly turned away and ran back into
the oblivion, leaving her with nothing but faded remnants. She
caught the tingle of wind chimes and a rush of a brook
but even those sensations were beginning to fade away from
her...

And then, she woke.

~~~~~~~~~

He dreamt of many things. He felt flashes of his
childhood past. He remembered how his mother's garden
always managed to smell like spring grass and fresh leaves.
He saw the times when he would be training behind closed doors
and relived the fleeting feelings of pain and glory, honour and
disappointment.

But the most poignant vison he had was of a petite,
shadowed figure who was hidden by graceful, poplar trees.
The figure reached out a hand and he realized that something
sprung out of that hand.

A white, gossamer bird flew towards him, eyes as
red as rubies and sparkling with flaxen gold magic. Just
as he felt the warmth fo the bird's aura, however, the world turned
dark and he slammed into an invisible barrier.

The figure suddenly whipped around and the poplar
trees swallowed up the shrouded illusion. He cried out silently
as a painful pang threatened to burst through his chest.

And then, he was swallowed by the darkness.

~~~~~~~~~

"Ne, Sakura-chan, are you feeling better?" a soft
voice questionned as the Goddess opened her heavy eyes.

"Huh?" Sakura mumbled unintelligently, "K-kero-chan?
I feel so tired."

Her yellow guardian beast immediately perched a
paw onto her forehead and she felt the tingle of magic
rush into her nerves. She gasped unexpectedly at the
infusion of magic but welcomed the electrifying cackle
within her system.

She rose, albeit slowly and was hugged by Kero.
She smiled ernestly and patted the worry-ridden creature.

"I hope you're feeling better!" Kero's face
screwed up a bit, "I had to sleep on the cold floor because
of the stupid gaki! Good thing I managed to squeeze out
from under him. Stupid dolt."

Sakura's eyes automatically honed onto Syaoran,
who was a heap on the floor. Water from his wet clothes
surrounded his quasi-dry form and Sakua was aware that she was
warm in a blanket.

Her eyes softened and her heart was grateful. Then,
a little twinge of sadness intercepted her features and
she rushed to his aid.

"Kero-chan, dry these towels out on the patio
and boil some water for now. If you can, find some honey
and milk," Sakura was in her no-nonsense mode, giving
the gawking Kero a stern look. His tail fell limply as
he flew slowly out of their vincinity, grumbling under
his breath.

"Li-san, please be alright," Sakura whispered
as she laid her hand on his forehead and proceeded
to channel her magic.