Author's Note: I know, it's been a while. My finals start Monday, so I've been swamped with review sheets and stuff.
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Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.
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*~* Chapter Seven *~*
The Chest
Tomoyo giggled as she pulled out a dress that she'd made for Sakura. "What do you think about this one, Sumitomo? Wouldn't it look LOVELY on Sakura?"
Sumitomo, Sakura, Syaoran and Eriol were all sitting in Tomoyo's huge room after school the next day.
Sakura sweat dropped. "Really, Tomoyo, I don't think he cares . . ."
"No. I think it looks nice and it would look even better on Sakura," he said softly.
Syaoran ignored the boy's comment. After all, almost every sentence that came out of his mouth was something about Sakura and how beautiful or nice she was.
Tomoyo smiled. "Do you have some drawings for us? I'd love to see what you have!"
When he handed Tomoyo his sketchbook, her eyes went wide. "Well, Sumitomo, you're a man after my heart! These are truly wonderful! When I have my own clothing line, I'll make sure to hire you as my top designer."
Eriol growled. He was beginning to see what Syaoran had against the new boy.
There was a knock on Tomoyo's door. One of her bodyguards came in, carrying four boxes of steaming pizza in his hand.
"Your food is here."
Tomoyo took the pizza and set it on the floor. There were already plates, cups, napkins and soda there. They would've eaten outside, but it had started to rain.
Everyone took a slice and began to eat.
Tomoyo flipped through the channels on her television. "There's nothing on!" she cried.
Syaoran rolled his eyes. "You've got six hundred channels on there. There must be SOMETHING on worth watching."
Tomoyo sent Syaoran a death glare. She tossed him the remote. "FINE! You find something to watch."
Syaoran caught the remote and turned it to a movie channel. "Oh, I love this movie. Romeo Must Die!"
Tomoyo sighed in disgust as the boys turned their attention to the TV. "Boys and their action flicks . . ."
She turned to Sakura who was staring out of the window. "What's up?"
Sakura turned to Tomoyo. "Nothing."
She frowned at her friend. "There's no need to lie to me. I can see it in your face- something's bothering you."
Before Sakura could say anything, Tomoyo's mother came in. "Sakura, you have a phone call downstairs."
Tomoyo frowned as Sakura left the room. Why wasn't Sakura's call on Tomoyo's private line? Something wasn't right . . .
*~*
Sakura slowly made her way through the halls of Tomoyo's mansion. Somehow, she had lost track of Sonomi A/N: That's Tomoyo's mom, right? as she walked.
Sakura wasn't feeling too good. Her head was spinning. She stopped walking and placed her hand against a wall, closing her eyes.
When Sakura was feeling better, she slowly opened her eyes. She gasped.
Where am I?
She was no longer in Tomoyo's house. Sakura was outside, standing in a field full of tall grasses. The field seemed to stretch forever and ever.
Sakura had to admit- the place was beautiful. There was a nice, cool breeze and the two suns in the sky were giving off a soothing heat . . .
TWO SUNS?!!!!
Sakura looked up at the sky. There sat two yellow balls instead of one.
"Where AM I?" she gasped.
"You're in MY world."
Sakura turned around. A man about her brother's age stood there. He was dressed in all black, yet he didn't look hot.
"Y-Yukio?" stammered Sakura.
Yukio smiled. "I see you've decided to remember me. That was a wise choice, Nyoko."
"What was?"
He laughed. "Giving up your tiresome charade. Pretending as if you didn't know me." Yukio paused, looking around. "Do you remember this place?"
Sakura frowned. This must be where Nyoko was taken. But an empty place like this?
"I'm sure you do," he continued, "because, as I remember, every time you managed to get free from the castle guards you came here. For what, I don't know."
Sakura narrowed her eyes. Why would Nyoko bother coming here and risk getting punished unless she had a good reason?
Yukio sighed. "I've waited a long time for this. But thanks to some . . . outside help . . . I'm going to finish what I started- beginning with you."
Sakura stepped back. "Look, I'm NOT Nyoko. Please-"
"Don't start that again! Shut up! I don't want to hear any more lies."
Sakura said nothing. She didn't want to get him mad.
The image of the field began to waver.
"I'm loosing energy. I must send you back- for now."
Sakura frowned. "Wait!" She'd wanted to search the area for anything . . . something . . .
But Sakura was standing in Tomoyo's hallway. She closed her eyes- she was dizzy again. Sakura closed her eyes and fell to the floor.
*~*
Syaoran glanced at his watch. Where is Sakura? She's been gone a while. He suddenly stood up. "Sakura's been gone for a while. I'm going to go look for her."
He quickly walked out of Tomoyo's room.
Syaoran went the way Sakura should have gone to get to the foyer where the phone was. But he didn't find her.
Looking this way is going to take too long. She could be hurt . . . I've got some new powers, maybe I can . . .
Syaoran closed his eyes and concentrated on Sakura's form. He wished himself to where she was. I want to be with Sakura . . . bring me to Sakura . . .
Suddenly his body began to jerk. Syaoran stumbled forward onto the floor.
He opened his eyes. Wait a minute- I wasn't here before!
Syaoran stood up. Yes, he was in a different part of the house.
And slumped against the wall was Sakura.
He knelt down beside her and immediately began to feel for her pulse. It was there and surprisingly steady.
He let out a sigh of relief as Sakura's eyes fluttered open. Good, she's awake . . .
"S-Syaoran? What happened?" she moaned. She tried to stand up.
Syaoran gently took Sakura's arm and steadied her. Sakura placed her head on his chest.
"I'm so dizzy . . ."
Syaoran wrapped his arms around Sakura. "What happened?"
Sakura looked up at him. "I-I was going downstairs and then I got so dizzy and closed my eyes. When I opened them . . ."
"What?"
"I-I was somewhere else. A place with two suns. And Yukio was there. I'm sure it was him."
Syaoran stiffened. "Yukio?"
Sakura nodded.
He swept Sakura into his arms and began to carry her back to Tomoyo's room. So Yukio could have faked the call and made Sakura think she was going downstairs. But where did he take Sakura?
Syaoran kicked in Tomoyo's door and burst into the room.
Tomoyo turned her head away from the TV. "What the HELL?! Who do you think you are, Li Syaoran, kicking in people's doors!" She noticed Sakura. "Oh, no, what happened?"
Syaoran laid Sakura on Tomoyo's bed. "She's fine- just dizzy. She needs to lie down."
"Oh, my POOR Sakura! Did she faint?" wailed Tomoyo.
Syaoran ignored her and looked around. "Where's Sumitomo?"
"He left after Sakura and said there was an emergency," supplied Eriol.
Syaoran narrowed his eyes. So Sumitomo left just after Sakura. He had the chance to do something to her . . .
"I-I'm sure Sumitomo wouldn't do anything like that, Syaoran," Sakura whispered from the bed.
Syaoran shook his head. "How can you be sure? He had the chance and he certainly likes you."
Sakura sat up. "I just know. Anyway, I'm feeling better." She looked at Eriol, then Syaoran. "There's something I want to do."
Tomoyo raised her eyes. She immediately reached for her camera.
"Do you think that I could go back to where Yukio took me?"
A confused looked appeared on Eriol's face. "What?"
Sakura told him about what had happened.
"You should," replied Syaoran, "assuming that this place is real."
"I think it's real. It has to be the place he took Nyoko."
Eriol thought for a moment. "Yes, I know of a spell that could take you there. But why do you want to return?"
Sakura shrugged. "I just have the feeling that something's there . . . something I need to get. Please, you have to let me go!"
Syaoran frowned. It was risky, letting Sakura go back to wherever she'd gone. What if Yukio came back? What if Sakura got stuck there? What if she goes to another place all together?
"I don't know . . ." muttered Syaoran. "I want to be able to keep in touch with you the whole time you're there. So we'll know if you get into any trouble."
Sakura nodded. "I understand. But how?"
Eriol grinned. "Ah, that one's simple. A thought link spell should do the trick."
Syaoran was apprehensive. He didn't want Eriol to do any spells on him.
As if sensing Syaoran's hesitation, Eriol said, "Don't worry, I won't do anything- after all, some harm might come to Sakura and I don't want that."
Syaoran nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."
*~*
Eriol produced a piece of chalk from somewhere and began to draw a neat circle in the middle of the floor.
Tomoyo frowned. "I hope that stuff is washable, Eriol."
"Don't worry. It'll come up." He drew little fancy designs in the circle.
Syaoran let out an exasperated sigh. "Do you HAVE to do all of that?"
Eriol grinned. "Not really. I just thought it would look better."
Sakura shook her head. Eriol finished the circle and stood back. "Perfect. Now Sakura, stand in the middle of the circle, please." She did so. "Now concentrate on the place. Think of the feel, the smell, how it looked . . ." As she did that, Eriol softly began to chant something softly.
The room began to glow with a yellow sight. Sakura's image began to fade. Then she was gone.
Sakura? Are you all right?
Syaoran became worried when there was no answer. Sakura? Hello!
I-I'm here, Syaoran. I'm back!
"She's there."
*~*
Sakura looked around the grassy field. What would she do now?
Sakura let out a scream when she saw a misty figure in the shape of a young woman standing into the grass just before her. Oh, my, GOD!
Sakura! What's wrong? Do you need to come back?
Sakura took a deep breath. The figure was just standing there, looking at her.
A . . . a g-ghost! Standing right in front of me!
Ghost?
The figure woman smiled at her. "Follow me," she said.
Sakura hesitated. "W-where?"
"Follow me." The woman began to move through the field.
"Wait!" Sakura ran to keep up with her. The ghost lady is taking me somewhere. She's fast! Sakura kept running after her through the grassy field. She felt her leg muscles cramp up as she fought for air.
The woman stopped suddenly and waited for Sakura to catch up. She smiled. "Follow me." She took off again.
Sakura let out an exasperated sigh, but followed her. In the horizon, Sakura noticed a forest. A forest? What's it doing here?
Syaoran spoke up. You're going into a forest? Be careful . . .
Sakura ran after the spirit through the dense forest, jumping over fallen trees and dodging branches. She was thankful when the woman stopped just in front of an old tree.
The woman pointed to a whole in it. Sakura looked inside.
There's a chest in here! I wonder what's in it . . .
The spirit took the box from its resting-place and carefully put it in Sakura's hands, pushing it against her.
"What? You want me to take it?"
The ghost nodded. "Now you must go back. Go back . . ."
The forest around her began to swirl, the colors of the woods mixing together. Then it all went pitch black.
*~*
Syaoran, Eriol and Tomoyo all jumped back as Sakura appeared on the floor with an old chest clutched to her body.
Syaoran helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?"
Sakura nodded. "I knew something was there! Look!" She held out the chest. "The ghost wanted me to have it. Maybe she was Nyoko."
Tomoyo raised an eyebrow. "Ghost? Are you sure, Sakura?"
She shrugged. "That's what it looked like. Anyway, something important must be in this. So I say we open it right n-"
"I don't think so!" protested Syaoran. "You need to rest. We can look at those later."
"But-"
Syaoran shook his head. "Let's go back to my apartment."
*~*
Thirty minutes later, Sakura sat on the couch in Syaoran's living room. She was curled up on it, flipping through the channels.
Syaoran joined her on the couch and handed her a cup of juice. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine. I told you nothing was wrong with me," she muttered, sitting up. She placed the glass on the table and scooted into Syaoran's lap. She began to stroke his hair. "How long has it been since was kissed?"
Syaoran shrugged his shoulders. "Well, with all of this going on, we haven't had much-"
He was cut off when Sakura kissed him. Syaoran kissed her back.
They were still locked in that embrace when, twenty minutes later, the phone began to ring.
"Ignore it," growled Syaoran.
Sakura shook her head and sat back. "What if it's an emergency?"
Syaoran tried to grab her waist and pull her back into his arms but Sakura had already grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"I KNEW IT! I KNEW you were over that gaki's house! Come home now, Sakura!"
She rolled her eyes. "Clam down, Touya."
"Look, it's time for dinner and Dad doesn't want to start without you," replied Touya.
"Go ahead and eat. Syaoran and I will order pizza."
"PIZZA? Did I hear pizza?!"
That was Kero.
"Pizza? Pizza would be nice."
That was Yukito.
There was shuffling in the background. "Alright, Sakura. Order those pizzas and we'll be over in about ten minutes," said Touya.
"WHAT!! No way."
"I don't want you alone in S . . . Syaoran's house. You two aren't married YET."
Sakura sighed. "But-"
Touya had already hung up the phone.
Sakura hung up Syaoran's phone with a huge sigh. "I shouldn't have answered the phone."
"Told you. So what's going on?"
"Touya, Yukito and Kero are all coming over to eat pizza and keep an eye on us," she muttered.
Syaoran picked up the phone and dialed the pizza place. "How many pizzas should we get?"
Sakura thought. "Well . . . Yukito will eat one by himself and so will Kero . . . Touya will probably be too busy watching us to eat, and I guess we could share a large . . ."
A sweat drop rolled down the back of Sakura's head. "How about five?"
Author's Note: Not a good chapter. This would have been out Saturday, but I ended up going to a theme park that day. Sorry for the delay.
