Author's Note: Okay, okay, yep, it's been a while

Author's Note: Okay, okay, yep, it's been a while. Sorry but the disk that I save the story on went haywire and it won't open so I was spending a lot of time redoing the chapters that I had done in advance. Sigh . . . the upcoming chapters won't be as good as before . . .

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Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

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*~* Chapter Fourteen *~*

Special Delivery

"SYAORAN!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yukio yanked her off of the floor and pulled her into the portal.

Syaoran sat up and crawled his way over to them. "S . . . Sakura . . ."

She stretched her hand out to his and tried to grab it.

Their fingertips brushed each other for one small moment and then . . .

And then Sakura and Yukio were gone.

"SAKURA! NOOO!!!!" Syaoran sat up in his bed. He ran his hands over his face, remembering the events from the night before. Sakura was really gone. She was really in Yukio's hands now.

He moaned and forced himself out of the bed. Exhausted, he pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt which Mei-lin had brought him and went downstairs to find the others.

Syaoran found Eriol, Tomoyo and Mei-lin in the kitchen, eating breakfast.

He looks like hell, thought Tomoyo. She smiled warily at Syaoran and began to pour him a mug of hot cocoa. "Morning, Syaoran. Come eat some breakfast."

Syaoran shook his head. "I'd rather do that spell now. I want to find Sakura."

Eriol didn't want to be the one to give Syaoran the bad news, but . . . "I'm sorry, but the transportation spell won't work."

The brown haired boy glared at Eriol. "What the hell do you mean? It worked before!"

"There's a force field surrounding the place. We can't get in that way," said Eriol.

"I'm sure we'll find another way," assured Tomoyo. "Eriol has some books in the library we can use."

Syaoran turned away from them and headed to the library.

"Wait, Syaoran!" cried Mei-lin. "Don't you want some breakfast?"

"Later," he called back. "When I find a way to Sakura."

*~*

Alan smiled triumphantly as he picked up another transportation stone. "How much are these?" he asked the shop owner, who was standing behind the counter of the musty old store.

The man eyed Alan and his fancy clothes. Maybe I can make a few extra bucks from this. Those things have been sittin' there forever. "Well . . . the price'll be hefty. After all, not everyone here can use magic."

"How much?"

The man named his price and Alan produced the bills and slapped them on the counter. He gave the man some extra money.

"I never bought these from your store, got that?"

The old man's eyes widened as he counted the money. "Y-yes sir! Whatever you say, sir!"

Alan left the store with the two stones in his pocket. He hopped onto his horse and rode out of the small village with haste. He'd searched all over the place for the transportation stones. Now he could help Syaoran to get to Sakura.

*~*

Sakura sank down into the hot water with a loud sigh. She was enjoying her soak in the silver tub when there came a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" asked Sakura, sinking down lower into the water.

"It's Mai-Tai."

"Oh, come in!"

The girl slowly opened the door. She gasped and flushed when she saw that Sakura was in the tub.

Sakura began to rub her arm with a sponge lathered with a fragrant body wash. "What is it?"

"L-lord Yukio wants you to attend a ball tonight, my lady."

Sakura sat up. "WHAT?! He told me that we wouldn't have to see each other later on in the day! Do you know how much I was looking forward to not seeing his ugly face?! Where is he because-"

"Wait, my lady! Do not be upset!" cried Mai-Tai in protest. "Lord Yukio will not be attending the party, so you have nothing to worry about. My lord only wants you to meet other people, to make new friends and to be accepted by society."

"I know plenty of people, I have tons of friends and I'm already accepted BACK HOME." Sakura felt the tears well up in her eyes, but she forced them back. "I want to go home."

Mai-Tai bit her bottom lip. "Oh, my lady, I had no idea you were homesick . . . Maybe Lord Yukio will let you return to your home after your wedding to visit your family and friends."

Sakura shook her head. "That won't be possible. My home will probably be destroyed by then."

"What are you talking about?"

Sakura told the maid all about Yukio's plans. She watched as Mai-Tai shook her head in disbelief. Clearly she didn't want to believe that her dear Lord Yukio was capable of doing anything wrong.

"Why? He has always been so kind to us . . ."

"I don't know why he's doing any of this, Mai-Tai. I wish I could give you an answer. But he's up to no good. Think of all of the lives that will be lost. He would have the power to destroy worlds. No one should have that power."

The younger girl nodded. "B-but what can I do to help?"

Sakura climbed out of the tub and wrapped a robe around her body. She found a piece of paper and a pen and scribbled some words onto it. She folded it and handed it to Mai-Tai. "Can you give this to Li Alan? He's Yukio's somebody."

Mai-Tai frowned. "What?"

"He's working for Yukio. Like a general or sergeant or captain or something. Please find him- it's very important."

Mai-Tai nodded. "I will. But be ready for the party by six, my lady." She took the note and fled from the room.

*~*

Mai-Tai wandered around the castle in search of the mysterious Li Alan. Mai-Tai had rumors about this Li, of course. Who hadn't? She was anxious to meet him. She could be a bit nosey at times.

She went down to the first floor of the castle and walked outside. Mai-Tai headed for the stables, looking for anyone who looked like they were important.

Why couldn't Lady Sakura give me a description of this man?

The maid crept into the stalls of the stable. She spotted a man leading a horse into a stall. The man was wearing expensive looking clothes, some of the finest Mai-Tai had ever seen. Nice clean cape, shirt and pants and shiny boots. His hair was neatly combed. Not one strand was out of place.

This must be the man Lady Sakura was talking about!

"Are you Li Alan?" she asked hesitantly.

The man looked up at her. Mai-tai gasped. Why, he's HANDSOME! Did Lady Sakura have something going on with this man? Is that what the note was for?

Now Mai-Tai was hesitant. Should she give the man the note if he and her mistress were romantically involved? Wouldn't she be betraying her master?

But then what about what Lady Sakura had said about Yukio's plans. Mai-Tai bit her bottom lip. "Are you Li Alan? I have something for you."

*~*

Alan looked down at the girl. She was clearly a maid from the way she was dressed in the plain gray dress with a high color. Her blond hair was swept up into a tight bun and her gray eyes were big and unsure. What did she want with him?

"Are you Li Alan? I have something for you," the girl said.

For some reason, he could not take his eyes off of the girl. There was something about her . . . "Yes, I'm Li Alan."

The maid nodded. She handed him a sheet of paper. "This is from my lady, Lady Sakura. She wanted you to get it immediately."

Alan quickly took the note from the girl's hand. He opened it and quickly read it.

Alan-

Have you gotten the you know what? I can't take it much longer. I miss my home so much! Send a reply back with my maid. Thanks.

As the maid- Mai-Tai- started to leave, he stopped her. "Wait!"

The maid turned around and looked up at him. "Yes?"

"Tell her yes and I will try this afternoon." He saw confusion written on the maid's face. "Don't worry- she'll understand. And also tell her that at the party tonight, she should act as if we've never met. We don't want to raise any suspicion. Got that?"

Mai-Tai nodded.

"Good. Now you can go."

Alan watched as Mai-Tai rushed off.

What a beautiful girl . . .

*~*

Mai-Tai returned to Lady Sakura and gave her the message. She carefully watched her mistress. "M-my lady? Can I ask you something?"

Sakura turned away from the vanity where she was preparing her hair for the party. "Of course. What is it?"

Mai-Tai took a deep breath. "AreyouromanticallyinvolvedwithLiAlan?!" she forced out.

"What?"

"A-are you . . ." she flushed. "Are you romantically involved with Li Alan?"

Sakura appeared surprised, then laughed. "No! We're . . . old friends. The man I really love isn't here. I wish he was . . . Why do you ask?"

"I . . . um . . ."

Sakura winked at Mai-Tai. "I bet you thought he was cute. Am I right?"

Mai-tai flushed. "Yes . . . but he looks too old for me."

"No way! I say you go for it!"

The younger girl's face turned a bright red. "Are you sure? I mean, he wouldn't be interested in a little maid like me."

Sakura shook her head. "He just might! I have an idea. Why don't I take you to the ball with me? I can get one of these dresses altered to fit you and I can take you along! Then you'll have a chance to dance with Alan."

"I don't think so. I could get in big trouble. Besides, who'll you pass me off as at the party?"

Sakura smiled at herself in the mirror. "Don't worry about it. No one will dare question me- after all, I will be their queen. And don't worry about anyone recognizing you. You'll be a totally different person."

Mai-Tai forced back the tears of joy that welled up in her eyes. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me."

Sakura closed her eyes. I might as well do some good while I'm here. Alan needs someone to love, and someone to love him back.

*~*

Alan went up to his room in the castle quickly, anxious to deliver the stone to Syaoran. He had probably figured out by now that the transportation spell wouldn't work.

Alan knew that there were few safe places where Syaoran could go once he arrived in Chiyo-Takura. He decided to set the stone at a certain destination, just to be safe. A/N: You'll find out how later.

He held out his stone and walked through the portal which opened. Alan went to Syaoran's apartment first. When he found out he wasn't there, he then transported to Sakura's house. He entered the Kinomoto home via the kitchen, where he saw the stuffed animal, Kero, pacing on the table.

Kero looked up and let out a shriek. "YOU!" he roared, flailing his arms wildly.

Just then, two men came running into the kitchen. This must be Sakura's family.

The younger man frowned at Alan. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

Kero's face turned red. "LOOK!! DON'T QUESTION HIM!! ATTACK!! THAT GUY IS ALAN!!!!"

Touya pulled a knife- a knife with a long, sharp blade- out of the air. "You're that guy form Hong-Kong!! I bet you had something to do with Sakura's disappearance!"

Fujitaka paled when he saw the blade in Touya's hand. "Where did you get that?!"

"that's not important now, Dad. THIS CREEP is after Sakura!!!"

"Well, I disagree," continued Fujitaka. "How long have you been walking around with that thing? You could have poked an eye out or something!"

"DAD!!!!"

"You and I will have a little talk later."

Alan cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but I'm looking for Li Syaoran. I have something for him that-"

"Yeah, you wanna hand him his death certificate!" cried Kero.

"No," said Alan. "Where is he? Is he-"

"You're a dead man!" bellowed Touya, approaching him with the knife.

"Look, I need to see him. It's ver important. It's about-"

"LET'S GET HIM!" cried Kero.

"WILL YOU LET ME FINNISH MY SENTENCE?!" Alan exploded.

Everyone was quiet.

"Thank you. Anyway, I have something that will help him get to Sakura," said Alan.

"I don't believe you," Kero and Touya replied in unison.

Fujitaka spoke up. "He's at Tomoyo's house. Do you know where that is?"

Alan nodded. "Thank you." With a bow, he was gone.

"DAAAAAAAD!" cried Touya. "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!"

"I think he's a good guy," Fujitaka said softly. "He just needs a second chance."

*~*

Alan opened a portal to Tomoyo's library, where Syaoran would most likely be if he was here. As he stepped out of the portal, his cousin Mei-lin looked up from her seat on a couch. She dropped the book that she was holding and let out a scream. "What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be DEAD!!"

The rest of the group looked up.

"Alan," growled Syaoran as he reached for the pendant that hung around his neck.

"Wait! I'm not here to hurt anyone," said Alan.

"Like I'll believe that," Syaoran snickered.

"I have something that will help you get to Sakura."

Syaoran eyed his cousin suspiciously. "Why should I believe you? Hey, you could be on Yukio's side."

"Yukio's a jerk. I'm not lying to you and this isn't a trap. I spoke to Sakura and-"

"You spoke to Sakura?" asked Tomoyo. She eyed him carefully. Hmm . . .The way he says Sakura's name . . . it's so familiar!

Alan nodded. "I did, Tomoyo. Yes, she's fine."

Eriol glared at Alan. "How'd you know her name?"

Alan turned to Tomoyo. "She'll tell you. She's guessed it. But that's not important." He took out the transportation stone and held it out to Syaoran. "Does this look familiar? Sakura told me that you saw Yukio took her."

Syaoran nodded. "Yes. The gem looks familiar. But not the board under it."

"I've set the transportation stone to open a portal in a certain place. That's what the board is for. I wrote the name of the place you will be going to on it. When you say the name of the place, you'll go there."

"Is that where Sakura is?" asked Tomoyo.

Alan shook his head. "It would be too dangerous to send you anywhere near her. It wouldn't be safe. But I'm afraid that you won't be able to go, Tomoyo. Neither will Mei-lin because-"

"We don't have magic," finished Mei-lin bitterly. Great, now they'll go off and rescue Kinomoto and my chances with Syaoran will go down the drain.

"Right. I suggest you and Eriol rest up for the trip. Transporting can be tiring." Alan turned around after handing the stone to Syaoran and opened a portal.

Just as Alan was about to step into the hole in the wall, Syaoran's voice stopped him.

"Thank you."

Alan looked over his shoulder and stared into his cousin's eyes. You're one lucky man, thought Alan. I'll keep her safe for you.

When Alan was gone, Syaoran stared down at the transportation stone he held in his hands. Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all . . .

Author's Note: Please R+R.