The Ever Patient Love - 2

Kinomoto Sakura is the Mistress of the Sakura Cards, most powerful sorceress in the world, but she's also human. When Sakura lost her father, she lost part of her as well. The healing process always takes a long time, especially for someone like Sakura. She must slowly let go of the wall she has built around her heart, and learn that the pain is worth the love. Hopefully, someone may teach her that. So goes the story of Kinomoto Sakura…

Li Syaoran is a warrior of the Li Clan from Hong Kong, a powerful sorcerer, and friends with the Mistress of the Sakura Cards, yet he's also human. That's why he couldn't help, but fall in love with Kinomoto Sakura, whose heart used to be ever so big. He made a promise to Sakura's father, who was on his deathbed, he promised to protect and care for Sakura. He also promised to tell her his true feelings when the time was right. All knows, that Li Syaoran never breaks his promises. So goes the story of Li Syaoran…

Kinomoto Sakura's feet felt like lead, she had to drag them along. She was heading to school because her brother wouldn't let her stay home for another day. He said that she had stayed home for a week already and that was enough. So here she was with her backpack hanging off one shoulder and jacket wrapped around her waist. Her hair wasn't tied up for once and her shirt was wrinkly. She looked like she had just woken up after a long nap, which was close to the truth.

The sun was bright, birds were singing happily, and cherry blossoms floated all around. It was too perky for her tastes. It's like Father's death didn't happen, like it didn't mean a thing.

Giving a sigh, she turned into the gates of her high school. Sakura felt the eyes of the teachers and students on her. Some gazes were full of pity, others sympathy, and few with empathy. She hated the pity, she hated the way people stared at her, and she hated the way she just seemed to hate everything. Why can't they stop staring! She wanted to glare at them, but she was just too tired to do so.

The eyes of her fellow students followed her and haunted her as she entered her first period class. Heading to her seat, she sat down in it. Mother is gone, father is gone, and who's next? Touya? Tomoyo? Syaor- she jumped when she felt someone tap her shoulder.

Looking up, amber met emerald. They stayed like that for a moment, and then emerald eyes dropped.

"Morning, Sakura-chan," whispered the tall, brown-haired boy with amber eyes. "I'm glad to see you in school."

Sakura stayed still and stared down at her desk for a moment, then hesitantly replied, "Morning to you, too, Li-kun."

Since her eyes weren't watching his face, she didn't notice the slight drop in expression when she said his name. Clearing his throat, Syaoran asked, "Do you need help to catch up with what you missed? In school, I mean…"

Sakura just shook her head in reply.

Syaoran's shoulders dropped and he stared at her for a long moment. Whispering softly, he said to her, "Stay strong, Sakura." And with that, he sat down in his seat behind her.

Sakura's head processed his words over and over again, Stay strong, Sakura...Stay strong, Sakura…Stay strong, Sakura.

Li Syaoran watched the slumped figure in front of him carefully. His eyes were saddened by the drastic change that seemed to happen to Kinomoto Sakura. What did she do to deserve all this pain? Didn't she go through enough without adding the death of her father to the list? She doesn't deserve THIS! Why must the Fates be so cruel! He thought angrily.

Everyone was talking about the difference that seemed to surround Sakura. It was all around school and the gossip seemed to become worse and worse. The tales went from the truth, which was her father dying, to false tales, which included her getting dumped by twenty guys in one night. It just wasn't fair!

Sakura's skin was pale and her hair was limp. She didn't smile and she was missing her usual glow. Her emerald eyes that used to be bright and full of light were now dull and full of pain and sorrow. She didn't walk, but seemed to limp around the school. Sakura's friends were worried about her and so were her teachers. She was well liked in school by everyone, but that didn't seem to stop the gossip. The jealous girls were especially brutal with their tall tales.

Hearing a sigh, he looked up to the person to the right of Sakura. There sat Daijouji Tomoyo, Sakura's best friend and cousin. They were always close and he knew that she was taking the loss of Kinomoto-san almost as hard as Sakura. Hiragizawa Eriol was there for her, though, and she was handling the pain well.

The mysterious Clow Reed incarnation was the tall, dark, and handsome type. His blue eyes seemed to hold all the wisdom of the world and he held an air of sophistication around him.

Tomoyo herself was a beauty with her long silky black hair and violet eyes. Her voice was musical and she sang like an angel. She was intelligent beyond belief like her counterpart, Eriol. Together they formed a formidable team that always strived to make a couple of Sakura and Syaoran.

Worry was now written deeply into the eyes of Tomoyo, Eriol, and Syaoran for Sakura. They all knew how close Sakura has been with her father and how deeply this must have gone to heart for her. Loosing her mother was a faraway memory, but her father just added to the grief and pain that was connected to it. They would have to watch Sakura carefully and treat her with great care to help her get over her father's death. It would not be easy, they all knew, but for Sakura's sake they would do it.