Kyo- I'm using Microsoft word for this chapter, so maybe there won't be any grammar mistakes. Oh well.
Gia- Yahhh! I'm number 144 on your authors list! My favorite numeral is 4! (Aila's a nut)
S+S's Daughter- I hope it continues being even more interesting.
pokey- You should add a cherry! I love cherries!
Relena&Heero 4ever- Yeah! S+S forever. However, I feel Heero is rightfully mine, and I'd fight Relena any day for him. (Takes out a gun, and starts pointing it at people)
**SaKuRa KiNoMoTo**- Alas, Shaoran's attitude. I guess the only way to explain it is this. Imagine Shaoran never meeting Sakura, and this is waaaay in the past, with some strict rules on how to behave. He never had the genki Cherry Blossom open him up. Maybe it's not too late for Sakura to open him up, neh? ~_^
The PenMaster- Yes, its fun to write too.
DawnRising, SoulSister, and the rest of you, here's the next chapter!

Ohhh, Mircosoft word is soo cool. There are a ton of red lines! And some green ones! What's that? NO I DON'T OWN CARDCAPTOR SAKURA!
Ruri- Baka.


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Eriol got up and sat next to Shaoran once he was sure Sakura was asleep. Kero was rolling up in a ball on a pillow next to her. He couldn't help but smile as he watched a slight grin appear on her face as she slept.

"What are we going to do about her?" Shaoran questioned Eriol sternly.

"Why are you asking me? Your the future Clan's leader." Eriol answered teasingly.

There was a moment of silence, which was broken by Shaoran.

"I say we take the book, and return to China as soon as possible."

"What about her?" Eriol arched a eyebrow in question.

"What about her?" was Sharon's only reply.


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Cherry Blossoms and Magic

Chapter 4 ~
Intro to Evil, Escape from Kyoto Castle.

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"Sakura." Kero whispered in her ear. Sakura looked over to her yellow friend who lay on the pillow next to her.
"Nani, Kero-chan?" She answered in a low voice. Even though the two men where in another room, the paper walls where thin, and she didn't want to wake them up. She slowly began to sit up.

"I think, Sakura, that we should make a run for it, with the book. I think Clow's reincarnation wants you to have it anyway."

She remained quiet. That meant that she'd have to go into the other room where they where sleeping to get the book. She didn't really know if she could count on her feet to be stealth. She brought her feet over the side of her bed, and slowly set then on the wood floor.

"Go for it." Kero encouraged.

She ever quietly stood up, hoping to the gods that the tatami floor wouldn't creek beneath her. She tested the floor before taking the next step. It didn't make a sound. A minute later she found herself at the door that led to the next room.

It took her 3 minutes to slide the door as quietly as possible. Once she had it open enough for her to squeeze by, she looked into the room. Someone was asleep, snoring rhythmically on the bed. On the table next to the bed, she saw the book.

Slowly she began to take a step into the room when she stopped dead still. On the floor, in front of the table, was the other one. The one with the brown hair. The one called Shaoran Li. He who made her uncomfortable by glaring at her so incessantly when she woke. She would have to go past him to get to the book.

'Didn't Eriol-san say he was some kind of future king or something?' She thought, dismissing the thought as quickly as it came. She had to have her full attention on being quiet.

She slowly came up to him till was less than 4 paces from the book. 'Almost there…'

Unexpectedly, she found herself falling. Out of the blue something had tripped her, and she feel forward with a yelp.

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A sleepy-eyed Eriol jerked up at he sudden commotion. He looked around, then settled back into the bed when he saw the cause, and he smiled. The picture of Sakura with Shaoran came back into his mind.

'Nice to know they're getting along so nicely.' He thought, the smile on his lips growing.

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Sakura stared wide-eyed into his brown ones. His eyes where just as wide at this unexpected development. He didn't mean for her to fall on top him when he tripped her. Now here they where in a very un-dignified position. Brown continued to sink into green. She lay over him, arms supporting her as her attempt not to fall completely on him. Their faces where inches apart.
Shaoran had to fight the urge to close those few inches between them, yet his face came closer to hers.

"I… I…" she stuttered.

"Sakura! Are you all right! What did that idiot do to you no-" he shut up when he saw them, his yellow face became an angry red.

Kero's intrusion broke the trance between them, and Sakura instantly got off of Shaoran, and backed up a couple feet. Her face turned red when she saw that all he wore where pants, leaving his upper body uncovered.
'Why am I looking at his chest! What am I doing!'

"I… I…" she continued, and suddenly was forward in a bow with her head against the floor. "I'm soo sorry! Gomen nasai!" It was a lot easier to say something when she wasn't looking directly at him.

Shaoran's brain was swimming. 'Did I almost kiss her?!' He felt his cheeks begin to burn as he looked down at her bowing figure. He heard Eriol stifle a laugh behind him. He really hated it when Eriol could sense his feelings.

Sakura now sat up strait. Her emerald eyes wouldn't meet his.

Shaoran regained his senses, and angrily asked, "What do you think you where doing?!"

Eriol continued to have his belly feel like it was being torn apart as he continued to keep the laughs inside of him. The look on his cousin/descendant's face when Sakura feel on him, was priceless. Shaoran's cool demeanor was now currently in chaos.

Sakura continued looking at the floor. She didn't think she could ever look him in the face again.

"Don't yell at her, you stinking gaki! She doesn't have to tell you!" Kero yelled outraged. He really didn't like the position his mistress was in the minute before.

Shaoran was about to insult the guardian when there was a knock at the door. His eyes instantly swerved from the door to Sakura and Kero. He was instantly up. He snatched Sakura's lithe into his arms, along with the Clow book, while he grabbed Kero in mid air, and headed to the other room.

Sakura was too startle to say anything, and in Kero's case, Shaoran's hand was over his mouth to stop him from speaking.

He dropped her onto the bed with the book, threw Kero next to her, and hurriedly wrapped a blanket around her.

"Stay here and don't make a noise."

Sakura just nodded as fear began to take her. 'What if those are soldiers looking for me?'

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When Shaoran returned, Eriol was already up, prepared to meet with the unwanted intruders.

Shaoran opened the door only to come face to face with the one person he detested in the whole palace, the emperor's advisor, and also magic user, Mahoutsukai Nakamura. He and 3 guards where with him.

It was all Shaoran could do to keep his face calm.

"So sorry, Sir, but we have been ordered to Search to palace for a valuable book that was stolen from the library last night. We've been ordered to search every room."

"But isn't there laws saying you can't search here?" Eriol asked from behind.

"So sorry," Mahoutsukai replied. "But for this the Emperor is making an exception."

Shaoran remained emotionless as he moved out of the way. He had to let them in, and he knew that as soon as Mahoutsukai entered the room with the book, he would sense it. They where trapped now.

They began to search the room as Eriol and him watched on. Mahoutsukai began to move towards the door to the other room, and Shaoran began to tense up, clutching his pendant. He didn't know how he'd handle against 3 samurai warriors, as well as the sorcerer, but it looked like he was going to find out. He was going to wait until he was sure Mahoutsukai sensed the book.

Mahoutsukai entered the room, and Shaoran followed him, along with two other samurai. As they entered, Shaoran could feel the magic in the room, yet Mahoutsukai made no sign sensing it.

The men continued to look, while Mahoutsukai stayed root where he was, with a evil smile plastered across his face. Shaoran followed his eyes to Sakura, who sat in the bed watching them with wide doe eyes. He could feel her fear, and instantly felt more aggressive.

"And who is she?" Mahoutsukai asked in a sickly playful voice.

No one answered.

"Well?"

This time Eriol came forward from behind Shaoran.

"She is Li-san's personal consort who arrived here late last night after the banquet." He stated in a knowingly manner.

Shaoran continued glaring at Mahoutsukai, while Sakura watched.

"What's her name?" Mahoutsukai asked, turning to Shaoran, clearly wanting the answer to come from him.

"Ying-Fa." Came the cold reply.

"Very well, young lady." The man turned back to Sakura, and politely bowed. "I am sorry to disturb you, Ying-Fa."

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Sakura remained silent, but bowed slightly back. This man scared her to death. Something about him made her have a sense of foreboding. This was not the first time she met him.

"We don't need to search here any longer." She heard him say. "Again I'm sorry for disturbing you and the lady." Said to Shaoran who continued to frown at him. She watched, and she saw the man look at her from the corner of his eyes, an evil smirk appeared on his lips, all which Sakura caught, causing her to involuntarily clutch the sheet as a chill went up her spine.

Shaoran saw all this, and he didn't like it. Mahoutsukai was purposely scaring her.

"Go then." Shaoran ordered, pointing to the door.

Mahoutsukai bowed to him, then again to Sakura.

"May you have a pleasant day, lady." He said innocently before turning and leaving.

Sakura watched and instantly began to breath normally again. She didn't realize she had been holding her breath all the time.

She looked up to see Shaoran and Eriol studying her.

"Do you know him?" Shaoran questioned.

"I… I don't know. I feel like I have, but I don't remember where and when."

Kero bursted from under her sheets and headed strait for Eriol.

"I don't care if you ARE Clow Reed's reincarnation! How dare you insult my mistress in such a way! Saying she's that Gaki's consort! How dare you!"

Eriol's face remained the same, smiling at eyes and mouth. When Kero was done, he answered, "You're absolutely right, Kero." He then turned to Sakura, and in a deep bow, began "I am very sorry for any dishonor I may of caused you concerning that false hood of suggesting to them that you where the consort of my barbaric cousin." Sakura saw Shaoran send a death glare to Eriol, who didn't seem to notice. "Please for give me."

He remained bowed until Sakura realized he was waiting for her forgiveness, which she quickly gave him. "Its all right. I understand you needed someway to explain me... and it seemed to work." Sakura responded, not sure she belived what she said. Eriol stood up smiling, and began to head out of the room.

"Hey! Where are you going! She may have forgiven you, but I'm not done with you!" Kero yelled following Eriol out of the room.

Shaoran remained. There was a moment of silence before the turned, and headed out the door, saying "Get ready. We're leaving in 20 minutes."

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"So where are we going, Cousin?"

"Away from the castle. There was no way Mahoutsukai didn't sense the book. He must be planning something." The image of Mahoutsukai looking perversely at Sakura came back to him, and Shaoran gritted his teeth. He recalled the stories he was told of what Mahoutsukai did to palace maids, and he wasn't going to let it happen to Sakura. No one deserved it.

"What are we going to do after we get away from the castle? Once we are discovered missing, I suspect they'll search the inns in town." Eriol pointed out. Shaoran made to answer.

"You can stay at my place." Sakura stated. All eyes where suddenly on her. She had her hands around Kero to keep him from the comments he obviously wanted voiced. "That is, if you want to. I live with a friend who already knows about the cards, and we have a spare room, so it should be all right." She began, forcing a smile. 'Hoeee, I can't believe I just proposed they stay at my house. They're nobles, so there's no way they'd ever stay at a peasants hous-'

"All right." She heard Shaoran say as he finished throwing some clothes in a bag.

Sakura almost feel over in a heart attack. They where going to stay at her house. Where she and Tomoyo lived. 'Wait till Tomoyo find's out that where going to have royal guest.' Was the only thing she could think up. Then she face-faulted actually thinking what Tomoyo would do when she DID find out they where royal. "Echhh."

"You say something?" Shaoran asked, one eyebrow raised.

"No! Nothing at all." She assured through her awkward smile.

Shaoran just looked at her, a bit confused, then retuned to packing.

"You done Eriol?" He asked a minute later.

"Yes, my cute descendant." Sakura watched as Shaoran winced at this. 'What an odd nickname she thought.'

"Well let's go." Shaoran stood up, and slinged the bag around his wait, then put on the outer part of the green Chinese robes, concealing the bag.

Sakura was kind of shocked when she saw Eriol putting on a single bag as well. They where leaving behind a ton of valuable things, as far as she could see. But she guessed desperate times called for sacrifices.

Shaoran blew out the lamp, and headed to the garden door with her and Eriol in pursuit.

They quietly stepped out into the night. Sakura had learned from Eriol that she had slept a whole day, and that the banquet was the day before. The all crouched down low when the heard the steps of a guard out in the distance.

When the steps began to walk away from them, Kero decided to talk. "You know, if Sakura used the cards now, we could be outta here in no time." Shaoran ignored him. "Yep. All she'd need to use is the fly card, then we wouldn't be scurrying around in the dirt like bugs."

There was still no response from Shaoran. Kero was getting angry at being ignored.

"A Gak-"

"Shut up Kero!" His mistress commanded in a harsh whisper. "There's a guard less then 20 yards away!"

At this Kero settled back into his mistress's obi, quietly murmuring something.

They heard the guard cough, and Sakura held her breath. Then the guard continued walking away. With the deep breath she took, the scent of jasmine and cherry blossoms filled her nose, causing her to smile. To bad she couldn't have a chance to examine the garden further under different circumstances.

She suddenly watched in shock as she saw Shaoran jump into the tree, then onto the roof in 2 swift movements, soundlessly. He was now on the roof! She blinked a couple times to be sure that he was on the roof. He was.

'I can't do that!' she began to think as she suddenly realized that may be the only way on the roof. "Oh no."

She saw Eriol begin to position himself under the roof, then motion to her. She looked to the guard, who was well away, then hurried to Eriol. He went to one knee, and intertwined his fingers over a knee.

Sakura then realized that he was going to give her a boost. 'Well, the building is only 1 story tall. I can do this.' she gingerly placed her foot in his hand. She then balanced herself, when suddenly she found herself shooting up into the air, causing her to close her eyes in fright. Before she could say anything, the felt someone grab her arm before she began to fall to the Earth. She opened her eyes in time to watch him gently place her down of the roof. A movement in the tree caught her eye.

Eriol suddenly leapt from the tree, and landed on the edge of the roof. His eyes went wide as he began to feel himself fall back. Shaoran quickly leaned forward, and grabbed a part of Eriol's robes, and pulled him forward, stopping him from going over the edge.

They all crouched down, and Kero took this as his cue to emerge one again, incoherently muttering something. He flew forward, and Shaoran seeing this, instantly grabbed Kero, placing on hand over his big mouth.

Kero now saw the guard, but that didn't stop him from attempting to escape form the Gaki's grasp.

The guard was now directly below them, stayed for a minute, and then turned around to return from his starting point.

'The stinking thing better quit squirming or I'll throw in into the tree' Shaoran began to think, and then he felt sudden pressure against on of his fingers.

"Ahhh-mphhh!" He began to yell. Sakura's hands went to Shaoran's mouth on reflex, muffling his yell.

Kero flew from Shaoran, and landed on Sakura's shoulder, whipping his mouth and sending daggers from his eyes to Shaoran.
Shaoran stopped yelling after a second, realizing just whose hands where over his mouth.

They all watched as the guard turned at the sound. He stayed for a minute, the continued walking.

Once he was gone, Sakura removed her hands from Shaoran's mouth, and began to examine his hand. Drops of blood where coming from the bite Kero left. Sakura reached behind her, and pulled out a bandage from her obi. Shaoran remained silent as he watched her wrap the cloth around his hand. She finished, and he only noticed it when she let go of his hand, and began apologizing about Kero. Kero started getting angry when she said something about punishment, and food, and that's when the guardian flew back into the obi in a mad fit.

Eriol snapped his fingers in front of Shaoran, startling Sakura. Shaoran regained his senses, and glared at Eriol, who was smiling his usual scheming smirk, which told Shaoran to be cautious. He was planning something, and with experience since childhood, Shaoran didn't usually like Eriol's schemes.

They began walking. Sakura could see in the distance the sky turning pink from the sun beginning to come up. Soon the whole city would be up.

They came to the end of the roof where they could see woods, and beyond that the start of the city.

Shaoran looked around for guards, and seeing none, slid off the side of the roof, and landed on the ground.

Sakura was preparing to lower herself down, and she felt Eriol looking over her shoulder.

There was a slight yell, which caused Shaoran to look up, only to see Sakura falling over. He ran over, and caught her in his arms before she hit the ground.

Seeing she was all right, he looked up to the roof, only to see Eriol smiling down on him.

"So sorry, Sakura-chan! It was an accident! You aren't hurt are you?!" he asked, knowing full well that Shaoran had caught her in time. Sometimes his faith in his favorite descendant surprised him.

Shaoran glared at Eriol, knowing that pushing Sakura was no accident. If this was part of Eriol's plan then-
At that moment Shaoran looked to Sakura, who was looking right at him. He was still holding her, and he began to realize that he could feel every curve of her body while holding her. His cheeks began to burn as he quickly set her down.

Eriol then jumped down next to them in his usual all smiles self.

"Are you ok, Li-san?" Sakura asked as she reached for his forehead. "You look sick."

"No! I'm fine." He answered as he began to move away from her plus the smiling Eriol, and run walk towards the city.


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Hohohoooo! What's happening with Shaoran?! I wonder whatever could it be? Oh well. Next time on Cherry Blossoms and Magic, we meet Tomoyo-chan again! Ohhhhh, maybe the evil Mahoutsukai will be back too. Brrrr.