Disclaimer: yada yada yada blah blah blah not my characters…aw, just take the last of my money, I defy you!

Without

Sunlight crept across the sheets, bringing a glowing warmth. It lit upon a peaceful face with it's bright rays and a sparkling green eye cracked open.

Oh, crap…

One bad thing that Sakura suddenly realized about being deaf was that she couldn't hear her alarm clock going off. She had 5 minutes to get ready and she was supposed to help Li walk to school this morning. Doing the fastest morning routine of her life, she was on wheels and out the door without hearing her father's morning greeting.

It was a strange sensation going so fast and feeling the wind sweeping around you without being able to hear it. No sound of rubber wheels crushing tiny stones on the pavement. She skated past a group of happy children and could not hear their laughter.

Skidding up to Li's door, she panted for breath.

He was there waiting and started to feel his way towards her when he heard her pull up. He had apparently had a difficult morning too. He was wearing hideously mismatched orange and green socks with his uniform and his hair was even more unruly than usual. He had a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes.

Sakura wondered why he didn't have a walking stick of some sort to guide him. She wanted to ask him but wasn't sure she could. For the first time since losing her hearing, Sakura tried to ask a question. She knew how to talk of course, but it was hard to tell what kind of sounds her throat was forming.

Li heard Sakura trying to talk and listened, turning to the direction the sound was coming from. It sounded something like: "Eeee, aye onn uu aawe a aaline ikk?" Li put an exaggerated confused expression on his face so she would know that he hadn't understood her.

Sakura sighed. Obviously the talking thing wasn't working, so she'd just have to find alternate means of communication. Looking around, she found a small twig on the ground. Picking it up, she skated over to Li. Taking his hand and turning it palm side up, she used her finger tips to trace on his skin.

Li shivered slightly as he felt Sakura's soft hands take hold of his. She was trying to ask him something. He concentrated on what she drew into his palm: a question mark (why), she poked him in the chest (you), N-O (no), she wrapped his fingers around her wrist (hold), she made her fingertips "walk" across his outstretched hand (walking), finally she placed the twig in his hand (stick). Why you no hold walking stick. Li nodded his head in understanding. He pointed to himself and shook his head and at the same time slowly mouthed the words "I don't need a walking stick!" Sakura shook her head and rolled her eyes but left it at that. Come to think of it, that just means that I'll have to be his walking stick. *smirk*

They arrived at school extremely late, of course and everyone else was already in class. As the two of them stumbled in Mrs. Ayudon informed the class (both by speaking and by writing on the board) that being to class on time was the first test.

Great, our two heroes found their seats and slumped down.

During class, Sakura's eyes continued to drift over to Li. He had taken the sunglasses off, but his eyes were frighteningly vacant. He really was beautiful, she decided with a smile. At least I can stare at him now without getting caught.

She noticed that he was reaching for a piece of paper and a pen. He quickly and sloppily scrawled a note and passed it over to her. It read: Stop staring at me, Sakura.

Amazed, her emerald eyes grew huge and her mouth gaped…how did he know???

He wrote another line: I can feel you breathing towards me. Then he turned an evil smirk her way. It lost some of the effect when he wasn't looking directly at her, but she got the point. She stuck her tongue out and faced away in a humph.

Li smiled to himself. It would have been nice to hear her yelling at him…huh? Who would have thought he'd ever miss the sound of Sakura's voice. Or her face. Or the way that strands of her golden hair would hang in front of her gorgeous green eyes or…Woah, need to get away from that line of thought! Staring into blackness all the time was boring though.

Not far off, a force was growing…sensing…planning. Now was the time. The card captors were incapacitated and it would be all too easy to have a little fun without being caught. Blind and deaf, hah! One couldn't see and the other wouldn't know if you were about to chop her head off from behind. They certainly wouldn't be able to communicate. My brethren were caught because those brats communicated too well and fought as one, well this should change things a little. Hahaha. Only a matter of time.

Well, folks. That's all for now. More soon, I promise. Just so you know, reviews honestly inspire me to get those chapters out. More S+S mushiness to come. See ya soon.