Sakura and Syaoran's Love

Chapter 3: The Ski Trip

"Today was an exciting day, wasn't it?" Tomoyo said as she slipped into bed that night.

"Yeah, it was.  I was even able to buy some souvenirs for my otousan already.  I really like it here too.  It's really beautiful."  Sakura commented.

"And I'm excited about tomorrow too.  I get to film Sakura-chan skiing!" Tomoyo said.

Sakura sweatdropped.

"Well, oyasuminasai Sakura-chan."

"Oyasumi."  

***

*the next morning at the slopes*

"It certainly didn't take us long to get here," commented Chiharu.

"Sugoi…the slopes are so pretty!"  Naoko exclaimed. 

"But I don't know how to ski," Rika confessed.

"Don't worry, I can help you learn." Terada sensei offered.  Rika blushed – she still had a crush on her teacher.  "There will also be a professional out here to help anyone who needs any help."

"You look so cool in your ski outfit Sakura-chan.  I'm so lucky I get to film you!" Tomoyo squealed as she watched Sakura ski over to the lifts to take them up to the top. 

"Syaoran-kun, you can get on the lift with Sakura-chan.  I want to film you two going up.  Eriol-kun can be my partner."

Syaoran and Eriol both blushed.

"Eriol-kun, you've noticed how Syaoran-kun and Sakura-chan like each other, right?"  Tomoyo asked as they watched the lift in front of them begin to rise.

"Yes, of course. It's very obvious the way they feel."

"Well then, good.  That means you can help me get those two to tell each other."

"Of course," Eriol replied with a wicked grin. 

"It seems you've already thought about this," Tomoyo said. "So, what's your plan?"

"Well….

Meanwhile, Syaoran and Sakura had made it to the top of the slope.

"Wow, this is a lot further up than it seemed from the bottom." Sakura commented.

"Yeah…Can you ski?"  Syaoran asked.

"I learned a few years ago, but I'm not really that good," Sakura replied. "How about you?"

"I can a little I guess."

"It looks like everyone has made it up."  Mitsuki sensei said as Tomoyo and Eriol got off their lift.  "Everyone who needs lessons come over here by Terada-sensei and I.  If you don't, then go ahead and ski.  But please be careful."

"Well, I can't ski very well, so I'm going to go get some lessons.  Have fun!" Tomoyo before she followed Naoko, Rika, Chiharu, and Yamazaki to get lessons.

"See you at the bottom you two!" Eriol said before he expertly began skiing down the slope, leaving Syaoran and Sakura alone at the top.

"He's good."  Sakura noticed.

"He's a show off," Syaoran said.  He looked at Sakura and blushed.  Tomoyo was right.  She does look good in that outfit.  "Well, I guess we should start heading down too."

"I hope I don't fall," Sakura said.

"I'll be right there.  You'll be fine."  Sakura looked up at him surprised.  He just blushed some more.  "Let's go."

With that, they both pushed off and started down the hill. 

"This is fun!"  Sakura called out to Syaoran.

As they reached the middle of the slope, however, a sudden strong gust of wind knocked Sakura off her feet and she slid toward the edge of the skiing area.

"Sakura!  Daijoubu-ka?" Syaoran asked leaning over her with a worried expression.

"Y-Yes.  Just surprised, that's all.  That wind came from nowhere it seemed."

"Good.  Here, let me help you up," Syaoran said offering her his hand. 

*syaoran* That scared the crap out of me when I saw her fall like that.  I'm just glad she's okay.  I wish I could protect her more though.  I couldn't do anything when she fell. 

*sakura* That totally freaked me out.  But it was nice when Syaoran helped me – just like the first day he came back when I ran into him and fell.  He's so sweet.

"Let's go more slowly down the rest of the hill, okay," Sakura asked.

"Sure, I think that would be better," Syaoran replied.

They skied off without noticing Eriol, with a wicked smile, hidden behind a tree close to where Sakura fell with Tomoyo's camera in hand.  This plan seems to be working.  But I do have to be a little more careful so Sakura won't get hurt. 

Later that day, the group met at the lodge at the bottom of the slopes to rest and ate lunch.

"How were your lessons?" Sakura asked.

"They were really fun.  Our instructor was really great." Naoko replied.

"We should be out on the slopes with you after lunch," Yamazaki added.  "I can't wait. 

"Did you know modern skiing as a sport began in Norway during the 1800's?" Yamazaki informed.

"Really?" Sakura asked.  Everyone else ignored him.

"How were the slopes, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.  Eriol smiled at her.

"They were really great," Sakura replied.  "I fell the first time down, but after that, everything was great."

"You fell?" Tomoyo asked.  "Were you hurt?"

"No, just surprised.  It wasn't a bad fall.  There was some weird wind that just kind of knocked me off my feet – almost gently though. It was kind of strange.  Syaoran-kun helped me up."

"Please be more careful, Sakura-san," Mitsuki sensei advised.

"Okay."  Suddenly Sakura felt light-headed and started to fall out of her seat.  Syaoran caught her before she could fall.

"Sakura! What's wrong?"  Tomoyo asked, worried. 

"I…"

Mitsuki sensei leaned over and placed her hand on Sakura's forehead.  "It's not a fever."

She suddenly tensed as she felt a familiar presence.  Eriol also felt it. 

"Sakura, what happened?  Are you okay?" Syaoran asked. 

*sakura* That feeling.  It felt like some of the cards are free or something and took a bunch of energy from me.  But that can't be.  They're all up in the hotel room.  What's happening?

"Do you feel that Syaoran-kun?"  Sakura asked weakly.  He hesitated.  He hadn't felt a thing before.  But now…it felt like some of the star cards were released.

"Yeah…but why?" he asked.

"I don't know.  I need to go check on them."

"You didn't bring them with you?" he asked quietly.

"I didn't think I would need them," she confessed.

"We can't do anything till we get back to the hotel tonight then.  Be extra careful." Syaoran said.

"But…"  Sakura stopped.  He was right.  There was nothing she could do.  "I'm okay," she said aloud so everyone could here.  "I just got dizzy for a second."

"Maybe you shouldn't ski anymore today," Terada-sensei said.

"It's okay.  I think I'm really fine now.  I should be able to ski."

"Well then, at least have someone with you all the time, okay?" Terada sensei said.

"Okay."

*2 hours later*

"Wow! That was fun." Rika exclaimed as she came to a stop at the bottom of the slopes.

"I should have learned to ski a lot sooner."

"And I got great footage of Sakura-chan skiing. Just like I wanted."  Tomoyo said. "I can't wait to watch it."

"You should ski more instead of just taping Tomoyo." Sakura said.  "You could go faster if you concentrated less on filming."

"But it is quite impressive that you can do both at once." Eriol commented, blushing slightly. 

"Are you feeling okay?" Syaoran asked Sakura quietly. 

"Yes.  I've gotten some energy back after eating lunch. I'm fine.  Don't worry." She replied.  He still looked worried though.

*sakura* Am I just imagining this or is Syaoran really worried about me? He can't be.  I don't deserve that.  He's probably just worried about the cards.

"Let's go back up," Chiharu suggested.

*1 hour later*

"There's time for everyone to go down once more, and then we'll need to start heading back to Sapporo to the hotel.  So once you get down, meet back at the lodge to return your equipment, okay?" Terada sensei said.

"Hai!"

"Come on Li-kun, I'll race you!"  Eriol challenged.

"We should all race," Yamazaki suggested.

"Fine," Syaoran replied. 

"How about you girls," Eriol asked.

"We're in, right girls?"  Chiharu said.

"Of course, we couldn't let one of the guys win," Naoko replied.

"I'm in," Sakura said.

"Me too," announced Rika.

"I'll tape!"  said Tomoyo.  Everyone sweatdrops.

"We'll judge," Terada sensei said.  "Give me a little head start so I can see you as you come down."  With that, he went soaring down the hill.

"Me too!  I need a head start too! I'll film you all at the finish."  Tomoyo said as she started down the hill.

"Ready, set, go!"  Mitsuki sensei called out.  The group quickly set off down the hill.

Syaoran immediately took the lead with Eriol following close behind.  Sakura was close behind him while the rest fell back quite quickly. 

Sakura suddenly noticed something pass right by her, crossing in front of her…watery??

She was too stunned to notice that the watery card had helped turn the snow in front of her to a dangerous patch of ice.  She screamed as she fell hard onto it and spun totally out of control.  She finally came to a stop as she slammed hard into a tree on the side of the slope. 

Syaoran and Eriol stopped suddenly as they felt the presence of the card and heard a loud scream.

"That was Sakura!"  Syaoran yelled as he tore off his skis and started running back up the hill.  He grew pale as he saw her lying still against the tree.  "Sakura!"

By then Eriol, the remaining skiers, and Mitsuki sensei had reached them as well. 

"Sakura!  Sakura!  Wake up!"  Syaoran demanded, shaking her.

"Hoe?" Sakura mumbled, slowly opening her eyes.  She flinched as a sharp pain crossed her forehead.  "Itai…"

Syaoran sighed in relief as he saw she was okay.  "You have a small cut on your head it seems," he said, his hands still on her shoulders.

"Are you okay, Sakura?" Chiharu asked.

"I think so."

"Can you stand up?" Kaho asked.  She had also felt the presence of the card.

"Are you okay, miss?"  An instructor skiing by interrupted.  He had seen the crash from the top of the hill.  "What happened?"

"Uh…well...I don't really know," Sakura began.  That was watery.  I know it was.  But why would it try to hurt me? "Um…I think I hit a patch of ice or something."

"Well, you certainly were lucky.  The skis are shattered.  It's a miracle that one of the pieces didn't fly into you.  And crashing into the tree…not many people would escape from a crash like that with so little injury."

"Try to stand up, Sakura," Syaoran said. "I'll help you."  He offered his hand to her once more and helped her up. 

"I'm fine," she said.  "I'm sorry about the skis though."

"It's fine.  It wasn't your fault the ice was there," the instructor said.  "Can you help her down the rest of the slope?" he asked looking at Syaoran.  "Make sure she's looked over by a doctor in the lodge, okay."

"Sure."

"Thank you for your help," Mitsuki sensei said.

"No problem.  I'm going to go see what I can do about that ice."  The instructor then left and started climbing further up the hill as Syaoran began helping Sakura down. 

"What's wrong?" he asked as Sakura started to limp.

"My ankle hurts a little.  But don't worry.  It's not that bad."  But Syaoran very effortlessly scooped her up into his arms.

"You don't have to carry me! I can walk." Sakura exclaimed.

"It's fine," he replied. 

"Are you okay with her?" Mitsuki sensei asked.

"Yeah," Syaoran replied.

"The rest of us will ski down and tell Terada-sensei and Tomoyo-san what happened.  They might be kind of worried since we haven't reached them yet.  Just be careful okay?" Mitsuki sensei said.  "Sakura…you can tell me exactly what happened later okay?"  With that she and the rest of the group headed quickly down the hill, the race forgotten. 

Syaoran, holding Sakura gently in his arms, began walking down the rest of the hill.

"Really…I can walk." Sakura urged.

"It would be better for you if you didn't," he replied.

*syaoran* This is the second time today – and much worse.  That scream…that was the worse thing I've ever heard in my life.  And seeing her so still…I was so scared I would lose her.  I am not going to let her go now.  But I wonder what's happening with the cards. 

"Syaoran-kun…"

"Syaoran?" Sakura repeated.

"Huh?...Oh sorry, I was thinking."  Syaoran said.

"It was the watery card that made the patch of ice," Sakura stated.

"What!?  You're kidding."

"I'm very serious.  I saw it clearly," Sakura said sadly.  "Why do you think it would do that?"

"I don't know.  It doesn't make any sense."  Syaoran replied.

"I'm really worried," she confessed.

"It'll be okay.  We'll find out what's wrong and fix everything, okay?" Syaoran said, trying to console her.  "I'll help you with whatever I can."

Sakura looked up at him and smiled.  He's being so sweet lately.  It's so nice.  "Thank you Syaoran-kun."  He blushed.  They walked the rest of the way down in silence.

"Sakura-chan!"  Tomoyo called out as they reached the bottom.  "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Let's get her in to see the doctor," Terada-sensei suggested.

Suddenly, a small earthquake took the group by surprise.

"Whoa…it's been a while since there was an earthquake," Chiharu commented.

Kaho, Eriol, Syaoran, and Sakura exchanged glances.  That was not a normal earthquake.

End of Chapter 3

I hope it's getting a little more interesting.  Please review!

And now, for more translations…

Oyasuminasai: Good night (very polite)

Oyasumi: Good night (more familiar)

Itai:  It hurts; oww…