Altered Destinies
by Zenin
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Where could I run, where could I hide,
Where could I go where you are not?
Where could I be, where you don't see,
All of these demons chasing me?
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The harsh voices rent the air, causing several of the couples to raise their heads and stare curiously at the two rough-looking men. Some of the couples simply ignored the disturbance and continued reveling in their thoughts of love.
It was enough to make one ill.
Sakura was finding it difficult to breathe. She placed her hands against Syaoran's chest and pushed. "Syaoran, dearest, you are cutting off my air supply." she hissed through gritted teeth.
"Well, darling, I can't have you captured, now can I? But then again," Syaoran whispered musingly. "I don't even know why I'm helping you at all."
Footsteps sounded, coming closer to them as the men walked down the alley, trying to peer covertly at the couples to see if the young Lady Li was among them. Syaoran's head whipped up and he quickly glanced around for a solution.
It came to him in the most unlikely way imaginable.
His eyes fell upon a metal door set in the alley, only a few feet away. A smile flashed across his face and he pulled Sakura closer, ignoring the squeak of protest she made against his jacket. Syaoran quickly bowed his head so Sakura could hear him.
"Listen, I'm going to do something that you probably will not like. Just remember to follow my lead…I've got an idea."
She glanced up at him, puzzled. He hesitated, then brought his lips down to meet hers.
Sakura's eyes widened with a mixture of horror and anger. She pressed frantically against him, forcing him sideways along the wall. Syaoran simply held on tighter and kept his lips pressed firmly against her own. A lack of oxygen made her legs wobbly, and soon she sagged against him, black spots filling her vision. He stumbled beneath her dead weight, slamming his back against the wall beside the door. His elbow slammed into the door twice before he regained balance and returned to his normal position, with Sakura against the wall.
He lifted his head and sighed. This had not been in his job description. The very last thing he had wanted to do, he had just done. Life was hellish. This had better work...
The men were walking quickly towards Syaoran and Sakura, the leader beginning to smile ferally. They stopped in front of the two teenagers, smirking triumphantly.
"Well, what do you know? Little Ying Fa has a boyfrien–"
The metal door slammed open. A huge figure stood in the doorway, staring at the two men in front of it. A chuckle sounded in its throat as it emerged, grinning. Clad in black leather from top to toe, and carrying a rather nasty looking whip, the man pointed at the two trembling men before him.
"Wanna play?" the giant man purred. He grabbed the two and whisked them inside, where nightclub music could be heard above the chatter of the other occupants. The iron door slammed shut.
Sakura's eyes fluttered open as Syaoran started laughing. She straitened and shoved him away from her. "Just who do you think you are?" she said, her voice controlled, but the edge of anger could not be hidden. "Do not ever touch me again, Kinomoto Syaoran, if you value your life."
He ignored her and casually strolled away. "You better go to bed. Wouldn't want to miss school," he called over his shoulder.
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Sakura awoke on the lumpy coach in her family's apartment. The apartment had not been used for many years, thus resulting in a thick layer of dust over everything. She sneezed violently and sat up, trying to remember where she was…and why she was there. When she remembered, she almost wished that she had remained asleep.
She stood and looked around groggily. "I hate school," she muttered thickly. "And I don't feel good."
It felt nice to have a small pity party where no one could hear her. Her training had decreed that she remain as stone, hiding all feelings and emotions. The Elders would be extremely disappointed—no, more than disappointed—if they knew how many times she had slipped up in the past few days. She closed her eyes, remembering the day her father died, the day when the responsibilities of a leader fell upon her shoulders. The day her heart had been confined, by order of the Head Elder Yen.
"Your father is dead."
"Dead? No, it can't be...the doctors said that–"
"The doctors were wrong."
A tear slid down her cheek as the memory grew clearer.
A seven year old girl with honey brown curls was sobbing, her hands covering her face in a pitiful attempt to muffle the sound. Three men stood before her. Two said nothing, only looked away, wordlessly allowing the girl the privilege of crying. The third, the Head Elder, only gazed at her coldly. He stepped forward and pulled her hands down.
"Stop crying. Tears...emotion of any kind...is weakness. Your father was weak."
The girl's head whipped up, tears forgotten as she glared at the Elder. "My father was not weak. He was never weak."
"He was too lenient with you. From now on, you must display the dignity and decorum befitting to your title of future ruler of the Li Clan."
The girl continued glaring. "My father was not weak."
"My, you are a stubborn thing aren't you? Well," the Head Elder said, bending so he was level with her. "Let me tell you a little secret. Your father deserted the Clan."
"No!"
The Head Elder smiled triumphantly. "Yes. Your precious daddy ignored us in our time of need...seven years ago, to be precise. He left us to fight the battle with the bandits and decided to go to the hospital for you instead. You see, Ying Fa," he said venomously. "If it weren't for your father's emotional weakness, my father and other family members would still be alive. If it weren't for you, the Book of the Clow would still be among us."
Chen, the second Elder quickly interrupted. "That's not exactly true, Yen. Li did not desert us. They didn't even attack until thirty minutes after he had left–"
Yen sneered at the older Elder. "Really? And can you prove this?"
Yao, the Third Elder quickly stepped in. "We can continue this discussion later. Ying Fa, you are dismissed."
Sakura sighed softly, and went into the bathroom to wash her smudged face. Her school uniform was creased from being repeatedly folded in a suitcase for the past few weeks, but it would have to do. She showered and dressed, hoping that her damp curls would be dry by the time she reached school.
The walk to school was pleasant at least. Leaves showered the walkways, rustling crisply when stirred by her feet. Sakura passed several yards sporting towering piles of colorful leaves. A sudden childish impulse sprung upon her as she came upon a yard that had no car in front.
Just this once, her heart pleaded. C'mon, you know you want to...
She giggled softly. "Alright, just this once."
Ten seconds later, she was taking a running leap over the fence and into the largest piles of leaves. She laughed, a sound that had long been foreign to her, as she scrambled from the heap. "One more time."
Another flying leap sent the girl diving into the pile. Laughter bubbled helplessly from her lips as she scrambled out again. She was preparing to do one final jump when a voice sounded close by.
"Well now. A pretty girl in a Tomeoda High uniform, jumping into the piles of leaves in my dad's once neat yard."
Sakura's arms windmilled frantically as she toppled unsteadily into the pile. "Gomen nasai!" she apologized, upset at being caught. She struggled to get up, but sank back down helplessly, covering her reddening cheeks with her hands. "Gomen!"
The voice chuckled and Sakura found herself being hauled out by a tall boy with black hair. He stopped suddenly, staring at her with a stunned expression. "W-what is your name?"
Sakura flushed with embarrassment. "My name is Sakura."
The boy's dark eyes studied her, their expression unreadable. "I'm Touya. Kinomoto Touya."
She frowned. "Kinomoto? Do you have a brother?"
"Oh, I see you've met the gaki."
She laughed. "Gaki? That's a good name for him."
The boy smiled. "Um…what are you doing in your school clothes?"
Sakura raised her eyebrow. "I'm going to school," she said slowly.
"It's Saturday."
"Damn it, Syaoran!"
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Whaddya think? I'm not so sure I like how this turned out. *Fussfussfuss* I mean, the last chapter was almost practically ignored. Except my good friend Blazing Moon reviewed. Thank you Blazing Moon! Should I even continue this? Is this utter trash? Argh! My morale! It's sinking to an all time low! Will you review?
© 2002 Zenin Industries