Chapter Three... Tranquil Moments

The next morning when Sakura awoke, Yue was not there as she had hoped he was. Getting out of bed, she paraded out of her room and into the living room. Surprisingly enough, she found him asleep on her couch. She went over to his side and crouched next to him. "Yue?" she whispered his name a few times. Only when he felt the sparks from her touch on his shoulder, did she wake him. He awoke with a start and looked up at her, a wild look in his eyes. Sakura looked at him with worry. "Oh, it's you Sakura!" he said, as he sat up and brushed the sleep from his eyes. "Well, who else would it be silly. No one else is here." She told him, standing up. He looked up at her with slight disbelief. 'Anyone could come here at any time.' He thought. She sat down next to him, hugging his arm to her cheek. Yue looked at her with surprise. He had almost forgotten about the prior nights surprising turn of events. He thought about his job to her suddenly. Thinking that these new feelings for her would somehow get in the way of being her guardian and protector.

Yue sighed, and Sakura looked up at him. "What's the matter Yue? Is something wrong?" she asked, slightly letting his arm go. He turned his gaze from her and looked at the wall, seeking solace elsewhere. "It's nothing... really." he replied, his tones fairly cold. Sakura frowned at the sound of his voice. She stood up, and this startled him slightly. He look at her, his brow furrowed in confusion. Sakura started to walk away from him, but he caught her slim hand in his firm grasp. She turned to him. "It's not you, Sakura. It's just that my job now will... be much harder." Yue whispered slightly, his emotions masked. Her face showed that of concern. "Why would your job be harder? Tell me why?" she asked him. She kneeled onto the floor in front of him, her arms resting on his knees. Her touch made his skin crawl with pleasant emotions. She could see the fight in his eyes, so she backed away slightly. Yue leaned forward towards her, his face not so far away from hers. "Well... because of my feelings." he whispered. She could feel his breath on her face, verifying just how close he was to her. Sakura was the one shaking now. "What feelings are those?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Yue heard the change in her tones and leaned an inch or two closer. "The feelings I have for you." he replied, wondering if he actually had said those words. His mind not quite believing what his ears just heard. Sakura's eyes widened with emotion. "For... for me? Really?" she said, as her breathing seemed to get a little heavier.

*Yue nodded and smiled slightly. Sakura's eyes opened wide. "You smiled again, you can't deny it now Yue!" she cried out, pulling him down to her in a small hug. The current position they were in was making his blood run warm. Yue nestled his head up against hers and wrapped his long arms around her form, pulling her against him. He sighed again, but this time it was full of something happier than the last. Sakura suddenly realized how close she was to him, and backed away a few inches. She realized now, that was her first mistake, she wanted to kiss him so bad she could feel it crawl across her skin. Yue looked at her with his eyes of quicksilver, and she could see all he felt for her in them, as they focused on her lips. Sakura closed her eyes in anticipation, but what she thought was coming did not. Yue pulled her face to the side and he kissed her left cheek, the breath from his lips heating her face. She blushed from this and looked at him. He looked bewildered, and his face was that of a confused child. "Yue..." she said, putting her hand to his cheek. Yue forced his pained eyes to look away from her, too confused to say a word. "It's okay... I'm a woman now. You don't have to be afraid to kiss me." she reassured him, a smile like sunshine on her face.

Yue moved his eyes back to lock with hers. "I know that you're a woman now. That is why I'm fighting my feelings so much. I'm afraid if I kiss you, I won't be able to control myself anymore. You're so sweet, like a never-ending supply of that candy you humans eat! I don't want to hurt you, and I don't want to be hurt either." Yue spoke, his eyes clouded with confusion and slight pain. Sakura hugged him to her. "Believe me when I say this, Yue. It hurts inside when I can't touch you, or kiss you. You mean everything to me and I am willing to risk a little pain to know what it is like to be with you just for a short while. I am willing, Yue. Are you?" she said, as she whispered into his ear. Yue sighed and moved back from her a few inches. "I do not want you to feel any pain, my mistress. I only want you to be happy and." he stopped, his voice trailing off. His hands began to shake slightly. "At least promise me one thing, Yue?" Sakura asked him, nestling her head against his neck. He heard her words and contemplated on just flying away and never coming back, but he knew he would never be able to do that. "Alright..." he replied, caressing her hair again. She backed away from him and looked into his silver pupils. She saw them quivering from his restraint. "Never leave me. Always stay by my side. Please?" she asked him, hopefulness in her eyes.

Yue sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his vision was filled with her beautiful face. How could he say no? He loved her too much to just say no and leave her in pain. He nodded and brought her closer to him, hugging her so tightly she felt as if they could meld into one being, forever as one. The turmoil of sensations flowing through his body was making him aware of certain things happening between them and with that realization he was suddenly scared. He pushed her at arm length away from him, when he felt he could no longer restrain himself, for her sake. Sakura looked up at him, slight confusion in her bright eyes. "Sakura, I'm sorry but I don't think I can control my actions in your presence at the moment. So I must leave you, till I can repair the damage my feelings and emotions have wrought on me." he said in desperate tones, tears forming in his eyes. She looked into his silvery eyes and saw a wild something in them, along with the confusion of what was happening to him. He backed away from her and towards the balcony. The angelic wings appeared at his back and he arched them upward behind him. "Yue! What's wrong? Where are you going?" Sakura begged, following him with tears in her eyes. He opened the window and started to step over the threshold. "I'm sorry Sakura. Please do not hate me. These new feelings cloud my judgement. I'm afraid I'll soon make the wrong decision, for the both of us." he said, as he turned his back to her. Yue stepped outside and took flight.

Sakura ran out onto the balcony and stopped at the railing. "Yue! Please come back!" she yelled out into the night after him. Pained tears stained her reddened cheeks. Yue flew through the afternoon air, tears streaming down his face. When he heard her calling out his name and the few words after, his heart swelled with the pain he heard in her voice. "How could you have done this to her?" he asked himself out loud. He flew into the sunlight and Sakura lost his trail after that. "Why now? When I finally helped him realize what he really feels for me." she whispered, slowly walking back into the living room. Sakura sighed. "Perhaps I overloaded his thoughts, maybe he couldn't handle feeling all those emotions at once. I'm so sorry Yue. Now I've hurt us both with my foolish wanting." she said, as she thought of him. Sakura sighed again and then turned to look out the balcony window once more, before walking into her bedroom, she shut the door behind her.

When dusk came...

Sakura walked down the street alone, thinking of her early morning mistakes. Everything ran through her brain again and again. "What happened to make him so scared?" she kept saying to herself, a silent whisper in the wind. The darkness of dusk came on quickly, as she rounded a quiet corner. Her senses suddenly became aware of a force she remembered, but wished she hadn't encountered. It was him; the evil that was taking her cards, he was going to try again. Sakura felt shivers travel up her back, and the fear inside her escalated to newer levels. Her fear of this being became greater after he managed to steal some of her cards in their last battle, as well as the dreams she continued to have almost every other night since then. She continued down the street and turned into an empty park, the trees fell about her like a crowded arena. Sakura grabbed for the key she always wore and held it out in front of her. "Key of the Star, with powers burning bright, reveal the staff, and shine your light. Release!" she said aloud, as the key transformed into the star wand she has carried ever since she became the Master of the Clow. The darkness didn't make the park look any better as she slowly paced further into it. A husky voice laughed from all around, the echo bouncing off the trees confusing her. Sakura pressed the star wand to her breast and closed her eyes.

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Hmm, I hope you think my story is getting good. *winks* We all know that Sakura and Yue belong together...mmmhmmm! :P More to come... ^_~

For any question's, comments, or flames... e-mail me at: sakura_blossom@hotmail.com!