Dark Cherry Blossoms

A Card Captor Sakura Fanfic

Here's 3, by popular demand. *shudders* god that sounds cheezy... *rubs arms* get it off! I'm TAINTED!!!! *stops* yup, I'm stressed all right...

~*~RC~*~*

Eriol looked around the big school yards as they walked along. "It's so big here."

Tomoyo nodded "I always thought Reedington Elementary was big- but this place is huge!"

Chicharu smiled "It takes a while to get used to, but things here aren't so complicated."

Naoko led them inside, going up a few flights of stairs and along countless hallways, past identical, endless rows of lockers.

"Here." the group of seven stopped outside a classroom. "This is our homeroom," Rika explained, opening the door.

Inside, at a desk in the back row next to a window, sat Sakura. The moment Syaoran saw her, he knew something was wrong.

She looked the same, if older and prettier with maturity. But her eyes... They weren't warm and friendly like he remembered. Cold and ruthless, they focused on the half-drawn image of the Firey Card.

They remained silent for a moment, watching.

Yamazaki took a step forward "Sakura-"

Sakura's head whipped up. She looked them over "What do you want?"

Tomoyo nearly cringed. Her tone was harsh, unfriendly. Something had happened to her. Something big.

Syaoran took a step forward "We came to visit you."

Sakura resumed her sketch "Go away. I don't want to talk to anyone."

"But-" Eriol stood next to Tomoyo, confusion on his face

"Leave. Now."

Rika pulled them out of the room. "See? She changed."

"What happened?" Syaoran stared through the gap in the doorframe.

"We aren't sure," Yamazaki said softly, looking around at the shocked expressions on his old friends faces.

Syaoran glanced through the window, looking at Sakura still sketching.

"We have to get the Sakura we knew back." he muttered quietly

"How long has she been so... Bitter?" Tomoyo asked. Comfortingly, Eriol took her hand.

Naoko shook her head "About a year after you left, Sakura and her family went away for the summer vacation."

"We didn't see her again until school restarted." Chicharu added. "She came back so... Different. We haven't really talked to her since."

"So you don't know what's wrong?" Eriol asked.

Rika shrugged "No. We tried to ask- but got no answer."

Syaoran looked determined "I'm going to find out. I won't let Sakura stay like this."

^.^ be proud, people. I tried to get this out as soon as I could... I know the chapters are short, but the next one's gonna be longer. ^.^ promise.

~*~RC~*~