Fuutie led her down a long hall, floored with blood-red stone and the
walls painted to match. Sakura, for her part, was all but shaking with
apprehension. Of the customs and practices of these people she knew
nothing, but this was something she would go through with. On the flight
here, Syaoran had made it very clear that she had to gain his clan's
approval, if not trust. She would complete this; for herself, her
friends, her family, and for Syaoran. That thought strengthened her
spirit; she held up her head a little higher and continued to follow the
woman in front of her down the hall.
The eldest of the Li sisters noticed the change in the Card Mistress'
attitude and smiled. She was fond of her and strongly confidant that she
would he able to pass whatever the elders threw her way. "Your trial is
still a while away." She said, trying to relax the obviously tense girl
beside her. "We're heading to the ceremonial bathing rooms now. You'll
have until tomorrow to meditate and clear your mind before you complete
your task."
Sakura smiled and nodded, relieved that now she had a small idea of what
was happening. Fuutie opened a side door and gestured her into the room
beyond.. It was small, made entirely of marble and void but for a large tub
filled to the rim with water. The entire room was warm and comfortably
humid with stream, smelling of lavender and honeysuckle. Syaoran's oldest
sister pointed out the locations of the soaps and towels, showing her as
well the pale gray robe she would need to change into after. She then left
Sakura with instructions to relax, saying one of her younger sisters would
come to collect her in a few hours.
With the door firmly closed, Sakura climbed out of her clothes and
into the water. It was comfortably hot and deliciously scented. She
allowed it to relax her tense muscles, clearing her mind of all trouble as
well. It was then that she noticed the small tug on her magical energy and
remembered that she still had the sleep card out. Even though it was a
small drain, it was a drain just the same. Sakura's thoughts drifted to
Syaoran- he would need sleep and rest to heal. Yet he would probably stay
asleep without the help of the card, she reasoned as she called out her
wand.
Sakura wasn't sure if she could recall a card at this distance, but
tried just the same. It word and she transformed her staff back into it's
key form. Minuets later, her eyes closed and she drifted into the peaceful
margin between awake and asleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Gaki! You, gaki, wake-up!" Syaoran moaned, slightly aware of the yelling that had ripped him from the peaceful confides of sleep. Wait, sleep?! He wasn't supposed to be sleeping. The last thing he remembered was talking to Sakura about the elders. She was going to talk with them, but he wouldn't let her go alone. So she had pulled out one of her cards and. "Kami kuso na!" His eyes shot opened, only to be meet with a hideously bloated face and tiny black eyes. "Kuso!" He swore again, unable to stop himself. The creature in question hovered back and became identifiable as Kero. "Baka stuffed animal, are you trying to kill me?!" "I was trying to wake you up, gaki!" Syaoran decided to ignore that commented, there being more important matters on hand, "Where's Sakura?" Kero just looked at him, "You don't know?! I came in here to ask you that!" If she's not here with me, and not with the stuffed animal. There was one other alternative; she had gone to speak with the elders and now. He shot-up out of bed, ignoring the pain from his raw back and quickly pulled on a shirt. He then bolted out the door, Kero right behind him. "Hey gaki, where." Syaoran stopped in his tracks and spun around to face the miniaturized guardian. "Look, let's call a truce, for Sakura's sake. I stop calling you stuffed animal and you stop calling me gaki. Deal?" He held out a hand. Kero nodded and shook one of Syaoran's fingers, sealing it. "Right, now where's Sakura?" Kero demanded. Syaoran continued down the hallway, "I have a feeling she went to talk to the elders, but she wouldn't still be there now. I'm going to talk to my sisters, they probably know." He let out a sigh, that wasn't something he wanted to do, but if it was for Sakura. He found Fuutie sitting in her room with the other three, all drinking tea. "Hello little brother!" They chorused. Syaoran gritted his teeth. "Are you looking for little Ying Fa, brother?" Piped a sister. Another giggled, "If you are, you can't see her right now." "Why?" He demanded angrily. "No need to lose your temper." Chided a third, "She's in the bath, preparing for her trial." Syaoran cursed under his breath and left the room without another word. He was headed back to his room, but Kero flew into his path. "What do you think you're doing?" The little animal demanded. "Going back to my room." "What about Sakura." He rolled his eyes, "She's taking a bath." "And?" "That may not be an issue for you, but it is for me." He replied, his cheeks heating up at the thought. Kero sighed, exasperated. "Now is no time to be scared of girls! She could be in trouble, don't you want to know what her trial is?" That was true, but Syaoran wasn't convinced. After everything that had happened, the last thing he wanted to was invade her privacy at such a moment. "She's fine, my sisters wouldn't let anything happen to her. And the trial. she doesn't know, no one does until they actually complete it." "Fine. You don't want to go, you don't have to. Just take me there and you can wait outside." Syaoran agreed to that, though reluctantly. He led the stuffed animal down a maze of hallways before stopping outside a heavy wooden door. "This is it." "You've gotta open the door for me." Kero stated, annoyed. That was more than Syaoran wanted to do, but he complied and pushed the door open a crack. The winged guardian flew inside and Syaoran closed the door behind him, leaning up against it as he waited. Inside, Kero hovered over the tub of water and his dozing mistress. "Sakura, Sakura, wake-up!!" He yelled, right in her ear. The usually hard to wake girl jumped, her eyes poping open. "Kero, what are you doing here?" She demanded. "I came to make sure you were alright." He replied, "Don't ever do that again! Wake me up next time you decided to do anything stupid." She was slightly puzzled, "How did you know." "The g." Kero sighed, "The Li kid told me, right after I woke him up." "Syaoran?" Sakura wondered, nervously biting her lip, "Is he mad at me for using The Sleep on him?" The guardian shrugged his tiny shoulders. "I don't know, but you could ask him." "Hai, he's still in his room?" "No, he's right outside the door." He replied smugly. "Hoe?! He shouldn't be out of bed. Kero-chan, how could you let him." Sakura was up out of the bath, drying herself frantically and trying to pull on the robes at the same time. Kero the water Sakura had accidentally splashed him with from his coat. "He looked fine to me." He said indignantly. "Didn't you see his back?!" "I was covered in bandages, so?" "Mou Kero!" But she was dressed and didn't have time to scold him more. Flipping her wet hair out of her face she ran for the door, pulling it open. Syaoran, who was still leaning on the surface, was so surprised to find the solid wood gone from behind his back that he didn't have any time to catch his balance. He fell, onto the floor at Sakura's feet. "Hoe!! Syaoran-kun, gomen, gomen." She apologized quickly, helping him to his feet while attempting to bow at the same time. "Are you alright?" He nodded, mildly stunned. "But what are you doing out of bed!" She demanded suddenly, her face vivid with concern. "You should be resting, is your back alright? Did you hurt it when you fell?" Sakura wasn't satisfied until he had turned around and let her examine it for herself, causing Syaoran to blush. By the time it was established that he was alright, Syaoran had over come his shock and was able to speak. "What about you, Sakura-chan? Now it's my turn to scold you for ru." "Gomen Syaoran-kun, gomen!" She exclaimed again, apologizing quickly. "I know I shouldn't have used the sleep card on you, but you were hurt and I needed to go talk to the elders to show them that I wasn't weak. Gomen, please don't be mad at me." Inside, he was laughing. "I'm not mad, Sakura, just worried. What did they tell you?" "Hoe?" She wondered, "Oh, about the trial? Not much, but Fuutie-san said I'd have until tomorrow to prepare myself." He nodded in approval. "Good, then meditation comes next. I'll take you back to your room." "But one of your sisters was supposed to come and get me. Won't they be worried if I'm not there." "No, I'm sure they know I've come to get you." Syaoran replied bitterly, "Lets go." He led the way back to the room she was staying in and was about to leave her to her meditation, but she grabbed his hand and asked him to stay. "I know it's supposed to be private meditation but. maybe you could tell me what to expect tomorrow?" She wondered hopefully. Technically, that was against the rules. But they had stopped playing by the rules a long, long time ago. He agreed. Syaoran lit the candles and incense that had been place in her room, their intoxicating and relaxing scent filling their heads. The two card captors then took seats on the floor, facing one and other. "The first thing you should remember, " Syaoran started, "Is to always expect the unexpected. The elders of my clan don't play by any set of rules." "As we know already." She interrupted in a bitter tone he had never heard her use. He nodded, smiling sadly. "Nothing is what it seems to be either, that's one thing I learned when I was younger. They have incredible powers of illusion, so in most cases it's best to not think but trust your instincts." She nodded. "About the trial it's self. It's not just fighting, Sakura, although that plays a part. You'll be expected to use all your skills, including magic and the cards. Most likely they'll confront you with your greatest fears, so be prepared for.." He glanced up and became concerned when he saw her expression. The Card Mistress sat with her face downcast and her hands clasped; she was biting her lip and trying very hard to look determined. "Sakura, are you alright?" "H..hai." She replied shakily, not looking up. "Sakura, I know something's wrong. What?" This time she looked up, smiling slightly. "Mou Syaoran, I should have known I couldn't hide anything from you." She sighed deeply. "I'm worried. What if. what if I can't do whatever they want me to do? What if I can't fight it off or I'm not strong enough? I would fail and." Again, she meet his eyes, tears glistening in her own. "If they know my deepest fear. I'm done for." He didn't want to see her give up so easily. In the past, she had always been the hopeful one, so if she believe it couldn't be done, what was left? Now, he would let her lose hope. Syaoran scooted around so he was sitting next to her and pulled the girl into a hug, stroking her hair comfortingly.
"I don't want to let them down." She said, burring her head in his shoulder as more tears came. "Tomoyo-chan and Onii-chan and my dad and Yuki and Kero and you. You've always been there, Syaoran, and this one time that you're counting on me, I don't want to fail you." "Sakura, you won't fail any of us because this doesn't mater. All we want is for you to get better." His voice trailed off and she nodded, her head still turned towards his shoulder, but the tears kept coming. Syaoran held her, rocking her back and forth, until her tears stopped and her breathing returned to normal. It was actually calmer than normal, suggesting that she was asleep. He assumed this to be true, but just as he was about to pick her up and put her on the bed, a tug on his arm interrupted him. Sakura was looking at him through half closed eyes that were still red from crying. "Could we stay like this a little longer?" She questioned softly, looking perfectly angelic in his arms. "Hai." He could never say no to her and now was no exception. She gave him a beautiful smile then snuggled against him, resting her head against his chest. Again her breathing became slow and deep, but her eyes were still open a slit. She exhaled contently, entwining her hand in his shirt. "Syaoran." Sakura said again, her tone drowsy and suggesting she was on the brink of sleep, "What Tomoyo told you. it was true. Gomen for." He had known that and wanted to answer but he couldn't possibly do that to her right before her trial. Instead Syaoran smoother her hair. "Sleep Sakura." He whispered and she smiled slightly before closing her eyes completely and complying. For a few minutes he just watched her sleeping, admiring her beauty. Then it hit him, he had a promise to keep. Syaoran reached for the phone on the table behind him, carefully not to disrupt the girl sleeping in his arms. Hold the phone to his ear with a shoulder, he dialed a familiar number. "Moushi Moushi." Answered a voice, a voice that Syaoran never thought he'd be glad to hear. "Kinomoto-san." He greeted Sakura's older brother. "Li?" The older boy acknowledged, his tone anxious. "How's my imoto?! What's been happening there." One question at a time. He reminded himself, "Sakura's fine, she's asleep right now." Syaoran didn't mention the fact that she was asleep in his lap as he spoke. "Tomorrow the elders want her to complete a task." "What kind of task." "No one knows, but I'm sure she'll make it." "Damn right she will." Touya's tone softened. "Arigato Li, for watching over my monster. Keep her safe, alright?" Something passed between the two that Syaoran had never immagined possible; a kind of understanding and respect. And it was all because of the girl in his arms. "Of course Kinomoto-san. With my life." That was the absolute truth, he didn't have to be asked. "Good." Touya agreed. "Let me know how she does tomorrow." The once powerful big-brother, now stuck in a powerless position. Syaoran felt sorry for him because he had experinced that situation. "She'll do fine, Kinomoto. I won't let anything happen." "I believe that. Ja ne, Li." "Ja." Syaoran replied the phone on the receiver and moved it back onto the desk. The conversation, despite how brief, had left him with an odd feeling. He never thought it possible, but Touya Kinomoto, the one who had constantly chased him away from his little sister, and him were now allied for a common goal, Sakura. Carefully, he got to his feet and picked up the sleeping girl. He placed her on the bed and pulled the covers up around her. The last thing he wanted to do was allow her out of his sight, but there was no other option. Even if he didn't want to admit it, he would need his sleep for tomorrow, just in case something were to happen. "Good-night Sakura, sleep well." He whispered, getting to his feet but not before placing a soft kiss on her cheek. And in answer to your confession; yes, I still love you too. But it wouldn't be fair to burden you with that, it would just be another weapon to use against you. He sighed, stole once last glance of her, and blew out the candles, returning to his room.
******* Yes, the next one has all the action! What will happen? Will Sakura survive? You may think you know the answer to that, but then again you could be wrong. Sorry for taking so long, I'll try to finish this up ASAP! Please, R&R!!!!!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Gaki! You, gaki, wake-up!" Syaoran moaned, slightly aware of the yelling that had ripped him from the peaceful confides of sleep. Wait, sleep?! He wasn't supposed to be sleeping. The last thing he remembered was talking to Sakura about the elders. She was going to talk with them, but he wouldn't let her go alone. So she had pulled out one of her cards and. "Kami kuso na!" His eyes shot opened, only to be meet with a hideously bloated face and tiny black eyes. "Kuso!" He swore again, unable to stop himself. The creature in question hovered back and became identifiable as Kero. "Baka stuffed animal, are you trying to kill me?!" "I was trying to wake you up, gaki!" Syaoran decided to ignore that commented, there being more important matters on hand, "Where's Sakura?" Kero just looked at him, "You don't know?! I came in here to ask you that!" If she's not here with me, and not with the stuffed animal. There was one other alternative; she had gone to speak with the elders and now. He shot-up out of bed, ignoring the pain from his raw back and quickly pulled on a shirt. He then bolted out the door, Kero right behind him. "Hey gaki, where." Syaoran stopped in his tracks and spun around to face the miniaturized guardian. "Look, let's call a truce, for Sakura's sake. I stop calling you stuffed animal and you stop calling me gaki. Deal?" He held out a hand. Kero nodded and shook one of Syaoran's fingers, sealing it. "Right, now where's Sakura?" Kero demanded. Syaoran continued down the hallway, "I have a feeling she went to talk to the elders, but she wouldn't still be there now. I'm going to talk to my sisters, they probably know." He let out a sigh, that wasn't something he wanted to do, but if it was for Sakura. He found Fuutie sitting in her room with the other three, all drinking tea. "Hello little brother!" They chorused. Syaoran gritted his teeth. "Are you looking for little Ying Fa, brother?" Piped a sister. Another giggled, "If you are, you can't see her right now." "Why?" He demanded angrily. "No need to lose your temper." Chided a third, "She's in the bath, preparing for her trial." Syaoran cursed under his breath and left the room without another word. He was headed back to his room, but Kero flew into his path. "What do you think you're doing?" The little animal demanded. "Going back to my room." "What about Sakura." He rolled his eyes, "She's taking a bath." "And?" "That may not be an issue for you, but it is for me." He replied, his cheeks heating up at the thought. Kero sighed, exasperated. "Now is no time to be scared of girls! She could be in trouble, don't you want to know what her trial is?" That was true, but Syaoran wasn't convinced. After everything that had happened, the last thing he wanted to was invade her privacy at such a moment. "She's fine, my sisters wouldn't let anything happen to her. And the trial. she doesn't know, no one does until they actually complete it." "Fine. You don't want to go, you don't have to. Just take me there and you can wait outside." Syaoran agreed to that, though reluctantly. He led the stuffed animal down a maze of hallways before stopping outside a heavy wooden door. "This is it." "You've gotta open the door for me." Kero stated, annoyed. That was more than Syaoran wanted to do, but he complied and pushed the door open a crack. The winged guardian flew inside and Syaoran closed the door behind him, leaning up against it as he waited. Inside, Kero hovered over the tub of water and his dozing mistress. "Sakura, Sakura, wake-up!!" He yelled, right in her ear. The usually hard to wake girl jumped, her eyes poping open. "Kero, what are you doing here?" She demanded. "I came to make sure you were alright." He replied, "Don't ever do that again! Wake me up next time you decided to do anything stupid." She was slightly puzzled, "How did you know." "The g." Kero sighed, "The Li kid told me, right after I woke him up." "Syaoran?" Sakura wondered, nervously biting her lip, "Is he mad at me for using The Sleep on him?" The guardian shrugged his tiny shoulders. "I don't know, but you could ask him." "Hai, he's still in his room?" "No, he's right outside the door." He replied smugly. "Hoe?! He shouldn't be out of bed. Kero-chan, how could you let him." Sakura was up out of the bath, drying herself frantically and trying to pull on the robes at the same time. Kero the water Sakura had accidentally splashed him with from his coat. "He looked fine to me." He said indignantly. "Didn't you see his back?!" "I was covered in bandages, so?" "Mou Kero!" But she was dressed and didn't have time to scold him more. Flipping her wet hair out of her face she ran for the door, pulling it open. Syaoran, who was still leaning on the surface, was so surprised to find the solid wood gone from behind his back that he didn't have any time to catch his balance. He fell, onto the floor at Sakura's feet. "Hoe!! Syaoran-kun, gomen, gomen." She apologized quickly, helping him to his feet while attempting to bow at the same time. "Are you alright?" He nodded, mildly stunned. "But what are you doing out of bed!" She demanded suddenly, her face vivid with concern. "You should be resting, is your back alright? Did you hurt it when you fell?" Sakura wasn't satisfied until he had turned around and let her examine it for herself, causing Syaoran to blush. By the time it was established that he was alright, Syaoran had over come his shock and was able to speak. "What about you, Sakura-chan? Now it's my turn to scold you for ru." "Gomen Syaoran-kun, gomen!" She exclaimed again, apologizing quickly. "I know I shouldn't have used the sleep card on you, but you were hurt and I needed to go talk to the elders to show them that I wasn't weak. Gomen, please don't be mad at me." Inside, he was laughing. "I'm not mad, Sakura, just worried. What did they tell you?" "Hoe?" She wondered, "Oh, about the trial? Not much, but Fuutie-san said I'd have until tomorrow to prepare myself." He nodded in approval. "Good, then meditation comes next. I'll take you back to your room." "But one of your sisters was supposed to come and get me. Won't they be worried if I'm not there." "No, I'm sure they know I've come to get you." Syaoran replied bitterly, "Lets go." He led the way back to the room she was staying in and was about to leave her to her meditation, but she grabbed his hand and asked him to stay. "I know it's supposed to be private meditation but. maybe you could tell me what to expect tomorrow?" She wondered hopefully. Technically, that was against the rules. But they had stopped playing by the rules a long, long time ago. He agreed. Syaoran lit the candles and incense that had been place in her room, their intoxicating and relaxing scent filling their heads. The two card captors then took seats on the floor, facing one and other. "The first thing you should remember, " Syaoran started, "Is to always expect the unexpected. The elders of my clan don't play by any set of rules." "As we know already." She interrupted in a bitter tone he had never heard her use. He nodded, smiling sadly. "Nothing is what it seems to be either, that's one thing I learned when I was younger. They have incredible powers of illusion, so in most cases it's best to not think but trust your instincts." She nodded. "About the trial it's self. It's not just fighting, Sakura, although that plays a part. You'll be expected to use all your skills, including magic and the cards. Most likely they'll confront you with your greatest fears, so be prepared for.." He glanced up and became concerned when he saw her expression. The Card Mistress sat with her face downcast and her hands clasped; she was biting her lip and trying very hard to look determined. "Sakura, are you alright?" "H..hai." She replied shakily, not looking up. "Sakura, I know something's wrong. What?" This time she looked up, smiling slightly. "Mou Syaoran, I should have known I couldn't hide anything from you." She sighed deeply. "I'm worried. What if. what if I can't do whatever they want me to do? What if I can't fight it off or I'm not strong enough? I would fail and." Again, she meet his eyes, tears glistening in her own. "If they know my deepest fear. I'm done for." He didn't want to see her give up so easily. In the past, she had always been the hopeful one, so if she believe it couldn't be done, what was left? Now, he would let her lose hope. Syaoran scooted around so he was sitting next to her and pulled the girl into a hug, stroking her hair comfortingly.
"I don't want to let them down." She said, burring her head in his shoulder as more tears came. "Tomoyo-chan and Onii-chan and my dad and Yuki and Kero and you. You've always been there, Syaoran, and this one time that you're counting on me, I don't want to fail you." "Sakura, you won't fail any of us because this doesn't mater. All we want is for you to get better." His voice trailed off and she nodded, her head still turned towards his shoulder, but the tears kept coming. Syaoran held her, rocking her back and forth, until her tears stopped and her breathing returned to normal. It was actually calmer than normal, suggesting that she was asleep. He assumed this to be true, but just as he was about to pick her up and put her on the bed, a tug on his arm interrupted him. Sakura was looking at him through half closed eyes that were still red from crying. "Could we stay like this a little longer?" She questioned softly, looking perfectly angelic in his arms. "Hai." He could never say no to her and now was no exception. She gave him a beautiful smile then snuggled against him, resting her head against his chest. Again her breathing became slow and deep, but her eyes were still open a slit. She exhaled contently, entwining her hand in his shirt. "Syaoran." Sakura said again, her tone drowsy and suggesting she was on the brink of sleep, "What Tomoyo told you. it was true. Gomen for." He had known that and wanted to answer but he couldn't possibly do that to her right before her trial. Instead Syaoran smoother her hair. "Sleep Sakura." He whispered and she smiled slightly before closing her eyes completely and complying. For a few minutes he just watched her sleeping, admiring her beauty. Then it hit him, he had a promise to keep. Syaoran reached for the phone on the table behind him, carefully not to disrupt the girl sleeping in his arms. Hold the phone to his ear with a shoulder, he dialed a familiar number. "Moushi Moushi." Answered a voice, a voice that Syaoran never thought he'd be glad to hear. "Kinomoto-san." He greeted Sakura's older brother. "Li?" The older boy acknowledged, his tone anxious. "How's my imoto?! What's been happening there." One question at a time. He reminded himself, "Sakura's fine, she's asleep right now." Syaoran didn't mention the fact that she was asleep in his lap as he spoke. "Tomorrow the elders want her to complete a task." "What kind of task." "No one knows, but I'm sure she'll make it." "Damn right she will." Touya's tone softened. "Arigato Li, for watching over my monster. Keep her safe, alright?" Something passed between the two that Syaoran had never immagined possible; a kind of understanding and respect. And it was all because of the girl in his arms. "Of course Kinomoto-san. With my life." That was the absolute truth, he didn't have to be asked. "Good." Touya agreed. "Let me know how she does tomorrow." The once powerful big-brother, now stuck in a powerless position. Syaoran felt sorry for him because he had experinced that situation. "She'll do fine, Kinomoto. I won't let anything happen." "I believe that. Ja ne, Li." "Ja." Syaoran replied the phone on the receiver and moved it back onto the desk. The conversation, despite how brief, had left him with an odd feeling. He never thought it possible, but Touya Kinomoto, the one who had constantly chased him away from his little sister, and him were now allied for a common goal, Sakura. Carefully, he got to his feet and picked up the sleeping girl. He placed her on the bed and pulled the covers up around her. The last thing he wanted to do was allow her out of his sight, but there was no other option. Even if he didn't want to admit it, he would need his sleep for tomorrow, just in case something were to happen. "Good-night Sakura, sleep well." He whispered, getting to his feet but not before placing a soft kiss on her cheek. And in answer to your confession; yes, I still love you too. But it wouldn't be fair to burden you with that, it would just be another weapon to use against you. He sighed, stole once last glance of her, and blew out the candles, returning to his room.
******* Yes, the next one has all the action! What will happen? Will Sakura survive? You may think you know the answer to that, but then again you could be wrong. Sorry for taking so long, I'll try to finish this up ASAP! Please, R&R!!!!!!