11-18-02
This would be the next chapter. Yes, I know it's horrendously late. My only comments are homework comes in tons and school sucks. That should explain everything. I would go through and put everyone who reviewed in a little thank you deally, but I just want to get this chapter out as soon as possible so people won't kill me.
Thanks a lot for your help Jess!! I really needed it and it sounds so much better now. Don't know what planet this story would be stuck on if you didn't help me pull it together. Story ahoy!
°°¤¤ In the middle of the unknown, A.K.A somewhere over the rainbow ¤¤°°
Touya woke up in the corner of a clean, cold cell. All he saw at first were blurry colors, but slowly his eyes regained focused and he saw a strange command room. The cell was surrounded by, he guessed, a two-foot thick wall of steel except for the front that was covered by a strong force field. He turned his head in the direction of the noises he heard to see Sakura and Syaoran communicating in strange clicks, beeps, and other various noises he recognized but disregarded quickly due to his aching head. Syaoran looked at Touya from the other corner of the cell and told Sakura, who was facing Syaoran, in the strange dialect something as he nodded in Touya's direction. Sakura spun around and smiled weakly.
"So you're awake." She said in normal Japanese.
"Yeah, what language were you guys talking in a second ago?" Touya asked, curious if he thought it was what he thought it was.
"We don't know, we spoke it until he taught us Japanese." Syaoran said detestably.
"Oh, well one small question. WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET SUPER POWERS???" Touya yelled evidently confused.
"We were born with them, I think. Our guess is that we inherited it from our parents." Sakura said simply.
"Who's he?" Touya asked more calmly as Syaoran walked up to the force field and slowly touched it with his index finger only to be violently tossed against the opposite wall of the cell, his hand giving off a little bit of steam.
"(cough) I don't think I'll try that again." Syaoran coughed.
"Are you okay?" Touya asked horrified.
"(cough cough) Mm, hmm." Syaoran replied in a raspy, dry voice as Sakura helped him off the floor. When he regained his strength, she went over to the force field and started examining it.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Touya asked as he sat next to Syaoran who was watching Sakura.
"Do I have a choice? I guess not, just don't scream."
"Well, I wanted to know how long you lived at Lorka's, you seemed close."
"Yeah, well we lived there for almost six years."
"We?"
"Yeah, me and Sakura." Syaoran nodded in Sakura's direction.
"By yourselves, no parents?"
"Yep."
"Six years.. How old are you?"
"18."
"Woah! You lived at Lorka's since you were 12? A little too young to be living on our own weren't we?"
"Well, then I was 13 and I can take care of myself Mr. I-think-everyone- who's-younger-than-me-is-too-young-to-do-anything." Syaoran pointed out making a reference to earlier with the whole pilot debate.
"And Sakura lived there since she was 13 too?"
"No, 11. She turned 12 after we were there for a month. Sakura's 17 now. She's a little over a year younger than I am."
"What happened to your families?"
Syaoran bowed his head and looked down. "We, uh, we.Since I was 3 and Sakura was 2, we've been pretty much orphans. We don't know who our parents are. We don't even know if we have families anymore."
"I'm sorry." Touya apologized feeling deeply ashamed and embarrassed.
"Don't be, we never knew who they were so we can't miss them or cry over them. All we can do is wish we had them."
"If I heard you say that 10 years ago, I would thought twice about leaving my family, my home."
"You left them?" Syaoran asked surprised.
"Not really 'left.' Went out on my own, but I haven't gone back."
"You should because one day you will go back and they will be gone."
"You're right, but I can't go back."
"Why not?"
"I've tried to make myself go, but I just can't. At least not until I've completed what I set out to do."
"There's another reason you won't go back, I can smell it."
"Yeah, it's just bad memories. Just like this place is for you guys."
"How'd you know?" Syaoran asked a bit surprised.
"The way you two winced when you were talking about this place a moment ago is a clue."
"So you did understand us, but how?"
"I only understood little bits about structure and stuff but it's been so long since I've heard anyone use that language and this killer headache isn't letting me remember what it's called. Where are we anyways?"
"An exact replica of Citadel. He must have rebuilt it."
"Again back to my very first question, who's he?"
"Me." A mysterious man's voice said as he popped up from the side of the cell as he turned off the force field. Catching Sakura by surprise, he grabbed Sakura's wrist and roughly pulled her out before raising the shield again.
"Syaoran, help me!!" Sakura screamed as the balding, old man twisted her arm around her back causing her a great deal of pain.
"Sakura!!" Syaoran yelled. "Let her go you bastard!" Syaoran raised his green lightning bolt surrounded hands up to the force field and exerts blasts of electricity to it causing the force field to collapse long enough for Syaoran to get through before it reactivated. He tried to run towards Sakura, but was apprehended by human soldiers with long, thick rubber gloves on. Thousands of thread-like electrical bolts resembling static electricity surrounded Syaoran, but the guards weren't affected. While Syaoran struggled with the guards, the man pulled a covered tray towards the bound and struggling Sakura.
"Let me go, Racken!!" Sakura seethed.
"Wonderful to see you as well." Racken said almost cheerfully as he pulled out a pair of laser sheers from underneath the covered tray. "I'll deal with you tomorrow Syaoran, and you, Mr. Kinigamo, I'll torture you for the base at dawn."
Sakura's eyes widened in fear as the long yellow light protruded from the laser sheers. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as the device neared her hair, when suddenly they flew out of Racken's hands, creating a black burn across the floor. Syaoran defiantly smirked at Racken's failed attempt.
"Your powers have grown more than I thought," Racken said admiringly before he pulled on Sakura's hair causing her to wince, "but if you try that again I'll kill your protector."
Racken didn't bother picking up the sheers and just swept Sakura's hair aside to reveal a deep jagged scar on the back of her neck beginning at the base of her hair. Racken lightly brushed strands of hair away from the scar area while Sakura shook with fear at every touch.
"Why look, it's the scar I gave you Sakura." Racken lightly traced the scar from beginning to end causing Sakura to whimper. "Are you still scared of that little thing?" Racken pulled out an empty needle as the guards dragged Syaoran over to Racken and pulled up his left shirtsleeve to reveal a long jagged scar trailing from his elbow to just before suicide point on his wrist. Racken proceeded to trace the scar with the tip of the needle causing Syaoran to bleed miniscule droplets in a few areas. The entire time, Syaoran didn't even flinch but furiously glared at Racken. "See? Syaoran isn't afraid of the scar I gave him."
"That's because the one you gave me didn't almost kill me." Syaoran sneered.
"Well, Sakura wasn't left with any permanent physical damage." Racken said nonchalantly.
"What do you mean no physical damage? Sakura couldn't walk for five months, you bastard!" Syaoran raged.
"She's just fine now." Racken walks over to Sakura who immediately closed her eyes at the feeling of the cold tip of the needle piercing into her neck and drawing blood out.
Racken placed the needle on the tray and took out a small black box with rounded corners and two small metal poles stretching out of the top. Racken turned the device on and a purple light extended between the poles. He grabbed Sakura's left wrist and ran the scanner over it to make a barcode appear. It was still visible after the light was taken away but then quickly faded away a few moments later. The guards roughly threw Syaoran into the cell and he slid on his back until he hit the wall. Meanwhile, Racken was busy unbinding Sakura. After her hands were unbound, Racken carelessly threw Sakura into the cell to be caught in the protective embrace of Syaoran where she let her tears soak into his shirt.
"Shh, shh, shhhh. We'll find a way out of here soon, I promise." Syaoran tried to soothe Sakura as he rubbed her back.
¤¤¤°°¤ 3:48 AM ¤°°¤¤¤ (that's the time it is right now)
Touya and Syaoran sat side by side and had their backs up against the wall. Both were wide-awake staring at the several blinking lights on the consul while Sakura had cried herself to sleep with her head resting on Syaoran's legs. Syaoran passed the time by stroking Sakura's hair and fine- tuning their plan of escape. Touya passed the time by counting how many times the green lights blinked. After losing count for the umpteenth time, he decided he was going to go mad.
"It feels like it's four in the morning." Touya rubbed his head groggily. Syaoran took a look at his watch and pressed a button to make it light up.
"Actually, it's 3:48 AM. Why don't you get some rest?" Syaoran asked as he took off his jacket to wrap around the shivering Sakura.
"Could you sleep if you were going to be tortured in the morning?"
"It's not that bad, but I guess it is better when you are so delirious from lack of sleep that you don't feel the pain."
"Gee, well thanks. You seem to have had it rough, what happened to you guys here?"
"Where should I start, alphabetically, chronologically, or by degree of pain?"
"From the beginning, I guess that would make it easier to understand."
"Well, I remember waking up here when I was three. My memory had been wiped and all I could remember was my name, age, birthday, and that I knew how to fight. It was evident that I had been struggling since I had cuts and bruises all over my body. Sitting in a cell similar to this one, three floors up, I heard blood curdling screams of eight children when they were killed for some reason or another. My guess is that they didn't have the magic Racken wanted and I did, that's the only reason he kept me. Not knowing whom to trust, I trusted Racken, at first. He immediately made me begin practicing with the only possession I had from the life I left."
"You mean your sword right?"
"Yeah, my katana. Every technique or sword skill Racken could find, I had to learn and learn fast. Within weeks it had to be perfect."
Suddenly, Syaoran's watch began to beep, interrupting him. He nudged Sakura to wake up and she groggily looked at his watch, then shook herself awake.
"What's happening?" Touya asked confused.
"I think it's about time we leave this place." Syaoran replied with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He shocked the force field once again and it shorted out, but he kept on exerting electricity. Pretty soon, another shield shorted out as well and Syaoran hopped through. "He always puts up two when we escape the first time." Syaoran proceeded to walk over to the controls and pushed rapid amounts of buttons that made all the power go out in the entire room. All that could be seen was Sakura's glowing eyes (A.N. when I say glowing, I mean everything: the whites of her eyes, pupils, iris, the works) as three dark objects floated towards them.
"I've got our bags, let's go." Sakura whispered as the lights flickered back on.
"They probably already detected us, so we better get movin'." Syaoran explained as he led the way out the door. He weaved in and out of the corridors, shorting out all the security systems that got in the way. As the group neared the exit, red sirens began to blare.
"They know we're missing!" Touya hissed.
"Then we better start going faster." Syaoran sneered back. It took a couple of minutes to get to the last door and the group was almost free until.
"Hey! You! Freeze right there!" All three spun around in shock as a group of guards ran towards them. Touya quickly opened his hand and blew whatever was in it at the guards. It glittered as the powder settled in their eyes and all the soldiers dropped to the floor.
"And they really expected us to stop?" Syaoran questioned their stupid antics.
"Move it, now!" Touya said sternly snapping the youths back to reality. Once out the door, they didn't stop running until they reached the woods 3 miles away to catch their breath.
"What do we do now?" Touya asked getting ready to move on.
"We figure out how they found us?" Syaoran said as he held onto Touya shirt to stop him from moving.
"That's a good question. I definitely am not with him, you can ask Racken himself. He wants me dead."
"You make a good point, but I still don't trust you. It has to be something like a bug. I never checked my stuff since I don't know anyone who would bug it." Syaoran pondered.
"We should check them all right now, they could still be bugged." Sakura suggested.
"Okay," Syaoran said as he ran his hand all over his bag and clothes while nothing happened. "Do you have anything electronic in your bag?" Syaoran asked Touya.
"Yeah, hold up a sec." Touya said and he began pulling out guns, bombs, and electronic equipment to communicate with people out of his bag. "That's it." Touya said as he pulled out half the things in his bag.
"Who are you?" Syaoran asked as he took a step back.
"The leader of the resistance against Racken." Touya said calmly. Syaoran shook his head and ran his hands over Touya's bag and clothes.
"He's clean." Syaoran stated.
"That just leaves me." Sakura sighed. Syaoran first checked the clothes she was wearing. Then, he ran his hands over her bag and both straps started to spark. Syaoran carefully pulled out 20 bugs from each strap.
"Holy shit." Syaoran breathed as he took out the final one. "Racken is definitely out to get us. Have you ever lent this bag out to anybody, Sakura?"
"Yeah, of course." Sakura answered.
"Who?"
"I don't know, everybody at the bar. I've had that bag for three years, it could have been anybody."
"We better watch our backs because that means that someone has been watching us, someone close." Syaoran warned.
"How do you know it's not her? No offense or anything." Touya asked.
"Just think, would you want to go back to THAT? He's done a lot of seriously inhumane things to us and we'd rather die than be associated with the sick psychopath."
"Besides, I have had some extremely.awful experiences with him. All the different things I've been through would give you nightmares for years." Sakura added as she almost started to shake.
"I guess I understand. Let's get going, uh, but where to?" Touya asked as he swept up the bugs and tied them to a rather large, flying mechanical bug. He set it loose and the bug started to fly to their left.
"Mythdelin, we know someone we can trust there." Syaoran answered while picking up his bag and he began to walk off in a direction.
"How do you know which way to go?" Touya asked as he ran off after them.
"We have escaped this place before, you know." Sakura answered as she hovered in the air next to him with her eyes glowing and her hair floating. "Come on."
°°°¤¤° In Mythdelin a week later °¤¤°°
Three travelers entered the town around noon looking quite exhausted. Lack of sleep was evident in their eyes and weariness of travel evident in their shabby clothes. Mythdelin was a place of large buildings and huge businesses. It was a steel jungle that could either make a person's career or break that person down. The three travelers walked up Main Legend Street to the largest building in the entire city. At seeing the large building, Sakura suddenly received a burst of energy and ran to the building.
"I can't believe it took a week to walk here." Touya complained as he dragged his feet behind him.
"It's not really surprising since that drug they used on us lasted for about three days and they did have us transported in a hover craft." Syaoran replied just as tiredly.
"Three days? I can't believe that Racken's base is so far away from here. I thought it would be closer, like a day." Touya whined.
"It's for secrecy and quit your whining already. You're beginning to sound like you're three." Syaoran said to Touya aggravated. Touya was about to shoot a comment back at Syaoran but they reached the building where Sakura was hopping around excitedly and thought against it.
"You know someone who works in this building?" Touya asked surprised.
"No." Sakura smiled
"We know the people who own this building." Syaoran smirked. Touya just shook his head thinking that these two were psycho. The owners of the Todaerhiir (A.N. get it? I hope you do. It's the first parts of their first and last names) Company had packed agendas and it took months to get an appointment, everybody knew that. Yet, Touya still stupidly walked into the building.
"Can I help you?" The receptionist at the desk asked annoyed as she redirected 30 calls at a time.
"Yes you can. We are here to see Tomoyo Daidouji and Eriol Hiiragizawa." Sakura chirped happily.
"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist asked a bit irritated.
"Nope." Syaoran answered.
"I'm sorry then, only people with appointments can see Ms. Daidouji and Mr. Hiiragizawa." The receptionist said as if she wished they would go away.
"Just tell them that Sakura and Syaoran are here and if they don't allow us to come up, I'll give you 750,000,000 Loorns." Sakura said without even blinking.
"Ca..can I have that in writing?" The receptionist stuttered seeing as how 750,000,000 Loorns could buy someone their very own country.
"Of course." Sakura said as she wrote it down and signed the paper. Touya stood there with his mouth almost on the ground. Either Sakura had a lot of money to spare, which she probably didn't since she worked at a bar, or she was just plain insane. He opted for insane. As soon as Sakura handed the girl the paper, she dropped everything and called straight up to Tomoyo's office.
"Ms. Daidouji?" The receptionist asked. "I know you said to not be disturbed, but a girl here told me to tell you her name was Sakura and..hello? hello? Ms. Daidouji? Well, I guess you owe me-" The receptionist was cut off by the rapid sound of high heels thundering down the stairs. A stunning girl with long, silky black, flowing hair that reached to her waist in loose curls who was dressed in a black business skirt and jacket with a white shirt appeared from the stairs entrance.
"Sakura!" The girl screamed as she tackled Sakura to the ground in a hug. "I've missed you so much!"
The current scene in front of the viewers received a multitude of reactions. Syaoran just grinned, Touya's eyes were wide with shock and he couldn't speak, the receptionist fainted to the floor from shock, and the rest of the workers were speechless from sheer surprise at the fact that their boss was acting like this towards a girl who looked nothing like a person who Ms. Daidouji would fraternize with.
"It's so good to see you Tomoyo!" Sakura giggled as the girls got up off the floor.
"You.you.you know her, Ms. Daidouji?" The receptionist asked trying to recompose herself.
"Of course I know her!! And Syaoran, it's so good to see you, too!!! You've been taking care of Sakura, right?" Tomoyo said as she leaped onto Syaoran to hug him.
"Of course I've been taking care of her and it's good to see you to." Syaoran chuckled. Just then, the elevator door dinged and out walked an absolutely drop dead gorgeous knight in an Armani suit with short blue hair and glasses. He justly rivaled Syaoran in the good looks department.
"Amazing," he said, "you managed to beat me down here from the 110th floor, using the stairs, in a skirt, and to top it all off, you didn't even break your heels."
"Eriol!!" Sakura screamed as she ran up to the guy and leapt towards him giving him a hug.
"Hey Sakura, it's great to see you. It's been a long time."
"I know!! And you should know that Tomoyo has practiced for ages in the proper ways of running and jumping with skirts and heels. You shouldn't be surprised." Sakura mock scolded.
"So, how have you been?" Eriol asked curiously. "And you, how have you been Syaoran?"
"I was good until you came down here." Syaoran joked slightly smirking as he took Eriol's hand and both pulled each other into a brief hug.
"Ah, you hold grudges forever." Eriol grinned. "So how have you been?"
"It might take a while to explain." Sakura sighed.
"Of course!! Melleaha, (receptionist) cancel all my appointments and meetings today and only let urgent calls through." Tomoyo ordered as the group of five walked toward the elevator.
"Yes.yes of course ma'am." Melleaha replied as she heard faint laughter in reply from the closed elevator door. She was still caught speechless as she recovered from this major surprise.
~
The group stepped onto the top floor of the building into one gigantic office that covered the entire floor. The walls were made of a strong transparent substance that allowed you a wonderful view of the entire city. Two desks occupied the room on opposite sides and between them, expertly scattered, were couches, tables, plants, and various office machines.
Sakura plopped down on a couch to rest since she seemed to have less and less energy lately. Tomoyo proceeded to walk to a small kitchen in the corner of the room and fill a teapot with water and set it on the stove to heat then walked over to Sakura. The two boys walked over to a pool table close to Eriol's desk. Syaoran picked up a cue (that's what the pool sticks are called stick) and tested it out before he twirled it around to show acceptance. Eriol racked up the balls and walked over to one of the outer corners of the pool table where he stomped on the floor to have a pool stick shoot up from the floor. He easily caught it and twirled it around.
"Show off!" Syaoran sneered.
"No more than you are, Syaoran." Eriol smiled.
"Just rack 'em, chicken legs."
"Whatever you say, wolf boy." As the four teenagers went about their business as if they were at home, Touya stood at the door next to Sakura's and Syaoran's bags and cloaks wide eyed and in shock.
"Sakura?" Tomoyo whispered.
"Hmmm?" Sakura answered groggily.
"Who is that at the door and why is he here?"
"Oh, him. He's a guy that was with us when Racken caught us and evidently, Racken wants him too. Mr. Kinigamo!! You can sit down if you want."
"I think he's still in shock of being here."
"Probably." Sakura shrugged as she closed her eyes. Touya hadn't moved an inch from his spot and his expressions were still the same as the events of the past couple of moments sunk in.
Syaoran was just about to take his turn when he looked up and pointed his finger at Touya whispering to Eriol. A small beam of lightning shot out of his finger and hit Touya making him jump up and yelp. This caused Eriol to chuckle and Syaoran to smirk as he aimed the pool stick and knocked two balls into the corner pocket. Touya glared at Syaoran as he walked up to him. Eriol quickly spun his stick around and used it to block Touya's path on his journey to strangle Syaoran.
"Ah, ah, ah. We just had the carpet put in and we don't need blood on it." Eriol chided. Touya just "hmphed" in reply as he sat in a chair near by to watch the other two play their game. Ten minutes passed before a high- pitched whistle coming from the teapot made everyone look up and Sakura jump with a start out of her slumber. Tomoyo poured the tea and called the boys to the area where she was sitting to have tea.
"So, now will you tell us how you've been?" Tomoyo questioned brightly.
"Where should we begin? And do you have anything to eat?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo nodded and got up and told her personal secretary to get some food.
"Begin at the beginning and when you get to the end, stop." Eriol stated with a chesire cat grin.
"When the earth formed." Syaoran began.
"That's not what I meant, idiot." Eriol said rolling his eyes.
"I know." Syaoran smiled. "Well we were on our way here when..." Syaoran, Sakura, and Touya explained the entire story up to that point.
"Wow," was all Tomoyo could say. As for Eriol, he remained silent and in deep thought.
"There is just one thing that strikes me as odd." Eriol pondered out loud.
"Yourself?" Syaoran asked.
"Besides that, it's just that.how did they find you and get the bugs into Sakura's bag? I mean if they had a chance to put tracking devices on you guys why didn't they come for you sooner?"
"I know, I've been thinking about it and I just can't figure it out. Everyone we knew had no clue of our past and we had reason to trust everyone."
"That should be reason for more worry since the person who betrayed you came off as a friend, someone you could trust." Tomoyo warned as she gave Sakura her second plate of seafood lo mein and impyow soup. (A.N. So very sorry, I only eat it a lot, I keep forgetting how to spell it.)
"I don't get something." Touya announced.
"I was under the impression that you didn't get a lot of things." Syaoran muttered to get slapped in the head by Tomoyo. He flinched and grabbed his head as he said an "ouch."
"Why is it that Sakura had her blood taken and not Syaoran?" Touya continued not hearing Syaoran.
"He needed to know what my current health was so that they could go back into old ways. What I was told was that because of my powers, I somehow absorb a lot of iron in my body and I burn a lot of oxygen in my blood to fuel them. It used to give me some severe cases of anemia where I used to pass out and it can also be very dangerous to my body if it's a continuous thing. It also makes me very tired, which is why it is so hard to wake me up. Anyways, when I was back at Citadel, I had daily blood tests to show my current health and if I needed a dose of iron and oxygen that day. When we escaped the center, I was just really careful and compensated by sleeping a lot to save energy and I usually eat foods that have a lot of iron. On days when I'm really tired, I take iron pills. " Sakura explained.
"Yeah, that happens to the females in my family." Touya remarked.
"Really?"
"Yeah. My Mom always ate these iron-packed, gross tasting foods. On an off-day when she felt really devoid of energy, she could always take a basic potion."
"Oh, well I guess that means you really are an Enchanter." Eriol said with no change in emotion.
"How did you.where did you." Touya asked confused as he pointed at Eriol who had taken a sip of his tea.
"Well, for one, the only people I know of that are capable of making potions that work are in a lovely Enchanter Village a little while away from here. And two, that tattoo on your right wrist is printed on every male Enchanter's wrist who has turned 10 and has proven he is worthy to be recognized as possessing and mastering a weapon."
"But still, how did you..?" Touya still looked confused as he made amusing gesticulations with his hands.
"My plane crashed near there when I was a kid and I stayed had to stay a while because I was badly hurt. I learned quite a bit about them while I was there."
"Plus, my mom descended from Enchanters, but my grandmother left that lifestyle when she was 16 and made a life here in the city. We have family there supposedly, but we very rarely talk to each other. I was taught a few traditions and stories when I was little." Tomoyo added. "Did you take a pill since you're so tired Sakura?"
"(YAWN) Yeah, this morning, during breakfast." Sakura replied sleepily.
"I wonder what's wrong then?" Syaoran inquired worriedly.
"I don't know. Maybe I'm just a bit under the weather, I'm sure I'll be okay soo- (YAWN)" Sakura was interrupted rudely by her own yawn. "-n. You know I think I'm going to take a little nap."
"Well, while you rest, the boys over here can refuel and rest from your long voyage here." Tomoyo smiled reassuringly.
"Thanks." Sakura said before curling up the couch and falling asleep.
"Here you guys. It was impyow soup and seafood lo mein if Sakura didn't eat it all."
"I wonder what made her so hungry and tired?" Touya asked as he picked up a bowl of food.
"Probably just the trip. I'm sure she's fine. I hope she's fine." Syaoran trailed off.
"Don't be silly Syaoran, Sakura's fine." Tomoyo exclaimed.
"You're right. I'm just being overprotective of her. Pass the impyow soup."
The two guys continued to chow down on their food substances while they talked about various topics one after the other until....
"So where are you guys gonna go?" Eriol asked.
"I don't know yet. It's too dangerous to stay here. He'll come for us soon if we stay and we'll be putting you in danger." Syaoran answered.
"Well, considering you guys did save my ass and all and anyone who has Racken on his tail is worth saving, you guys could always stay with me at the Rebel Hideaway." Touya offered.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, sure. Why not?"
"Cool, I guess. Thanks."
"No Problem. I can have someone pick us up and we can leave now or we could wait for Sakura to wake up and walk later."
"That sounds good. How far away from here is it?"
"Far."
"I think it would be better to wait for Sakura. I'll give her an hour or so and then we'll go."
"Okay with me." Touya then pulled out a communicator and went to one of the corners of the room. All Syaoran was able to pick up was, "stand by for pick up."
°°¤¤°°This is boring so why don't we're just skipping forward°°¤¤°°
Syaoran looked at his watch and decided that it was time they get going and told Touya. Touya promptly went to one of his bags and pulled out a strange mechanical device where he pressed various buttons to get a nice musical sound as a result. Syaoran continued to the sofa that Sakura was lying on and knelt down beside it.
"Sakura," Syaoran whispered as he gently combed her hair with his hand.
"Hmmm?" Sakura asked as she turned her head to feel his gentle touch.
"It's time to go now."
"Alright," Sakura groggily sat up and stretched. Syaoran laughed as she yawned. "What's so funny?" Syaoran rummaged through her bag and pulled out a flat, rectangular object and handed it to Sakura.
"Take a look." Sakura looked in the mirror and was met with the sight of a bush of tangles known as her hair.
"Oh. Pass me my brush please."
"Sure."
As soon as Sakura had finished fixing her hair and put it back into it's regular loose half ponytail held by a claw, Sakura and Syaoran went to gather their things together. Eriol and Tomoyo greeted them with a bag of food to take with them just in case the food at the Resistance Fortress was, well, gross. For about 15 minutes they stood arguing with the two prominent business partners about taking the money they offered. Finally realizing that Tomoyo and Eriol were among the richest in the world, they took the money and thanked their friends for all their help. They were pulled out of their thankful good-byes when something from Touya's bag started to beep loudly and rapidly. At that sound, Touya went to his bag and pulled out the communication device.
"Sir?" A voice over the communicator rang out.
"Yes, it's me. Go ahead." Touya answered.
"We have entered Mythdelin, where do you want us to land, sir?"
"On the tallest building top."
"But that's-"
"I know, just do it. We'll be waiting for you at the top."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, let's go. Our ride's here." Touya said as he put the communicator in his bag and slung it over his shoulder.
"Looks like we have to go. It was nice seeing you again." Sakura said as she tightly hugged Tomoyo.
"Yeah, same here. I'm going to miss you." Tomoyo replied as she gently pulled away and proceeded to hug Syaoran. "You too Syaoran. Be careful and make sure you take care of Sakura."
"I will." Syaoran replied.
"Take care of yourself." Sakura said to Eriol as she hugged him.
"We'll be fine. It's you who needs to be careful." Eriol said as he smiled.
"Alright."
The trio took the elevator to the roof. As soon as they opened the door, they were met with the sight of a hummingbird -a small, quick hovercraft- setting down on the top of the building. As quickly as they could, they boarded the hovercraft and were off to the secret Resistance Fortress.
"Honestly sir, I really didn't think you would actually be up here when we landed." The pilot said.
"You should have some faith in your leader." Touya smugly remarked.
"Uh, sir, who are they?" The pilot said gesturing to Sakura and Syaoran.
"Friends." Touya smiled as he watched Sakura fall back asleep on Syaoran's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her protectively.
It took about an hour and a half to get to the Resistance base. From what Syaoran saw, it looked like they were somewhere in the woods. He didn't see anything that looked like a building or fortress or any base of operations. Honestly, all he saw was a bunch of trees and green stuff. When all five people had exited the hummingbird, a large box-like object covered in foliage rose from the floor and the craft was pushed inside, then hidden again. Still, neither Syaoran nor Sakura saw a single sign of a base.
"Uh," Sakura finally spoke up, "where's, the base? I know it has to be well hidden but I can't see a single thing around here that would indicate a 'secret headquarters.'"
"That would be because the hideout isn't around here," Touya paused for dramatic effect, which was achieved when Sakura and Syaoran gave them quizzical looks, "it's up there." Touya said as he pointed up.
"Up where?" Syaoran said, with a perplexed expression on. 'This guy must be insane,' he thought to him self. Sakura just stared at Touya in disbelief.
"Up, look at the finger pointing," Touya, said comically, waving his finger in the air. "See...up" "I don't see anything." Syaoran scoffed. Now he really believed that this guy was off his rocker.
"Syaoran," Sakura said in an aggravated voice filled with attitude, "if Touya says that there is a top-secret, camouflaged, operational command center for all rebellion activities, state-of-the-art, completely self- dependent, fully functional base up in the trees, then there's a top- secret, camouflaged, operational command center for all rebellion activities, state-of-the-art, completely self-dependent, fully functional base up in the trees. You got it? Good. Let's go. Lead the way Captain Crackhead." Both males just stood and stared at the being that had possessed the good-natured girl with their eyes wide and their mouths moving up and down trying to form words. "Don't just stand there and look at me like I'm turning green with neon orange polka-dots. Get your asses in gear. I am NOT in the mood, have a pound of filth steadily growing on me, and God knows what on my body from "prancing" around for a week in someone's idea for a fungus farm. I don't even want to think of the gross things I've been sleeping on. Now can we start moving so I can at least TRY to remove this repugnant sewage from my body because while we've been standing here I think I've been collecting dust."
"Um..." Touya tried to find words to express his suprise.
"Must I hurt you?" Sakura's voice was dripping with irritation.
"No, uh, right this way." Touya said before adding under his breath, "Miss P.M.S"
"I heard that!" Sakura said, "All it proves is how little you know about me and women in general. Must be difficult for you to know that you are hopelessly outclassed in the area of practical logic."
You could hear Touya's nervouse gulp for a mile. 'Note to self, women are not ones to piss off. Especially not that one.'
~~~~~~
That's all for now. I felt really bad that I hadn't updated, so I just threw everything that I wrote so far in this chapter. It should be about a chapter and 1/2 worth. Hope you liked it.
Make some reference that you read it in a review. That would be really neat. You know click on review and say, "Hi!" That's all I really need. Just knowing people read and enjoyed is enough for me.
This would be the next chapter. Yes, I know it's horrendously late. My only comments are homework comes in tons and school sucks. That should explain everything. I would go through and put everyone who reviewed in a little thank you deally, but I just want to get this chapter out as soon as possible so people won't kill me.
Thanks a lot for your help Jess!! I really needed it and it sounds so much better now. Don't know what planet this story would be stuck on if you didn't help me pull it together. Story ahoy!
°°¤¤ In the middle of the unknown, A.K.A somewhere over the rainbow ¤¤°°
Touya woke up in the corner of a clean, cold cell. All he saw at first were blurry colors, but slowly his eyes regained focused and he saw a strange command room. The cell was surrounded by, he guessed, a two-foot thick wall of steel except for the front that was covered by a strong force field. He turned his head in the direction of the noises he heard to see Sakura and Syaoran communicating in strange clicks, beeps, and other various noises he recognized but disregarded quickly due to his aching head. Syaoran looked at Touya from the other corner of the cell and told Sakura, who was facing Syaoran, in the strange dialect something as he nodded in Touya's direction. Sakura spun around and smiled weakly.
"So you're awake." She said in normal Japanese.
"Yeah, what language were you guys talking in a second ago?" Touya asked, curious if he thought it was what he thought it was.
"We don't know, we spoke it until he taught us Japanese." Syaoran said detestably.
"Oh, well one small question. WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET SUPER POWERS???" Touya yelled evidently confused.
"We were born with them, I think. Our guess is that we inherited it from our parents." Sakura said simply.
"Who's he?" Touya asked more calmly as Syaoran walked up to the force field and slowly touched it with his index finger only to be violently tossed against the opposite wall of the cell, his hand giving off a little bit of steam.
"(cough) I don't think I'll try that again." Syaoran coughed.
"Are you okay?" Touya asked horrified.
"(cough cough) Mm, hmm." Syaoran replied in a raspy, dry voice as Sakura helped him off the floor. When he regained his strength, she went over to the force field and started examining it.
"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Touya asked as he sat next to Syaoran who was watching Sakura.
"Do I have a choice? I guess not, just don't scream."
"Well, I wanted to know how long you lived at Lorka's, you seemed close."
"Yeah, well we lived there for almost six years."
"We?"
"Yeah, me and Sakura." Syaoran nodded in Sakura's direction.
"By yourselves, no parents?"
"Yep."
"Six years.. How old are you?"
"18."
"Woah! You lived at Lorka's since you were 12? A little too young to be living on our own weren't we?"
"Well, then I was 13 and I can take care of myself Mr. I-think-everyone- who's-younger-than-me-is-too-young-to-do-anything." Syaoran pointed out making a reference to earlier with the whole pilot debate.
"And Sakura lived there since she was 13 too?"
"No, 11. She turned 12 after we were there for a month. Sakura's 17 now. She's a little over a year younger than I am."
"What happened to your families?"
Syaoran bowed his head and looked down. "We, uh, we.Since I was 3 and Sakura was 2, we've been pretty much orphans. We don't know who our parents are. We don't even know if we have families anymore."
"I'm sorry." Touya apologized feeling deeply ashamed and embarrassed.
"Don't be, we never knew who they were so we can't miss them or cry over them. All we can do is wish we had them."
"If I heard you say that 10 years ago, I would thought twice about leaving my family, my home."
"You left them?" Syaoran asked surprised.
"Not really 'left.' Went out on my own, but I haven't gone back."
"You should because one day you will go back and they will be gone."
"You're right, but I can't go back."
"Why not?"
"I've tried to make myself go, but I just can't. At least not until I've completed what I set out to do."
"There's another reason you won't go back, I can smell it."
"Yeah, it's just bad memories. Just like this place is for you guys."
"How'd you know?" Syaoran asked a bit surprised.
"The way you two winced when you were talking about this place a moment ago is a clue."
"So you did understand us, but how?"
"I only understood little bits about structure and stuff but it's been so long since I've heard anyone use that language and this killer headache isn't letting me remember what it's called. Where are we anyways?"
"An exact replica of Citadel. He must have rebuilt it."
"Again back to my very first question, who's he?"
"Me." A mysterious man's voice said as he popped up from the side of the cell as he turned off the force field. Catching Sakura by surprise, he grabbed Sakura's wrist and roughly pulled her out before raising the shield again.
"Syaoran, help me!!" Sakura screamed as the balding, old man twisted her arm around her back causing her a great deal of pain.
"Sakura!!" Syaoran yelled. "Let her go you bastard!" Syaoran raised his green lightning bolt surrounded hands up to the force field and exerts blasts of electricity to it causing the force field to collapse long enough for Syaoran to get through before it reactivated. He tried to run towards Sakura, but was apprehended by human soldiers with long, thick rubber gloves on. Thousands of thread-like electrical bolts resembling static electricity surrounded Syaoran, but the guards weren't affected. While Syaoran struggled with the guards, the man pulled a covered tray towards the bound and struggling Sakura.
"Let me go, Racken!!" Sakura seethed.
"Wonderful to see you as well." Racken said almost cheerfully as he pulled out a pair of laser sheers from underneath the covered tray. "I'll deal with you tomorrow Syaoran, and you, Mr. Kinigamo, I'll torture you for the base at dawn."
Sakura's eyes widened in fear as the long yellow light protruded from the laser sheers. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as the device neared her hair, when suddenly they flew out of Racken's hands, creating a black burn across the floor. Syaoran defiantly smirked at Racken's failed attempt.
"Your powers have grown more than I thought," Racken said admiringly before he pulled on Sakura's hair causing her to wince, "but if you try that again I'll kill your protector."
Racken didn't bother picking up the sheers and just swept Sakura's hair aside to reveal a deep jagged scar on the back of her neck beginning at the base of her hair. Racken lightly brushed strands of hair away from the scar area while Sakura shook with fear at every touch.
"Why look, it's the scar I gave you Sakura." Racken lightly traced the scar from beginning to end causing Sakura to whimper. "Are you still scared of that little thing?" Racken pulled out an empty needle as the guards dragged Syaoran over to Racken and pulled up his left shirtsleeve to reveal a long jagged scar trailing from his elbow to just before suicide point on his wrist. Racken proceeded to trace the scar with the tip of the needle causing Syaoran to bleed miniscule droplets in a few areas. The entire time, Syaoran didn't even flinch but furiously glared at Racken. "See? Syaoran isn't afraid of the scar I gave him."
"That's because the one you gave me didn't almost kill me." Syaoran sneered.
"Well, Sakura wasn't left with any permanent physical damage." Racken said nonchalantly.
"What do you mean no physical damage? Sakura couldn't walk for five months, you bastard!" Syaoran raged.
"She's just fine now." Racken walks over to Sakura who immediately closed her eyes at the feeling of the cold tip of the needle piercing into her neck and drawing blood out.
Racken placed the needle on the tray and took out a small black box with rounded corners and two small metal poles stretching out of the top. Racken turned the device on and a purple light extended between the poles. He grabbed Sakura's left wrist and ran the scanner over it to make a barcode appear. It was still visible after the light was taken away but then quickly faded away a few moments later. The guards roughly threw Syaoran into the cell and he slid on his back until he hit the wall. Meanwhile, Racken was busy unbinding Sakura. After her hands were unbound, Racken carelessly threw Sakura into the cell to be caught in the protective embrace of Syaoran where she let her tears soak into his shirt.
"Shh, shh, shhhh. We'll find a way out of here soon, I promise." Syaoran tried to soothe Sakura as he rubbed her back.
¤¤¤°°¤ 3:48 AM ¤°°¤¤¤ (that's the time it is right now)
Touya and Syaoran sat side by side and had their backs up against the wall. Both were wide-awake staring at the several blinking lights on the consul while Sakura had cried herself to sleep with her head resting on Syaoran's legs. Syaoran passed the time by stroking Sakura's hair and fine- tuning their plan of escape. Touya passed the time by counting how many times the green lights blinked. After losing count for the umpteenth time, he decided he was going to go mad.
"It feels like it's four in the morning." Touya rubbed his head groggily. Syaoran took a look at his watch and pressed a button to make it light up.
"Actually, it's 3:48 AM. Why don't you get some rest?" Syaoran asked as he took off his jacket to wrap around the shivering Sakura.
"Could you sleep if you were going to be tortured in the morning?"
"It's not that bad, but I guess it is better when you are so delirious from lack of sleep that you don't feel the pain."
"Gee, well thanks. You seem to have had it rough, what happened to you guys here?"
"Where should I start, alphabetically, chronologically, or by degree of pain?"
"From the beginning, I guess that would make it easier to understand."
"Well, I remember waking up here when I was three. My memory had been wiped and all I could remember was my name, age, birthday, and that I knew how to fight. It was evident that I had been struggling since I had cuts and bruises all over my body. Sitting in a cell similar to this one, three floors up, I heard blood curdling screams of eight children when they were killed for some reason or another. My guess is that they didn't have the magic Racken wanted and I did, that's the only reason he kept me. Not knowing whom to trust, I trusted Racken, at first. He immediately made me begin practicing with the only possession I had from the life I left."
"You mean your sword right?"
"Yeah, my katana. Every technique or sword skill Racken could find, I had to learn and learn fast. Within weeks it had to be perfect."
Suddenly, Syaoran's watch began to beep, interrupting him. He nudged Sakura to wake up and she groggily looked at his watch, then shook herself awake.
"What's happening?" Touya asked confused.
"I think it's about time we leave this place." Syaoran replied with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He shocked the force field once again and it shorted out, but he kept on exerting electricity. Pretty soon, another shield shorted out as well and Syaoran hopped through. "He always puts up two when we escape the first time." Syaoran proceeded to walk over to the controls and pushed rapid amounts of buttons that made all the power go out in the entire room. All that could be seen was Sakura's glowing eyes (A.N. when I say glowing, I mean everything: the whites of her eyes, pupils, iris, the works) as three dark objects floated towards them.
"I've got our bags, let's go." Sakura whispered as the lights flickered back on.
"They probably already detected us, so we better get movin'." Syaoran explained as he led the way out the door. He weaved in and out of the corridors, shorting out all the security systems that got in the way. As the group neared the exit, red sirens began to blare.
"They know we're missing!" Touya hissed.
"Then we better start going faster." Syaoran sneered back. It took a couple of minutes to get to the last door and the group was almost free until.
"Hey! You! Freeze right there!" All three spun around in shock as a group of guards ran towards them. Touya quickly opened his hand and blew whatever was in it at the guards. It glittered as the powder settled in their eyes and all the soldiers dropped to the floor.
"And they really expected us to stop?" Syaoran questioned their stupid antics.
"Move it, now!" Touya said sternly snapping the youths back to reality. Once out the door, they didn't stop running until they reached the woods 3 miles away to catch their breath.
"What do we do now?" Touya asked getting ready to move on.
"We figure out how they found us?" Syaoran said as he held onto Touya shirt to stop him from moving.
"That's a good question. I definitely am not with him, you can ask Racken himself. He wants me dead."
"You make a good point, but I still don't trust you. It has to be something like a bug. I never checked my stuff since I don't know anyone who would bug it." Syaoran pondered.
"We should check them all right now, they could still be bugged." Sakura suggested.
"Okay," Syaoran said as he ran his hand all over his bag and clothes while nothing happened. "Do you have anything electronic in your bag?" Syaoran asked Touya.
"Yeah, hold up a sec." Touya said and he began pulling out guns, bombs, and electronic equipment to communicate with people out of his bag. "That's it." Touya said as he pulled out half the things in his bag.
"Who are you?" Syaoran asked as he took a step back.
"The leader of the resistance against Racken." Touya said calmly. Syaoran shook his head and ran his hands over Touya's bag and clothes.
"He's clean." Syaoran stated.
"That just leaves me." Sakura sighed. Syaoran first checked the clothes she was wearing. Then, he ran his hands over her bag and both straps started to spark. Syaoran carefully pulled out 20 bugs from each strap.
"Holy shit." Syaoran breathed as he took out the final one. "Racken is definitely out to get us. Have you ever lent this bag out to anybody, Sakura?"
"Yeah, of course." Sakura answered.
"Who?"
"I don't know, everybody at the bar. I've had that bag for three years, it could have been anybody."
"We better watch our backs because that means that someone has been watching us, someone close." Syaoran warned.
"How do you know it's not her? No offense or anything." Touya asked.
"Just think, would you want to go back to THAT? He's done a lot of seriously inhumane things to us and we'd rather die than be associated with the sick psychopath."
"Besides, I have had some extremely.awful experiences with him. All the different things I've been through would give you nightmares for years." Sakura added as she almost started to shake.
"I guess I understand. Let's get going, uh, but where to?" Touya asked as he swept up the bugs and tied them to a rather large, flying mechanical bug. He set it loose and the bug started to fly to their left.
"Mythdelin, we know someone we can trust there." Syaoran answered while picking up his bag and he began to walk off in a direction.
"How do you know which way to go?" Touya asked as he ran off after them.
"We have escaped this place before, you know." Sakura answered as she hovered in the air next to him with her eyes glowing and her hair floating. "Come on."
°°°¤¤° In Mythdelin a week later °¤¤°°
Three travelers entered the town around noon looking quite exhausted. Lack of sleep was evident in their eyes and weariness of travel evident in their shabby clothes. Mythdelin was a place of large buildings and huge businesses. It was a steel jungle that could either make a person's career or break that person down. The three travelers walked up Main Legend Street to the largest building in the entire city. At seeing the large building, Sakura suddenly received a burst of energy and ran to the building.
"I can't believe it took a week to walk here." Touya complained as he dragged his feet behind him.
"It's not really surprising since that drug they used on us lasted for about three days and they did have us transported in a hover craft." Syaoran replied just as tiredly.
"Three days? I can't believe that Racken's base is so far away from here. I thought it would be closer, like a day." Touya whined.
"It's for secrecy and quit your whining already. You're beginning to sound like you're three." Syaoran said to Touya aggravated. Touya was about to shoot a comment back at Syaoran but they reached the building where Sakura was hopping around excitedly and thought against it.
"You know someone who works in this building?" Touya asked surprised.
"No." Sakura smiled
"We know the people who own this building." Syaoran smirked. Touya just shook his head thinking that these two were psycho. The owners of the Todaerhiir (A.N. get it? I hope you do. It's the first parts of their first and last names) Company had packed agendas and it took months to get an appointment, everybody knew that. Yet, Touya still stupidly walked into the building.
"Can I help you?" The receptionist at the desk asked annoyed as she redirected 30 calls at a time.
"Yes you can. We are here to see Tomoyo Daidouji and Eriol Hiiragizawa." Sakura chirped happily.
"Do you have an appointment?" The receptionist asked a bit irritated.
"Nope." Syaoran answered.
"I'm sorry then, only people with appointments can see Ms. Daidouji and Mr. Hiiragizawa." The receptionist said as if she wished they would go away.
"Just tell them that Sakura and Syaoran are here and if they don't allow us to come up, I'll give you 750,000,000 Loorns." Sakura said without even blinking.
"Ca..can I have that in writing?" The receptionist stuttered seeing as how 750,000,000 Loorns could buy someone their very own country.
"Of course." Sakura said as she wrote it down and signed the paper. Touya stood there with his mouth almost on the ground. Either Sakura had a lot of money to spare, which she probably didn't since she worked at a bar, or she was just plain insane. He opted for insane. As soon as Sakura handed the girl the paper, she dropped everything and called straight up to Tomoyo's office.
"Ms. Daidouji?" The receptionist asked. "I know you said to not be disturbed, but a girl here told me to tell you her name was Sakura and..hello? hello? Ms. Daidouji? Well, I guess you owe me-" The receptionist was cut off by the rapid sound of high heels thundering down the stairs. A stunning girl with long, silky black, flowing hair that reached to her waist in loose curls who was dressed in a black business skirt and jacket with a white shirt appeared from the stairs entrance.
"Sakura!" The girl screamed as she tackled Sakura to the ground in a hug. "I've missed you so much!"
The current scene in front of the viewers received a multitude of reactions. Syaoran just grinned, Touya's eyes were wide with shock and he couldn't speak, the receptionist fainted to the floor from shock, and the rest of the workers were speechless from sheer surprise at the fact that their boss was acting like this towards a girl who looked nothing like a person who Ms. Daidouji would fraternize with.
"It's so good to see you Tomoyo!" Sakura giggled as the girls got up off the floor.
"You.you.you know her, Ms. Daidouji?" The receptionist asked trying to recompose herself.
"Of course I know her!! And Syaoran, it's so good to see you, too!!! You've been taking care of Sakura, right?" Tomoyo said as she leaped onto Syaoran to hug him.
"Of course I've been taking care of her and it's good to see you to." Syaoran chuckled. Just then, the elevator door dinged and out walked an absolutely drop dead gorgeous knight in an Armani suit with short blue hair and glasses. He justly rivaled Syaoran in the good looks department.
"Amazing," he said, "you managed to beat me down here from the 110th floor, using the stairs, in a skirt, and to top it all off, you didn't even break your heels."
"Eriol!!" Sakura screamed as she ran up to the guy and leapt towards him giving him a hug.
"Hey Sakura, it's great to see you. It's been a long time."
"I know!! And you should know that Tomoyo has practiced for ages in the proper ways of running and jumping with skirts and heels. You shouldn't be surprised." Sakura mock scolded.
"So, how have you been?" Eriol asked curiously. "And you, how have you been Syaoran?"
"I was good until you came down here." Syaoran joked slightly smirking as he took Eriol's hand and both pulled each other into a brief hug.
"Ah, you hold grudges forever." Eriol grinned. "So how have you been?"
"It might take a while to explain." Sakura sighed.
"Of course!! Melleaha, (receptionist) cancel all my appointments and meetings today and only let urgent calls through." Tomoyo ordered as the group of five walked toward the elevator.
"Yes.yes of course ma'am." Melleaha replied as she heard faint laughter in reply from the closed elevator door. She was still caught speechless as she recovered from this major surprise.
~
The group stepped onto the top floor of the building into one gigantic office that covered the entire floor. The walls were made of a strong transparent substance that allowed you a wonderful view of the entire city. Two desks occupied the room on opposite sides and between them, expertly scattered, were couches, tables, plants, and various office machines.
Sakura plopped down on a couch to rest since she seemed to have less and less energy lately. Tomoyo proceeded to walk to a small kitchen in the corner of the room and fill a teapot with water and set it on the stove to heat then walked over to Sakura. The two boys walked over to a pool table close to Eriol's desk. Syaoran picked up a cue (that's what the pool sticks are called stick) and tested it out before he twirled it around to show acceptance. Eriol racked up the balls and walked over to one of the outer corners of the pool table where he stomped on the floor to have a pool stick shoot up from the floor. He easily caught it and twirled it around.
"Show off!" Syaoran sneered.
"No more than you are, Syaoran." Eriol smiled.
"Just rack 'em, chicken legs."
"Whatever you say, wolf boy." As the four teenagers went about their business as if they were at home, Touya stood at the door next to Sakura's and Syaoran's bags and cloaks wide eyed and in shock.
"Sakura?" Tomoyo whispered.
"Hmmm?" Sakura answered groggily.
"Who is that at the door and why is he here?"
"Oh, him. He's a guy that was with us when Racken caught us and evidently, Racken wants him too. Mr. Kinigamo!! You can sit down if you want."
"I think he's still in shock of being here."
"Probably." Sakura shrugged as she closed her eyes. Touya hadn't moved an inch from his spot and his expressions were still the same as the events of the past couple of moments sunk in.
Syaoran was just about to take his turn when he looked up and pointed his finger at Touya whispering to Eriol. A small beam of lightning shot out of his finger and hit Touya making him jump up and yelp. This caused Eriol to chuckle and Syaoran to smirk as he aimed the pool stick and knocked two balls into the corner pocket. Touya glared at Syaoran as he walked up to him. Eriol quickly spun his stick around and used it to block Touya's path on his journey to strangle Syaoran.
"Ah, ah, ah. We just had the carpet put in and we don't need blood on it." Eriol chided. Touya just "hmphed" in reply as he sat in a chair near by to watch the other two play their game. Ten minutes passed before a high- pitched whistle coming from the teapot made everyone look up and Sakura jump with a start out of her slumber. Tomoyo poured the tea and called the boys to the area where she was sitting to have tea.
"So, now will you tell us how you've been?" Tomoyo questioned brightly.
"Where should we begin? And do you have anything to eat?" Sakura asked. Tomoyo nodded and got up and told her personal secretary to get some food.
"Begin at the beginning and when you get to the end, stop." Eriol stated with a chesire cat grin.
"When the earth formed." Syaoran began.
"That's not what I meant, idiot." Eriol said rolling his eyes.
"I know." Syaoran smiled. "Well we were on our way here when..." Syaoran, Sakura, and Touya explained the entire story up to that point.
"Wow," was all Tomoyo could say. As for Eriol, he remained silent and in deep thought.
"There is just one thing that strikes me as odd." Eriol pondered out loud.
"Yourself?" Syaoran asked.
"Besides that, it's just that.how did they find you and get the bugs into Sakura's bag? I mean if they had a chance to put tracking devices on you guys why didn't they come for you sooner?"
"I know, I've been thinking about it and I just can't figure it out. Everyone we knew had no clue of our past and we had reason to trust everyone."
"That should be reason for more worry since the person who betrayed you came off as a friend, someone you could trust." Tomoyo warned as she gave Sakura her second plate of seafood lo mein and impyow soup. (A.N. So very sorry, I only eat it a lot, I keep forgetting how to spell it.)
"I don't get something." Touya announced.
"I was under the impression that you didn't get a lot of things." Syaoran muttered to get slapped in the head by Tomoyo. He flinched and grabbed his head as he said an "ouch."
"Why is it that Sakura had her blood taken and not Syaoran?" Touya continued not hearing Syaoran.
"He needed to know what my current health was so that they could go back into old ways. What I was told was that because of my powers, I somehow absorb a lot of iron in my body and I burn a lot of oxygen in my blood to fuel them. It used to give me some severe cases of anemia where I used to pass out and it can also be very dangerous to my body if it's a continuous thing. It also makes me very tired, which is why it is so hard to wake me up. Anyways, when I was back at Citadel, I had daily blood tests to show my current health and if I needed a dose of iron and oxygen that day. When we escaped the center, I was just really careful and compensated by sleeping a lot to save energy and I usually eat foods that have a lot of iron. On days when I'm really tired, I take iron pills. " Sakura explained.
"Yeah, that happens to the females in my family." Touya remarked.
"Really?"
"Yeah. My Mom always ate these iron-packed, gross tasting foods. On an off-day when she felt really devoid of energy, she could always take a basic potion."
"Oh, well I guess that means you really are an Enchanter." Eriol said with no change in emotion.
"How did you.where did you." Touya asked confused as he pointed at Eriol who had taken a sip of his tea.
"Well, for one, the only people I know of that are capable of making potions that work are in a lovely Enchanter Village a little while away from here. And two, that tattoo on your right wrist is printed on every male Enchanter's wrist who has turned 10 and has proven he is worthy to be recognized as possessing and mastering a weapon."
"But still, how did you..?" Touya still looked confused as he made amusing gesticulations with his hands.
"My plane crashed near there when I was a kid and I stayed had to stay a while because I was badly hurt. I learned quite a bit about them while I was there."
"Plus, my mom descended from Enchanters, but my grandmother left that lifestyle when she was 16 and made a life here in the city. We have family there supposedly, but we very rarely talk to each other. I was taught a few traditions and stories when I was little." Tomoyo added. "Did you take a pill since you're so tired Sakura?"
"(YAWN) Yeah, this morning, during breakfast." Sakura replied sleepily.
"I wonder what's wrong then?" Syaoran inquired worriedly.
"I don't know. Maybe I'm just a bit under the weather, I'm sure I'll be okay soo- (YAWN)" Sakura was interrupted rudely by her own yawn. "-n. You know I think I'm going to take a little nap."
"Well, while you rest, the boys over here can refuel and rest from your long voyage here." Tomoyo smiled reassuringly.
"Thanks." Sakura said before curling up the couch and falling asleep.
"Here you guys. It was impyow soup and seafood lo mein if Sakura didn't eat it all."
"I wonder what made her so hungry and tired?" Touya asked as he picked up a bowl of food.
"Probably just the trip. I'm sure she's fine. I hope she's fine." Syaoran trailed off.
"Don't be silly Syaoran, Sakura's fine." Tomoyo exclaimed.
"You're right. I'm just being overprotective of her. Pass the impyow soup."
The two guys continued to chow down on their food substances while they talked about various topics one after the other until....
"So where are you guys gonna go?" Eriol asked.
"I don't know yet. It's too dangerous to stay here. He'll come for us soon if we stay and we'll be putting you in danger." Syaoran answered.
"Well, considering you guys did save my ass and all and anyone who has Racken on his tail is worth saving, you guys could always stay with me at the Rebel Hideaway." Touya offered.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, sure. Why not?"
"Cool, I guess. Thanks."
"No Problem. I can have someone pick us up and we can leave now or we could wait for Sakura to wake up and walk later."
"That sounds good. How far away from here is it?"
"Far."
"I think it would be better to wait for Sakura. I'll give her an hour or so and then we'll go."
"Okay with me." Touya then pulled out a communicator and went to one of the corners of the room. All Syaoran was able to pick up was, "stand by for pick up."
°°¤¤°°This is boring so why don't we're just skipping forward°°¤¤°°
Syaoran looked at his watch and decided that it was time they get going and told Touya. Touya promptly went to one of his bags and pulled out a strange mechanical device where he pressed various buttons to get a nice musical sound as a result. Syaoran continued to the sofa that Sakura was lying on and knelt down beside it.
"Sakura," Syaoran whispered as he gently combed her hair with his hand.
"Hmmm?" Sakura asked as she turned her head to feel his gentle touch.
"It's time to go now."
"Alright," Sakura groggily sat up and stretched. Syaoran laughed as she yawned. "What's so funny?" Syaoran rummaged through her bag and pulled out a flat, rectangular object and handed it to Sakura.
"Take a look." Sakura looked in the mirror and was met with the sight of a bush of tangles known as her hair.
"Oh. Pass me my brush please."
"Sure."
As soon as Sakura had finished fixing her hair and put it back into it's regular loose half ponytail held by a claw, Sakura and Syaoran went to gather their things together. Eriol and Tomoyo greeted them with a bag of food to take with them just in case the food at the Resistance Fortress was, well, gross. For about 15 minutes they stood arguing with the two prominent business partners about taking the money they offered. Finally realizing that Tomoyo and Eriol were among the richest in the world, they took the money and thanked their friends for all their help. They were pulled out of their thankful good-byes when something from Touya's bag started to beep loudly and rapidly. At that sound, Touya went to his bag and pulled out the communication device.
"Sir?" A voice over the communicator rang out.
"Yes, it's me. Go ahead." Touya answered.
"We have entered Mythdelin, where do you want us to land, sir?"
"On the tallest building top."
"But that's-"
"I know, just do it. We'll be waiting for you at the top."
"Yes, sir."
"Well, let's go. Our ride's here." Touya said as he put the communicator in his bag and slung it over his shoulder.
"Looks like we have to go. It was nice seeing you again." Sakura said as she tightly hugged Tomoyo.
"Yeah, same here. I'm going to miss you." Tomoyo replied as she gently pulled away and proceeded to hug Syaoran. "You too Syaoran. Be careful and make sure you take care of Sakura."
"I will." Syaoran replied.
"Take care of yourself." Sakura said to Eriol as she hugged him.
"We'll be fine. It's you who needs to be careful." Eriol said as he smiled.
"Alright."
The trio took the elevator to the roof. As soon as they opened the door, they were met with the sight of a hummingbird -a small, quick hovercraft- setting down on the top of the building. As quickly as they could, they boarded the hovercraft and were off to the secret Resistance Fortress.
"Honestly sir, I really didn't think you would actually be up here when we landed." The pilot said.
"You should have some faith in your leader." Touya smugly remarked.
"Uh, sir, who are they?" The pilot said gesturing to Sakura and Syaoran.
"Friends." Touya smiled as he watched Sakura fall back asleep on Syaoran's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her protectively.
It took about an hour and a half to get to the Resistance base. From what Syaoran saw, it looked like they were somewhere in the woods. He didn't see anything that looked like a building or fortress or any base of operations. Honestly, all he saw was a bunch of trees and green stuff. When all five people had exited the hummingbird, a large box-like object covered in foliage rose from the floor and the craft was pushed inside, then hidden again. Still, neither Syaoran nor Sakura saw a single sign of a base.
"Uh," Sakura finally spoke up, "where's, the base? I know it has to be well hidden but I can't see a single thing around here that would indicate a 'secret headquarters.'"
"That would be because the hideout isn't around here," Touya paused for dramatic effect, which was achieved when Sakura and Syaoran gave them quizzical looks, "it's up there." Touya said as he pointed up.
"Up where?" Syaoran said, with a perplexed expression on. 'This guy must be insane,' he thought to him self. Sakura just stared at Touya in disbelief.
"Up, look at the finger pointing," Touya, said comically, waving his finger in the air. "See...up" "I don't see anything." Syaoran scoffed. Now he really believed that this guy was off his rocker.
"Syaoran," Sakura said in an aggravated voice filled with attitude, "if Touya says that there is a top-secret, camouflaged, operational command center for all rebellion activities, state-of-the-art, completely self- dependent, fully functional base up in the trees, then there's a top- secret, camouflaged, operational command center for all rebellion activities, state-of-the-art, completely self-dependent, fully functional base up in the trees. You got it? Good. Let's go. Lead the way Captain Crackhead." Both males just stood and stared at the being that had possessed the good-natured girl with their eyes wide and their mouths moving up and down trying to form words. "Don't just stand there and look at me like I'm turning green with neon orange polka-dots. Get your asses in gear. I am NOT in the mood, have a pound of filth steadily growing on me, and God knows what on my body from "prancing" around for a week in someone's idea for a fungus farm. I don't even want to think of the gross things I've been sleeping on. Now can we start moving so I can at least TRY to remove this repugnant sewage from my body because while we've been standing here I think I've been collecting dust."
"Um..." Touya tried to find words to express his suprise.
"Must I hurt you?" Sakura's voice was dripping with irritation.
"No, uh, right this way." Touya said before adding under his breath, "Miss P.M.S"
"I heard that!" Sakura said, "All it proves is how little you know about me and women in general. Must be difficult for you to know that you are hopelessly outclassed in the area of practical logic."
You could hear Touya's nervouse gulp for a mile. 'Note to self, women are not ones to piss off. Especially not that one.'
~~~~~~
That's all for now. I felt really bad that I hadn't updated, so I just threw everything that I wrote so far in this chapter. It should be about a chapter and 1/2 worth. Hope you liked it.
Make some reference that you read it in a review. That would be really neat. You know click on review and say, "Hi!" That's all I really need. Just knowing people read and enjoyed is enough for me.