Entering Eternity

Time: 12 yrs post Xiaolang's leaving according to the manga, go figure

Disclaimer: CCS will never ever belong to me as much as I dream of it.

Hey, sorry to all you people out there who are actually reading my ficcy... I have been having exams this past week and had to prepare for it for one whole month... Sorry for the long wait and yeah, thanks to those who had reviewed and the kind words. :D

Thanks to JediClare for helping me beta the story, I am astounded that my English can be so lousy...

Well, here is the next chapter. Enjoy... J

Chapter four: Information

Still rather full from the lunch at Tomoyo and Eriol's, Sakura merely gathered a few snacks to munch on before heading up to the study room where Xiaolang had already plopped himself on his usual chair. To Sakura, his total concentration seemed to be on the paper in front of him when in fact it was revolving about the intense dreams that he had been having lately.

Sakura stared at him for a moment, then dropped her gaze and turned away from him; she forced herself to focus on her work. Over the years, she had improved on her worse subjects thanks to his help. Even so, she occasionally met with difficult problems that she could not solve alone. Today, she squared off with one. Unwilling to disturb Xiaolang, or rather afraid to disturb him, she could only work it out alone to the best of her abilities.

Xiaolang had unconsciously slammed his mental shields down to ponder over the dreams. He stared blankly at the piece of paper in front of him, frustration building up at the feeling that he was doing something wrong. But what was he doing wrong? If he did not know, how could he correct the mistake? And the dreams – cold, nasty nightmares that tortured his soul for days and nights. For what he dreamt about was usually his father's untimely death and his arriving too late to save him. What was the meaning behind all that? Why did his brain suddenly come up with his father's death? Was it to torture him, to make him feel guilty? Well, if it was, it was working rather well. Xiaolang felt endless guilt at his inability to save his father, the man that mattered most to him.

Almost on the verge of blowing up or breaking down, he was close to tearing his hair out. Calming himself down once he had gotten hold of his emotions, he glanced over his shoulder at Sakura who was still struggling with the problem. Her head of brown locks, just a shade lighter than his own unruly mane, was bent in concentration; she was tapping her pencil lightly to her forehead as though the action would help her understand the problem a little more. Her brow was creased with lines of mild frustration, partly because of Xiaolang, partly because of the question.

As Xiaolang watched her, the expression of immense concentration lifted and changed into a flash of understanding and soon became jubilant at having solved the problem all by herself. He could feel her pride and joy at having tackled the problem without his help. Xiaolang felt a little sad; she would not need his help in the future with these problems. She was growing so independent and would not always need to lean on him for support. He turned slightly away from her and stared at the clock.

5 p.m. - just enough time.

He stood up and stretched like a cat. He had lifted up his shields after realizing it had been down and wondered briefly why Sakura had not said anything about it. He strolled over to her and draped his arms around her lightly. Sakura looked up in surprise at his actions. Had he not been acting all distant and cold a few hours ago? She had had enough time while studying to get sufficiently angry with him for not trusting and confiding in her. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously, unwilling to soften her heart until he confided in her.

Sensing her tenseness, Xiaolang slowly massaged her shoulders and brought his mouth down close to her ear. It was close enough for Sakura to be able to hear his steady breathing and feel his breath tickling her neck. He murmured softly, "Study time's over. Throw those books to one side and let's get into today's workout. After that, we can have a warm relaxing bath and dinner will be served. I promised that I will tell you what is wrong and you have to hold me to my promise. I will tell you after we have both calmed down. You are still angry at me, aren't you?"

Xiaolang could not for the life of him guess what she was angry with him for but he could feel the hostility radiating off her. He straightened up and pulled her out of the chair. Knowing that it would do him no good to drag her or to carry her to their room to change into their training clothes, he used the only other method that seemed feasible – tessering. Looking at her unsmiling face with impatience etched on it, Xiaolang tessered almost immediately, shocking her out of her vow of silence.

With the tingling feeling running deep in their bodies, they materialized slowly, part by part, first the heads, then the arms and so on until the whole of both their bodies were standing in the bedroom. As soon as she gained control of her limbs, an irate Sakura rounded on Xiaolang and grabbed his collar. Seething with fury, she hissed harshly through gritted teeth, "Do. Not. Ever. Do. That. Again. Without. Warning. Me. Stop. Wasting. Your. Energy. Unnecessarily."

Rather pleased that she had finally opened her mouth and spoken to him, Xiaolang merely smiled mysteriously at her, which irritated Sakura even more. She turned away from him and stalked huffily over to the closet to grab her training clothes. She carefully maneuvered around the grinning idiot in the center of the room to head to the bathroom.

Knowing that Sakura would take her own sweet time to change, Xiaolang changed in the privacy of his room. He just loved it when she flew into one of her tantrums – it just made life more interesting. Sakura's face would flush with anger, her aura would flare up dangerously and her eyes would gleam with fury, turning to a dark shade of green much like the forests – wild and dangerous.

He stood outside the door, futilely waiting for a few minutes then cautiously knocking on the door a few times before he testily shouted to her, "Sakura, if you are not going to open the door now, I will be forced to tesser in or even break it down. Why don't you just give up quietly and come out of the room peacefully?"

Having had much experience from past incidents, Sakura knew that he could and would carry out either of his threats depending on the seriousness of the situation. Not wanting him to waste his energy again or to have the unpleasant job of calling a carpenter in again to fix the damn door - she was certain that all the carpenters in town knew them by name - Sakura reluctantly unlocked the door and shuffled out with a sulky, defiant look pasted on her face. Xiaolang smiled even more widely. He recognized the defiance and was pleased about it. He did want a good workout this evening; the sparring would do wonders for them and help purge all violent thoughts after it so they would be able to have a peaceful meal.

Noticing the smile and mistaking it for a smirk of challenge, Sakura straightened up and lifted her head up high. She was not going to lose to him and give him the satisfaction of winning. She marched determinedly past him and went down the stairs to their personal state-of-art gym, stocked with all the latest technologies in the sporting world and a very large multi-purpose hall that catered to their many various competence in sports.

She moved directly to the middle of the hall and was soon deep in mediation to find her center of calmness and peace. When Xiaolang finally sauntered in, he nearly lost himself at the sight of her with her head partially bowed, her golden-auburn hair tied neatly to the back of her head with the exception of a few unruly wisps lying haphazardly around her porcelain face. Even after so many years with her, her beauty could still move him. Even though her eyes were closed to stretch out her other senses, Sakura could see whatever was happening in the room through her mind's eye. Her nostrils flaring slightly and her back convent school straight, her muscles tensed like a spring, ready to be used in action anytime, she radiated of determination and defiance.

Xiaolang walked calmly towards her and with their backs to each other, started to meditate along with her. Their auras flashed brightly and danced wildly around them in a myriad of colours reflecting their moods. A strong gust of wind kicked up out of nowhere and surrounded them, making their clothes flap wildly about their frames and their hair fall over their eyes.

Neither of them flinched or moved a muscle. Being deep in meditation meant that they had found a pool of calmness and peace within them that would help guide their movements, their thoughts and their magic throughout the fight.

Simultaneously, their eyes flickered wide open with matching glints showing, they started on their kata to warm up for the fight. They moved in harmony with perfectly synchronized steps, dancing to a music that only both could hear. The mixture of auras continued its joyful dance around the couple guiding their movements to be executed at the exact same timing as the other. The slick, fluid movements of their limbs reflected on their strenuous trainings at the beginning to harness and control their seemingly endless flow of magic and to build up the strong rapport that they shared with each other.

Being too entirely focused on executing the kata to perfection, Xiaolang did not notice that Sakura had made the first move of their match and had stopped mid-way through the kata to focus her energy on a Sakura card.

Sakura silently gave her order to the Windy card to form a chain around Xiaolang and bind him there. Over the years, the rapport between the master and the cards had grown to be much stronger and much closer then the bond the cards had shared with Clow. Sakura was now able to communicate with the cards through her thoughts and vice versa.

Too deep in concentration to notice the wind silently enveloping him, Xiaolang's reaction to the attack was seconds too slow. Windy had successfully restricted much of his movement before he managed to whip out his sword and break free. Facing Sakura, he taunted her, "You are going to have to do better than that to get me."

The taunt had hit its mark; Sakura growled, her eyes narrowing to thin silts in her face. Her temper had been roused and nothing would get in her way. Her menacing look dissolved suddenly into slyness. She whipped out a few well-selected cards and released them all at the same time.

Firey, Watery, Windy and Earthy joined together in combat in a whirlwind of colours to attack Xiaolang. Timing her dash forward precisely, Sakura herself had joined in the battle and attacked Xiaolang physically with a combination of moves he had never seen before. It was obvious that Sakura had been doing some secret training by herself. With no reaction time, all that Xiaolang could do was to stand there and be assaulted by the rapid attacks both physical and magical. He flew across the room from the impact and slammed heavily into the wall. Seemingly knocked out cold, he lay motionless on the floor, a steady stream of blood flowing out of his mouth. As the dust settled down all around him, Sakura realized the full impact of her attack. She had assumed that Xiaolang was strong enough to withstand the attack and at most escape with a few bruises. She had not expected him to be so weak as to not be able to protect himself from the attack. Caught up in her emotions, she darted forward, abandoning all her weapons to check on the motionless man.

Failing to notice that their bond was still open and fully operative, meaning that Xiaolang was conscious, Sakura received the shock of her life when he suddenly opened his clear amber eyes in response to her probing for any serious injuries. He lightly took hold of her trembling hands and smiled gently up at her, touched by her care and concern. His eyes never failing to leave her face, Xiaolang slowly brought her tender palms up to his lips.

Hot blood coursed through the veins closest to the base of her palm where Xiaolang had caressed it with his lips. Sakura's eyes softened noticeably then hardened again. The pressure of not knowing what was bothering him finally caught up with her. She released her fury by pulling her hands harshly out of his hold and pounded on him ruthlessly, berating him for his "wrongdoings". Xiaolang bore it all with the placid patience of a donkey and when she had worn herself out, he pulled her close to him in an intimate embrace, close enough for Sakura to feel the steady thumping of his heart and his warm breath blowing steadily on her neck.

The both of them stayed locked in that position until Xiaolang had confirmed that Sakura had finally calmed down. He thought to her gently, Are you ready for my explanation?

Drawing her face away, she silently nodded. He was finally willing to trust in her and share his troubles with her.

Xiaolang slowly let her go and stood up. Taking her by her hands, he led her towards a chair and motioned for her to sit down. He paced the interior of the room, desperately trying to gather his jumbled thoughts to form words that would make sense to Sakura.

Sensing his confusion and frustration, Sakura thought gently to him.

Calm yourself down. Let your inner self go. Meditate and open your bond fully, let me search through them for the information I need to know.

He stopped his pacing to stand in the middle of the room. He held his hands slack at his side while mediating to allow her full access into his mind. He could sense her thoughts gently probing his mind to gather the information she wanted. It felt strange to allow her full access to his thoughts. What if she stumbled upon something that he did not want her to know? Like that joke Eriol and him played on the girls back in grade 6? They had not known whom it was that had poured gallons of honey into their lockers and he felt that they would be particularly happy to find out now that it had been the both of them.

What's this about the locker incident Xiaolang? Her voice was sweet, too sweet, which meant that he was in trouble.

Shit. Busted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Candles that flickered seductively around her dimly lighted the bathroom. Sakura lay in the bath, trying to relax while the round moon shone in through her window to illuminate her hair. Her mind was racing with the information divulged from Xiaolang.

His dreams. His visions. What did they mean? It was obvious that his father was trying to reach out to him but for what and why? Sakura knew that dreams and visions were usually made up of many layers and that she needed to delve deeper in order to truly understand the essence of the dreams. Yet how was she supposed to understand it when she did not even know what the dream was truly like? In order to really understand the dream, Sakura felt that she had to go through the entire dream herself.

Blackness - vast gulf of blackness that swallowed everything. A thin ray of light shone from above, forming a path for Li Weilong to descend, ghostly white and shimmering, wearing his traditional Clan costume. Wherever he walked, a spray of Nadeshiko flowers and Sakura flowers would fly up then settle down calmly. He would stay silent, not saying anything and just pace around, looking with the proud eyes of a father and a Clan leader. Yet somehow they encompassed sadness beyond belief that Li Weilong could have felt. Suddenly, out of nowhere a bright ball of blue sparkling flames would appear between them. It would glow a pale blue first, then white, then figures would form slowly on its surface. It would show figures and play voices of a past a long, long time ago. It was always the same past, the same story – Weilong's death over and over again…

Sakura was half asleep in the bath, thinking about the dreams when she heard the knock on the door. Realising that she was turning into a prune, she hastily got out of the bathtub, succeeding in flooding the floor in the process of doing so, and reached for her towel.

Are you safe in there? You haven't drowned yet right? Well hurry up and come down before dinner turns cold.

I'm fine, very fine. Keep your shirt on. I'm coming down soon enough.

Fully dressed, Sakura sauntered down the stairs to join Xiaolang for dinner. As she passed the living room, the phone started to ring, startling her out of her reverie.

"Good evening, Li residence. May I know who is this speaking?"

"Hello Sakura-Chan, it's me, dad. I just wanted to know if the both of you were free for dinner tomorrow."

"Hi dad! Sure we are free. But why the sudden urge for us to join you for dinner? Will Oniichan be there too?"

"Oh, I just felt like having dinner with the two of you. Touya will not be coming. Well then, I shall not bother the both of you anymore. Have a good night and I will see you tomorrow night. Bye Sakura-Chan."

"Bye dad, see you tomorrow."

Not wanting to press the matter anymore, Sakura unwillingly set the phone back on its cradle. What was with people keeping secrets from her anyway? She was not so fragile that a single piece of news would stun her and shake her entire world. Sighing heavily, she thought that at least Xiaolang had opened up.

Erm, Sakura darling? The dinning room is this way. That is the door to the basement you are holding on to. Are you all right?

Sakura glanced down at the door knob she was holding onto then looked up to survey her surroundings. She realized that Xiaolang was right – she was going to the basement instead of the dinning room. Blushing deeply, she turned around and giggled in embarrassment.

Oops. Xiaolang, dad just called. He wants us to join him for dinner tomorrow. You are free right?

I should be able to make it. But let's think of dinner tonight before dinner tomorrow. This way, mi'lady.

Sticking her tongue out at him while she walked past, she noted that even though his tone of voice was strong and lively, his eyes betrayed him. They were dull and clouded with troubled thoughts – he was still mulling over the dreams.

Dinner that night was a quiet affair, lacking the usual rowdy conversations and jokes they shared every night. Even their bond was silent, not much interaction took place between them. Both were trying to figure out the meaning of the dreams.

Finally they went up to bed with many unanswered questions still pounding furiously at their minds. They had decided to sleep on the matter and hope that the dreams would not appear that night. Yet deep down Xiaolang had a burning desire to see his father's face again. Even though the visions were vague and heart wrenching, he still longed to be able to look upon his father's face again.

That night, the dreams not only presented themselves to Xiaolang; they too took hold of Sakura.

Blackness everywhere.

A ray of light descends from nowhere.

Nadeshiko and Weilong materialise together. With outstretched hands and pleading eyes, they communicate their emotions to their children.

Then like a malfunctioning video, the scenes of their deaths replay over and over again. Weilong and Nadeshiko dying in front of their eyes and the both of them helpless to save their parents.

Xiaolang and Sakura spent the whole night tossing and turning fretfully in bed.