+A/N+

~Yay, I finally got to the main storyline :D I have an early warning for Touya fans~ Sorry for all the torture he's been through so far... but trust me, there will be more. If you are not okay with this and cannot bear Touya getting hurt... erm...then don't read the parts about Touya. I have the entire story all planned out already, and it's sad that Touya has to go through so much~~ but angst is my style so what can ya do? ^0^! I, myself, am a Touya fan; he's among my fave anime characters, so this fic is not to disrespect him ^^;;

~Note: The title of this chapter, [Cruelty] is ironic... and you will see why later on in the story. XD

Chapter 3: [Cruelty]

"Sakura?" Kero scuttled over beside me and sat himself down on the windowsill.

"Ah, Kero-chan." I greeted, keeping my eyes through the window, into the sky. "Oniichan's out again. He's working late."

"...And you're worried about him, I presume?"

"No..." I paused. "Yes."

Kero crossed his short arms and hovered by the window, almost as if he were meditating. "He definitely knows about you, somehow. Maybe not completely, but he's getting there."

"I know. He's too powerful. Maybe it's destroying him- what he knows about me..."

"Hmm..." Kero contemplated.

I sighed and rested my chin into my hands. Other then a few blinks, my eyes were locked at the celestial bodies that hung in the night sky. "The moon looks a little faded tonight." I noticed.

Kero stole a peak at the sky. "It's without stars. Perhaps it's lonely."

Lightly, I released a small laugh and turned to face Kero. "That's a ridiculous thing to say."

Kero formed a smirk. "Say," he began, glancing at my desk. "about that scroll..."

"Oh this?" I left the window and approached my desk. Wrapping my fingers carefully around my gift, I lifted it off the surface and showed it to Kero. "I got this in the afternoon from a travelling magician. He offered it to me as a gift."

I unraveled the scroll from the sides and smoothed it out onto my desk.

"Chinese," he stated immediately.

"Yeah, can you read it?"

"Unh unh," he shook his head. "If you want anything read in Chinese, you should ask Syaoran."

"Li-kun's away." I explained, wrapping the scroll up again and settling it back into the corner of my desk. While I was doing that I caught a view of a pink stuffed bunny at the side. Reluctantly, I lifted the animal and pressed its soft texture against my cheeks, feeling its gentle warmth on my skin.

Kero's expression suddenly saddened as he saw my eyes begin to mist. "Sakura..."

"Kero-chan, it's getting late," I replied, changing the subject all of a sudden. "I should probably be getting to sleep now."

He agreed with a slow, simple nod. But before he crept into his sleeping area in the drawer, he fluttered over to me and lifted my chin with his tiny paw. "Hey, don't look so down. I know you have a lot of concern for Touya-san, but he cares for you, and as long as he has that care, you two will be fine."

I sniffled like I was a little kid again. "Ok."

"G'night." Kero placed a kind smile on his face.

"Night..." I replaced my bunny at the edge of the desk and examined it for a few seconds. How isolated it looked...

Finally leaving it where is was, I pulled into bed, blanketed myself and snapped off the lamp.

~~~~

Didn't know how long I was asleep for. Not damn long, I suppose. There were feelings of discomfort all around me, and it was certain that I couldn't fall asleep when I could feel them. It was painful, how random streaks would fly through my brain- strange premonitions, maybe? I tried squeezing my eyes shut and clutching my head, but the aches would not stop. Confusing words would just appear before me, and I could not even begin to decipher them.

"I'm looking for..." "A promise" "She can't help me," "Mistress..." "They promised." "I must kill~"

"The moon looks a little faded..."

"Perhaps it's lonely..."

And suddenly my eyes flew open and I released my grip.

Yue-san...

I quickly sprang out of bed and called for Kero through a loud whisper. However, I was only responded with the light snoring in which he usually gave off each night.

The room was pitched in darkness with the exception of...

...the faint glowing of the moon.

I approached the same window and shoved it open. My hair brushed over my cheeks as a cold gust of wind flew past me and sent a quick shiver down my body. I knew there was something I had to do... God knows what it could be, but I had to go anyway. Quickly, I dressed myself in the outfit I had worn that evening and shoved a coat on. Swiftly and silently, [and allowing Kero-chan to sleep in] I released my staff, summoned Fly and jumped out the window, assembling myself safely onto the narrow shaft.

Snowfall and harsh winds beat at me cruelly. My hands were numb already from clutching the staff. However, I shrugged off the discomfort and continued on.

Although I had no particular destination in mind, my first stop was Yukito's home. But as I neared the building, I could sense nothing- not even Yukito's presence, but I decided to check anyway. It wasn't that late- maybe about 10:30 or so- and their lights were still on, so I crept over to their door and knocked.

No answer.

I saw the light in the living room on, but nobody was home.

I knocked again. Still no answer.

For a few minutes, I just stood behind the Tsukishiro's front door and felt a sense of hopelessness. I stared down at my fingers, which had transformed into an unknown colour.

Yukito-san...

Dignity was losing its grip on me... I started to tremble- my hands, my shoulders... my entire body- like a helpless child. And that's exactly what I felt I was. There was water forming at the corner of my eyes as I glanced back at the sky, almost as if I thought there were celestial gods that could grant me the power to find Yue.

Then suddenly, my hands bolted back to my head again, despite their sore numbness, as the same ache streaked across my brain. My mouth was wide open, ready to scream, but no sound was produced. By this time, tears were streaming freely down my face. The staff that was clutched within my fingers fell into the snow without my notice.

As the pain slowly subsided, my tears began to disappear too. Something came to me. As quickly as I could, I scooped up the staff from the snow and started flying away again. I finally knew where Yue was... I was sure of it. However, I had to hurry before my sudden intuition faded.

I knew I had traveled some distance by now. I had passed by my school, Tomoyo's home, and several other familiar buildings before I suddenly halted, near a dense forest. A gasp escaped me immediately.

I've been here before...

I could hardly see the bare trees and shrubbery due to the immense darkness that swallowed all forms of life. My courage underwent a quick phase before I finally took a deep breath, shut my eyes, and shot right in.

I suppose it wasn't as bad from within. My eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness, and I could distinguish a few winter plants that were blanketed in snow. Now all I had to do was---

"You bastards leave me alone!!!"

The loud yell echoed once in the woods and then was gone.

"Ok I'll do it! Just--" His voice was suddenly muffled. There was an anguished cry followed by a thump.

With as much speed as I could exert, I followed the voice. It became slightly louder and fiercer as I neared it.

"Fucking demons...." he muttered loudly.

Yue-san...!

There I saw a figure in the snow. A pair of ethereal wings- almost as white as pure ivory- protruded from his back and spread lifelessly on the ground. There were specks of dark red in the snow... I saw them even in the dark.

"Yue-san!!!" I screamed, noticing the blood streaming from his face and his hands.

He gasped lightly and lifted his head. "Sakura-san...?!" Pain suddenly struck his face, and his head fell to the ground again.

I jumped off my staff and quickly knelt beside his body. "Yue-san! What happened?! Daijoubu?!"

On his cheek was a deep slit that was slowly releasing blood. It seemed agonizing for him to open his mouth and speak. "Sakura-san... no need to worry, I am okay." He lifted a hand streaked with crimson and touched a finger to my face. His hands were limp and his fingers were shaking.

He was a good liar. I always thought that he was.

"You were talking to somebody," I remembered. "Was it him that hurt you like this? Tell me... who's done this to you?"

Slowly, Yue shook his head. "It was nobody. Really."

"Don't lie to me!" I told him, frustrated.

He chuckled lightly. It made me want to cry... seeing how much physical pain he was in, yet allowing himself to laugh just to convince me that he was alright.

I supported his head off the snow, careful not to induce any more pain on his stinging wounds. "I'm taking you to my house-"

"Sakura--"

"-and I won't let you leave until you're better. Don't bother to protest."

Yue managed to lift himself, and I helped him aboard the flying staff, letting him lean weakly over my shoulder. I made sure he was secure enough to stay fastened behind me.

Hold on, Yue-san... Don't let go of consciousness just yet...

~~~~

There were positive and negative results to having left my window open. First of all, it was much easier for Yue and I to get back into my room, but now my room was so cold.

I flickered on a dim light so that I could see better, just enough to keep Kero asleep. Gently, I rested Yue's body on top of my own bed. He grimaced a few times before settling down and opening his eyes to look at me.

"Sakura-san~" he groaned.

"Shhh..." I whispered, placing a finger over my lips as a gesture. Hurriedly, I rushed over to a cabinet and withdrew a large white box. Soon it was placed beside Yue. I opened up the case and looked around it. The first aid kid had been my mother's idea. She had suggested that we keep one in every room, in case of any emergency. I was extremely grateful that I had it handy now.

The cut on Yue's cheek was slowly healing on its own. Blood on his hands were already starting to dry. But Yue was blinking rapidly, and that had me worried.

"No, hold on!" I told him.

But then his eyes closed again and he lay still. His pulse was still active; his breathing was steady. I hoped he wouldn't stay unconscious for too long. At least this way I had a chance to work with him without too much pain on his part.

I applied disinfectant on his face and hands, hesitant at first, then remembering that I had to help him. A couple of silent trips to the bathroom were needed in order to attain water to wipe away excess blood.

An hour or two had passed when I finally felt that his cuts were clean enough. I wrapped bandages around his hands, and taped a small band-aid to his face.

There.

I felt satisfied. But something was wrong... Yue was perspiring, and his face was ghastly pale. I took his hand in mine in attempt to comfort him in his sleep, but it did him no good. His hands were like ice- so unbearably cold, and he was shivering. His eyes, though closed, flickered tensely as his dream showed him visions.

"I feel..." he whispered while still emerged in the dream. "I feel like..."

"Yue-san!" Finally I was desperate. I couldn't watch him like this any longer, so I shook him- hard.

With a small jump, Yue was up off the bed in no time. "E..." Surprise came to him at first, before realization hit him. "Sakura-san?"

"Are you okay?"

Yue stared down at his hands. "The pain's almost gone," he gasped miraculously.

I smiled proudly. "That's good to hear."

It grew quieter and Kero's snoring was the only thing that could be heard.

I was quick to break the silence. "What happened? Why were you in ... that forest?"

He heard the emphasis in my phrase. "I..."

"You were dreaming before I woke you up. You looked scared. Is there something-"

"Sakura-san," he interrupted. "There are some things even one's own mistress cannot know." His words were gentle and kind, intended to assure me rather than to offend me. "I am alright. I am always alright." He smiled at me.

I knew better than to argue with him. I could only smile back at him. "I was worried. I'm glad then, for your sake, Yue-san."

"Thank you." he stated. "Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it, Mistress. I appreciate you so much..."

Colour soon returned to his face as he found the strength to stretch his wings out a fair distance. He turned to lay his eyes upon me again. Those beautiful, enigmatic eyes- like that of a mysterious feline's, but also resembling flawless zircons.

"Yue-san." My call was barely a whisper, for I had barely even heard myself.

Yue knelt on the ground until we were at equal height, and our eyes were leveled with one another. He smiled again and tucked a loose strand of smooth, auburn hair behind my left ear, instantly reminding me of my mother's sweet touch when I was a child. His fingertips, almost covered in bandages, slowly caressed my cheek.

"Brave child," he breathed.

Yue leaned forward very slightly, tilted my chin to raise it, and touched his lips to mine.

I was surprised at first- so surprised that my eyes flew open at once, but immediately settled closed. Such a light touch he had, like a butterfly had just fluttered by and brushed my lips.

After he released me, I felt my face illuminate softly in the dim of the room. I realized then that I had fallen-- fallen already for the one who served me as mistress.

Yue stood to his feet and rested a hand over my head, expressing one last thank you. "I feel a lot better now. But I have to return to Yukito's."

"I... Goodbye, then." Before he left, I wanted to tell him what I felt for him, but could not help but keep my words concealed.

He opened the window widely and placed his knee over the sill. But before he leapt out into the night, he turned to me once more, slowly blew a kiss and told me in one gentle breath of a whisper, "Omae tte kawaii na...[1]"

"Oyasumi nasai~[2]" I mouthed the words, although certain that Yue had already gone. "Aishiteru....[3]"

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[1] You are so cute

[2] Good night

[3] I love you

Hahah... you don't get much sappier than that XD! I'm a horribly bad romance writer- I make it all sound so cheesy- so I apologize for that ^^;;;