Chapter 6

Eriol paced himself. It wasn't easy to get his body trained to this level, and he intended on keeping it that way. He jogged round the Daidouji residence, already covering the same track four times. He should bring that descendant of his along with him sometime, he thought. Running was, as he found, quite a satisfying experience. You get to tone up your body, increase stamina for battles, and manage to feel good about yourself at the end of the day.

Beads of perspiration were surfacing on his face and body; a trickle of sweat ran down the side of his face. He brushed it aside with a swipe of his sleeve. Thank goodness Kaho told me to get some contact lenses. Jogging would be a lot harder with glasses. One more round to go and he'd have completed his usual 6km run. He was starting to pant heavily, reaching the last of his energy. The sun was beating down on him, and his hair stuck to the side of his face, wet with perspiration. Was Japan really this much hotter than England? He frowned in concentration as he continued to run. The key to running long distances was to distract the mind so that it doesn't think about how tired the body is, and so Eriol was lost in other thoughts. He usually gave way to these nagging questions that were sitting at the back of his head during his long-distance running. That was one of the reasons why he kept his routine run: so he could think better and more thoroughly. Now about that guardian we found… The gem on her chest was vaguely familiar. It was something that Clow had, it wasn't something he created along with her, unlike the ones on Cerberus, Yue, Spinel Sun and Ruby moon. No, this one was different. Entrusted into her protection maybe? But then why would Clow need someone to protect his material wealth? He could very well have done it without any help. The road before him was beginning to get windy. He carried on running, making sure he kept his pace. I know there's something about that gem, I just can't seem to recall what.

The track took a sudden sharp turn to the left, and Eriol found himself running on the grass. I didn't see that turn coming the last few times I ran past here. He frowned. Maybe my memory's not serving me as well as before. Sighing, he stopped his run. He should be getting back anyway, it was fast approaching dinnertime and he needed to get cleaned up first. He looked up at the house as he walked, the setting sun was casting bright reflections on the windows and he had to shield his eyes from the glaring light. Then he saw the form of a person standing at one of the windows. It was tall and slim, standing straight and looking out of the window. He knew it was the being. At first he thought she was looking at the sky, but on closer observation, he realized she was staring at him. The sun was shining on her as well, and reflecting off the gem on her chest. Strange, he thought. When light reflects off an object, it's white isn't it? But as he looked up at her, he saw that the light reflected off her gem wasn't white at all. It was a dark and misty colour, almost like a shadow. I must be dreaming, he thought to himself as he looked away from the window. When he looked up again though, she was no longer there. Maybe I was dreaming. Then again even if he was, dreams always meant something to magicians.

*~*~*~*~*

Sakura sighed pleasurably as she felt the hot water running down her back. It had been a long day, or at least to her it seemed. She had tried to get the being to practise a little more communication skills since morning. True, Yue did agree to help her out, but he promptly avoided the being the rest of the day after that. What am I going to do? I can't just leave her alone and wait till she feels like talking. Or maybe she could. Maybe she was just too impatient. Water continued to run down her body as the shower doors began to fog up. But there was just something unusual about the being. Even if she was safely with them, Sakura could feel this was not the end of it. There was something amiss. Guardians don't simply just drop out of the sky.

"Enough of that," she said severely to herself. "You've been brooding over it all day and it hasn't helped. You'll just have to be patient and wait till she talks to you."

She tried to distract herself. Hmm… Tomoyo-chan sure has nice smelling soap. She stopped herself. Ok, am I going mad or something? Thinking about soap? Sakura shook her head in disbelief. Reaching for the shampoo bottle, she squeezed some of the pale liquid into her hands. Maybe she'll talk tomorrow, Sakura thought to herself as she began soaping her hair. The thought made her feel quite contented and she began singing, her mind once again filled with her beloved Syaoran.

"I'm not looking for someone to talk to
I've got my friends; I'm more than ok…
I've got more than a girl could wish for
I live my dreams, but it's not all they say… "

"Sakura!!!" In burst in an anxious-looking Syaoran and Sakura nearly shrieked her head off. Her hands flew quickly to cover up what she could.

"SHAORAN-KUN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?" she demanded.

"Anou…" he began to blush furiously as he realized what Sakura was doing. "GOMEN!" he said as he shut his eyes tight, not daring to look at her when she was… well… covered up only by the fog of the glass shower. "I heard you talking just now and I thought someone else was in the bathroom with you… so I… so I um…"

"Came in to check on me?" Sakura finished for him.

Syaoran nodded quickly, taking note not to dare open his eyes.

"Shaoran, there's no need to worry about me, I was just talking to myself!" Sakura giggled. She always did think he looked adorable when embarrassed. But it didn't give him a valid reason to barge in while she was taking her shower. "Now GET OUT! I'm bathing!"

"H-HAI!" said Syaoran as he rushed out of the bathroom.

"AND DON'T FORGET TO CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER YOU!"

Closing the bathroom door hastily, Syaoran moved to sit on the bed. The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom again as Sakura began washing her hair. What did you think you were doing? He scolded himself at the stupidity that drove him to open that door. BAKA! He knew very well that she was bathing at that time. So what drove him to barge in? Well let's see… your pea-sized brain thought she was doing something behind your back? Stupid, stupid, stupid! He told himself. How could he ever distrust her? She was pretty and all, and not to mention well sought-after, but she had to most loyal heart anyone could imagine. Syaoran slapped himself for ever letting the idea of her being sneaky get in his head. BAKA! He scolded himself again. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear or see the door open.

"Shaoran-kun, what are you still doing here?" Sakura asked as she walked out of the bathroom, fully dressed.

"Anou… Anou…" he was in deep shit now.

To his surprise though, Sakura started laughing. "You don't need to apologise," she said in-between giggles. "I understand."

Syaoran sighed in relief. Good, she wasn't about to kill you. "Sakura I…"

All of a sudden her lips were on his. Warm… and soft… not to mention sweet smelling too. Cherry Blossoms. Tomoyo must have specially gotten that soap for Sakura. Reaching up to her bended figure, he placed his hands on her hips. Seemingly encouraged by his move, Sakura leaned into him more, her arms now around his neck as she drew them closer, deepening the kiss. She tastes… heavenly…

When they finally broke the kiss they were utterly breathless. "HOE! Did I just do that?" Sakura asked, now her turn to have her cheeks brilliant red.

Although in shock, Syaoran managed to gain back a little of his senses (Sakura had just blown them completely). "I… I th-think you just did," he stammered. They both looked at each other for a moment, speechless, when suddenly Syaoran decided to steal another kiss from Sakura before dashing out of the room, and Sakura continued blushing like a beet root. *^^*

*~*~*~*~*

"Tadaima," Eriol said as strolled into Kaho's room, a towel draped around his neck. She was packing. PACKING?

"Okaeri Eriol, demo this is not your house," Kaho joked as she folded a dress and placed it into her already half-filled bag, pressing it down firmly.

"Wh- what are you doing?"

Kaho sighed as she stood at the doorway of the closet. Eriol knew at once that the smile she had worn just a moment before was fake. She stood very still, staring straight into blank emptiness. He didn't think she was going to answer his question; nonetheless, he went up to her. With her back still facing him, he encircled his hands around her waist, burying his face in her long brown hair. "What… are… you doing?" he asked softly a second time, his lips grazing her hair as he spoke. He could feel her tremble slightly as she turned her face to his. He couldn't help but notice how sorrowful her eyes looked.

"Eriol I received a letter," she said. This time she turned her body to face him. "It's concerning my parents back in England. My mother is…" she didn't bother to finish her sentence before looking down. Eriol noticed tears welling up in her eyes and he reached forward to take her hands in his, entangling his fingers with hers.

"Daijoubu," he said. "You can go back if you want. I'll be waiting for you."

"… Arigatou, Eriol." She smiled gratefully as she gathered him up in a hug. "I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise."

*~*~*~*~*

"HOEEE!!!" Sakura yelled in surprise, her hands on both sides of her face. "You're leaving, Mizuki-sensei???"

Kaho smiled warmly at the adorable teenaged-girl in front of her. "Aa."

"Neh doushite?" asked Sakura.

"Well, I have some family business I have to attend to, and so I'm returning to England for the time being."

Sakura looked sadly at her former teacher. "Demo, it wouldn't be the same without you around Mizuki-sensei." She went up to hug her. Kaho hugged her in return, stroking her honey-brown hair affectionately.

"Sakura-san, Kaho will miss her flight if you don't let her go," said Eriol.

"No its quite alright, I'll just rush there," Kaho said as she smiled reassuringly. "Sakura-chan, it's ok. I'll be back soon," she said comfortingly. "And besides, remember that 'everything will definitely be alright'? I'm sure you'll be able to help this being without me around. Look, you've got all your friends here with you."

Sakura looked up at Kaho, remembering the magic words Clow had told her before. Finally she mustered up a smile. "Hai."

"Come on," said Syaoran gently as he placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder, "she needs to go now."

"We will miss you very much Mizuki-sensei," said Tomoyo.

Reluctantly, the group said their farewells to the lovely lady as she got into the taxi waiting outside the gates. "Sayonara!!! I'll write as soon as I can!" she called out to them as she winded down the window to wave goodbye.

"Sayonara!" they said in return, waving till the car was no more than a tiny dot in the distance.

Sakura turned to Tomoyo once the car disappeared from sight. "Tomoyo-chan, it's getting late and I have to go too. Otto-san will be worried."

"Wakarimashita," said Tomoyo. "Come back tomorrow then," she said as she smiled.

"Hai," Sakura said cheerfully, "I will. Koko de, onegai, take care of the being for me."

"Daijoubu Sakura-chan, I'll take good care of her," Tomoyo said.

"You too Eriol-kun, please help the being," said Sakura. Eriol smiled, promising her. "Arigatou gozaimasu!" Sakura smiled thankfully at her two friends. "Well then, ja neh!"

"I'll walk you home," offered Syaoran, and Sakura accepted his offer gratefully.

"Matta ashita!"

"Will you be going back too, Yue-san?" asked Tomoyo.

"Iie, I'll be staying, if its not too much trouble. Yukito lives alone now, so I don't need to go back." Yue answered. Besides, he thought, he was supposed to help his mistress with that favour she asked.

Farther down the street, Sakura was walking hand in hand with Syaoran. Her heart fluttered a little as his hand touched hers, and the touch becoming a hold. She blushed remembering the daring act she did not too long ago. She didn't know what had come over her, but she did enjoy their little moment together nonetheless. She took a sideways glace at her beloved, her heart thumping with unspoken emotion. She was so glad she had him with her, that he was always there encouraging her. Perhaps now was a good time to thank him, silly as it seemed.

"Anou, Shaoran-kun…" she began shyly.

"Nan da?" he asked, turning to look at her.

"I want to thank you… for everything." She hoped he understood what she said. She couldn't possibly think of a better way to phrase what she had in mind.

Syaoran looked slightly bemused as he gazed lovingly at her. She was always doing this, it was becoming a habit: thanking him out of nowhere for no particular reason. But he knew her heart, and he felt foolish at himself for what he did back at Tomoyo's house. He bent and placed a kiss lightly on her head. "There's no need to thank me, I do 'everything' because… I love you."

Sakura felt her blush deepening at his words. They were simple, yet comforting. A statement from his heart, and that was all she needed to know. She snuggled happily against his side, never wanting to ever have to let go of him (or course, she didn't mean that literally).

"Sakura, we're here."

"Hoe? So soon?" said Sakura in surprise, though her eyes did finally make contact with her house up ahead.

"Aa," came his reply. Regretfully he knew he would have to go home too, his mother was expecting a call from him. He would've loved to stay longer with Sakura.

Releasing her hand from his, Sakura was about to make her way up the porch when she felt Syaoran's hand holding on to her arm, beckoning her to him. She turned and walked back to him. "Doushtano?" she asked, looking at him curiously. He didn't answer though, instead, he looked deep into her emerald-green eyes. His hands moved to her back as he gently pulled her closer to him. Sakura blushed; she knew what was up ahead. Closing her eyes, she waited for him.

She waited, but he didn't seem to be coming. She was starting to doubt her senses, and was about to open her eyes when she felt his mouth finally on hers. She sighed in content as Syaoran teased her gently, nibbling her lips with his until she gave way and kissed him back. As he pulled away from her, Sakura felt her knees going woozy, almost giving way on her. "Shaoran…" she said as her hands went playfully into his hair, and tangling themselves in his chestnut mane. He smiled and brought their faces closer together, rubbing his nose affectionately against hers. "Shaoran…" she giggled in delight, trying to finish her sentence. "I need to go… Otto-san's at the window…" she said, turning to wave at her father who was as she said, standing at the window looking at them. He smiled and waved back.

Syaoran didn't know how badly he blushed as he let go of Sakura in a flash. "ANOU… " His hands were clutched at his side. He'd never been that stupid before as to kiss her in full view of her father. He was so embarrassed he wished at that moment the ground would just open up in and in one big gulp, swallow him into the depths of the earth so he needn't face his girlfriend and her father any longer. "I-I'm uh… going home now!" he announced, turning and walking stiffly down the road.

"Matta ashita Shaoran!" Sakura called after him as he walked. The only way she knew her father was there was because she sensed Clow's aura. She wondered for a moment how Syaoran failed to feel it too. She giggled. He must have been too caught up kissing me. "Hoee!!!" her hands flew to her cheeks as she walked up the porch, getting all 'hanyan'. Fujitaka opened the door for her.

"He is a very nice boy, neh Sakura-san?" he asked with his usual smile.

"Hai!" said Sakura as she slipped off her shoes and ran up to give her father a hug. "I'm so glad he came back for me." Fujitaka hugged his beloved daughter who took after his wife so much. She sure did look more and more like Nadeshiko the more she grew.

"Dinner's ready," Fujitaka said warmly. "Come on in and get it."

"Wai! Arigatou Otto-san!" said Sakura as both of them walked into the house, closing the main door behind them.

*~*~*~*~*

Syaoran trudged up the stairs to his apartment, images of how incredulously stupid he acted that day flashing in his mind like a broken-down video camera. Over and over, he kept seeing himself acting up in Sakura's presence. Why, why, why, couldn't he be more like a gentleman? Sighing in depression, he shuffled around in his pocket, trying to get a grasp of his house keys. Finally fishing them out, he jammed them into the lock, turning them with unusual violence. Sometimes he really couldn't stand himself. Banging open the door, he wondered how Sakura could even let herself accept such a klutz to be her boyfriend. He wondered if he even deserved the title.

Maybe I should just chill out a little… too much going on…

He closed the door and walked into the kitchen. Reaching into the refrigerator, he grabbed a bottle of coke, and turning to the counter, he got out the bottle opener from the drawer. The bottle promptly made a hissing sound as the cap flew off. After taking a mouthful of drink, he plunged himself down onto the couch and switched on the television, intent on relaxing himself. The day had simply been filled with as many heart-stoppers as he could handle.

He switched channel after channel restlessly… why don't they show any good shows anymore? He was about to turn off the electronic box when suddenly something in the news program caught his attention.

"And on tonight's news broadcast, we have news from the weather forecaster about some strange cloud movements around the central region of Tomoeda."

Syaoran sat upright in his chair.

"Over here," said the news broadcaster circling an area on the screen visualizing a map of Tomoeda with her pointer, "we can see swirling movements of the clouds in an unusual manner. The surrounding area of the atmosphere does not seem to be affected by the movement, as it would if there were to be a hurricane or tornado. These movements have been going on for the last few days."

Strange, thought Syaoran, isn't that the same area where we found the girl being? He frowned. There's something strange going on…

BRIING!!!

Syaoran jumped. Gosh, the phone sure knows the best time to start ringing. Muttering under his breath, he reached for the phone on the side table.

"Moushi moushi."

"Shaoran? Is that you?" asked a womanly voice over the phone.

Syaoran recognized the voice immediately. "Mother! Hahaue, is there trouble in Hong Kong?"

"No my son, everything's fine here, there's no need to worry about us," his mother said.

Sighing in relief, Syaoran loosened his grip on the phone; his knuckles gaining back some of the blood circulation. For a moment there he was so afraid his mother might ask for his return. "Then, how come you called all of a sudden?"

There was a significant silence over the phone before his mother spoke again, this time her voice was deep with concern. "Shaoran, has there been some activity in Tomoeda recently?"

"Aa. There was a meteor that came, and it turned out to be a being in some sort of protective shield. That's why we thought it was a meteor. Do you know anything about this, Hahaue?"

"I called because I had a dream Shaoran. I dreamt… of a falling star. But it wasn't just a star, oh no, there was something else behind it. Some great dark power."

"NANI??" Syaoran asked in surprise. Now this was really getting serious. His grip on the phone was tightening again.

"Be careful my son, I have a feeling this could be leading to great danger. You have to help the mistress of the cards and protect yourself and those around you," his mother said sternly.

"Yes Hahaue, I will do my best."

"Remember, be careful. That's all I can tell you now."

Hanging up the phone, Syaoran recalled the suspicious events. The storm, the weather report, and now my mother… it's all linking up. There was something out there… something that they didn't know of yet. And so far as he could tell, it didn't sound good.

*~*~*~*~*

Translations
Baka: stupid, or idiot
Tadaima: I'm home
Okaeri: welcome back
Arigatou: thank you
Doushite: why
Wakarimashita: I understand
Koko de: by the way
Onegai: please
Ja neh: bye (informal)
Neh: is a Japanese word added in sentences when a speaker is trying to say something he/she thinks the listener will agree with. It's like adding 'right?' or 'yeah?' at the end of your sentences
Matta ashita: see you tomorrow
Anou: works like 'um' or 'uh'
Hai: more common version of 'yes'
Nan da: what is it
Aa: yes
Iie: no
Doushtano: what's wrong
Hoe: Sakura's signature word. i probably should've mentioned it before, but the pronunciation of this word is 'ho-eh', not ho
Hanyan: in actual fact, this isn't a Japanese word. but it is a word used in CCS to describe Sakura when she's all flustered and blushing, like when she's around Yukito and blushing away... yeah i think u kinda got the idea right?
Moushi moushi: 'hello', used when answering the phone
Hahaue: another term for 'mother'. it probably can be described as a more intimate and respectful way of calling 'mother'. Syaoran calls his mother this in the manga (I'm not sure about the anime version)
Nani: what

Scribbles
I uhh... didn't know you guys appreciated the translations so much 6^_^ I wasn't really aware that other authors don't put them up. So well, I decided to put most of the necessary translations up for your 'viewing pleasure', even if it take me more time to go find those jap words XD you guys have made it worth the trouble already.
The song Sakura was singing up there's from the Corrs, 'all the love in the world'. I happened to be listening to it at that time so... oh well. E&T fans, no progress with the relationship, but at least I got rid of Kaho for the time being ^_~ A little more S&S moments though. 2 kisses for Syaoran! everybody shout 'hooray' for him! hehehhehe. ok, so I did make him seem really more goofy than usual, but I'll accept flames. After all, I thought the story needed a little humor. Do you guys (as in those who actually read the story so far) like this story? I mean personally, I'm starting to feel I'm not getting much responses. Fine, u may call me fussy, but it can get a little depressing at times. *sigh* oh well, at least the story's picking up pace a little... well... sorta. For those who might be interested, I think I'll put up the Seika pictures soon, I currently only have one, and it was a rough work one just to see how her costume would turn out once coloured. So when I finally do a 'masterpiece', I'll put it up.