Wandering Star
Chapter 14
(contains such a great amount of dialogue _)

"Sakura-chan!" greeted Tomoyo merrily as she ran to the approaching honey-haired sorceress.

"Tadaima," said Sakura as Tomoyo caught her in a friendly hug. "Tomoyo-chan! You sure look really genki today! Did something good happen?"

Tomoyo giggled, then whispered into Sakura ear, "I've just finished a new costume for you!"

"Hoe…" [^_^6]

"Come on," said Tomoyo. "Everyone's been waiting for you!"

Tomoyo took Sakura by hand and rushed her back into the house. True, finishing the costume that morning had made her absolutely delighted, but what happened after that made her feel even better.

It wasn't as people would have suspected if they knew. No, she was not delighting in Eriol and Kaho's breakup. Instead, it made her happy to know that she could in some way, make Eriol feel better about the situation.

Her heart had been fluttering the whole time since her asked her to stay with him, and she was half afraid her voice would tremble when she sang to him. But things turned out ok, and she was pleased. So long as Hiiragizawa, iie, so long as Eriol-kun is happy, I'm happy too. She blushed slightly at the remembrance of how he told her to call him by his name. He looked so sweet and sincere that she couldn't resist his request.

"Hoe?" said Sakura. "Tomoyo-chan, you're blushing!"

"Anou…" Oh dear, how should I explain it? "Iie nan demo nai desu!" she said. "By the way, I made a strawberry cake this morning. Would you like to have some, Kero-chan?" asked Tomoyo, trying to change the subject.

"CAKE? DID YOU SAY CAKE?" an orange head with a set of rounded ears popped out of Sakura's backpack. "WAII WAII!!! Is it all MINE? Does Suppi get any? Can I eat ALL of it?"

Tomoyo smiled as Sakura reprimanded the little Sun Guardian for being selfish. "Well, I set aside a special portion for you, Kero-chan. Everyone else will be sharing the rest." Well… Eriol-kun could always have another slice if he wished…

"Waii!! Tomoyo you're the best!!!" said Kero as he flew out of Sakura's bag to cuddle up on Tomoyo's shoulder.

Soon, they were in the hall where Eriol was seated with Suppi and Syaoran beside him. Nakuru had apparently been caught up in making more cookies and Yue and Seika were standing at opposite ends of the hall.

"Okaeri nasai, Sakura-san," said Eriol, while Syaoran motioned for her to sit next to him.

"Tadaima!" said Sakura, smiling as she moved to the sit in the space set for her, snuggling beside Syaoran and giving him a peck on his cheek, which immediately turned him bright red.

"I'll go get the cake," said Tomoyo, making her exit to the kitchen, Kero trailing close behind her.

Sakura noticed the lingering look Eriol gave Tomoyo as she retreated down the long hallway. Certainly something was up between them, and somehow she was thrilled at the thought. She was just about to ask Eriol about Tomoyo when Eriol cleared his throat and turned to look at her with a bright smile.

"Saa Sakura-san, I'd best fill you in on everything now," he said.

"Hai." Oh well, she thought. She'd just have to grab Tomoyo for some interrogation later.

Eriol looked at Seika momentarily, expecting her to come over to help him, but the Star Guardian looked so distracted and distanced that he decided to just leave her alone. "While you were recovering from Akuma's attack, I managed to find out more about Seika."

Sakura paid close attention to Eriol as he continued, "It is in my belief that Seika is from an alternate world similar to ours, called 'Eden'. My reasoning behind this is that she is able to recalled vividly, people who are in our world as well. For example, we know from what she has said that Clow was not only her master and creator, but also her suitor. I, in my previous life, do not have any record of this."

Eriol chose his words carefully, not wanting to say anything that might risk hurting Seika's feelings. That's why I'll have to leave out the part about Clow and his wife… and that jewel. He figured that Seika might have been a fluke of Clow's creation, that perhaps things just turned out the way it did and Seika was born, but not on purpose. Perhaps it was because Clow wanted to revive his wife…

"So that is to say that Seika and the Clow-sama, Yue-san and Kero-chan she refers to are all from this 'alternate world'?" asked Sakura.

"I believe so."

"And that's also why Seika seems to have a past connection with Yue, though he can't recall it because she's referring to the Yue of this 'Eden' world!"

"Sou."

Sakura thought for a moment, trying to remember bits of what happened before she lost consciousness during the attack. "Then that portal you were referring to… that must be the way to 'Eden' then!"

"And Akuma is from this 'Eden'? Seika seemed to have lashed out at him, mentioning that he was the one who killed Clow and the other Guardians," Syaoran added.

"Anou… Akuma-san wa dare?" Sakura asked embarrassedly. She knew she was the only clueless one in the room.

"Akuma, or I think that's the alias he gave himself, is the one who attacked you earlier. Seika was the one who saved your life from him," Eriol explained. "But because she used up almost all of her power in the process, she was very near 'death', as you would refer to it."

"Hontou desu ka? Like… like what happened to Yue-san?" exclaimed Sakura. "Gomen nasai Seika-san!" she said, immediately standing up and making multiple bows to the Star Guardian.

Seika turned at the sound of her name, distracted by a pair of butterflies that had fluttered in through the window earlier on and were just about making their exit

together…

She eyed Sakura for a moment before murmuring a soft, "Daijoubu" before her attention returned to the movement outside the window.

"Anou…"

"That's alright Sakura-san, there's no need for you to continue standing."

"Hoe!" She sat quickly, puffing up the couch were Syaoran sat and causing Suppi to bounce off.

"HOEE!!!" Sakura yelped as she tried frantically to catch the falling and very annoyed dark Sun Guardian.
[^^6]

"Will you just calm down?" Yue called out from where he stood leaning against the wall.

"Yue-san…" Sakura said. His words really stung sometimes. Meekly, she placed Suppi on where he was originally seated before returning to her seat, looking down.

"Don't mind him," said Syaoran defensively. "He's just not happy with what happened next, after Seika saved you."

"Hoe?"

"I suppose that's why you took a little longer to regain consciousness," said Eriol, while Sakura continued looking at him with a clueless expression. "Seika was greatly weakened after her attack on Akuma."

"So Yue had to transfer some of his energy to her to save her life," filled in Ruby Moon, who had just entered the scene, sashaying past her fellow Moon Guardian.

Yue scowled at her.

"I don't think he liked her very much after that," continued Ruby Moon teasingly.

"Ruby Moon!" rebuked her master.

It was too late, Eriol knew; the damage had been done. Across the room, Seika was looking at Yue with hurt reflecting in her deep blue eyes. Ruby Moon should have known better than to toy with such a sensitive issue, even if she had meant it jokingly. He would have to deal with her later. Right now the wounded Star Guardian was making her way swiftly to the large window, her elegant white wings emerging from her back.

"Seika-san!" cried Sakura.

"Seika!" Yue called in vain, feeling that it was his fault for not speaking up to Ruby Moon. But then again, what could he have said?

By the time the group had gathered at the window, Seika was nowhere to be seen.

"Yue-san please go after her," Sakura pleaded.

Yue nodded, willing his wings to come forth before taking flight from the window as well.

"I want to go too!" said Ruby Moon.

"Oh no you don't," Eriol stopped her. "Your wings are clipped," he said with a snap of his fingers. Instantly, her wings disappeared, leaving a rather sulky Ruby Moon.

"Do you think we'll get her back?" asked Syaoran.

Eriol thought about his answer. "Sakura-san, if Yue doesn't manage to bring Seika back, I'm afraid she'll be in grave danger."

"Anou… wakarimasen, Eriol-kun," said Sakura.

"If Yue doesn't stop her in time, Seika will very likely head toward that portal, and I'm not sure she has the capability to make it back to Eden."

"Are you saying that she will…" said Syaoran.

"Die," Eriol finished for him.

*~*~*~*~*

Yue flew as swiftly as he could manage, his wings spread out to their maximum, then pushing back in powerful thrusts. He soared through the sky, looking at all sides for a sign that Seika was nearby. No such luck. Then a thought struck him to try looking above the clouds where there would be no possible obstructions to his view.

In a few seconds, he emerged from the layer of clouds, hovering in mid-air while he scanned the skies for a trace of the Star Guardian. At first he couldn't make out much besides the stray tuffs of clouds.

There!

To his right was a tiny spec that could barely be made out with the distance it was from him. Without another second to think, he dashed after her, flying at such a speed that the wind blowing against him was beginning to get painful. But Yue didn't care; all he wanted to do was make sure Seika was back in the house safely. He wouldn't want to risk her collapsing again.

Despite the excuses he was giving himself, Yue knew in his heart that the one thing that was repeating itself over and over again was: I don't want to loose her.

Even at his fastest, Yue somehow knew it was almost impossible for him to catch up with Seika. The speed she was going at was almost supernatural for any other flying creature to meet. He pushed himself more, his limbs now feeling like they were being pulled out of their sockets, and the wind now whipping at his body. He knew his limit was near.

"Seika!" he called in desperation, hoping she would hear him and turn back, or slow down at least. She made no response, whether or not she heard him, though he doubted she did. The wind was roaring so loudly in his ears that he couldn't even hear himself well.

Wait… isn't that… the portal? True enough, he could see the hole in the sky a little ahead of Seika. Strangely it seemed to be camouflaged. It was no longer black in colour but rather it was a pale blue shade, blending with the sky and invisible to the naked eye. But it was obvious Seika knew exactly where it was, because she was slowing down.

It was then that Yue realised what Seika came here for. He should have known from the start! It was a wonder to him why he could be so blind sometimes. Now he really had to stop her.

"SEIKA!"

No response, though she seemed to come to a stop and was facing the portal. From where Yue was, it looked as if Seika was in deep thought, and if he was lucky that would leave him with enough time to stop her.

He tried again. "SEIKA!!!"

This time he saw her hesitate at the mouth of the portal. Just a little more and I can push her out of the way. Seika turned her head slightly in his direction, and when she saw him she almost jumped in surprise.

"Yue?"

He could swear she had said his name, but he couldn't hear it unless he chose to slow down, which he didn't want to.

'So you do care after all', she seemed to be saying to him as she smiled gently at him. All at once, it made Yue think of why he was even bothered going after her, and why it mattered to him so much. He slowed down, and for the first time since Seika came, he began to take in her flawless beauty and her elegant and angelic image. Looking at her just hovering there with her outstretched wings was the most breath taking sight Yue could imagine.

She left her position and was moving towards him when suddenly Yue heard a sinister laugh coming from the portal.

"Get out of the way!" he yelled at her. His instincts were screaming at him at the sudden danger Seika was in. He grabbed hold of her hand, wanting to pull her close to him so that he could command a shield over them.

"You won't get away from me," said Akuma, and in a blinding flash of light from the portal, Seika was gone. Her last expression was that of terror and she uttered a half-scream before vanishing right before Yue's eyes.

Yue was speechless, staring ahead in disbelief. I was just holding her hand…

There was nothing he could do now, and never had he felt more helpless. He couldn't go into the portal as it would be against Sakura's wishes, and going back to report to them would only delay rescuing Seika. But it wasn't as if he had a lot of choices to pick from. Forcing himself away from the portal and bearing the anguish he felt in his heart just then, he flew back.

What if she dies while I'm going back?

What if we don't make it there in time?

What if we can't find her?

What if something happens that could be stopped if I went after her?

What if… what if… what if…

The anxiety was just killing him, and it took all of his willpower to focus on his duty and not to turn back impulsively. Despite his feelings, he had to face reality; there was nothing he could do for her now, except to get more help.

*~*~*~*~*

Tomoyo made sure the crowning touches of her costume was done before she stood back to admire her work.

"Okirei desu!" she exclaimed in triumph, all starry-eyed with satisfaction.

Sakura stood in her corner, blushing from ear to ear as she felt Syaoran's eyes on her. The new costume consisted of a figure hugging two piece toga dress, hanging on her shoulder by silken ribbons that extended to wrap around her slender exposed waist. The dress was cut diagonally from her upper thigh down, the fabric stretching to her ankle with a star dangling at the end.

"You've been looking through those fashion magazines again, haven't you?" Sakura asked embarrassedly

"Hai! Its so much easier to design beautiful costumes for you now that you look like the models in the magazine!"

"But you don't HAVE to leave so… so many… HOLES in the dress!" Syaoran objected. His comment only made Sakura blush even harder.

"Well Li-kun, I think she looks beautiful in it," said Tomoyo in response to his insult as she got out her video camera and pressed the 'record' button.

"I DON'T!" Syaoran said impulsively before correcting himself when he saw Sakura's astonished look. "I mean, well what I wanted to say was that… Anou… Daidouji-san didn't need to make so many HOLES in the dress!"

Sakura continued blushing, with the incredible feeling of just wishing the ground would open up and swallow her. True, she did like and appreciate Tomoyo's taste in the costumes she tailored for her, but when they got a bit too revealing (even though they were still beautiful), it made her feel rather shy going out to battle in them.

"Mah mah Li-kun," said Tomoyo all-knowingly. "I bet you like her the way she looks in that dress." With that came her trademark high-pitched laugh.

"I do NOT like that dress at ALL!"

"Oh but it does accentuate her body very well."

Sakura!

"Hoe?" Sakura turned her attention from her bickering friends to the call of her name. "Yue-san, is that you?"

"Aa," replied the currently very impatient sliver-haired Guardian who was waiting outside the huge windows whist Tomoyo continued her 'reasoning' session with Syaoran.

"Well, where is she?" Eriol asked worriedly.

Yue looked down, unable to answer.

"Oh no…" said Eriol with a look that told Sakura everything.

"We've got to go get her! NOW!" she said, urgency straining in her voice and she summoned her wand. "Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal thy true form to me! This, by the covenant, Sakura commands you! RELEASE!" The key whirled and extended to form the star staff while Syaoran called out his sword. The star staff glowed in her hands as Sakura focused on it, and then successfully transformed into its third form. Kero-chan and Suppi both transformed, allowing Sakura and the others to ride on their backs.

"Key that hides the power of darkness, reveal thy true form to me. This by the covenant, Eriol commands you. RELEASE!" Eriol said as he grabbed his sun staff and hopped onto Spinel Sun's back.

"Hurry up and get on," Sakura motioned to Syaoran as she got on Cerberus' back. Taking out a card from her bag, she called upon it, "THROUGH! Take us through the walls of this building and outside!"

"Tomoyo-san, you can come with Spinel Sun and I," offered Eriol gently. When he saw Tomoyo hesitate, he added, "You can get better shots of Sakura if you ride with me."

By the time Eriol had helped the dark-haired beauty on and she had her hands shyly around his waist, the Through card had made a portal through the wall, and the Sun Guardians flew through freely with Yue leading the group.

"CHOTTO MATTE!!!" whined Ruby Moon as she stood at the window, wingless and hopeless at getting across by herself.

"Shouldn't we take her along?" Sakura asked Eriol.

"She won't be of much help even if she were along," he said, knowing that her powers were linked to him. If he wasn't able to do anything in the other side, neither could she.

"What happened, Yue-san?" asked Sakura as the Moon Guardian flew beside his brother.

"I'm sorry Sakura-sama. If I had been there earlier, I could've stopped it." Yue said regretfully. "She disappeared."

"But how?"

"There was this bolt of what seemed like lightning, and then she was gone."

"It has to be Akuma," Syaoran said.

"Hm," Sakura nodded in agreement.

They were fast approaching the portal. Just as Yue observed before, it was still well camouflaged, as if nothing had happened at all. Lightning in clear skies was most unnatural, and something about the atmosphere was making Sakura feel quite intimidated.

"Sakura," said Eriol as they were just below the portal.

"Hai. SHEILD! Form a barrier around us!" she called out, and immediately a spherical transparent shield enclosed over them. "Well, this is it!" Sakura said, smiling unsurely at her friends.

"Aa," said Eriol.

"Sakura-chan gambatte," said Tomoyo worriedly, putting down her video camera.

"Let's go," said Syaoran, and without further ado, they found themselves traveling through darkness to the unknown.

*~*~*~*~*

Scribbles
Yuck. There's just so much dialoguegy crap in here that its enough to make you all @.@ after reading. The only reason it looks long is because of the many paragraphs which I decided to try out since that is what authors of books do. Of course, it looks rather weird when it's all stretched out on a computer monitor instead of on a small book page, and somehow this chapter doesn't come off as nicely as I wanted it to either. Argh my writing skills are just going down the drain.

This is the first draft so do excuse the mistakes while I'm rather lazy to re-read through at 3am. FF.net took a really long break... so this was in storage for quite some time ^^6 oh well. Hope you guys still review _

If anyone is by any chance, curious about that dress Sakura was wearing in this chapter, I scanned a drawing I did of it and it can be viewed in my website. The link's in my authors info page.