Chapter Seven

Card Captor Sakura

Crystal Tears

~starjade~

The Card Captor

Syaoran sat on his window seat , polishing his sword and looking out the window. He was so confused...what was he doing with Kinomoto the day before? Was he still going to continue with his mission...or was he going to be nice to her?

Damn , Kinomoto could fight! Syaoran was shocked that she even knew how to pick up a sword , much less use it! If he wasn't the heir to the Li Throne , he'd probably be beaten by her! Gods , and he thought she was just all lace and frills...

Syaoran groaned , and remembered the two girls that showed up in his life. He still needed to find that card captor with the beaut-um.. green eyes. He was also confused with Sakura. WAIT! Redo that thought. He was also confused with Kinomoto. There we go. Back on track and not being mushy , Syaoran!

Syaoran nodded to himself , accepting that thought. He was going to continue being rude to her and see how long she could stand out. AND he was never EVER going to fall in love with her ,much less marry her. Who could stand her? She was so freaking annoying! Syaoran looked up into the sky and looked upon a fluffy white cloud , standing tall amongst the blue sky. Yes , he was never going to fall in love with her. He was going to continue his life.

It annoyed him to the end how his sisters and mother pestered him about marrying Kinomoto. They thought she was the greatest thing on earth...Just the opposite of what Syaoran thought. But he had to marry...in order to be a legitimate King.

And if his mother ever asked him to marry....

He would reply the card captor. He instantly blushed at the thought. Probably the whole redness thing yesterday was about Sak-Kinomoto's eyes being like the card captors. Yup ,that's right. Got everything clear again.

Syaoran got up. After his class , he was going to look for that card captor. No matter what!

~~~~******~~~~~~

" So , Sakura. How close were you to Syaoran again?? This close , or this close?" Tomoyo teased , as she motioned with her fingers the closeness.

Sakura groaned ,and whined , " Please , Tomoyo! I was not standing close to him , it was because I tripped!"

" Right , Sakura. Whatever you say. Speaking of that , what happened to your vow to be mean to Syaoran? You've been treating him quite nice!"

" Yah , that's my way of getting back at him , Tomoyo."

" Or your way of flirting-aahhh!" Tomoyo dropped her basket she was holding to collect berries and ran as fast as she could. Sakura was hot on her trail , her face red.

" Take that back , Tomoyo!" Sakura shouted , as a giggles escaped her.

" OKAY , just stop chasing me!!" Tomoyo cried , and fell down on the green grass.

" Anyways , Tomoyo , did you see Li's face when I struck back at him! He looked so shocked!"

" Yah , Sakura , you really showed him!"

Sakura dropped beside her , and lay down beside her , grinning. Yet Sakura was quite confused about why Tomoyo made such a big deal about her tripping onto Li . To her , that was quite embarrassing. What was with her? She still hated Li Syaoran and him the same to her.

Yet Li's sisters...that was really scary. In the morning ,they nearly rampaged her , exclaiming at her hair , her beauty , her smile.....goddesses , who would ever want sisters like that! No offence , they were really quite nice ,but they kinda overdid it a bit. They were all talking about the days after marriage. Now , the fact was , there wasn't even going to BE a marriage! Soon the weeks would be over , she'll say no , and they'd be back home happy again.

But in the meantime....sweet revenge.

" So...Tomoyo...what's up with you and Errrrreeeoooll?" she asked , smiling mischievously. Tomoyo squeaked and smacked her.

" Nothing. Nothing at all!" Tomoyo answered , turning her face away.

" Yes. Tomoyo. I believe you. I believe how much you adore his cute little face and want to hold him and-"

" Sakura! Where have you been getting such silly ideas?" Tomoyo asked , her face reddening , while Sakura laughed hard.

" Um , well by the way your blushing right now , and by the way you blush and squeak around Eriol , its quite plain to see... TOMOYO HAS A CRUSH!" Sakura shouted the last part , getting up and starting to twirl around Tomoyo.

Tomoyo hid her face behind her hands , and shouted in a muffled voice , " No , I do not!"

Sakura let out a chain of giggles as she collapsed beside her ready to apologize. But before she could , she started to sense something. Her hair stood on end , and her skin began to prickle.

" Uh-oh." Sakura muttered , and got up quickly. Tomoyo got up as well , noticing the worried expression on Sakura's face.

" What's wrong , Sakura?" she asked , the moments teasing forgotten. Sakura began to run , but stopped short as a figure also came into view , running over the hills with a sword in hand ( guess who...^^).

" Tomoyo...I sense a Clow Card. But...Syaoran's coming too! He can sense it , and if I fight , he's going to know I'm the card captor!" Sakura whispered , urgently.

Tomoyo looked worried as well.

" Are you sure it's a card?" she asked , unnecessarily.

" Absolutely positive ," Sakura answered , hurriedly.

Tomoyo thought , her forehead scrunched in concentration.

" Sakura , you have to capture this card! Anyways , if he doesn't like having you as a card captor , then he won't want to marry you , and that's good. Right?" Tomoyo asked , but Sakura didn't look convinced.

" No , Tomoyo. I'm worried about the complete opposite. You know his family are descendants of Clow Reed , and will WANT a wife that is the card captor , to keep the cards in the family and...Oh no."

Tomoyo also realized this fact. She watched as Sakura rocked back and forth on the heels of her feet , with a strained expression.

Finally , Tomoyo replied , " Sakura , do what you think is right. "

Sakura looked worried. " But-"

Tomoyo shook her head and said , " Sakura , you make the choice . I know you'll make the right one!"

Sakura nodded and thought about it. What if they did want to keep her here longer...will she be able to back out of the engagement? Oh god.. but everybody is also counting on her to capture the card. Sakura sighed , but decided quickly and ran off to where Syaoran had run off as well.

" Sakura , you need your costume!" Tomoyo shouted after her , thinking of that wonderful outfit she had made the other day...

But Sakura had only yelled back , " There's no time!"

Tomoyo settled back , and watched her best friend race out into the forest near the lake. Thinking of something , Tomoyo ran to her backpack to grab her sketchpad and jogged out to where the two had disappeared. She hoped Sakura knew what she was doing!

~~~****~~~~~

Syaoran ran as fast as he could to the Clow card aura. It was a strong one , he could sense that , but it wasn't one of the elements. That was a relief...

Syaoran had always been attracted to Clow Cards. Yet none of them had ever appeared in the Li Kingdom. The Thunder Card was the first one Syaoran had ever felt in the Li Kingdom. This probably meant that the card captor wasn't here before , and had come just before the Kinomoto group had arrived.

Even though he tried to deny it , he felt his heart race at the thought of seeing the card captor again. This time he was going to meet her!

Finally he arrived at a lake. There was nothing there , but the aura was stronger than ever! He knew the Clow card was here , just hiding. He looked around but could not find the card captor. He felt disappointment race through him , but suddenly-

Fwap!

A sword sliced the air , going at abnormal speed to Syaoran. Syaoran rolled on the ground nearly missing the sword. It slapped the ground , and the grass that it had sliced flew in all directions. Syaoran looked up , worried and saw a woman with a sword glaring at him with immense ferocity.

The Fight Card!

Syaoran stood in shock for a couple of seconds , before bravely raising his sword as well. He was determined to fight the card. Maybe.....Maybe he could even capture the card! He bent into a fighting position , his excitement rising until..

" Li, get away from that!" A sweet but anxious voice traveled through the air , bouncing on the breeze to meet his ears. He turned around in surprise ,at the same moment the card struck. A scream shook the air , and body slammed into his and pushed him out of the way of the card.

" Li , what do you think your doing?" Sakura gasped , breathing heavily. Syaoran got up carefully , brushing himself off , and noticed that the card was gone. But the aura was still present, and Syaoran quickly pushed Sakura away.

" Gods , Kinomoto , get away from here. Its too dangerous for the likes of you!"

Sakura eyes glazed over and she said calmly , " Li , I am sure that I have as much right to be here as you do! More , even!" Syaoran looked at her , his eyebrows raised.

" Yah , Kinomoto , we all believe you. Now go away!" Syaoran concentrated to pinpoint exactly where the card was , but Sakura interrupted again.

" Look Syaoran , it's dangerous to be around here. Get away from here!" Sakura cried , urgently. She could sense the Clow card aura grow stronger and she knew it was near them.

" Kinomoto , just shut up. Only the card captor and the relatives of Clow Reed know about this. How the heck do you know? Also don't call me Syaoran. Only my friends call me that!" Syaoran retorted , turning once again. Sakura stared at him , unbelievingly. And to think everyone thought she was dense.

" Syao-Li look , can you just listen? I am the-WATCH OUT!" Sakura screamed the last part.

The wind blew through Syaoran's hair , and the aura grew greater until a sword appeared from no where and slammed down towards Syaoran. Sakura gasped , her heart racing , but Syaoran had rolled over quickly avoiding the sword. Pain stabbed at his leg and he looked down and realized that the sword had managed to leave him with a cut on his leg.

" Sakura get out of here!" Syaoran yelled while gritting his teeth. His face was retorted in a grimace and Sakura stood surprised.

He called me Sakura...

Sakura knew , that even if Syaoran knew , she had to do it.

Okay , Sakura you can do it. Closing her eyes she concentrated on the key around her neck. She called upon its power and instantly it turned into a staff. Syaoran gripped his leg and blinked hard.

" Wha..." Syaoran mumbled under his breath.

"Fly card!" Sakura shouted , throwing a card in the air and hitting it with a staff. Once Sakura was in the air , she began pulling out cards and calling upon them. Finally she called out

"Arrow Card , I call upon your power!" She sent arrows straight at the fight card. The arrows whisteled in the wind , but Sakura realized that the arrows had flew under the card. The fight card had jumped! Letting out a cry , the fight card leapt at Sakura. Sakura closed her eyes , and searched through her cards hoping for something to help her. But suddenly-

" Ahhh!" came a cry , and a magical sword swiftly raced through the air and came to block the card's sword. The card glanced at the holder of the magical sword , and Sakura looked as well. It was...Syaoran!

Syaoran began to fight the card , using magic as well. Syaoran had magic too?? Sakura thought , densely. Of course! Why didn't I see it before! Now that Sakura concentrated she could feel the bright aura radiating off Syaoran. No wonder..

Suddenly the card lunged at Syaoran , and Syaoran could not raise his sword fast enough. Sakura gasped and leapt after him , hoping to get there on time. She watched Syaoran close his eyes and Sakura felt her heart squeeze painfully. She could never make it...

" AHHH!" Syaoran yelled, and Sakura in rapid speed , threw up any card hoping it was the shield card and screamed , " SHIELD! PROTECT PRINCE LI!"

Then there was a deafening silence.

Sakura felt tears in her eyes as she dared to look up. I failed , she thought as she saw the fight card still standing , her sword hitting a...

Shield!!!

Sakura smiled happily , and cried out ,

" Return to the form you were destined to be.."

" CLOW CARD!"

With that she hit the card with the staff , and it flew into her hands. The shield dropped around Syaoran , and revealed Syaoran still standing there with his arms over his head.

Sakura smiled.

"So kawaii." Sakura mumbled , and all she heard was Tomoyo's voice go , " What??"

Sakura looked behind her ,and saw Tomoyo standing , with a sketch pad in hand , her head tilted in confusion.

" Did you just say what I think you said??"

Sakura blushed , her face reddening until she looked like a tomato.

"NO.. No , I mean , uh , that was...uh , um , um he , well I meant , uh ...How did you get here?" Sakura grasped , hoping Tomoyo wouldn't question her. Sakura was a very bad liar.

Tomoyo chuckled , knowingly.

" Well ,how could Tomoyo miss the great Sakura's fights? I'm always there to get the most kawaii pictures EVER of Sakura Kinomoto!!"

Sakura sweat dropped , but jumped as she heard a voice.

" Sakur-Kinomoto? Y-Y-Y-Your the C-C-Card Captor?" Sakura whirled around and met the deep amber eyes of Syaoran. She stumbled back , and replied , nervously ,

"Um , well you see , uh , it just happened , that uh , I met a girl , that , uh was uh , yeah , the card captor , and uh , she gave me , uh her powers?" Her voice went squeaky and knew that Syaoran wouldn't buy that.

Syaoran glared at her , furiously , and growled ,

" JUST TELL ME KINOMOTO!"

Sakura squeaked , and raced behind Tomoyo , who glared back at Syaoran with full force.

" Yes , Prince Li , she is the card captor. What are you going to do about it?? As far as I know , you should be thanking her for saving your butt! And -"

" He saved me too , you know.." Sakura cut in , and blushed red as they both looked at her.

" No go on , go on.." Sakura mumbled.

Tomoyo looked at her strangely and smiled. The smile faded as she looked at Syaoran.

" Syaoran , we'd really appreciate it if you didn't tell your family....Otherwise they might actually WANT Sakura to marry you. This time no refusals. "

Syaoran nodded dumbly , staring at Sakura. She glanced at him , her eyes innocent and cheerful. She was that girl....that girl in his dreams....the card captor...and the girl he was supposed to be married with??

Oh this was too much! He liked it so much better when they used to be separate people!

" Good . Now you can go , and if you meet Eriol.."

Tomoyo glared at him , and he knew what she was going to say. Don't tell him anything either , because he's going to tell Queen Yelan..

" Tell him Tomoyo said hi."

Sakura and Syaoran looked at her strangely. Tomoyo giggled nervously and looked at them .

" Wh-what??"
Syaoran grinned.

" Okay then."

Sakura smiled. She breathed , and then went up face to face with Syaoran. Syaoran felt his heart beat speed up at meeting those green eyes.. those green eyes he fell in lov...

" Friends?"

Sakura's voice jerked him out of his thoughts , and he asked , confused , " What??"

Sakura reddened , and she looked down her bangs falling down too.

" I asked you if we were friends.."

Syaoran stared at her , as she stretched out her hand . She looked up and smiled , making him stumble back at the brightness her smile contained.

" Uh...." Syaoran answered , smartly. Finally he couldn't take it and limped away. Sakura's face fell.

" Well there he goes again..." Sakura said , under her breath. Tomoyo put a hand on her shoulder.

" Hey , who knows? He probably just needs to get to know you. Don't worry , soon Prince Li will be cracking jokes with us in a week."

They both looked at each other and cracked up laughing.

" Riiiiiight. The chances of that is next to nothing!" Sakura chuckled.

Tomoyo giggled and they left hand in hand. Sakura looked back once at the retreating figure of Syaoran.

'Hey , who knows. We might be good friends one day'

Sakura smiled and continued to walk.

~~~~***~~~~***

Syaoran limped back to the castle , jumbled thoughts racing through his head. His mission was falling apart! He was supposed to hate Sakura! Then she turns out to be the card captor! The girl he thought would be the one...

And what was with this redness and his heart pounding every time he was near her! That had got to stop.

But for some reason...Syaoran wanted to be friends with Sakura. She was just ..so friendly. He never had any friends ,and his potential wife wanted to be his friend.

Should he brush her off?

Should he keep his vow?

Syaoran growled , and held his head in his hands.

JUST MY LUCK! Syaoran cried in his head. This has not got to be happening..

Syaoran continued his way to the castle. The breeze rifted through his messy chocolate brown hair , rustled his clothing , blew past his ears. He felt serenity overcome him and he allowed himself a true smile as a cherry blossom landing on his shoulder. He picked up the cherry blossom and holding it carefully in his palm he whispered ,

" Friends."

~~~~*****~~~~~~

a/n: WHATS UP! For some reason , I wanted Syaoran to continue to be mean , but ahh , who cares? There has to be some S&S. I think he's going to be mean , but doesn't show he actually likes sakura! Kay? Oh and didn't you think it was so KAWAII what Tomoyo did? Hehehehe , I was laughing when I wrote that.

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