Konnichi Wa! Hehe! Anyway, sorry for the very delay chapter!I really hadn't
had time for to do this because of the exam week. And to admitit, I became
lazy in doing it. Probably you might say I'm annoying but I feel you're not
inspiring me. Sorry if I'm harsh but I'm not receiving enough reviews to
let me continue this story! I'm not inspired enough to finish it. But let
me tell you this, even if you won't review, even if you're not reading
this, I'll continue it even if you waited long. Don't ever think I won't
end this, Okay!!And I'm not mad to all of you!I'm just at least
disappointed!! Anyway, On with the story!!!
English isn't my first language.
------------------------ Symbols' meanings
[ ]- its like additional thing which happens that I don't need to emphasis.
---} {--- - Flash backs
__* *__ - One person's point of view
*====*====* - another scene happening.
( ) - Author's notes, or at least what I think when that happens.
* - Japanese words, translations will be at the bottom with my good bye address.
" " - the things they say.
' ' - thoughts.
------------------------ Last chapter's end...
After another 3 hours of walking, they finally arrive at Desuria.
"F-finally, we're here..." Gien muttered between pants.
"H-hai*..." Sakura said in gasps as the others nod weakly and they enter the town.
In this town, Almost all are made of bamboos as other houses are stoned like Sirca. The people they went through eyed Sakura from head to toes as Sakura shivers in their looks. Syaoran noticed it and pushed her behind him protectively. She was quite surprise by his action but smiled with his care. Meiling clench her fist as if she might swung it to her and Tomoyo noticed it. They walk through the crowd and made their way to a big up and down bamboo house at the end of that street. The chestnut hair young man knock on the door as Sakura look nervous. If its sister, its as stubborn and serious as he and Meiling is. The door open and a child, in mere age of 13, peeks. As she saw Syaoran, she opened fully the door and hug his legs and he ruffles her hair.
"Mom, it's uncle Syaoran!" The child exclaimed and a red haired woman approach Syaoran and hug him.
"How are you, my little brother?" She said as Syaoran put a small smile.
"I'm alright..." Syaoran said, as his sister suddenly look at him as if she's expecting something. Syaoran nods and search around to the surprised looking people to Sakura's direction. His sister look at her as suddenly, twinkling stars appeared in her eyes and lauch to hug Sakura.
"It's you!You're so kawaii*!!" His sister suddenly became hyper as she touch Sakura's face and Syaoran sighs.
"Minna*, This is Li Sheifa, my sister." Syaoran, with exasperation in his voice, said as the others'(except Meiling and Yamazaki who knew him long.) jaw drop...
"Y-your sister?" you could almost hear the disbelief in the stammering small sweet voice of Tomoyo while Syaoran nods.
"Ho-Hoeeeee..." Sakura said, uncomfortably as Sheifa pinch softly her cheeks.
To Be Continued.......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: It's not mine, okay?I'm not as great as Clamp!Besides, I can't make super duper cool anime like Clamp does!I'm just a fan!!!!
The pendant showed us the way to our hearts Chapter 8: Revelations and Her New Rival By: sakura2649
"H-Hoeeeee...." Sakura said while Sheifa smiles at her. They stood there in silent, apparently, they don't know what to say. For Syaoran, it's a very nasty silence so Syaoran spoke. (Even if he like silence?!Duh!Weird!)
"Hey people, want to come in?"
All looked at Syaoran as Sheifa's daughter dragged him inside, obeying him. Meiling suddenly shot daggers at the girl as they, Yamazaki and her followed Syaoran closely. Apparently, they are not affected of their bewilderment. Sheifa suddenly looked around with narrowed eyes, she saw Tomoyo and another boy still staring at them. She gaped at Gien, analyzing him. Gien was quite taken a back with that glaring eyes of the red haired lady. She stopped hugging the confused Sakura and stared at Gien with a sudden surprised eyes. She turned around at Sakura to Gien. She realized they were looking at her strangely so not knowing what to say, she just walked by the door. But suddenly, as their eyes followed her, Sheifa spun around, smiling.
"What are you waiting for?Morning?Don't you want to come in?"
Sheifa went inside as the dumbfounded persons followed her inside the bamboo house. They can't believe his sister will act oppositely from Syaoran. As soon as they entered, Sheifa told them where they will sleep. Tomoyo, Sakura,and Sheifa will sleep in Sheifa's room. Meiling and Keiko, her daughter, will sleep in Keiko's room. And Syaoran, Gien and Yamazaki are in Syaoran's reserved room. Because its already night and they are all exhausted from all that walking and surprisement, they directly slump to bed. Sakura, though, suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. She's thirsty so she looks around for the comfort room. As she looks around, she heard voices.
"... she's strong. Since the day I met her, I notice her aura getting stronger as it mingle with the power of the pendant. Though her power isn't enough to overcome the emperor. I heard he have powers but I doubt that. Only our clan have magic." It's Syaoran's voice from down stairs. Sakura flinched, though not knowing why. Sakura leaned down, she can't clearly hear him.
"You're wrong Syaoran. He really have powers and you don't have to know how." She heard someone said darkly. It's Sheifa's. She only heard 'emperor' and a whisper of 'powers' in her place... She wants to listen more.
Syaoran didn't answer though. He can't understand how the emperor to have powers. Sakura is an indirect descendant of Clow so he understands why she have powers. But the emperor can't be their relative or descendant of Clow, can he?.
"Anyway, what happened to you on your way here?I expected you to arrive in seven days since the day I was informed about the search in Sirca but you arrived five days late?What could have delayed you?" Sheifa said in an eager voice, changing the topic.
Syaoran sighed and told her about the whirlpool of sand they've encountered. How Sakura saved them and how tired she is after. He also told her about the happenings in Sirca. And about her finding out about their clan.
"Hontou*? She already found out about us? Really now, I thought it'll be long before she'll find out." Sheifa said, with a faked disappointment in her voice. Syaoran sighed. He knew deep inside, Sheifa's beaming. She must be very impressed on Kinomoto by now.
"Well, it's Yamazaki's fault, that slipping tongue of his." Syaoran hissed but added soon enough... "Besides, Kinomoto have a power to detect other auras, I'm sure she felt mine the first time we met but maybe doubting how I can have powers and she perhaps felt its impossible for her to have powers." Syaoran sighed.
"Maybe she feels my aura too. Anyway, I'm sure when you first met, she don't know how to detect auras and powers. Possible that she can feel it but she's ignoring it. So how did you made her come with you?" ask Sheifa.
"I don't know how too. I just told her, I'm going to help her to go out the gates without the notice of the soldiers, since I'm going there too. She said okay and live with us. Perhaps, she's a kind of a girl who trust and be kind to everybody. Even me, who's a stranger to her." he said as Sheifa strangely stared at him. Syaoran noticed it.
"What is it?" he asked, frowning. Sheifa suddenly giggled.
"It's just that I know you don't give away kind compliments to 'just somebody' and there you are, saying Sakura-chan is kind and always trusting." said Sheifa while Sakura wondered what's wrong. The boy was caught surprised. He had said that unconsciously. He didn't show his bewilderment and played along.
"Well...it's true. I can't blame her if she's kind enough to trust us, even that Gien guy she just bumped in to in Sirca." Syaoran said, suddenly scowling. Sheifa stopped giggling, getting serious, her eyes telling so.
"Dare ga*?That boy with blue eyes you're with?" Syaoran nods as Sheifa looks darkly, with, at least Syaoran thought he saw, a bit
"Nan de*?" Syaoran asked Sheifa, noticing her unusual seriousness.
"Huh?Nan de monai*.." she said sheepishly
Syaoran didn't push her to tell him. He knew he can't pull it up this time. The way she looked a while ago is pretty unusual. He wonders what Gien has to do about it. As he thinks about it, he suddenly sensed something, sighing and suddenly standing up. Startled by his actions, Sheifa looked intently at him. She saw him looking upstairs, at first, she wonders. But as she concentrates on it, she silently giggled. She called his attention silently as Syaoran crouch down with her.
"You knew her well, don't you? Maybe you like her." Sheifa said, her eyes sneered at him. Her voice was filled with laughter she tried to hide in it. Actually, Syaoran tried hard not to flinch or to react guiltily. He knew he doesn't have a reason to be affected by it. But when he heard the phrase 'you like her', his heart skip a beat. He can't understand it though, he can't like a person he only knew for at least two months! He feels he only consider her as a friend but he doesn't like her as more than 'that'. Kinomoto is just a girl he had been tasked to protect and that's it,... or is it?
"I wonder why they became silent?" Sakura said as she leaned down more in the stairs. Maybe they're whispering to each other now, she thought. But she wants to listen more. She stepped down silently to see what they're doing and to her surprise, they are looking at her.
"Come here, Kinomoto." Syaoran commanded, frowning as Sakura frightenly walked down to Syaoran.
'I smell trouble.' Sakura thought sheepishly as she confronts with Syaoran and Sheifa at his side. Sakura's eyes averts when Syaoran looks at her eyes. There's a glint of laughter in Sheifa's eyes. They are silent for a couple of minutes before Syaoran comments...
"My, my...The mistress of the pendant, who shall save the world, was caught eavesdropping in the middle of the night. A nice thing to do, isn't it?" Syaoran sarcastically said. Sakura bowed her head and decided to ask a question, frightenly.
"How did you found out I'm there? And since when did you found out about me being there?" Sakura almost whispered and stammered, ashamed of eavesdropping but she still wonder how.
"Simple, I felt your aura and eversince I heard the sqeak of your door." He stated the obvious.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, we don't need to hide our conversation to you. You knew who I am. I just like to see what your reaction would be." Syaoran smirks as he teased her, his eyes telling so. Sheifa burst into laughter as Sakura pouts.
"Mou*, Syaoran-kun!" Syaoran stayed silent, a small smile unconsciously played on his lips as Sakura poked his ribs but it doesn't affect him. He like to tease Sakura like that. Sakura looks adorable when she pouts. Wait.Did he just think of her adorable?! The amber eyed boy's cheeks colored into crimsom as he thought about it. Of course, as always, Sakura didn't notice this but Sheifa did. She heard her calling him 'Syaoran-kun'. And she knew he won't let anyone call him in his first name except for his relatives and close friends. She can also recall the smile in his lips when he look at Sakura. And as she look more closely, she saw him getting crimson.
'My brother, blushing? I must be dreaming! And that Smile!First time I saw that! No one in the family ever made Syaoran smile. He never smiled but to a girl he just met, even if it's a small smile, it's still a smile!The end must be near!!!' Sheifa wonders, but soon followed by giggles. Syaoran and Sakura suddenly looked at her strangely.
"What is it?" The boy said calmly, but you could see the suspecting glint in the amber eyes. He knew her red haired sister is thinking malicious things again at times like this.
"Nothing, I just saw things that usually doesn't happen." She told them as Syaoran sighed, leaving Sakura all confused.
"I can't understand you and Daidouji-san. You two both say weird things." He shook his head, sighing heavily again...thinking 'I knew it...'. and turned his head to Sakura.
"Go to your room now. You need to sleep, don't you?" He scolded pushing her gently up stairs.
"Hai, hai." Sakura obediently go up stairs sighing, closely followed by Sheifa. However, Sheifa turned to her brother before she goes up. Syaoran looked up, startled, at her and found her grinning. He arched one eyebrow to her and she step to her room.
"What a weird sister. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really related to such opposite to me." Syaoran sighed, putting his hand on his forehead and shook his head.
*=====*=====*
Sakura opened her emerald eyes. Her head is aching because she slept late listening to Syaoran and her sister. She sat up and as her senses got clearer, she put on her sky blue sleeveless shirt and her shorts. As she combed her hair and ponytail it, she heard loud snore from Kero (Inside her bag). She giggled and put him in her bed so he can sleep well, smiling. She reminded herself to give him food later or he'll go ballistic again as she walk down stairs for breakfast, humming a melody. She searched for Tomoyo and the others but apparently, they are not inside the house.
"Is it right to leave a girl like me alone in this house? I wonder where they are." Sakura said. As if a cue, she soon heard yells coming from outside. She went there to find out. As she look around it, she remained amused at how big Sheifa's house is. At the back of her house, there is a big yard where Keiko, Sheifa's daughter, was training with Syaoran. The light brown haired girl decided to kick Syaoran's side
"Come on, you can do better than that." Syaoran said to Keiko.
She yelled and kicked harder but Syaoran simply dodge it. Sakura notes herself on how beautiful Syaoran dodge the kicks and punches Keiko launches to him but immediately shook off the ideas she's having. When she thinks of Syaoran consciously or unconsciously, she doesn't know why but her heart will suddenly pounds and her face gets hotter. She doesn't felt this way before so she don't know what that is. Sakura around and saw Tomoyo, Meiling [glaring mysteriously to Keiko but Sakura ignored it], Yamazaki and Sheifa watching them at the side. As she look at them, Tomoyo and Sheifa turned to her and asked her to come with them. Sakura smiled and delightedly went to them. It is hard to be alone, she thought. They watched it until the end as they clapped their hands for their performance. Keiko and Syaoran left the 'training stage' and went to their audience.
"Mou*, Onii-chan*! You always beat me!" said Keiko, furious to herself.
"Well you're only 12 yrs old, there are a lot of things you still need to learn. Don't rush things!" said Syaoran while she pouts and Sakura approached him as her eyes twinkle in delight.
"Sugoi*! Kakoii*, Syaoran-kun!" said Sakura, eager in her voice as Syaoran sighed in exasperation 'You're so genki*.' he thought. She didn't know Meiling and Keiko are glaring at her.
"Syaoran-kun?" said Keiko as Sakura slowly looked at the girl with light brown hair unlike her mother (Red hair) and dark brown eyes.
"Ne ne* Sheifa-chan, you're daughter is so Kawaii*!" She turned her head to Sheifa but Keiko repeats her question, still glaring.
"I said, why is it you call Onii-chan like that?" Syaoran looked at her strange. 'Keiko is acting weird today', he thought. Sakura ignored the glares she is giving to her and answered.
"Hai*, I told him I like to call him by his first name and he let me." She simply said, smiling sweetly. Keiko shrugged and walked away as Sakura goes with her "Hoe?" exclamation again. Meiling, too, is glaring.to Sakura and.Keiko?!
"Hoe?" she repeated as she saw Meiling.
"Minna*, want to eat?" Sheifa said cheerfully as everyone gladly agrees with her. As all of them walk towards the dining room, Sakura looked back at Keiko and Keiko gave her glares and smirks. As dense as she is, she didn't get it at all.
*=====*=====*
"Ha!!!" Sakura yelled as she punches Keiko with all her might but she dodges lazily as if mocking Sakura. .'Just like what Syaoran did to me' she thought, getting a little hot but at the same time, amaze at how Syaoran and Keiko are common to each other. Sakura's thoughts are interrupted by Tomoyo whose cheering for her.
"Ganbatte* Sakura-chan!" She wave at her as Sakura sweatdropped.
"Tomoyo.This isn't a game you know."
"Watch your enemy, Kinomoto." Syaoran said quietly.
At that very moment, Sakura spun just in time to see Keiko whose about to hit her face. Sakura ducked with a yell of "Hoeee." as Keiko goes for a punch but Sakura barely dodges it.
'I need to get serious or my face will be squashed by her.' She thought.
She push away all other thoughts, all the yells Tomoyo and the others give, all the glares she noticed from Meiling and Keiko, and concentrated on fighting. Keiko gave her another kick as Sakura jumped out of its way. Keiko was stunned but she continued to lunge at her. Kicks, power punches, uppercuts, round kicks, all merely made contact with her target. They stopped for awhile, panting as Syaoran looked at Sakura with unhidden amazement.
'Kinomoto is sure scary when she's serious.Keiko is one of the great martial artists in our clan, including Meiling and I. How the heck did she do that?' The others can't explain it too, including Sakura's best friend.
They are in utter silence, in their own thoughts. They suddenly wake up from their trance when they saw Sakura attack her. Syaoran watches her moves as if he can't believe this is the Kinomoto he knew. All her moves, Kicks, punches, dodges, are executed gracefully as if watching a dance. Soon enough, when Keiko slightly off guard, Sakura took this chance and placed a fist under Keiko's chin. They looked at each other with intense looks but as soon as they heard a squeak of a bell (Meaning the training is over), they straightened up.
"That's a good fight. I never knew that part of my Sakura." Tomoyo said, approaching her, eyes twinkling, with hands full of towel and gave it to her.
"Arigatou*." Sakura smiled sweetly as she wipe out the thick line of sweat in her face. She turned to see Yamazaki, saying she did well and to Keiko, whose being surrounded by Sheifa, Syaoran and Meiling. Sheifa noticed her and she hugged Sakura.
"You fight good, you know. I knew you're good, once you're serious." She finished off her sentence and won a giggle from Sakura.
"Well, I did train with Syaoran-kun in Sirca, but there, someone pissed me off so I beat him. In short, I'm a little experienced. Ne Syaoran-kun?" she said smiling. Her smile though is between a grin and a sweet smile at him as she advance at him, their face only few inches from each other. Syaoran looked away.
"Yeah, I trained her."
"Feh, A month! You can't muster things only by months, you know. You're just lucky today." Keiko walked away, muttering something which Sakura could swore she heard 'That Kinomoto, flirting with my Oniichan' but she brushes that thoughts aside when she noticed someone was missing.
"Ne Syaoran-kun, Where's Gien-kun?" Syaoran scowled as he heard the name and answered.
"Still sleeping, it doesn't matter though. He doesn't know you have magic."
"Well yeah, but why don't we tell him?"
"Are you crazy? He's just a stranger to all of us, we don't know anything about him, if he is trust worthy. Besides, you just saw him in the streets, right? And we just let him stay with us because you said so, that you pity him, right? So don't tell him anything which can led us to danger."
"Is that why you're angry with him?" Sakura asks curiously as Syaoran flinched. Syaoran doesn't exactly dislike him because of that. Yeah, one reason, it is. But he feels its more than that which he is not familiar with.
"Ne minna, you still didn't see the whole Desuria, do you?" Sheifa assume that, at the faces of Sakura and Tomoyo, they still didn't.
"Let's go outside!I want to buy Sakura-chan some of those dresses I saw in the town!It'll fit her!" Sheifa squealed, her hands clasp together and her eyes twinkling. Sakura was quite reminded of someone she knew dearly. And about that topic, she's dreading that the scene next to happen will be...
"Hontou ni, Sheifa-san?! I wanna see it!!!" Tomoyo squealed, cupping Sheifa's hands to hers as her eyes twinkled the same. Sakura sighed, but she's delighted to get out of the house for once. She feels that one day, she can be lost inside at how big her house is.
*===*===*
"See, you're beautiful on that, Sakura-chan!" The violet eyed girl sqealed in delight. Indeed, the girl, Sakura, whose in front of her looked beautiful thanks to Tomoyo's great sewing. She's dressed in a light green with light pink ribbons at the end of the sleeves. It's slightly above the knee and it has a lot of laces at the sides. Sakura's hair was braided in a headband form tied with emerald green ribbon which matches the color of her eyes. Sakura spun, looking at herself in the mirror. She smiled, Tomoyo done a good job today. She loved the dressed as a matter of fact though she doesn't show it or by tomorrow, she'll have tons of dresses to wear. She stopped her thoughts when she heard a girl at her side whined.
"Ne Daidouji, why do I have to wear some of your get ups too?!" Meiling said.
Sakura and Tomoyo smiled knowingly, thinking the same thought: It fits her. Meiling dress a fitted red chinese blouse with a blooming flower all over it. Her dress goes beyond her feet. Her hair is in her bun form, as usual because Meiling insisted that it should not be changed too, but Tomoyo braided the endings of her hair. And her sleeves are also tied with darkish pink ribbon. Just the same, it really looks good on you.
"Answer me!" She demanded.
"Nothing, I just got a lot of good fabric and I thought a good outfit for you. Why? Don't you like it? It really fits you!" Tomoyo said, contented with her work. It took her ten days to do it since they left to see the whole Desuria town. She saw some good fabrics and she bought it. They're suppose to buy dresses but Tomoyo insisted to Sheifa when she saw good fabrics that she can create elegant dresses out of it. Sheifa is interested and let her.
Meiling crossed her arms on her chest and Tomoyo continued. "Well, if you don't want it, I'll just give it to Sakura-chan...Maybe it fits her too. Maybe when Li-kun see Sakura in that dress of yours, he might like her..." she was about to come to Meiling to pull it out of her but Meiling suddenly avoided in her touch.
"Yada, I...I like it...Don't take it and give to...that Kinomoto." Meiling said quietly as Tomoyo smiled triumphantly. She planned that. It really fitted her so it's a waste if she doesn't like it so Tomoyo finds a way how to get her work all worth it...
"Hey, how long do you plan to take there?" They heard Syaoran called to them impatiently. They are inside Sheifa's bedroom. It's way passed dinner time and they haven't eat yet. They hid their dresses inside Sakura's bag and went out for dinner.
*===*===*
"Ne, Eriol-kun...Don't you think you are not giving them enough umm...testings?" Eriol look at the flying blue cat over his shoulder.
"Hmm, don't worry my dear spinnel...I'll do something to them soon..." The evil smile showed over his face. His plan will be executed soon.
*===*===*
"Huh?" Sakura looked up, as if she is finding something visible. The violet eyed girl looked at her worriedly. It seems that her friend is feeling something normal person could see.
"Nani*, Sakura-chan?"
"I felt something..."
"Like what?" As Tomoyo said it, the feel went stronger. She looks around and she could tell, at the eyes of Sheifa, Keiko and Syaoran, they could feel it. Gien, Meiling, Tomoyo and Yamazaki eyed them with mixed confusion and worry. As they look around, a ball of light crash to them. They hid their face by their hands but still, the bright light stream their eyes. After the light subsides, they look at the thing that caused it. But to Syaoran, Sakura, Keiko and Sheifa's surprise, they are the only one who saw the light.
"Really now, what's wrong with you four?" Gien said. His eyes on Sakura worriedly. The Card Mistress just tilted her head to her side cutely in confusion.
'Funny, Why do I get the feeling that we're the only one who can see it?...' Sakura looked around confusely...
It's because the explosion is only by people with magic... the familiar voice ring in her ears.
'I see... So that means...'
Be careful my Mistress... it said as Sakura nodded visibly.
It's from my former master... it continued...
"Hoe?"
"What is it, Sakura-chan?" Sheifa said when she heard the girl. She shook her head to Sheifa. She doesn't want to tell them she can speak with the pendant. They might think of her as a weirdo or something and she doesn't like that.
"It looks like we are the only ones who can sense it and see it..." Syaoran said, getting ready. He put out his globe like thing that can transform but he won't make it a sword yet. Many would know what he is.
"See what?" Yamazaki said. He saw Syaoran bringing out his globe which means something dangerous is coming.
"Right now, there is something..." Sakura was about to say it but he saw Gien. What will he think if she can see something they can't? After all, he doesn't know anything.
"Something what?" Gien said when he saw Sakura look in her way. But just then, the ball of light reacted. It send an explosion in wide range. Syaoran went in front of them as if protection as they take for cover. But when the explosion hit them, they can't feel a thing as if it's just a cold wind passing by them. When they felt it stopped, they look at the ball of light.
"It's gone..." Syaoran look around and saw...
__* Gien's point of view *__
"What's happening?It feels cold..." I said, I noticed that I can't move my arms or even blink.
"Tomoyo, Meiling, Gien, Yamazaki!" I heard Sakura exclaimed, terrified.
'Sakura?' I moved my eyes to my sides and to my surprise, I found out that we were in an ice. No wonder he is feeling cold. Now I understand I and her friends were freezed inside an ice. Sakura rush to us. But when she touch the ice beholding Tomoyo's body, the emerald eyed girl felt strange sensation. She could feel herself becoming cold. Just then did she saw that the ice is slowly swallowing her body.
'What the?'
"Kinomoto!" I turned my eyes to the amber eyed boy who is approaching her but he was stopped by Keiko.
"Don't!You might end up like her when you touch her." she said. 'Stupid girl... Didn't even think before doing it. Feh, that's right for you.' Keiko smirked.
"Sy-Syaoran, I'm cold..." Sakura said. The ice swallowed half of her body already. She could feel it's very hard to breath and all the parts of her body is cold. I looked at her in pain. I can see in her eyes the feeling of pain and I don't like that. Then I saw Li pulled himself out of Keiko's grasp and went as close as he could possibly be to Sakura.
"I know. Hang on, I'll try to stop it." Syaoran said and bring out something like an ofuda. He transformed his sword to my surprise.
"W-what the?" This Li had magic...Now that I think of it, I think I heard that name before...Where?
"Lord Of Fire, come forth!" He said and I was amazed. Fire came out of nothing and shot to Sakura.
'Look out!' I said. But nothing happened. The Ice didn't melt at his magic. And the Ice is coming up to her neck, no wonder Li is already desperate. 'If he really have magic, he better do something or once I'm outta here, I'm going to kill him...' I thought and I will do that if he failed to save her.
"What the? It didn't work!" Sheifa gasped. She too try to put stop at it's flow but it doesn't work.
"Sy-Syaor..." Sakura said weakly before the Ice covered her completely. Sheifa, Li and I looked at her terrified. 'Sakura...'. I looked at Li angrily... 'How dare he! Wait til I get my hands on y....' I was interrupted when...
"S-SAKURA!!!!" Li said, loudly. If I'm free from this ice, I could have flinched. I never heard Li calling Sakura by her first name. It's always Kinomoto and this time, for the first time, he called her different. It's by her first name.
__* *__
'Where am I?' The auburn haired girl, lookeda around her. It was all white. She remember herself being swallowed by an Ice and out cold. She started walking in the endless white, she wonders where it'll end. At last, after a long walk, she saw a garden ful of flowers, rivers and fields... Suddenly, as she walk towards it, a woman, in a long white dress with beautiful gray hair and twinkling beautiful eyes, appeared before her. Apparently, she somewhat recognize the woman.
"Mother?" Nadesico nods, smiling sweetly to her daughter. Sakura doesn't have much memories of her since she left them when Sakura was still three years old
' My mother is there. maybe if go there, I may be happy...' She started walking again. She always want to embrace her mother for so long and now given a chance, she would like to do it. Her mother opened her arms as if ready to catch Sakura in her arms..
No, please...It's still not time for you to pass in there...To her surprise, a familiar voice echoed pleadingly in her ears. She stops on her tracks and looked around.
'The voice of the pendant.' she thought.
Yes, it is...
'Where am I? To pass? Why? Am I...dead?' She thought sadly. She turned to see her mom who's looking at her worriedly.
No, you're still not dead. In fact, you're in between worlds: death and life...
'Death and Life?How come...?'
You are to choose if you want to live or not... She heard him.
'To live or not?'
She didn't let her eyes off to her mother. She really wanted to be with her. She had been given a chance to be with her mom, long since she left them. She wanted to feel how a mother love her daughter. She wanted to say I love you to her. She wanted to be with her, it's all she wanted. She also can have peace here. That's her everything. She feels that she have to walk towards her now. She started walking towards her mother who's happy that she chose her. But just then, at the back of her mind, she heard a familiar voice called her...
"S-SAKURA!!!!" she heard, she turned around abruptly. She knew whose that voice came from.
"Syaoran-kun?" She said in a surprised tone. He called her by her first name, she flushed at that. She never heard him call him like that.
That's right. She have something to do...When she heard the boy, in the back of her mind, she starts gaining memories. Something disturbs her thought, a question: Are you sure you want to live there? Are you really happy?... As she hear the words, she starts remembering the things she had. The pendant, her family, her friends... everything. Ironically, she thought she can't leave yet. She had many things left unfinished. Many people are depending on her to save them from suffering. Many people, her friends and families, are going to be sad if she will leave. Leaving them for a selfish act. As then, she decided. She shut her eyes off her mother who's still waiting for her to come in her arms. And then, Sakura opened her emerald eyes, resolutely.
"I want to live..." She stated.
Do you really wish to live?... The pendant's voice said...
"Yes..." As soon as she said it, everything vanished, and all went dark. She still not back to reality.
"It's just an illusion..."
Yes it is...
'But this still isn't the reality, right?How can I overcome this?' She said curiously...
You're right, you're still in between life and death since you're stucked in an Ice cube magically. If you stay any longer inside it, with or without your choice, you might end up dead...
'Sou na*...' She have to stop herself from freezing, now that the pendant mentioned it... she felt cold, extremely cold. She wrapped her arms to her body, trying to think what to do.
'What must I do?' she asked the pendant but none answered her. She assumed the pendant wants her to figure this out herself... 'Now, I'm all alone...' And suddenly, she heard a crack open... She looked up and saw light streaming in from it.
"I see, I can get out of there...But how?" she said loudly until she had an idea...
'Wait a minute...' she clutches her pendant and felt it glowing...
'Sou ka*, I'm not alone, am I?' She smiled to herself and chant:
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Make me free from these frozen Ice!" She exclaimed. Soon after, she felt her power drained but enough left to keep her standing. However, she still tired.
*===*===*
Syaoran went down on his knees, feeling helpless.
'Baka*, I'm suppose to protect her. How can I leave her, why did I turned my back to her for a second when I know something might happen?I know this thing came for them...Yet I didn't protect her...Damn!' He thought, he might kicked himself...He failed to protect the girl he was tasked. He failed his relatives. 'And the fact that she's the only one who can overturn and save them, I failed. And to the fact that I like to be with her...What did I just thought?!' He soon shook away the thought and concentrate on how to get her and his other friends to get out of there. Until he sensed something...It's the source!
"Ne, Oniichan!Stop crouching there and help us finding its source!" Keiko said...'How did this girl affect him so much?' she questioned herself... Syaoran stands up and runs towards the aura. After running from left to right, he found the source. it's a crystal shining in bluish aura...
"Matte, Syaoran-oniichan!!" Keiko said as Sheifa soon followed..
"It's the source, right?" he nods. "Maybe we should destroy it to let them free, that's the only thing I can think of as an explanation." Sheifa said and he nods again. He attacked the crystal mindlessly but to his surprise, he hit the barier. He was blown back, lying...
"Little brother!" "Oniichan!" They went to him and kneel.
"Daijoubu*?" He nods to them...
"So there's a barrier protecting it... I wonder who made this up..." Sheifa looked at it, wondering what it is...
"Even though, it's still hard to resist my attack!" Keiko stand up and formed a bluish ball in her hands (Remember the Goku style in dragon ball?The Kame ha me ha?It's the form, alright? Just explainin!) and shot it through the crystal, it had effect on it but it's not strong enough...
"Oh no. Even if I hit it with full power, it seemed weak enough to break the barrier..." Keiko brushes off her sweat. It really drained her powers but she's not intending to show it. Sheifa stood up and walked beside her daughter...
"Maybe if we combine our powers, it might damaged a bit and that can give Syaoran a chance to destroy it..." They all nod to each other and a formed a blue green ball energy (Since Keiko's energy color is blue and Sheifa is light green, not as green as Syaoran's)and shot it towards the crystal barrier. Just as they thought, it was damaged. Syaoran put out his Fire ofuda and called it out. It soon completely destroyed the barrier and slightly crack the crystal...
*===*===*
Sakura opened her eyes and the Ice shattered away from her body. She settle herself down to her knees, panting slightly... She again looked at her friends, and she saw...
"Gien-kun!" She went near him when she saw his eyes are open unlike the others who seemed asleep.
"Did you?" She knew the only one who are conscious are those with magic...How come Gien's awake though he is inside the ice? Just then, Gien turned his eyes to where Syaoran went to. At first, she was confused but when she felt Syaoran's aura weakening as she concentrates on the place Gien is looking. She understand him. And she also understand that at the way Gien is looking at her, he knew everything.
"I'll go to Syaoran-kun, okay? I'll give you a hand after!" She waved good bye at her friend as he watch her.
'It's good to know you're alright but do you have the... pendant?' he asked her rhetorically.
*===*===*
"Now that the barrier is gone, I can destroy it!" He raised his sword to thrust it through the crystal but a familiar voice called him out.
"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura yelled as she found him. Sheifa and Keiko looked at her, slightly bewildered. How did she escaped from that Ice cube? Syaoran dropped his sword and wen to her.
"Hey, How did you...?" Syaoran was interrupted...
"I'll tell you later..." She smiled knowingly. She remembered Syaoran calling her by first name... She looked at the thing he was about to attack...
"What's that!What a cute crystal!" She exclaimed and her eyes twinkled while Syaoran and the others slipped (Anime style!I loved those!).
"Baka*! Can't you be a little more serious?!" Keiko said, angry. How can a girl like her exclaimed like that when they hardly destroy its barrier?! Suddenly, Syaoran and Sheifa stood up looking at the crystal...
"Look, It's starting to make another barrier again!" Sheifa sqeaked as the ball slowly cover itself again inside a barrier.
"Really now, what is it?" Sakura asked curiously...
"We think its possible that the one that generated ice in this place is this crystal..." Syaoran answered her and the girl simply let out a soft gasp. but as soon in realization.
"I see, no matter how cute that crystal is, I won't forgive it! Stucking our friends inside a freezing ice cube!It's unforgivable!" She said, increasing her power. She closed her eyes and said a familiar chant...
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power, grant my wish. Let it happen as I command Destroy that crystal that generates Ice!"
She pointed to the crystal and immediately, it was destroyed. The ice all around them disappeared. the ice that held the people also vanish, and almost all of them are unconscious. Sakura felt all her powers drained and fell to her knees. She was immediately caught by Syaoran before heating the ground and supported her.
"Daijoubu*?" Sakura asked them
"Weren't we the ones whose suppose to ask you that?" Sheifa said, arching one eye brow and Syaoran nods in agreement...
"Well, you're more hurt than I am..." Sakura said, concerned at the bruises and cuts on Syaoran's body.
"Don't worry about me, you're the one who had drained their powers you know..." Syaoran smiled at her, a genuine amile. He was happy she's safe. Sakura was surprised but smiled sweetly anyway. Keiko looked at them terrified.
'Just look at how Syaoran look at her! Don't smile at anyone like that! I can't let this happen!' she thought resolutely...
"Come on, let's go to the others..." Sheifa said as she led them to their friends. Sakura is walking but is supported by Syaoran in her waist as Keiko looked at them jealously.
As they walk, Sakura asks him something, she looked at him... "Ne, Syaoran- kun, Didn't you called me by my first name a while ago?" Syaoran went crimson.
'How did she hear that?' He bow his head and nods. He can't let her see that he is blushing.
"Then, can you call me by my first name now? I felt, since i met you, we became a little closer. I like you to call me 'Sakura' as you did before just as I call you Syaoran, ne?" Syaoran looked at her and she smiled.
He was blushing madly. Did she know what effects that smile to him? and he nods. In front of them, Sheifa, is giggling though she tried to hide. She can see her little brother's face, the way he looked at her. Though, he's still not realizing it, Sheifa knew where her little brother's feelings will lead to. Keiko, though, is sulky. She's is hating the emerald eyed girl more and more by a minute.
'What a flirt!I'll teach her a lesson one of these days!' She thought, clenching her fists as she look at his onii-chan's hands on Sakura's waist. They find their way to their friend's group who lay unconscious on the ground except one...
"Gien?" Keiko said, distracted from her thoughts. Gien rubbed his head and turned to them. Sheifa looked at him darkly, as Sakura looked down. 'He knows everything...'. As for Syaoran, he eyed him. 'how come he's awake?' . A few seconds, he seems to realized why he is awake, he scowled at him. Though he wonder how...
"You saw everything, don't you?" the amber eyed boy growled and Gien nods. He still can't believe the one his father is looking for is here. And the fact that he like the girl with the pendant... Should he turn her to her father? 'No,' he thought boldly. 'But I want to know how it came to her...'
"Sakura-chan, you hold the pendant with powers, right?" Gien said, an undescribable glint was seen in his eyes. Syaoran went in front of her protectively. Sakura hold unto his sleeves to prevent herself from falling.
"What will you do, Gien-kun, if I said yes?" Sakura said, she couldn't see the Gien she met, as if his aura is indifferent. Gien blinked. Maybe she thought I might get it from her. He smiled.
"I just want to know the truth,.. I've travel with you guys and I didn't know things like this. I just felt... untrusted, okay? Don't worry, I won't get it from you..."
Syaoran scowled but one look from Sakura, he looked away. She turned to Gien. She felt ashamed to not telling him.
"Gomen*, You know, things like this isn't something I should babble to anyone. I trusted you but I thought it's best to keep it from you first."
"I understand." Gien said though, he still amaze at what he saw today. Tomoyo and the others soon gained consciousness. They went home and Sheifa and the others told them what happened. They also told Gien the things happened before he came, reluctantly, to Syaoran.
"Hey, Sakura, Don't you think you already needs to rest?" Syaoran said, rubbing his eyes. But suddenly, he felt three pairs of eyes looked at him.
"Nani?" Syaoran said to Tomoyo, Yamazaki and Meiling who is very angry.
"You just call her 'Sakura'..." Tomoyo stated, shocked. She just heard the mighty Li called her friend by her first name which is very unusual. Syaoran blushed but Sakura saved him.
"So what if he call me by my first name? It's just that he like to do it, okay? Case close!" She said and winked at Syaoran.
"I'm tired, let's sleep. Oyasumi-nasai*!" Sakura said, stretching her arms and went directly to Sheifa's room. One after another, they evacuated the living room wondering what had happened(Except of course, those who already knew!)...
*===*===*
"Ne, Eriol-kun... If Sakura had chose the illusion over reality, you said you'll stop it, right? Then, why are you doing that for?" Nakuru asked, crossing her arms.
"It's to widen Sakura's wise decision. If she was to choose something like that in the future, she will have an idea what to do." he said, putting down his book.
"Do you think it's wise for Gien to see that Sakura had the pendant?" Suppi said, resting in his lap.
"Don't worry, that descendant of mine won't turn Sakura to his father. He love her as much as little wolf does." He smiled...
*===*===*
"Urgent news, Your majesty. The result from Sirca said, a girl saw her friend with the pendant we're looking for..." A soldier said, kneeling down before the emperor. The emperor stood up, startled by the news.
"What?Where is it?" He exclaimed...
"Well, your majesty, They aren't in Sirca village anymore...So the general was wondering if we could do a search in Desuria town. They said it's possible they might be there..."
"Fine do it!Just make sure you can find it!Don't come back until you got it!" He said, disappointed as the soldier nods.
And the emperor continued..."And how about my son? Did you find him?"
"No sir, He was out of sight in Sirca and Walludos..."
"Fine, As soon as you found him, bring him back here..." He said
"Yes sir!"
"You're dismissed..." Emperor said. The soldier nods and he left. The emperor looked at the maids and said
"Where is Eriol?"
"He's at his room your majesty."
"I see...It's already night. You may sleep now, prepare my bed now."
*===*===*
As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt Tomoyo shifted to her side. She sat up wondering what's causing herself to find it hard to sleep. She's suppose to be tired because of the recent fights and here she is, wide awake. She went outside to the balcony and think about the things happened to her for two months. Kero, waking up, saw Sakura and followed her quietly. She met him, Syaoran, in her town Esmilia, a day after she found out she's the mistress of the said pendant. She sighed. Since then, she's always on the run, she's always away from her home. That's right. She already missed her family. She never went away from her home this long. She misses her father. She knew he's very worried about her right now.
"I missed my family." Sakura looked up to the starless sky. Kero stared at her worriedly.
Do you regret having the pendant, my mistress? . The pendant's voice said quietly to her. She smiled.
"No, I don't regret having the pendant. Because of this, I had great friends. I learn knew things. My life is better to be with everyone. Than to be locked in our big house without anyone with you. My father and brother are always away from home. Yet, I missed them. After all, they are my family and I loved them so much. Don't worry, I loved this work too. I felt I'm not alone. Because of that, I won't regret any of this." She said. Having heard by Kero, he smiled. His mistress is so kind hearted.
To be continued....
There!!! It's finished! As always, please REVIEW!!!! I realy won't post any more fanfic if you won't review, okay? Please, if you're also writer and you feel no one is reading, you'll feel like this right? So please consideration.
Translations:
Hai- yes. Kawaii- cute Hontou- really Dare ga- who? Nan desu? - what is it? Nan de monai - nothing's wrong Mou- geez Onii-chan- 'Onii' - big brother. 'chan' - sign of respect Sugoi- great Kakkoii- you're cool Ne- hey Minna- everybody Gan Batte- You can do it! Arigatou- thank you Nani- what? Sou na- oh no! Sou ka- I see Baka- Idiot Matte- wait Daijoubu- It's alright Gomen- sorry Oyasumi- Good night
There!
~Sakura2649
English isn't my first language.
------------------------ Symbols' meanings
[ ]- its like additional thing which happens that I don't need to emphasis.
---} {--- - Flash backs
__* *__ - One person's point of view
*====*====* - another scene happening.
( ) - Author's notes, or at least what I think when that happens.
* - Japanese words, translations will be at the bottom with my good bye address.
" " - the things they say.
' ' - thoughts.
------------------------ Last chapter's end...
After another 3 hours of walking, they finally arrive at Desuria.
"F-finally, we're here..." Gien muttered between pants.
"H-hai*..." Sakura said in gasps as the others nod weakly and they enter the town.
In this town, Almost all are made of bamboos as other houses are stoned like Sirca. The people they went through eyed Sakura from head to toes as Sakura shivers in their looks. Syaoran noticed it and pushed her behind him protectively. She was quite surprise by his action but smiled with his care. Meiling clench her fist as if she might swung it to her and Tomoyo noticed it. They walk through the crowd and made their way to a big up and down bamboo house at the end of that street. The chestnut hair young man knock on the door as Sakura look nervous. If its sister, its as stubborn and serious as he and Meiling is. The door open and a child, in mere age of 13, peeks. As she saw Syaoran, she opened fully the door and hug his legs and he ruffles her hair.
"Mom, it's uncle Syaoran!" The child exclaimed and a red haired woman approach Syaoran and hug him.
"How are you, my little brother?" She said as Syaoran put a small smile.
"I'm alright..." Syaoran said, as his sister suddenly look at him as if she's expecting something. Syaoran nods and search around to the surprised looking people to Sakura's direction. His sister look at her as suddenly, twinkling stars appeared in her eyes and lauch to hug Sakura.
"It's you!You're so kawaii*!!" His sister suddenly became hyper as she touch Sakura's face and Syaoran sighs.
"Minna*, This is Li Sheifa, my sister." Syaoran, with exasperation in his voice, said as the others'(except Meiling and Yamazaki who knew him long.) jaw drop...
"Y-your sister?" you could almost hear the disbelief in the stammering small sweet voice of Tomoyo while Syaoran nods.
"Ho-Hoeeeee..." Sakura said, uncomfortably as Sheifa pinch softly her cheeks.
To Be Continued.......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: It's not mine, okay?I'm not as great as Clamp!Besides, I can't make super duper cool anime like Clamp does!I'm just a fan!!!!
The pendant showed us the way to our hearts Chapter 8: Revelations and Her New Rival By: sakura2649
"H-Hoeeeee...." Sakura said while Sheifa smiles at her. They stood there in silent, apparently, they don't know what to say. For Syaoran, it's a very nasty silence so Syaoran spoke. (Even if he like silence?!Duh!Weird!)
"Hey people, want to come in?"
All looked at Syaoran as Sheifa's daughter dragged him inside, obeying him. Meiling suddenly shot daggers at the girl as they, Yamazaki and her followed Syaoran closely. Apparently, they are not affected of their bewilderment. Sheifa suddenly looked around with narrowed eyes, she saw Tomoyo and another boy still staring at them. She gaped at Gien, analyzing him. Gien was quite taken a back with that glaring eyes of the red haired lady. She stopped hugging the confused Sakura and stared at Gien with a sudden surprised eyes. She turned around at Sakura to Gien. She realized they were looking at her strangely so not knowing what to say, she just walked by the door. But suddenly, as their eyes followed her, Sheifa spun around, smiling.
"What are you waiting for?Morning?Don't you want to come in?"
Sheifa went inside as the dumbfounded persons followed her inside the bamboo house. They can't believe his sister will act oppositely from Syaoran. As soon as they entered, Sheifa told them where they will sleep. Tomoyo, Sakura,and Sheifa will sleep in Sheifa's room. Meiling and Keiko, her daughter, will sleep in Keiko's room. And Syaoran, Gien and Yamazaki are in Syaoran's reserved room. Because its already night and they are all exhausted from all that walking and surprisement, they directly slump to bed. Sakura, though, suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. She's thirsty so she looks around for the comfort room. As she looks around, she heard voices.
"... she's strong. Since the day I met her, I notice her aura getting stronger as it mingle with the power of the pendant. Though her power isn't enough to overcome the emperor. I heard he have powers but I doubt that. Only our clan have magic." It's Syaoran's voice from down stairs. Sakura flinched, though not knowing why. Sakura leaned down, she can't clearly hear him.
"You're wrong Syaoran. He really have powers and you don't have to know how." She heard someone said darkly. It's Sheifa's. She only heard 'emperor' and a whisper of 'powers' in her place... She wants to listen more.
Syaoran didn't answer though. He can't understand how the emperor to have powers. Sakura is an indirect descendant of Clow so he understands why she have powers. But the emperor can't be their relative or descendant of Clow, can he?.
"Anyway, what happened to you on your way here?I expected you to arrive in seven days since the day I was informed about the search in Sirca but you arrived five days late?What could have delayed you?" Sheifa said in an eager voice, changing the topic.
Syaoran sighed and told her about the whirlpool of sand they've encountered. How Sakura saved them and how tired she is after. He also told her about the happenings in Sirca. And about her finding out about their clan.
"Hontou*? She already found out about us? Really now, I thought it'll be long before she'll find out." Sheifa said, with a faked disappointment in her voice. Syaoran sighed. He knew deep inside, Sheifa's beaming. She must be very impressed on Kinomoto by now.
"Well, it's Yamazaki's fault, that slipping tongue of his." Syaoran hissed but added soon enough... "Besides, Kinomoto have a power to detect other auras, I'm sure she felt mine the first time we met but maybe doubting how I can have powers and she perhaps felt its impossible for her to have powers." Syaoran sighed.
"Maybe she feels my aura too. Anyway, I'm sure when you first met, she don't know how to detect auras and powers. Possible that she can feel it but she's ignoring it. So how did you made her come with you?" ask Sheifa.
"I don't know how too. I just told her, I'm going to help her to go out the gates without the notice of the soldiers, since I'm going there too. She said okay and live with us. Perhaps, she's a kind of a girl who trust and be kind to everybody. Even me, who's a stranger to her." he said as Sheifa strangely stared at him. Syaoran noticed it.
"What is it?" he asked, frowning. Sheifa suddenly giggled.
"It's just that I know you don't give away kind compliments to 'just somebody' and there you are, saying Sakura-chan is kind and always trusting." said Sheifa while Sakura wondered what's wrong. The boy was caught surprised. He had said that unconsciously. He didn't show his bewilderment and played along.
"Well...it's true. I can't blame her if she's kind enough to trust us, even that Gien guy she just bumped in to in Sirca." Syaoran said, suddenly scowling. Sheifa stopped giggling, getting serious, her eyes telling so.
"Dare ga*?That boy with blue eyes you're with?" Syaoran nods as Sheifa looks darkly, with, at least Syaoran thought he saw, a bit
"Nan de*?" Syaoran asked Sheifa, noticing her unusual seriousness.
"Huh?Nan de monai*.." she said sheepishly
Syaoran didn't push her to tell him. He knew he can't pull it up this time. The way she looked a while ago is pretty unusual. He wonders what Gien has to do about it. As he thinks about it, he suddenly sensed something, sighing and suddenly standing up. Startled by his actions, Sheifa looked intently at him. She saw him looking upstairs, at first, she wonders. But as she concentrates on it, she silently giggled. She called his attention silently as Syaoran crouch down with her.
"You knew her well, don't you? Maybe you like her." Sheifa said, her eyes sneered at him. Her voice was filled with laughter she tried to hide in it. Actually, Syaoran tried hard not to flinch or to react guiltily. He knew he doesn't have a reason to be affected by it. But when he heard the phrase 'you like her', his heart skip a beat. He can't understand it though, he can't like a person he only knew for at least two months! He feels he only consider her as a friend but he doesn't like her as more than 'that'. Kinomoto is just a girl he had been tasked to protect and that's it,... or is it?
"I wonder why they became silent?" Sakura said as she leaned down more in the stairs. Maybe they're whispering to each other now, she thought. But she wants to listen more. She stepped down silently to see what they're doing and to her surprise, they are looking at her.
"Come here, Kinomoto." Syaoran commanded, frowning as Sakura frightenly walked down to Syaoran.
'I smell trouble.' Sakura thought sheepishly as she confronts with Syaoran and Sheifa at his side. Sakura's eyes averts when Syaoran looks at her eyes. There's a glint of laughter in Sheifa's eyes. They are silent for a couple of minutes before Syaoran comments...
"My, my...The mistress of the pendant, who shall save the world, was caught eavesdropping in the middle of the night. A nice thing to do, isn't it?" Syaoran sarcastically said. Sakura bowed her head and decided to ask a question, frightenly.
"How did you found out I'm there? And since when did you found out about me being there?" Sakura almost whispered and stammered, ashamed of eavesdropping but she still wonder how.
"Simple, I felt your aura and eversince I heard the sqeak of your door." He stated the obvious.
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, we don't need to hide our conversation to you. You knew who I am. I just like to see what your reaction would be." Syaoran smirks as he teased her, his eyes telling so. Sheifa burst into laughter as Sakura pouts.
"Mou*, Syaoran-kun!" Syaoran stayed silent, a small smile unconsciously played on his lips as Sakura poked his ribs but it doesn't affect him. He like to tease Sakura like that. Sakura looks adorable when she pouts. Wait.Did he just think of her adorable?! The amber eyed boy's cheeks colored into crimsom as he thought about it. Of course, as always, Sakura didn't notice this but Sheifa did. She heard her calling him 'Syaoran-kun'. And she knew he won't let anyone call him in his first name except for his relatives and close friends. She can also recall the smile in his lips when he look at Sakura. And as she look more closely, she saw him getting crimson.
'My brother, blushing? I must be dreaming! And that Smile!First time I saw that! No one in the family ever made Syaoran smile. He never smiled but to a girl he just met, even if it's a small smile, it's still a smile!The end must be near!!!' Sheifa wonders, but soon followed by giggles. Syaoran and Sakura suddenly looked at her strangely.
"What is it?" The boy said calmly, but you could see the suspecting glint in the amber eyes. He knew her red haired sister is thinking malicious things again at times like this.
"Nothing, I just saw things that usually doesn't happen." She told them as Syaoran sighed, leaving Sakura all confused.
"I can't understand you and Daidouji-san. You two both say weird things." He shook his head, sighing heavily again...thinking 'I knew it...'. and turned his head to Sakura.
"Go to your room now. You need to sleep, don't you?" He scolded pushing her gently up stairs.
"Hai, hai." Sakura obediently go up stairs sighing, closely followed by Sheifa. However, Sheifa turned to her brother before she goes up. Syaoran looked up, startled, at her and found her grinning. He arched one eyebrow to her and she step to her room.
"What a weird sister. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really related to such opposite to me." Syaoran sighed, putting his hand on his forehead and shook his head.
*=====*=====*
Sakura opened her emerald eyes. Her head is aching because she slept late listening to Syaoran and her sister. She sat up and as her senses got clearer, she put on her sky blue sleeveless shirt and her shorts. As she combed her hair and ponytail it, she heard loud snore from Kero (Inside her bag). She giggled and put him in her bed so he can sleep well, smiling. She reminded herself to give him food later or he'll go ballistic again as she walk down stairs for breakfast, humming a melody. She searched for Tomoyo and the others but apparently, they are not inside the house.
"Is it right to leave a girl like me alone in this house? I wonder where they are." Sakura said. As if a cue, she soon heard yells coming from outside. She went there to find out. As she look around it, she remained amused at how big Sheifa's house is. At the back of her house, there is a big yard where Keiko, Sheifa's daughter, was training with Syaoran. The light brown haired girl decided to kick Syaoran's side
"Come on, you can do better than that." Syaoran said to Keiko.
She yelled and kicked harder but Syaoran simply dodge it. Sakura notes herself on how beautiful Syaoran dodge the kicks and punches Keiko launches to him but immediately shook off the ideas she's having. When she thinks of Syaoran consciously or unconsciously, she doesn't know why but her heart will suddenly pounds and her face gets hotter. She doesn't felt this way before so she don't know what that is. Sakura around and saw Tomoyo, Meiling [glaring mysteriously to Keiko but Sakura ignored it], Yamazaki and Sheifa watching them at the side. As she look at them, Tomoyo and Sheifa turned to her and asked her to come with them. Sakura smiled and delightedly went to them. It is hard to be alone, she thought. They watched it until the end as they clapped their hands for their performance. Keiko and Syaoran left the 'training stage' and went to their audience.
"Mou*, Onii-chan*! You always beat me!" said Keiko, furious to herself.
"Well you're only 12 yrs old, there are a lot of things you still need to learn. Don't rush things!" said Syaoran while she pouts and Sakura approached him as her eyes twinkle in delight.
"Sugoi*! Kakoii*, Syaoran-kun!" said Sakura, eager in her voice as Syaoran sighed in exasperation 'You're so genki*.' he thought. She didn't know Meiling and Keiko are glaring at her.
"Syaoran-kun?" said Keiko as Sakura slowly looked at the girl with light brown hair unlike her mother (Red hair) and dark brown eyes.
"Ne ne* Sheifa-chan, you're daughter is so Kawaii*!" She turned her head to Sheifa but Keiko repeats her question, still glaring.
"I said, why is it you call Onii-chan like that?" Syaoran looked at her strange. 'Keiko is acting weird today', he thought. Sakura ignored the glares she is giving to her and answered.
"Hai*, I told him I like to call him by his first name and he let me." She simply said, smiling sweetly. Keiko shrugged and walked away as Sakura goes with her "Hoe?" exclamation again. Meiling, too, is glaring.to Sakura and.Keiko?!
"Hoe?" she repeated as she saw Meiling.
"Minna*, want to eat?" Sheifa said cheerfully as everyone gladly agrees with her. As all of them walk towards the dining room, Sakura looked back at Keiko and Keiko gave her glares and smirks. As dense as she is, she didn't get it at all.
*=====*=====*
"Ha!!!" Sakura yelled as she punches Keiko with all her might but she dodges lazily as if mocking Sakura. .'Just like what Syaoran did to me' she thought, getting a little hot but at the same time, amaze at how Syaoran and Keiko are common to each other. Sakura's thoughts are interrupted by Tomoyo whose cheering for her.
"Ganbatte* Sakura-chan!" She wave at her as Sakura sweatdropped.
"Tomoyo.This isn't a game you know."
"Watch your enemy, Kinomoto." Syaoran said quietly.
At that very moment, Sakura spun just in time to see Keiko whose about to hit her face. Sakura ducked with a yell of "Hoeee." as Keiko goes for a punch but Sakura barely dodges it.
'I need to get serious or my face will be squashed by her.' She thought.
She push away all other thoughts, all the yells Tomoyo and the others give, all the glares she noticed from Meiling and Keiko, and concentrated on fighting. Keiko gave her another kick as Sakura jumped out of its way. Keiko was stunned but she continued to lunge at her. Kicks, power punches, uppercuts, round kicks, all merely made contact with her target. They stopped for awhile, panting as Syaoran looked at Sakura with unhidden amazement.
'Kinomoto is sure scary when she's serious.Keiko is one of the great martial artists in our clan, including Meiling and I. How the heck did she do that?' The others can't explain it too, including Sakura's best friend.
They are in utter silence, in their own thoughts. They suddenly wake up from their trance when they saw Sakura attack her. Syaoran watches her moves as if he can't believe this is the Kinomoto he knew. All her moves, Kicks, punches, dodges, are executed gracefully as if watching a dance. Soon enough, when Keiko slightly off guard, Sakura took this chance and placed a fist under Keiko's chin. They looked at each other with intense looks but as soon as they heard a squeak of a bell (Meaning the training is over), they straightened up.
"That's a good fight. I never knew that part of my Sakura." Tomoyo said, approaching her, eyes twinkling, with hands full of towel and gave it to her.
"Arigatou*." Sakura smiled sweetly as she wipe out the thick line of sweat in her face. She turned to see Yamazaki, saying she did well and to Keiko, whose being surrounded by Sheifa, Syaoran and Meiling. Sheifa noticed her and she hugged Sakura.
"You fight good, you know. I knew you're good, once you're serious." She finished off her sentence and won a giggle from Sakura.
"Well, I did train with Syaoran-kun in Sirca, but there, someone pissed me off so I beat him. In short, I'm a little experienced. Ne Syaoran-kun?" she said smiling. Her smile though is between a grin and a sweet smile at him as she advance at him, their face only few inches from each other. Syaoran looked away.
"Yeah, I trained her."
"Feh, A month! You can't muster things only by months, you know. You're just lucky today." Keiko walked away, muttering something which Sakura could swore she heard 'That Kinomoto, flirting with my Oniichan' but she brushes that thoughts aside when she noticed someone was missing.
"Ne Syaoran-kun, Where's Gien-kun?" Syaoran scowled as he heard the name and answered.
"Still sleeping, it doesn't matter though. He doesn't know you have magic."
"Well yeah, but why don't we tell him?"
"Are you crazy? He's just a stranger to all of us, we don't know anything about him, if he is trust worthy. Besides, you just saw him in the streets, right? And we just let him stay with us because you said so, that you pity him, right? So don't tell him anything which can led us to danger."
"Is that why you're angry with him?" Sakura asks curiously as Syaoran flinched. Syaoran doesn't exactly dislike him because of that. Yeah, one reason, it is. But he feels its more than that which he is not familiar with.
"Ne minna, you still didn't see the whole Desuria, do you?" Sheifa assume that, at the faces of Sakura and Tomoyo, they still didn't.
"Let's go outside!I want to buy Sakura-chan some of those dresses I saw in the town!It'll fit her!" Sheifa squealed, her hands clasp together and her eyes twinkling. Sakura was quite reminded of someone she knew dearly. And about that topic, she's dreading that the scene next to happen will be...
"Hontou ni, Sheifa-san?! I wanna see it!!!" Tomoyo squealed, cupping Sheifa's hands to hers as her eyes twinkled the same. Sakura sighed, but she's delighted to get out of the house for once. She feels that one day, she can be lost inside at how big her house is.
*===*===*
"See, you're beautiful on that, Sakura-chan!" The violet eyed girl sqealed in delight. Indeed, the girl, Sakura, whose in front of her looked beautiful thanks to Tomoyo's great sewing. She's dressed in a light green with light pink ribbons at the end of the sleeves. It's slightly above the knee and it has a lot of laces at the sides. Sakura's hair was braided in a headband form tied with emerald green ribbon which matches the color of her eyes. Sakura spun, looking at herself in the mirror. She smiled, Tomoyo done a good job today. She loved the dressed as a matter of fact though she doesn't show it or by tomorrow, she'll have tons of dresses to wear. She stopped her thoughts when she heard a girl at her side whined.
"Ne Daidouji, why do I have to wear some of your get ups too?!" Meiling said.
Sakura and Tomoyo smiled knowingly, thinking the same thought: It fits her. Meiling dress a fitted red chinese blouse with a blooming flower all over it. Her dress goes beyond her feet. Her hair is in her bun form, as usual because Meiling insisted that it should not be changed too, but Tomoyo braided the endings of her hair. And her sleeves are also tied with darkish pink ribbon. Just the same, it really looks good on you.
"Answer me!" She demanded.
"Nothing, I just got a lot of good fabric and I thought a good outfit for you. Why? Don't you like it? It really fits you!" Tomoyo said, contented with her work. It took her ten days to do it since they left to see the whole Desuria town. She saw some good fabrics and she bought it. They're suppose to buy dresses but Tomoyo insisted to Sheifa when she saw good fabrics that she can create elegant dresses out of it. Sheifa is interested and let her.
Meiling crossed her arms on her chest and Tomoyo continued. "Well, if you don't want it, I'll just give it to Sakura-chan...Maybe it fits her too. Maybe when Li-kun see Sakura in that dress of yours, he might like her..." she was about to come to Meiling to pull it out of her but Meiling suddenly avoided in her touch.
"Yada, I...I like it...Don't take it and give to...that Kinomoto." Meiling said quietly as Tomoyo smiled triumphantly. She planned that. It really fitted her so it's a waste if she doesn't like it so Tomoyo finds a way how to get her work all worth it...
"Hey, how long do you plan to take there?" They heard Syaoran called to them impatiently. They are inside Sheifa's bedroom. It's way passed dinner time and they haven't eat yet. They hid their dresses inside Sakura's bag and went out for dinner.
*===*===*
"Ne, Eriol-kun...Don't you think you are not giving them enough umm...testings?" Eriol look at the flying blue cat over his shoulder.
"Hmm, don't worry my dear spinnel...I'll do something to them soon..." The evil smile showed over his face. His plan will be executed soon.
*===*===*
"Huh?" Sakura looked up, as if she is finding something visible. The violet eyed girl looked at her worriedly. It seems that her friend is feeling something normal person could see.
"Nani*, Sakura-chan?"
"I felt something..."
"Like what?" As Tomoyo said it, the feel went stronger. She looks around and she could tell, at the eyes of Sheifa, Keiko and Syaoran, they could feel it. Gien, Meiling, Tomoyo and Yamazaki eyed them with mixed confusion and worry. As they look around, a ball of light crash to them. They hid their face by their hands but still, the bright light stream their eyes. After the light subsides, they look at the thing that caused it. But to Syaoran, Sakura, Keiko and Sheifa's surprise, they are the only one who saw the light.
"Really now, what's wrong with you four?" Gien said. His eyes on Sakura worriedly. The Card Mistress just tilted her head to her side cutely in confusion.
'Funny, Why do I get the feeling that we're the only one who can see it?...' Sakura looked around confusely...
It's because the explosion is only by people with magic... the familiar voice ring in her ears.
'I see... So that means...'
Be careful my Mistress... it said as Sakura nodded visibly.
It's from my former master... it continued...
"Hoe?"
"What is it, Sakura-chan?" Sheifa said when she heard the girl. She shook her head to Sheifa. She doesn't want to tell them she can speak with the pendant. They might think of her as a weirdo or something and she doesn't like that.
"It looks like we are the only ones who can sense it and see it..." Syaoran said, getting ready. He put out his globe like thing that can transform but he won't make it a sword yet. Many would know what he is.
"See what?" Yamazaki said. He saw Syaoran bringing out his globe which means something dangerous is coming.
"Right now, there is something..." Sakura was about to say it but he saw Gien. What will he think if she can see something they can't? After all, he doesn't know anything.
"Something what?" Gien said when he saw Sakura look in her way. But just then, the ball of light reacted. It send an explosion in wide range. Syaoran went in front of them as if protection as they take for cover. But when the explosion hit them, they can't feel a thing as if it's just a cold wind passing by them. When they felt it stopped, they look at the ball of light.
"It's gone..." Syaoran look around and saw...
__* Gien's point of view *__
"What's happening?It feels cold..." I said, I noticed that I can't move my arms or even blink.
"Tomoyo, Meiling, Gien, Yamazaki!" I heard Sakura exclaimed, terrified.
'Sakura?' I moved my eyes to my sides and to my surprise, I found out that we were in an ice. No wonder he is feeling cold. Now I understand I and her friends were freezed inside an ice. Sakura rush to us. But when she touch the ice beholding Tomoyo's body, the emerald eyed girl felt strange sensation. She could feel herself becoming cold. Just then did she saw that the ice is slowly swallowing her body.
'What the?'
"Kinomoto!" I turned my eyes to the amber eyed boy who is approaching her but he was stopped by Keiko.
"Don't!You might end up like her when you touch her." she said. 'Stupid girl... Didn't even think before doing it. Feh, that's right for you.' Keiko smirked.
"Sy-Syaoran, I'm cold..." Sakura said. The ice swallowed half of her body already. She could feel it's very hard to breath and all the parts of her body is cold. I looked at her in pain. I can see in her eyes the feeling of pain and I don't like that. Then I saw Li pulled himself out of Keiko's grasp and went as close as he could possibly be to Sakura.
"I know. Hang on, I'll try to stop it." Syaoran said and bring out something like an ofuda. He transformed his sword to my surprise.
"W-what the?" This Li had magic...Now that I think of it, I think I heard that name before...Where?
"Lord Of Fire, come forth!" He said and I was amazed. Fire came out of nothing and shot to Sakura.
'Look out!' I said. But nothing happened. The Ice didn't melt at his magic. And the Ice is coming up to her neck, no wonder Li is already desperate. 'If he really have magic, he better do something or once I'm outta here, I'm going to kill him...' I thought and I will do that if he failed to save her.
"What the? It didn't work!" Sheifa gasped. She too try to put stop at it's flow but it doesn't work.
"Sy-Syaor..." Sakura said weakly before the Ice covered her completely. Sheifa, Li and I looked at her terrified. 'Sakura...'. I looked at Li angrily... 'How dare he! Wait til I get my hands on y....' I was interrupted when...
"S-SAKURA!!!!" Li said, loudly. If I'm free from this ice, I could have flinched. I never heard Li calling Sakura by her first name. It's always Kinomoto and this time, for the first time, he called her different. It's by her first name.
__* *__
'Where am I?' The auburn haired girl, lookeda around her. It was all white. She remember herself being swallowed by an Ice and out cold. She started walking in the endless white, she wonders where it'll end. At last, after a long walk, she saw a garden ful of flowers, rivers and fields... Suddenly, as she walk towards it, a woman, in a long white dress with beautiful gray hair and twinkling beautiful eyes, appeared before her. Apparently, she somewhat recognize the woman.
"Mother?" Nadesico nods, smiling sweetly to her daughter. Sakura doesn't have much memories of her since she left them when Sakura was still three years old
' My mother is there. maybe if go there, I may be happy...' She started walking again. She always want to embrace her mother for so long and now given a chance, she would like to do it. Her mother opened her arms as if ready to catch Sakura in her arms..
No, please...It's still not time for you to pass in there...To her surprise, a familiar voice echoed pleadingly in her ears. She stops on her tracks and looked around.
'The voice of the pendant.' she thought.
Yes, it is...
'Where am I? To pass? Why? Am I...dead?' She thought sadly. She turned to see her mom who's looking at her worriedly.
No, you're still not dead. In fact, you're in between worlds: death and life...
'Death and Life?How come...?'
You are to choose if you want to live or not... She heard him.
'To live or not?'
She didn't let her eyes off to her mother. She really wanted to be with her. She had been given a chance to be with her mom, long since she left them. She wanted to feel how a mother love her daughter. She wanted to say I love you to her. She wanted to be with her, it's all she wanted. She also can have peace here. That's her everything. She feels that she have to walk towards her now. She started walking towards her mother who's happy that she chose her. But just then, at the back of her mind, she heard a familiar voice called her...
"S-SAKURA!!!!" she heard, she turned around abruptly. She knew whose that voice came from.
"Syaoran-kun?" She said in a surprised tone. He called her by her first name, she flushed at that. She never heard him call him like that.
That's right. She have something to do...When she heard the boy, in the back of her mind, she starts gaining memories. Something disturbs her thought, a question: Are you sure you want to live there? Are you really happy?... As she hear the words, she starts remembering the things she had. The pendant, her family, her friends... everything. Ironically, she thought she can't leave yet. She had many things left unfinished. Many people are depending on her to save them from suffering. Many people, her friends and families, are going to be sad if she will leave. Leaving them for a selfish act. As then, she decided. She shut her eyes off her mother who's still waiting for her to come in her arms. And then, Sakura opened her emerald eyes, resolutely.
"I want to live..." She stated.
Do you really wish to live?... The pendant's voice said...
"Yes..." As soon as she said it, everything vanished, and all went dark. She still not back to reality.
"It's just an illusion..."
Yes it is...
'But this still isn't the reality, right?How can I overcome this?' She said curiously...
You're right, you're still in between life and death since you're stucked in an Ice cube magically. If you stay any longer inside it, with or without your choice, you might end up dead...
'Sou na*...' She have to stop herself from freezing, now that the pendant mentioned it... she felt cold, extremely cold. She wrapped her arms to her body, trying to think what to do.
'What must I do?' she asked the pendant but none answered her. She assumed the pendant wants her to figure this out herself... 'Now, I'm all alone...' And suddenly, she heard a crack open... She looked up and saw light streaming in from it.
"I see, I can get out of there...But how?" she said loudly until she had an idea...
'Wait a minute...' she clutches her pendant and felt it glowing...
'Sou ka*, I'm not alone, am I?' She smiled to herself and chant:
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Make me free from these frozen Ice!" She exclaimed. Soon after, she felt her power drained but enough left to keep her standing. However, she still tired.
*===*===*
Syaoran went down on his knees, feeling helpless.
'Baka*, I'm suppose to protect her. How can I leave her, why did I turned my back to her for a second when I know something might happen?I know this thing came for them...Yet I didn't protect her...Damn!' He thought, he might kicked himself...He failed to protect the girl he was tasked. He failed his relatives. 'And the fact that she's the only one who can overturn and save them, I failed. And to the fact that I like to be with her...What did I just thought?!' He soon shook away the thought and concentrate on how to get her and his other friends to get out of there. Until he sensed something...It's the source!
"Ne, Oniichan!Stop crouching there and help us finding its source!" Keiko said...'How did this girl affect him so much?' she questioned herself... Syaoran stands up and runs towards the aura. After running from left to right, he found the source. it's a crystal shining in bluish aura...
"Matte, Syaoran-oniichan!!" Keiko said as Sheifa soon followed..
"It's the source, right?" he nods. "Maybe we should destroy it to let them free, that's the only thing I can think of as an explanation." Sheifa said and he nods again. He attacked the crystal mindlessly but to his surprise, he hit the barier. He was blown back, lying...
"Little brother!" "Oniichan!" They went to him and kneel.
"Daijoubu*?" He nods to them...
"So there's a barrier protecting it... I wonder who made this up..." Sheifa looked at it, wondering what it is...
"Even though, it's still hard to resist my attack!" Keiko stand up and formed a bluish ball in her hands (Remember the Goku style in dragon ball?The Kame ha me ha?It's the form, alright? Just explainin!) and shot it through the crystal, it had effect on it but it's not strong enough...
"Oh no. Even if I hit it with full power, it seemed weak enough to break the barrier..." Keiko brushes off her sweat. It really drained her powers but she's not intending to show it. Sheifa stood up and walked beside her daughter...
"Maybe if we combine our powers, it might damaged a bit and that can give Syaoran a chance to destroy it..." They all nod to each other and a formed a blue green ball energy (Since Keiko's energy color is blue and Sheifa is light green, not as green as Syaoran's)and shot it towards the crystal barrier. Just as they thought, it was damaged. Syaoran put out his Fire ofuda and called it out. It soon completely destroyed the barrier and slightly crack the crystal...
*===*===*
Sakura opened her eyes and the Ice shattered away from her body. She settle herself down to her knees, panting slightly... She again looked at her friends, and she saw...
"Gien-kun!" She went near him when she saw his eyes are open unlike the others who seemed asleep.
"Did you?" She knew the only one who are conscious are those with magic...How come Gien's awake though he is inside the ice? Just then, Gien turned his eyes to where Syaoran went to. At first, she was confused but when she felt Syaoran's aura weakening as she concentrates on the place Gien is looking. She understand him. And she also understand that at the way Gien is looking at her, he knew everything.
"I'll go to Syaoran-kun, okay? I'll give you a hand after!" She waved good bye at her friend as he watch her.
'It's good to know you're alright but do you have the... pendant?' he asked her rhetorically.
*===*===*
"Now that the barrier is gone, I can destroy it!" He raised his sword to thrust it through the crystal but a familiar voice called him out.
"Syaoran-kun!" Sakura yelled as she found him. Sheifa and Keiko looked at her, slightly bewildered. How did she escaped from that Ice cube? Syaoran dropped his sword and wen to her.
"Hey, How did you...?" Syaoran was interrupted...
"I'll tell you later..." She smiled knowingly. She remembered Syaoran calling her by first name... She looked at the thing he was about to attack...
"What's that!What a cute crystal!" She exclaimed and her eyes twinkled while Syaoran and the others slipped (Anime style!I loved those!).
"Baka*! Can't you be a little more serious?!" Keiko said, angry. How can a girl like her exclaimed like that when they hardly destroy its barrier?! Suddenly, Syaoran and Sheifa stood up looking at the crystal...
"Look, It's starting to make another barrier again!" Sheifa sqeaked as the ball slowly cover itself again inside a barrier.
"Really now, what is it?" Sakura asked curiously...
"We think its possible that the one that generated ice in this place is this crystal..." Syaoran answered her and the girl simply let out a soft gasp. but as soon in realization.
"I see, no matter how cute that crystal is, I won't forgive it! Stucking our friends inside a freezing ice cube!It's unforgivable!" She said, increasing her power. She closed her eyes and said a familiar chant...
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power, grant my wish. Let it happen as I command Destroy that crystal that generates Ice!"
She pointed to the crystal and immediately, it was destroyed. The ice all around them disappeared. the ice that held the people also vanish, and almost all of them are unconscious. Sakura felt all her powers drained and fell to her knees. She was immediately caught by Syaoran before heating the ground and supported her.
"Daijoubu*?" Sakura asked them
"Weren't we the ones whose suppose to ask you that?" Sheifa said, arching one eye brow and Syaoran nods in agreement...
"Well, you're more hurt than I am..." Sakura said, concerned at the bruises and cuts on Syaoran's body.
"Don't worry about me, you're the one who had drained their powers you know..." Syaoran smiled at her, a genuine amile. He was happy she's safe. Sakura was surprised but smiled sweetly anyway. Keiko looked at them terrified.
'Just look at how Syaoran look at her! Don't smile at anyone like that! I can't let this happen!' she thought resolutely...
"Come on, let's go to the others..." Sheifa said as she led them to their friends. Sakura is walking but is supported by Syaoran in her waist as Keiko looked at them jealously.
As they walk, Sakura asks him something, she looked at him... "Ne, Syaoran- kun, Didn't you called me by my first name a while ago?" Syaoran went crimson.
'How did she hear that?' He bow his head and nods. He can't let her see that he is blushing.
"Then, can you call me by my first name now? I felt, since i met you, we became a little closer. I like you to call me 'Sakura' as you did before just as I call you Syaoran, ne?" Syaoran looked at her and she smiled.
He was blushing madly. Did she know what effects that smile to him? and he nods. In front of them, Sheifa, is giggling though she tried to hide. She can see her little brother's face, the way he looked at her. Though, he's still not realizing it, Sheifa knew where her little brother's feelings will lead to. Keiko, though, is sulky. She's is hating the emerald eyed girl more and more by a minute.
'What a flirt!I'll teach her a lesson one of these days!' She thought, clenching her fists as she look at his onii-chan's hands on Sakura's waist. They find their way to their friend's group who lay unconscious on the ground except one...
"Gien?" Keiko said, distracted from her thoughts. Gien rubbed his head and turned to them. Sheifa looked at him darkly, as Sakura looked down. 'He knows everything...'. As for Syaoran, he eyed him. 'how come he's awake?' . A few seconds, he seems to realized why he is awake, he scowled at him. Though he wonder how...
"You saw everything, don't you?" the amber eyed boy growled and Gien nods. He still can't believe the one his father is looking for is here. And the fact that he like the girl with the pendant... Should he turn her to her father? 'No,' he thought boldly. 'But I want to know how it came to her...'
"Sakura-chan, you hold the pendant with powers, right?" Gien said, an undescribable glint was seen in his eyes. Syaoran went in front of her protectively. Sakura hold unto his sleeves to prevent herself from falling.
"What will you do, Gien-kun, if I said yes?" Sakura said, she couldn't see the Gien she met, as if his aura is indifferent. Gien blinked. Maybe she thought I might get it from her. He smiled.
"I just want to know the truth,.. I've travel with you guys and I didn't know things like this. I just felt... untrusted, okay? Don't worry, I won't get it from you..."
Syaoran scowled but one look from Sakura, he looked away. She turned to Gien. She felt ashamed to not telling him.
"Gomen*, You know, things like this isn't something I should babble to anyone. I trusted you but I thought it's best to keep it from you first."
"I understand." Gien said though, he still amaze at what he saw today. Tomoyo and the others soon gained consciousness. They went home and Sheifa and the others told them what happened. They also told Gien the things happened before he came, reluctantly, to Syaoran.
"Hey, Sakura, Don't you think you already needs to rest?" Syaoran said, rubbing his eyes. But suddenly, he felt three pairs of eyes looked at him.
"Nani?" Syaoran said to Tomoyo, Yamazaki and Meiling who is very angry.
"You just call her 'Sakura'..." Tomoyo stated, shocked. She just heard the mighty Li called her friend by her first name which is very unusual. Syaoran blushed but Sakura saved him.
"So what if he call me by my first name? It's just that he like to do it, okay? Case close!" She said and winked at Syaoran.
"I'm tired, let's sleep. Oyasumi-nasai*!" Sakura said, stretching her arms and went directly to Sheifa's room. One after another, they evacuated the living room wondering what had happened(Except of course, those who already knew!)...
*===*===*
"Ne, Eriol-kun... If Sakura had chose the illusion over reality, you said you'll stop it, right? Then, why are you doing that for?" Nakuru asked, crossing her arms.
"It's to widen Sakura's wise decision. If she was to choose something like that in the future, she will have an idea what to do." he said, putting down his book.
"Do you think it's wise for Gien to see that Sakura had the pendant?" Suppi said, resting in his lap.
"Don't worry, that descendant of mine won't turn Sakura to his father. He love her as much as little wolf does." He smiled...
*===*===*
"Urgent news, Your majesty. The result from Sirca said, a girl saw her friend with the pendant we're looking for..." A soldier said, kneeling down before the emperor. The emperor stood up, startled by the news.
"What?Where is it?" He exclaimed...
"Well, your majesty, They aren't in Sirca village anymore...So the general was wondering if we could do a search in Desuria town. They said it's possible they might be there..."
"Fine do it!Just make sure you can find it!Don't come back until you got it!" He said, disappointed as the soldier nods.
And the emperor continued..."And how about my son? Did you find him?"
"No sir, He was out of sight in Sirca and Walludos..."
"Fine, As soon as you found him, bring him back here..." He said
"Yes sir!"
"You're dismissed..." Emperor said. The soldier nods and he left. The emperor looked at the maids and said
"Where is Eriol?"
"He's at his room your majesty."
"I see...It's already night. You may sleep now, prepare my bed now."
*===*===*
As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt Tomoyo shifted to her side. She sat up wondering what's causing herself to find it hard to sleep. She's suppose to be tired because of the recent fights and here she is, wide awake. She went outside to the balcony and think about the things happened to her for two months. Kero, waking up, saw Sakura and followed her quietly. She met him, Syaoran, in her town Esmilia, a day after she found out she's the mistress of the said pendant. She sighed. Since then, she's always on the run, she's always away from her home. That's right. She already missed her family. She never went away from her home this long. She misses her father. She knew he's very worried about her right now.
"I missed my family." Sakura looked up to the starless sky. Kero stared at her worriedly.
Do you regret having the pendant, my mistress? . The pendant's voice said quietly to her. She smiled.
"No, I don't regret having the pendant. Because of this, I had great friends. I learn knew things. My life is better to be with everyone. Than to be locked in our big house without anyone with you. My father and brother are always away from home. Yet, I missed them. After all, they are my family and I loved them so much. Don't worry, I loved this work too. I felt I'm not alone. Because of that, I won't regret any of this." She said. Having heard by Kero, he smiled. His mistress is so kind hearted.
To be continued....
There!!! It's finished! As always, please REVIEW!!!! I realy won't post any more fanfic if you won't review, okay? Please, if you're also writer and you feel no one is reading, you'll feel like this right? So please consideration.
Translations:
Hai- yes. Kawaii- cute Hontou- really Dare ga- who? Nan desu? - what is it? Nan de monai - nothing's wrong Mou- geez Onii-chan- 'Onii' - big brother. 'chan' - sign of respect Sugoi- great Kakkoii- you're cool Ne- hey Minna- everybody Gan Batte- You can do it! Arigatou- thank you Nani- what? Sou na- oh no! Sou ka- I see Baka- Idiot Matte- wait Daijoubu- It's alright Gomen- sorry Oyasumi- Good night
There!
~Sakura2649