Title: War Beat
Chapter 11: "Realizations"
Author: Peonyqt1004

DISCLAIMER: As it applies, I have no claim over the CCS characters, they all rightfully belong to CLAMP.

A/N: Please enjoy this chapter. I'm thinking that it came out pretty good.I was sick when I wrote this chappie thou. -.-; Remeber to Review! I might get better faster that way! Hahaha... It would be much appreciated! XD Oooh, Syaoran has a good fighting scene in this one. ^_^= Well, Actually, not good... but its cool. *smiles* And there is alot of fighting in this chapter! Kyah!
Syaoran felt the strong and familiar surge of magic from close by. Instantly recognizing Sakura's aura, he quickly and nimbly made it through the shadows towards the center, where many dead bodies and soldiers were gathered. Syaorans eyes grew wide as he watched what was happening.
Sakura faced the dark sorcerer, her eyes wide and sweat dripping down in rivulets down her hairline and face, yet a look of utter calm and dignity shone from her eyes. "You shall not come near me nor the key." She said, something new was in her voice, something powerful radiated from her. Optius's eyes widened and he tried to grab the key, but was thrown back by a pink aura. Sakura brought up a glittering hand, silver lights playing about her hair as the locket floated upwards, towards her eye level. It glowed silver and Sakura smiled as it suddenly faded and floated back down. Facing the awe struck soldiers she suddenly smiled, and the whole place was blown up heaven high.

Syaoran cursed, he had already sensed her move and had thrown up a sheild. It was like the strange uncontrolled power burst she had before at Starr city. The magic slammed onto his sheild, the air around his slammed down on him, causing his nose to bleed and his eyes to go bloodshot. He gasped for breathe as he drew down his magical sheild as he saw Sakura standing there, looking tired and dazed. Syaoran stared as she fell forward, slwoly, gracefully. With the agility of a fighter, he sprang from the shadows and caught her. Green met brown. Her eyes widened as she saw him. "Is it only a dream? Is it really you Syaoran?" Sakura whispered as her eyes closed and she fell limply into his arms. He made a move to get out of this damned destroyed place as fast as he could, but he was stopped by a whistling aroow which hit him squarely on the shoulder and sent him spinning onto the floor. He gasped painfully as he grasped Sakura against him. He felt that strange pulsating feeling within him. He would do anything to protect her... He didn't care about revenge, as long as Sakura was ok... Not realizing what he was thinking, he slowly let her go and limped upwards as he came face to face with Nubis, his eyes were glowing a purple fire.

"How did you escape her aura?"

Syaoran asked, his eyes glinting.

"Simple, my wagon was warded."

Nubis drew his sword and dropped his bow and arrow. Like Syaoran, his shoulder was peirced and damaged. Syaoran noted this, if he had to fight, at least they fought on equal grounds. Nubis passed his fingers over his glistening sword and smiled menacingly. "This sword has cut many throats prince." "Innocent or guilty? Was 99% of the victims innocent? What have they done to you?" Syaoran asked, tauntingly, Nubis growled, his eyes narrowing as he lunged at Syaoran. Wincing, Syaoran bounced back on his heels and managed to cartwheel rather crookedly away from Nubis, his sword still at hand. Syaoran used his magic to push Nubis away from Sakura, jumping in front of Sakura he looked at Nubis. "This will be a fair fight, no dirty tricks, and don't hurt Sakura." Nubis growled angrily as he stared down at the sleeping girl. "She is strong, her strength was hidden away by a feminine exterior." Syaoran growled. "Do you agree on what I said Nubis?" Nubis smiled crookedly. "As long as you don't use your magic, as you can see, I have no magic. A fair fight then Prince Li. Let the best man win."
Eriol motioned towards his troop. Their plan had already been formulated, Nubis's troops were completely unaware of their ambush. Eriol sat close in the shadows and gave a bird whistle. Three bird whistles greeted him back. Zachary was ready for an attack at the south, Linden at the north, and Tory, who came much to Eriols disgust, at the east. Eriol silently drew up two fingers, a signal to his troops around him. The rattles of swords being taken out of their sheaths went about the group, Eriol himself had taken out his sword. He heard Tomoyo taking out her sword and he turned to her, shaking his head. Tomoyo quivered, her eyes angry. "I'm going, I'm not useless." She hissed. "I'll die fighting." Eriol let out a whoosh of his breathe. "Easier said then done." Eriol said quietly. He motioned to one of his troops. " Look after Tomoyo, make sure she doesn't get into the fighting." Eriol whispered worriedly. The soldier nodded, putting a steely grip on Tomoyos upper arm. He looked at the princess with apologitic eyes and Eriol put up one finger in the air, many bird whistles resounded around him, it was time to fight.
Syaoran grimaced as Nubis swung his sword to his, their swords met with a metallic clang, the smell of coppery blood and magic made his eyes water, yet Syaoran fought on. Nubis had his eyes intently on their fighting. Syaoran did a handspring and jumped behind Nubis, wincing as he pulled the arrow out of his arm and blocked another quick and swift attack.

**CLANG**

"You will not escape your fate this time Prince Li."

**CLANG**

"You wanna bet?"

Syaoran yelped as Nubis swung his sword in a arch and ripped open the wound on his shoulder. Pain seared through Syaoran as he held his arm and staggered back, barely dodging the next move. Nubis had a maniacal grin on his face. "Die Prince Die." Syaoran winced as he swung his sword upwards and met Nubis with an attack. They were in a deadlock. Syaoran felt his muscles flew about his arms, and painfully around his wounded shoulder.

'I won't lose. I have to much to lose if I do. Too many failures, I won't have anymore.'

Nubis let out a small cry as blood flowed from his shoulders from the pressure. But firmly kept his sword in a deadlock. Syaoran felt a twinge of despair. 'I'll never win... Nubis is too strong, he's older then me... and has more experince on the feild...' Syaoran felt the pressure give and the sword neared towards his face. Syaoran let out a small despairing cry as he saw Nubis look down at him, triumph written on his face.

"Syaoran..."

Syaoran heard Sakura's voice, He froze, his eyes meeting hers.

Her eyes told him everything.

'Don't lose...' Those eyes told her. 'If you lose... I'll be sorry you're gone.'

Syaoran felt a strange strength fuel him, he pressed his last amounts of energy into the sword, sending Nubis sprawling on the floor. Nubis gasped as he fell headfirst into the mud. Syaoran whirled into a tornadoe kick, hitting Nubis right in the jaw when Nubis got back up, staggering back, Nubis held his bleeding lips with eyes of astonishment. "You..." Syaoran ran towards Nubis from a distance, and threw himself into a perfect fly kick, hitting Nubis straight in the middle of his forehead. Nubis staggered forward, his lips bleeding and red droplets of life fluids dripping down in rivulets from his hairline. Nubis's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as he slumped forward.

"Is he dead?" Sakura asked, her voice quivering. "No. I don't think so." Syaoran said, wincing and grunting while he held his bleeding shoulder. Sakura got up, swaying a bit. She helped Syaoran up and they left the encampment.
There was a deadly silence, a whistling of an arrow peirced the silent night and a soldier dressed in black fell, bleeding and gurgling as a sharp point entered his throat. Someone lept onto the wall, he gave a signal with his fingers, and was followed in by 11 men. Silently they stalked down the dark hallway and they stopped as they came to a room where laughter and rather loud talking was heard. Eriol looked at the black clad soldiers from the shadows. There were approximitly 32 men in the room, they could not enter yet, until a signal from outside is given. Crouching in the shadows, Eriol waited, his glistening sword drawn to his side.
Tory lept up lithely besides one of his fellow soldiers, although they had reacted negatively to his leadership, him being a newcomer and all, he had quickly gained their trust and respect with the skills he had in planning, fighting, and moving. He signaled towards the men behind him, about 12 men were in his group. He gave a sharp and low whistle, and one of his bowmen reacted quickly and deftly, his agile fingers letting loose two arrows and hitting the target quickly and silently. They climed upwards, flinging the roped up onto the wall, about 54 men would be withing, although they were outnumbered to about 3 to 4, Tory was confident, they had suprise as their weapon. Tory reached the shadowy hallways, this was the center room, where all the soldiers should be for dinner. Hearing the drunk laughter and talking, Tory knew he had made it. Squinting into the light, he gave his signal... a sharp low whistle followed by a hand signal in which Eriol could see from his position. Tory felt his heart hammering behind his ribcage. Everything was ready, the men at the south had reached the bottom flight, and so did the north. Tory clenched the sword besides him as he grabbed his small package which would confuse their enemies in between his hands. He let it fly. This was the start of a war.

"LET ME GO!" Tomoyo demanded, struggling a bit. The man looked a bit irritated. "You'll get hurt, and Eriol told me to watch you." Tomoyo pouted, irked at this... restriction. Tomoyo got a grad idea as she spotted something. "Oh! Look!" Tomoyo exclaimed, feigning a look of horror. "A soldier!" The man whirled about. 'Where?!" He growled, Tomoyo prayed that she would be forgiven as she raised her slender but solid sword hilt in the air and hit the soldier sqaurely on his head.
Syaoran groaned, the pain on his shoulder worsened with every movement. His breathing was labored as Sakura placed him down in the forest floor. Syaoran moaned gratefully as he slid down onto the leafy bed. Sakura kneeled besides him. "Are you ok Prince?" Syaoran winced and looked up at her from beneathe his bangs. "Yes... stop calling me prince." Sakura laughed nervously as she sat besides him. A faint moon beam filtered from leafy treetops. Syaoran felt his heart speed up and his face flush as he saw the way the moonlight played around with her beautiful light brown locks. She really looked beautiful. She was wearing a beautiful blue gown... and tiny gems were twined into her hair, making her glow. Syaoran wanted to touch her face and do something of that sort. But he restrained himself. He didn't understand what he was feeling. Sakura kneeled besides him. "Oh... that puncture was deep..." Sakura looked distressed. "There is no fresh water a long way from here, how are we to wash your wounds?" Sakura tore the hem of her blue silk dress and wrapped it around his shoulder. "You shouldn't have done that." SYaoran muttered, though he was thankful. "You look good in that dress." Sakura looked taken aback. "Me? Good?" Sakura squacked.Syaoran felt his face become red as he just realized what he had said, but to his relief, Sakura took it the bad way. "Stop making fun of me." Sakura huffed. "I'm far from good looking, and even farther from beautiful." Syaoran pitied her, she didn't know her beauty at all. Sakura kneeled besides him, her face hesitant. "You sure your ok?" Syaoran nodded, grimacing as he moved his arm. The moonlight caught the gleam of Sakura's locket.

"What about that locket?"

Sakuras hand flew protectively about her locket, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown. "What about it?" She asked defensively. Sakura felt her face flush as he looked at her rather searchingly. 'He has the most beautiful brown eyes...' She thought dreamily, frowning, she shook away that thought. "I thought that looked familiar." Syaoran said rather triumphly. "It's the locket... I mean the key to the stone of power." Sakura gave a little cry as her hands flew to her throat and clenched the locket between her palms.

"How so?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"Oh, some magic book told me..." Syaoran started, but frowned rather darkly as the blood from his wound trickled down his arm, hrough the bindings. "This wounds deep." SYaoran said faintly. He felt a bit dizzy and light headed. Maybe it was from exhustion? Sakura looked rather panicked. "Syaoran! Oh Syaoran!" Her voice faded out and he blacked out, but he smiled. She had called him Syaoran.

Tomoyo ran up the stairs, finding it suprisingly empty. 'They've done a through job...' Tomoyo thought as she pensively drew the sword to her side. "Little girl." A dark voice made Tomoyo yelp as she whirled around. She came face to face with a soldier dressed in black, with brown eyes and black hair, and from his swaggering, he was drunk. Tomoyo drew her sword. Maybe fighting a drunk soldier would'nt be hard? The man smiled, watching Tomoyo fidget with the sword. "Hahaha... You know a swords not a plaything?" He asked, his words slurred as he lept towards Tomoyo. Tomoyo brought up the sword in a practiced swing, catching the soldier by suprise. The soldier let out a loud gasp before he felt the blade cut through his skin about his throat... Tomoyo's eyes widened as the crimson warm liquid splattered about her face, the head rolled to a stop at her feet. Tomoyo was violently sick at the sight. Last night dinner rushed out of her system.

Eriol swung the sword, another one down, three more to go. The other three soldiers looked at him warily, watching him and not coming much closer. Eriol wiped the sweat off his head and gripped the sword tightly. One man, unerved by the cat and mouse game they were playing, swung in first. Eriol easily brought him down with a thrust in his stomache and a savage and quick twist of his wrist. Eriol saw Tory at the corner of his eyes, he was surpised, Tory's techniques and fighting skills were very skilled and precise. Eriol blocked another sword with his own and managed to parry the blow and strike the drunk soldier dead. Then, a certain purple haired girl caught his attention.

Tory swung the sword easily, he lept from side to side, looking graceful and skilled. He was feared by the enemy in the room, not one willingly drew close to him, and trembled when Tory even glanced at them. 'For my mother... my father... my sister!' Tory swung the sword angrily, reveling in the bloody sprays he got after slicing someones limb off. He would'nt lose... he would'nt... wait... His eyes grew wide as he saw Tomoyo, his only friend for the moment, stand in the middle of an attack, leaving his victims to die a horrific death, he sprinted towards her, hoping to make it in time.

Tomoyo stood at the doorway, managing to deflect the swords which came at her. The puzzled look of the enemy was quickly demolished when Tomoyo brought her sword on them with vengence. Wiping her sweaty palms, Tomoyo stood at the doorway, there were only a few men left... SUddenly, she felt the breathe get knocked out of ehr as she went toppling onto the floor. She saw a flash of silver, and a loud yell, right before she blacked out.

Sakura shook Syaoran, she felt her heart get torn with agony. "SYAORAN!" Sakura started to cry, this wasn't fair... this wasn't fair... Then she saw a familiar figure. It was Stella. Sakura felt a strange rage emerge from her, if it wasn't for that blasted woman, Syaoran would'ne have gotten hurt. She stood up menacingly.

A small child, dirty with large blue eyes gripped Stellas hand, followed by three other kids. They looked at Sakura with fearful eyes. Stella spoke first. "I'm sorry."

Sakura felt herself shaking.... with a strane emotion she could'nt interpet. "He's going to die of blood loss cause of you." Sakura said, her voice trembling in fear, anger, and something more. Stella looked sad, her large blue eyes glistening with regret. "I had children to feed, the money let me have hope for my son. He is very sick." Sakura stared at the little pale boy by Stella's side, his face was thin and his skin was almost gray. His eyes were abnormally large, and his bones showed through. Sakura felt herself relax. Of course, Stella had a reason... and she would too, for her children, do the same. "Let me see the child." She said rather pensively. The kid was pushed forward. He looekd scared, and looked as though as if he would cry, but Sakura's touch was reassuring. Sakura had seen something similar to this sickness before. The childs skin was gray... his skin was nearly transparent... his bones showed through... and brusies covered his body. He gave a faint cough, weakly though. "Does you body hurt?" Sakura asked softly. The child looked at her dumbly, but Stella spoke in her own tounge translating for her child. The kid muttered something and Stella translated. "He say's his limbs hurt, his bones ache." Sakura frowned. Maybe... maybe her magic could detect something? But something told her whatever this disease was, it was'nt very good news. But first, Syaoran. "Please, help Syaoran..." The woman nodded. "I know... come... stay at my wagon."

Sakura cleansed his wound with a wet clean rag. The would was deep, and he needed stitches. Sakura had to take off his shirt, and found herself blushing at the contact. He was pure muscle and power. Sakura tore her eyes away from his upper body and started washing down his sweat soaked body. Stella had given her a green poulice to apply on Syaoran's wound. Dipping the powder in water, she poured it onto his wound, letting it pool and wiping it and applying it to the wound. He moaned and twitched under her hand, but Sakura presisted. Sorrowfully, her grabbed a needle and thread, and managed to stitch the gaping flesh back together.
Sakura stood there, in front of him, dressed in a blood red gown. "Sakura!" Syaoran called, trying to get nearer. Sakura didn't seem to hear him, instead, she stepped forward, towards a dark looming figure in the dark.

"Please... bring me power..."

Sakura brought her hands forward, and a ghostly pair of hands came from the darkness, and placed a large golden box in her hands. Syaoran frowned. 'Sakura? WHat are you doing?" "Quite Syaoran." Sakura said excitedly. "I've found the stone of power! I... I will be able to save my mother and father... and I will... I will use it for revenge... and..." Syaoran frowned. "Sakura... You said this was for the best of our country..." A strange crazy look had overtook her eyes. Her green eyes... looked... possesed. "Shut up SYaoran." She hissed, her eyes on the gold box. Syaoran felt a strange premonition. "No... Sakura... Don't... I have a bad feeling--." Sakura opened the box anyways. She screamed as a bright light erupted from it. Someone had approched from behind her.... Syaoran met a pair of ice cold purple eyes. It was Nubis. She had Sakura by the throat, Sakura looked scared, the possessed look wasn't in her eyes anymore. Syaoran ran forward and confronted Nubis. "Let her go!" He demanded. Nubis grinned. "Sakura, use the stone to bring me enternal power!" He squeezed her throat, Sakura gasped. Nubis smiled. "Only you can control this power... DO AS I SAY!" Syaoran growled angrily as he lept forward, knocking Nubis away from a weepign Sakura.

"Leave her alone!"

Nubis laughed, "Foolish boy..." Nubis seemed to grow before Syaorans eyes. "Foolsih boy, how dare you mess with me? Why should you care about Sakura? As long as she gives me power... her body... I don't care what happens to her, even if it means death!" Syaoran growled. "I care because I..." Syaoran frowned, what was he about to say? Sakura was weeping besides him, her throat bruised and her shoulders shaking.

"Because I... Love her?"

Sakura suddenly looked up, a white dragon rose from her large green eyes, suddenly Sakura was the white dragon of the holy heavens. Nubis screamed as Sakura's penetrating white light flew everywhere. Syaoran sheilded his eyes.... it had started to rain. When the light faded, Syaoran looked up. The sky was gray and gloomy, rain pittered against his skin... and Sakura lay before him, dead...

"I love you Sakura... I love you..." He repeated, he loved her. He didn't know why... btu he did.
Sakura froze as she mopped the sweat from his face with a rag.

"I love you Sakura... I love you..."

Sakura heard those words, and a strange numb feeling over came her. Sakura stared at Syaorans face, which was twitching and looking ather disturbed. "Syaoran..." Sakura whispered, her eyes glimmered with tears... Thousands of her girlish dreams and wishes had came true at that moment, but crashed as she realized something. Sakura sighed as she gently swiped Syaoran brown lock into place. 'I'm sorry Syaoran, we could never be together... It was all a dream, whatever you are dreaming... A bodygaurd and a prince? That's unthinkable... and... no one can love me. I'm not worthy of it. I don't even know if I can love you.' Sakura brought her hands down the side of his perfect face. She gasped with suprise as his eyes suddenly shot open, and his hands flew up to the side of his face to clasp her hands.

"Sakura..."


To be Continued...
Special Thankz to:

-Pink Cherry Blossom- S and S reunited!
-WeZL- Yay, hope you enjoy this chapter too!
-xxwolfpupxx- Thanx, hope this chapter is just as good!
-Sakura Blossom16- This chapter came out alot faster ne? ^^
-Danielle Ngo- Hahaha... Thanx for the encouragement, more chapters soon!
-Tomoyo-chan- Thanx for the reveiw!
**GASP** Does Syaoran really love Sakura?! (o':'o)
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please Review! Review~!!! PLEASE REVIEW! XD

-Peony-