Of Lions and Dragons

Chapter 7

Disclaimer:

Iie, I don't own CCS *crosses fingers behind back and grins evilly*

Author's Notes:

Ramble, ramble, ramble, and am I done yet? Nope. Gomen ne, I made a few punctuation errors in my last chapter. Did I leave minna on a cliffhanger? Hehehe, I don't know if that is exactly considered a cliffhanger demo…you will meet some familiar characters in this chapter so keep reading! Arigato minna!

Chapter 7

"Where are they? Tomoyo twirled a lock of violet curls nervously, her hand gripping Eriol's tightly. "They've been gone for over two hours…I hope they're okay."

Eriol kissed her cheek gently. "Knowing Sakura, she and Li are just fine."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Everyone turned to look at the terra-cotta-eyed teen, and Meiling only flipped back a long ebony ponytail. "If that…that…mou, if she does anything to hurt my Syaoran than I'll…" Meiling stopped, and the group turned to look into the sky, a beating of wings coming closer and closer. "What's that?"

Kero looked up from the chocolate he was wrestling over with Rhyu and let go as the small dragon fell off the rock. "Hmmm…" he scratched his head thoughtfully then shrugged. "It's probably just Sakura."

Sure enough as if right on cue, the image of an angel descended upon them, beating her wings slowly as she alighted softly on the ground, gently laying a form in her lap. Meiling recognized them immediately and practically tore Syaoran from Sakura's hold. "Syaoran! Syaoran speak to me!"

Syaoran grumbled and forced a weak smile. "Oi Meiling."

"What happened?" Tomoyo kneeled by the trio and Eriol sat beside her, examining Syaoran's injured back. "This is the doing of a Clow Card, ne?"

Nodding, Syaoran produced the Fiery from his pocket and held it out for the blue-eyed teen to see. "It was worth it…trust me."

Sakura frowned, how could a Clow Card be worth more than his own life? Syaoran flinched and closed his eyes. 'It was worth it…Sakura is safe, that's all I wanted. I'll protect her…'

Meiling stood up infuriated. "While, you all stand here chatting, Syaoran could be dying!" A fear tears sprang to her eyes and she glared at those around her.

"Syaoran-sama…" Rhyu gently perched on his master's stomach, worry clearly apparent in his sapphire eyes.

Syaoran reached up and gently patted his guardian on the head. Rhyu just looking somberly down to him. "Why didn't you have me come along? I'm your guardian; I'm supposed to protect you."

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. We've been in tougher situations than this before, ne?"

Rhyu gently padded off his master and onto the ground, spreading his scaly wings from his back they grew in size, enveloping the tiny dragon. A flash of blue light illuminated the forest around them with cerulean luminosity, the wings receding and coming to rest on the now horse sized dragon. "Help him on my back."

Sakura lifted the injured warrior onto his guardian's back and flew into the air beside him as Rhyu began to walk. "Kinomoto what are you doing?" Syaoran inquired sleepily.

Sakura looked at him, eyes full of regret. "This is my entire fault."

"Iie it's not, I chose to do that."

"Demo…I'm…I'm…I'm worried about you. If it wasn't for me you would've…" Sakura trailed off as she started to fall slowly to the ground, eyes closing and strength leaving her. Syaoran reached out and smiled weakly just as the delicate girl fell into his arms. "Silly girl, you can't expect to fight a Clow Card, carry me and fly all that way without getting tired can you?"

"Well…I just wanted to help."

"But you did help."

"Not enough, Kero-chan?"

Kero floated in front of his mistress, a bit irritated to see the "kozou" holding her tenderly. "Sakura…I think it's a bit dangerous where you are right now."

"Kero-chan stop, Li-kun is injured leave him alone."

"Fine. Anything I can do for you?"

Sakura thought for a moment. "Hai, fly around and see if you can find a village, Syao-I mean Li-kun needs his wounds tended to." Sakura blushed when she realized what she had almost called her rival.

A small red vein popped on Kero's head. "Nani? You want me to do something that will benefit the kozou?"

"Onegai Kero-chan."

Kero sighed defeated. "Fine, demo only because you're hurt too."

"Hoe?" Sakura looked down to her arm where Kero pointed and for the first time noticed the small gash running down the side. (AN: I know she probably would've felt it but just keep reading)

The amber-eyed cardcaptor looked down to the Card Mistress's arm and frowned. "Kinomoto…"

"I didn't want to tell you. Besides it's not that big of a deal." She managed wincing.

Syaoran shook his head and tore a small piece of fabric from his vest, tying it gently around the wound on her arm. "Silly girl…"

Sakura looked up to him gratefully and he did the same. Their eyes said it all; no words had to be spoken. They were beginning to discover that they were truly grateful for one another and truly valued the other's friendship and concern.

Tomoyo put the finishing touches on her sketch. "Yatta! I'm finished! I'll call this one 'The First Signs of Love'."

Sakura and Syaoran blinked, a 'hoe' and 'nani' following shortly. Realization sinks in followed by a blush and a sweat drop, a vein pop from Meiling and a very enthusiastic giggle from Tomoyo.

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

"Oi Sakura!" Kero alighted softly on his Mistress's lap and gently tapped her arm.

Sakura lifted her head from Syaoran's chest and looked to Kero. "Nani?"

"I found a village." He stated beaming.

"Hontou?" Syaoran asked wearily, tightening his hold on Sakura.

Kero glared at Syaoran. "Hai, and they have a really sugoi inn!"

"Hoe?"

"Yeah, they have the best menu, I checked it out."

Syaoran frowned down at Kero. "Stupid negumi, you just can't eat all the food!"

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"You wanna try me?"

Sparks flew in between Kero and Syaoran and Sakura put her hands in between them. "Come on you two."

Both grunted and faced away from each other, arms crossed across their chests.

Sakura put her hand behind her head and giggled nervously. "Ne Kero-chan where is this village?"

Kero broke his glaring contest with the Chinese sorcerer and put a tiny paw under his chin. "Ano…I think it's about five or so days more from here so we should arrive there soon." (AN: Let's just say Kero-chan was flying for a REALLY long time)

"Arigato Kero-chan."

The two teens yawned simultaneously and momentarily forgot that the very person with them at that moment was their rival. Sakura gently laid her head on Syaoran's chest, taking in his crisp autumn scent and sighing deeply. Syaoran tensed up a bit but nevertheless rested his head on hers and wrapped his arms protectively around the emerald eyed girl in his lap, eyes slowly closing as thoughts of the teen Card Mistress filled his dreams.

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

"Kinomoto wake up…"

"Hoe?" Sakura mumbled sleepily as she opened her eyes to gaze into warm amber.

Syaoran shifted his position and let Sakura rest up against him so she could see the sight beginning to come up over the hill. A quaint two story structure rose up out of the forest creating a sense of relief for the weary travelers. The outside was neatly kept, small gardens framed the nature worn cobblestone path and a single cherry blossom tree lent its petals to the warm breeze. Tomoyo clapped her hands in excitement and jumped in the air. "Sugoi! It's so kawaii!"

Sweat drops followed from the rest of the group and Eriol fell over anime style. "What can I say she's easily amused."

Before anyone could make a comment Tomoyo ran to the door, an evil smirk on her pale face. "Minna, onegai wait here. I'll see if I can get us in for a good price." She dashed in slamming the door behind her, leaving her friends thoroughly confused.

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

"Konbawa!"

A young man around seventeen looked up from his post at the desk and opened his eyes in bewilderment to the amethyst-eyed girl who had just entered his and his girlfriend's modest inn. He blinked repeatedly and shook his head. "Are you lost?"

Tomoyo shook her head. "Iie, doushite?"

The young man nervously scratched his head. "We never have any visitors, are you sure you're not a ghost? I mean you are kinda pa-"

"Takashi!"

The young man turned around and put his hand behind his head. "Chiharu…"

A seventeen year old woman knocked the dark haired boy on the back of his head in reprimand. "What are you doing?"

"Hehehe, greeting the customer."

"My foot you are, go get dinner started."

Yamazaki Takashi raised an eyebrow, and Mihara Chiharu stuck out her bottom lip. "Onegai Takashi…"

Takashi sighed defeated and put his finger into the air. "Yosha one gourmet meal coming up! By the way did you know that when a chef…"

"Yeah, yeah whatever!" Chiharu sighed exasperatedly as she pushed her boyfriend out the door and into the kitchen. "Men."

Tomoyo giggled. "Hai I know what you mean."

"So, how many will it be?"

"Well let's see, me, my boyfriend, Meiling-chan, Sakura-chan and Li-kun. That'll be five."

"Five it is, unfortunately we don't have enough rooms to accommodate your party."
Tomoyo grinned wickedly. "That's alright, I have a plan."

Chiharu raised an eyebrow. "A plan? What kind of plan?"

"Well you see there's this couple…"

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

Chiharu placed a tiny key in the palm of Meiling's palm and smiled. "And here is your room; I hope you enjoy your stay."

Meiling cocked her head to the side but pushed open her door and shut it behind her rudely. A door creaked open at the end of the hall and Tomoyo motioned for Chiharu.
"Nani?"

"Did it go well?"

Chiharu nodded. "Operation Matchmaker is in motion."

"Now for the second part, you know what to do, it would be too obvious if I did it."

Chiharu nodded and skipped happily down the stairs to a pair of teens lounging in the small lobby. Sakura stood up and clasped her hands to her chest. "Please tell me you have enough rooms…"

Chiharu shook her head sadly. "Gomen nasai."

Sakura sank to the couch sadly and Syaoran glanced first to Sakura then up to the woman in front of them. "You don't have ANYthing?"

"Well…"

The two teens sat on the edge of the couch, "Well?" They inquired.

"We do have one room left; demo its a couple's suite."

"C-Couples?" A red blush began to creep into their faces and Sakura and Syaoran looked nervously to one another.

Chiharu placed a key in Syaoran's hand and walked to the kitchen door. "If you two make a decision, the room is right down the hall."

The young warrior looked down to the key in his palm and then to the green-eyed teen in front of him. "Ano…"

Sakura took the key from Syaoran's hand and held it up to look at. "Oh come on Li-kun, it can't be that bad."

"Demo…"

"Mou, come on!" Sakura grabbed the reluctant boy by the hand and gently dragged him down the hallway.

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

"Sugoi…" Both teens trailed off as they glanced around the decorated suite. On the north wall a bay window stood open, a warm breeze blowing the green curtains this way and that. Sakura padded softly over to the window and tucked her legs underneath her as she sat delicately by the glass. She turned and motioned for Syaoran to sit beside her, creating room for him on the cushioned window seat. He obeyed and looked out the window. Lush gardens ran along the length of the lawn giving way to gently sloping hills that touched the white sand of a beach, aqua waves rolling along the shore. "We're almost there."

"Nani?" Sakura looked curiously to Syaoran. "Almost where?"

Syaoran leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. "My home."

The teen Card Mistress glanced at her injured friend. "Your family…they must miss you a lot."

Syaoran opened one eye and closed it again. "Doubt it."

Sakura crawled up to the chestnut haired teen and lay a gentle hand on his arm. "I know…I would miss you."

This time both amber orbs widened in surprise as Syaoran watched Sakura curiously. "N-Nani?"

But Sakura wasn't listening; she had already gotten off the window seat and was in the washroom adjacent to the bedroom. "Li-kun come here."

Syaoran blinked, wondering how she had left so quickly without her noticing and joined her in the washroom. A large bathtub was already filled with steaming water, and a few candles left occasional flickers on the wall. Sakura was kneeling on the floor, washcloth in hand. Syaoran raised a skeptical eyebrow in apprehension.

"You didn't think you could dress those wounds yourself did you? Now sit."

Syaoran shrugged and sat down on the edge of the tub, slipping his feet into the water.

"Is it too hot?"

"Iie…perfect."

"Take off your vest."

"Nani?!"

"Li-kun…onegai, I want to treat this before it gets any worse."

Syaoran narrowed his eyes at Sakura but then his face softened. In her eyes, he saw something no one had ever felt toward him, worry and care. She truly did want to help him and all he could do was give a small smile and shrug. "Fine. You win." The young warrior carefully peeled off his long vest, being careful to not disturb the wounds along his back. Sakura held it up to the light and clicked her tongue at the dark red spot on the item of clothing and gasped when the long garment was finally removed.

"Nan da?"

"Iie, Nademonai."

"That bad? It doesn't hurt as bad as I'm sure it looks."

Sakura sighed and dipped the washcloth into the water applying the cool fabric to the wounds along Syaoran's bare back.

"Kuso!"

Sakura stopped eyes wide with concern. "Nani? What did I do?"

"Kinomoto that hurts!"

The female Card Captor put her hands on her hips. "Li-kun…we have to treat the wound, this will help."

"Demo…"

"Come on it can't be that bad."

Syaoran glared but turned around nevertheless. Once he was sure that Sakura couldn't see him anymore, Syaoran sighed and concentrated on not the pain but the feel of Sakura's hands traveling up and down his back, being ever so gentle and careful. Concentrating on the fact of having her near him so close at that very moment, being with her, being content, being happy.

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

Sakura emerged from the washroom and shook the excess water from her hair. "Li-kun…"

The teen sorcerer looked up and gazed at Sakura. She wore a lacy pink night gown that hugged her curves and made her peach skin glow in the candlelight. He then shook his head and returned to frowning at the single bed, a light blush coloring his cheeks. "We have a problem."

"H-Hai."

"I'll take the floor." They stated concurrently. "No I will."

They blinked at the same time and Syaoran crossed his arms over his chest as he stood from the window seat and in front of Sakura. He lifted his arms under her back and legs and gently laid her down on the bed, Sakura's eyes widening in surprise. "What are you…"
"There's no way I'm letting you sleep on the floor."

Sakura sat up annoyed. "ME? You're the one who's injured you take the bed!" She stood but was pushed back to the mattress by the strong young man in front of her. "Li-kun stop being so divergent!"

"Doushite?"

"Because then I…"

Syaoran caught her hint too late as her fingers traveled all over his defined torso causing the amber-eyed warrior to collapse to the bed, panting heavily. Sakura smiled satisfied and stood up from the bed before a strong hand gripped her wrist. "Don't…even…think…about….it."

Sakura threw her other hand into the air. "Fine Mr. Stubborn, we'll just have to share then."

"Nani?"

The honey haired girl blushed. "You…do you mind? I don't take up too much room, and I…"

Syaoran pulled her to the bed and tucked the covers around her shoulders as he blew out the candle by his bedside. "Shhhh…silly girl, you talk too much."

Sakura blinked wide eyed and looked over to Syaoran as he lay down on his stomach, the moonlight lending a glow to his bare back. He rested his chin on his arms and closed his eyes. Sakura turned on her side. "Li-kun…"

"Hmmmm?"

"Oyasumi." Sakura lie back down on her back and let her eyelids close over her emerald gems.

Once the sound of her steady breathing filled the air, Syaoran propped himself up on his elbow and leaned his face close to Sakura's, touching a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Oyasumi…Sakura."

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Ooooooo, I wish I was Sakura rite now, hehehe. Gomen for taking so long, please review!