Chapter 13

For the next two weeks the only time anyone saw Sakura was when she left the study to go to school and when she got home as she headed straight for the study. It's not like she was starving herself or anything, she ate and slept and took care of herself but she only did it when no one would see her. She was on the phone constantly with the elders. Aaron visited Fóo a lot, he was at the house almost everyday speaking with her. Li made as much free time as he could to try and see Sakura but she wouldn't see him. Meilin, Madison and Eli had to take care of business pretty much all the time. It was like their whole world was falling apart.

Madison and Meilin were sitting in the hall with Li in front of the study door to keep him company. Eli was walking around the house taking care of things. The odd time he would join them and rest for a bit. Li was leaning back on the door and he looked worn out. Suddenly the door opened causing Li to fall back. He looked up to see Sakura standing there. Li stands up and the others follow suit.

"I told you they didn't know she was here." Says Sakura.

"After two weeks this is all you can say?" yells Meilin.

"Yes well it's been a tiring two weeks." Says Sakura as she stretches and everyone sees her belly is showing the pregnancy.

"Please tell me your ok?" asks Li as he looks over Sakura carefully like she was a china doll.

"I'm fine. I took care of myself I just didn't let anyone see me. I even went to the doctors a few times." Says Sakura as she smiles softly at Li.

This surprised everyone, they had no idea that she went anywhere besides school.

"And everything is fine with the baby. The elders know everything, I told them. They were rather shocked when I told them I was pregnant. But they know I won't leave you and that I love you very much."

"So she's out of the study I see." Says Aaron as he walks out of Fóo's room and sees the group in the hall.

"You should go home Aaron, you will be getting a phone call soon." Says Sakura as she takes Li's hand in hers and gives it a gentle squeeze.

Aaron just looks at Sakura oddly.

"The elders will be calling today."

Aaron nods and walks past them heading for the front door. But he stops and turns around to look at the leaders, "She isn't here. She got a call from the elders and she went home. I know she will be back though."

Sakura nods and smiles. "I'm glad you aren't all mad at me." She says after Aaron had left.

"Why would we be mad at you?" asks Eli as he looks at Sakura with his deep blue eyes.

"Well the fact that I was a complete bitch and then locking myself in the study for two weeks, I kinda thought you all would be angry with me."

"Sakura that's fucking insane. If I was going to be pissed at you it would be for pulling your gun on me that night at the club." Says Meilin as she crosses her arms across her chest and sighs.

Sakura laughs and smiles at Meilin, "Bring it on Meilin."

"I think Li would kill me if I fought you while you are pregnant."

"I probably would too." Says Li as he steps up behind Sakura and wraps his arms around her waist.

"Li I need to talk with you about some things." Says Sakura as she looks at the floor.

"Ok let's go to our room."

"Have fun "talking" you two." Says Meilin with a wink as she walks away.

Sakura and Li walk up to their bedroom and Sakura lays on the bed that she has not been in for two weeks.

"You know I missed this bed."

"I missed you. Why wouldn't you see anybody?"

"Li I couldn't. While I was talking with the elders I just couldn't see any of you. It would have been hard in a way. Besides I learned a lot and so did they."

"What do you mean?" asks Li as he lays on the bed beside Sakura and rubs her stomach.

"Well the elders don't want me to be around Fóo. They said if she was to come back to Japan I was to leave for China."

"Why can't you be around her?"

"They said that if you never had a child, boy or girl, by a certain time Fóo was to become leader and we would loose our status. Did you know about this?"

Li shakes his head gently, "No I never knew. You think they would have told me."

"I think they didn't tell you because of your arranged marriage. You broke it off and met me and we fell in love so again they saw no reason to tell you. They don't want Fóo to take over. She will try anything to stop me from having my baby. If I have to go to China I will leave and then go into hiding. Somewhere I will never be found, but I will not be able to contact any of you. That will be too hard to bear but if I have to go I will."

"Sakura if you go I go."

"No Li. You will be sent for when I am ready to give birth but you will not hear from anyone about me at all, it's as if I will have fallen off the face of the earth. Only two people will know where I am your mother and Xander."

"Are you going to tell Eli and the girls?"

Sakura sakes her head, "No I can't and you won't tell them either. I will drop everything when I get the call to leave. I don't care if I'm at school or downtown. I will leave. I have to tell you this can be anytime. If I don't get the chance to tell you this before I leave I want you to know."

"Sakura don't talk like this. You will see me all the time."

"I love you Li, I love you with all my heart and I am sorry for having to disappear. At least nine months away from you will be horrible torture. But I must do it to save our baby." Says Sakura softly as tears begin to fall from her saddened emerald eyes and streak her rosy cheeks.

Li pulls Sakura into a hug and whispers into her ear, "You will always be in my heart Sakura, my Ying Fa. Don't cry cause we will be with each other until you have to leave and then I will wait for you to come back and then we will be together again."

Sakura starts to cry harder and she hugs Li tightly. But her eyes grow wide when she hears her cell phone ring and Li's grip tightens around her.