Once upon a Time

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: CCS does not belong to me, and never will no matter how many times I wish it were so. So don't sue.

Hello! I'm back writing ccs fanfiction. Thanks for the reviews…as always, I was very happy to read them. Please read and enjoy!

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"Can I open my eyes?" the emerald-eyed girl asked. A blindfold lay across her face, obscuring the world from sight.

A protective hand held her shoulders, leading her carefully down the path. "Almost…here." With a flourish, the boy removed the cloth from her eyes, to reveal a brilliant sunrise over the beach.

Sakura gasped, it's magnificence and beauty taking her breath away. The lone sun, rising from the water's surface to triumph over the darkness. She could feel the warm rays across her skin, removing past sorrows to leave only the sense of peace and tranquility in its wake. Sakura smiled softly, the breeze ruffling her auburn hair.

So there they stood, the amber-eyed boy clutching the girl's hand, watching with a wistful look on his face as the girl saw the sun, the water, and the sky.

There's an old tale. A tale of the ocean and the sound of the waves washing up on the beach. The story that no matter what, no matter the pain or anguish, the waves can wash it all away as swiftly and as surely as shells disappearing on the sand.

For that's the miracle of the ocean, and the magic of the sun. To restore love and innocence when it was lost, and to instill hope and joy when there was none before.

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Japanese class, last block of the day…

"Sakura-chan, how did you do on the Japanese test?" asked Tomoyo. "I'm sure you did very well," she added encouragingly. Unlike math, Sakura was good at Japanese. She had a certain connection with words, and their lyrical poetry.

Trying to smile, Sakura held the paper to her friend. In red across the front, was the mark 20/20.

Tomoyo smiled brightly. "See Sakura-chan? You did very well indeed. What did you write about in the essay?"

"My otou-san and onii-chan," Sakura answered, trying not to cry. "About…how I miss them, and how I wish they were here with me."

"They are Sakura-chan. They're watching over you right now," Tomoyo said gravely. "And…and they're proud of you."

"Arigato Tomoyo-chan. That was nice of you to say." Sakura replied, eyes sad.

Chihura and Yamazaki walked to them, and it seemed that for the first time, Yamazaki was restraining his tongue, and Chihura wasn't arguing with him.

"Sakura-chan…Yamazaki has a story to tell. A good, true story too," Chihura added fiercely. Chihura elbowed Yamazaki, and he rubbed his forehead thoughtfully.

"Once upon a time…there was a young girl who lived in feudal times," Yamazaki began. " She was a priestess of a Shinto temple, and she was in love with a young man. But the young man she loved…he hated her. He was rich, she was poor, and he hated her because he envied her. She had many friends, and he none, for his heart was as hard as stone-

"This better be going somewhere," Chihura interrupted, her tone warning him.

Yamazaki ignored her, continuing with the tale. "But then one day, the young man's father was terribly ill, and none of the doctors could discover what the illness was. Despite the family's money and great influence, the young man's father was dying and there was nothing to stop him from losing his life. But then the young man remembered the girl, and the healing powers she was thought of to possess."

There was a pause as Yamazaki collected his thoughts. Sakura felt pity for the girl, who was in love with a boy that did not return her feelings, and the father who was dying.

"The young man ran to the temple, through the hard rain. When he got there, the girl was asleep, and he shook her shoulders roughly, yelling about his father who was about to die. The girl got up calmly, already clothed in her traditional kimono, and grabbed her bag of herbs and charms. They ran together to the young man's mansion, where the girl found the old man already pale and shaking. There was a look of deep sorrow in her eyes as she watched the man sweat and cough, and she said, "I cannot save this man. For it is not magic that I possess, only skill. But I will try, and may the gods be with me.

"The girl stayed up all night, caring for the old man. She lit powerful candles that cleansed the air, and created solutions of herbs and medicines that fought off the man's sickness. But just as she foretold, the man died that night, died while she prayed for his soul. When she went to tell the young man of the fate of his father, he looked at her with such loathing that she wanted nothing less than to cry.

"The girl fled the house, slipping through the rain, blinded by tears of anguish and rage. Anguish at the man's death, and rage that she was not able to save him. Her hair was soaked through and through, and her clothes hung heavily when she returned. She went to sleep without changing into dry clothes, and the next day she was sick, having caught the same malady from the father of the man she loved.

"When the young man found out, he forgot his hate and his pain, and he went to care for her. He felt guilty, and he finally realized that it was not her fault that his father died. He was willing to do anything for her, anything to make up his past sins. Only it was too late, and the girl died without knowing that the one she loved cared for her as she did him."

"Yamazaki…" Tomoyo said softly," What was the point of that tale?"

But he wasn't finished yet. "The young man fell in a great sickness, and he ranted and raved, angry at himself and fate. Angry that the gods would take away his father and the girl that he loved. Despairing, he fell into the same sickness that killed his loved ones, and he died as well. There were such high hopes for him, the first born son of the lord who was to inherit all the lands. Instead, the manor fell to chaos after his death, and blood was shed until the lands lay in shreds. Without an able ruler, there was nothing left. Just blood, fallen bodies, and poverty."

Tomoyo sighed sadly. Then she saw Sakura. Soft tears were trickling down her face.

"Yamazaki-kun," Sakura began," why did the young man die like that? He could have lived to care for the people. The one he loved…she was already gone, and he couldn't change that."

Yamazaki smiled. "But he was in love, and the one he loved died," he reasoned sadly. "He felt like there was no reason to live."

"There's always a reason to live," Sakura said softly. "I realized that…when I-I-"

"Shhh…it's okay Sakura-chan," Tomoyo reassured. "We understand.''

"Thank you Yamazaki-kun. It was a good story," Sakura confessed. "It was sad…but I like it."

Yamazaki grinned. "Really? You liked it? Do wanna hear another one about mermaids and bears and Eskimos-

"Okay, that's enough Yamazaki. Don't go and ruin it," Chihura threatened. "See? Is it so bad telling a true story, instead of your usual rubbish?"

"Hmm…"Yamazaki pondered seriously. "I'll do it when I have to, but I prefer my other stories. More funny."

Chihura face faulted. Annoyed, she yanked Yamazaki's ear, pulling him away from Sakura and Tomoyo. "Yamazaki…you were being so nice and honest, then you had to go and blow it!" They could hear her screaming off in the distance.

"Tomoyo…"Sakura began pensively.

"Oh?"

"Do you think I'm stupid?" she asked seriously.

Tomoyo frowned, surprised at the question. '' Of course not Sakura-chan! Look at how well you did on the Japanese test!" she praised proudly.

"No," Sakura insisted. "I know I'm not that smart, like you and Syaoran-kun and Eriol-kun and Naoko-chan. But the story Yamazaki-kun told me…there was a moral in it. Did they think that I wouldn't notice it? That they told the tale just to make me happy again?"

"Sakura-chan…there's nothing wrong with that," Tomoyo assured firmly. "They just care about you. They want you to be strong, that's all. They would never think you're stupid."

"If you say so Tomoyo-chan," Sakura replied sadly.

"I mean it Sakura," Tomoyo repeated fixedly.

The two girls watched silently as the sun stood in the sky, and the birds outside sang their light melody. Tomoyo felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned around to see the brilliant blue eyes of Eriol.

"Tomoyo-chan, Sakura-chan," Eriol bowed. He offered his elbow to Tomoyo. ''Are you ready to go?" he asked.

Tomoyo looked at Sakura, standing alone by the window. "Eriol-kun…what about Sakura?" she whispered. "She can't stay here alone. The school's closing in an hour or so…how will she get home?"

"Sakura-chan, would you like to come with us?" Eriol asked kindly. "You should have friends to support you. Come with us. What would my little descendent say if you saw you standing here all alone?"

But Sakura shook her head. She didn't want to be a drag. "No, it's all right, I'm fine here. It's so lovely…I can see the park, and children playing…"

"Nonsense Sakura-chan. Come with us. It'll be fun. We can go to the movies if you like, and you can order whatever candy you want. My treat," Eriol urged.

"No…'' Sakura saw Tomoyo, with Eriol's arm around her. They were a couple now, and she didn't want to get in the way. Tomoyo deserved this day…she was so nice, always there to support her. She deserved to have a fun day with her boyfriend, alone without a bothersome friend.

Sakura forced a bright smile, almost like her old ones save for the sadness in her eyes. "Have fun Tomoyo-chan. Bring back some candy for me."

"But S-

"Go Tomoyo-chan. Have fun," she prodded, giving her friend a little push out the door.

"Sakura-chan, I will not!" Tomoyo called indignantly. "You can't get rid of me that easily!"

Sakura gave Eriol a pleading look. Eriol sighed. "Come on Tomoyo-chan, Sakura-chan wants you to let her be."

But suddenly Tomoyo was in the room again, and there was a desperate look in her amethyst-eyes, like she knew she was losing her best friend. "Sakura-chan," Tomoyo began," You know you can always come to me, right? No matter what…I'm never too busy for you."

"I-I know," Sakura assured.

"Don't forget that," Tomoyo pressed softly.

"I won't."

And then Tomoyo smiled, and she was her old self again. Calm eyes, and lovely violet hair that never went uncombed but always shined, as immaculate as the sun's light.

She held Eriol's hand, and they left together, leaving Sakura alone in the classroom.

"Bye Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo called cheerfully. "I'll bring you all your favorite chocolates from the market!"

Sakura smiled weakly and waved good bye to her friends, sighing when they were gone. She placed her fingers on the windowpane, her forehead against the cool glass. It was autumn, although the sun still cast its sparks across the land. Flurries of colorful leaves danced across the air, swaying to the wind's ever whim. She was utterly alone, and it was peaceful…yet she missed something. Something…a feeling that she couldn't explain.

She angled her face towards the sun, reveling in its friendly glow. And she closed her eyes for moment before forcing them open again. She sensed someone…

There…in the window across from her, a little to the upper right. A young man, with familiar dark brown hair that had a mind of its own, and deep eyes that saw through to her heart within. He was watching her…she could feel his eyes. And quite abruptly, she was angry. Angry at the way he pitied her, like a little girl who couldn't take care of herself. He's probably watching to see if I'll try jumping out the window Sakura thought bitterly. So then he can find another reason to ridicule me, just like at the bridge…I'll show him. I'll do no such thing.

A little defiantly, Sakura stared back at him, that old spark back in her emerald eyes. The spark of life, of chance. For she finally realized that neither one is without the other. For there can be no rainbows or calm nights without storms or lightning.

The boy smiled, that mysterious smile with his eyes. She saw the challenge chiseled as plain as day on his face. The challenge to live, to smile, and to laugh.

And she smiled back, the full light of those emerald eyes glistening as brilliant and clear as the moon on a starless night. The look in her eyes was more than defiant, it was determined as well. To follow the long road back to recovery, to gain what she had lost. To see once and for all what had been in front of her all along.

But there is no easy way to end this, no simple means. For she knew that her otou-san and onii-chan could not be brought back. Yet…she was willing to try, try to live without them. Because above, from wherever they were watching her, they would want her to be happy. And it wasn't her place to disappoint them.

************************************************************************Once upon a time…

Once upon a time there was a girl, her heart as pure and as precious as pearls from the waters of the vast ocean.

Once upon a time there was boy who acted arrogant and cruel, but whose heart was as strong and kind as the oak that stands upon this earth for centuries.

Once upon a time a terrible tragedy struck, one that rendered the girl insensible and blind to happiness and love. But slowly and surely as the moon pushes back the tidal waves, the girl saw the error of her sad ways. The road ahead would be bumpy and rough, full of tears and setbacks, but the girl was strong, and she had wonderful friends who were willing to lend their care to make her laugh. If that failed, she would always have a special friend at her side, a friend who would never let her go. And perhaps there would be love as well...

Once upon a time…

~~~~~~~~~~to be continued~~~~~~~~~~

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A/N- Ack…I can't remember how to spell ' to be continued' in Japanese for the life of me. Oh well…it's tzuku or tuzuku…can't remember. Anyways…Inuyasha today! YAY! Too bad it's the dubbed version…oh well, a girl can't have everything. Please review and tell me what you think about this chappie. I would be very happy indeed to know what you think about it ^_^

Also, I would really appreciate it if you would r&r my general fic "spring." I don't know if it's very good, because I wrote it with a totally different style. So any reviews would be MUCH appreciated.

Bye! And have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! Much anime and fun out to you guys!