Sakura and the Falling Darkness
Sakura blinked and opened her eyes but the world around her seemed hazy and dull. She tried to speak but could not. She tried to move but it was as if she had no body; just eyes. The haze was shades of gray being lighter here and darker there as if shallower and deeper like points of a foggy landscape of sheer rock. It seemed to her that she was peering down into the deep of the gray and far beneath a dull light began to glow. It seemed to be rising toward her and it began to take form. She could see after a while not one dull glow but three individual glows, their light blurring together. As it came nearer Sakura began to feel an apprehension or fear of these rising lights. They suddenly seemed menacing if not terrifying to her mind. They began to rise faster and their forms became more defined and numerous as there seemed to now be five glowing shapes ascending toward Sakura all in a line. Their light was of different colors now Sakura could see: the one in the center was a blinding white, to it's right was a form of fiery red, to the left was a form of dark turbulent blue, and to the ends were forms of no discernable color though no less daunting.
They rose and rose and became more and more clear until Sakura could make out each form. They were humanlike in appearance though only blazing silhouettes. But unlike humans the first three bore on their backs great wings who's span was vast. They're forms were like flame burning hotter that the sun flying to Sakura. No distance could she measure but she knew they were almost upon her. The one of white was closest with the others branching back. It's eyes unlike it's blinding body and wings like white flame were dark and deep, only black slits in its burning form. Though dark Sakura felt their gaze burning into her very soul. If possible fear and panic took Sakura and she felt alone and unprotected.
She wished for someone to come an rescue her from this new evil. Someone strong and trusting. Someone for whom she felt safe from all things around. He would come his sword shining with the power of the Sun and the Moon. With it he would smite this new evil down and deliver Sakura from them and they would leave this dreary place and return home. Though the form of such a warrior appeared before her, but a moment later it was gone and be it real or just imagined by Sakura's turbulent mind the white form with wings of white flame seemed upon her it's arm outstretched toward her and its light was now more intense than anything she had ever known. The light's luminosity grew and grew until right as the hand would take her in its hateful grasp and screams seemed to pierce the dead of this gray night the light swept over all.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhg!" Sakura screamed as she awoke still ridden by the terror of the dream. She then felt the grasp of two small hands on her shoulders and as she focused her wide eyes they fell on a very fair girl in white and in the air with a concerned look floated Kero.
"Kid?! Kid!" Kero pleaded as Sakura held her face in her hands.
"Sakura what's wrong?!" Tomoyo exclaimed as she grasped Sakura's shoulder as she panted short of breath from the dream of horror. There were tears in Sakura's eyes and she seemed ready to cry with the sorrow and weight of the world. She sobbingly embraced her friend finally finding some little comfort and peace.
"What's wrong?! What going on? Is Sakura okay?!" Touya exclaimed as he busted into the room followed by his father. Kero quickly hid himself from the father under the covers though he stayed near to Sakura listening intently.
No words could they get out of Sakura and Fujitaka joined Tomoyo on the bed in their attempt to comfort the troubled girl.
With his arms crossed, Touya leaned by the door looking at his sister with an uncharacteristic look of sadness on his face. He suddenly saw a small orange object whiz past him and out into the hall. He then saw Kero's head pop out from behind the doorframe. He signaled Touya to follow him and he walked out of the room quietly into the hallway. He shut Sakura's door softly and turned to Kero. "This is getting out of control!" He said angered but kept his voice down all the same.
"I'd think you would realize that control is the one thing that we don't have." Kero responded.
"I mean it's dangerous! Every other night for the last two weeks! She can't handle it! It's too much of a strain on her! How do we make it stop!"
"That's not the easiest question to answer and you won't like any of them." Kero said as he hovered in the air with his arms crossed. "Like Clow, Sakura has precognitive capabilities. -That means she can see the future in her dreams."
"I know that!" Touya sneered. "Get to the point."
"My point is: If this is a precognition then the dreams won't stop until what the dream is alluding to happens. Either that or." Kero said and trailed off seemingly unwilling to utter the words he would say.
"Or what!?" Touya snapped.
"Or this isn't a dream of the future. It may be some form of sorcery or curse that we might not be able to counter." Kero said grimly.
"And what if." Touya said in almost a whisper. "What if we can't counter it?"
"Then it won't stop. And every night Sakura will suffer thorough it until it becomes too much. And then." Kero said but didn't finish.
There was a long pause in the dark of the hallway. Touya was starting to feel overcome. He fought back tears with the anger boiling his blood. His chest felt tight and his fist clenched and there was a loud sound and with it his voice. "NO!" Everyone's heart in the house stopped for a split second and they looked up and toward the hall. And then with even more despair they turned back their attention to Sakura.
No longer holding back the tears, Touya unclenched his fist and pulled it bleeding from the wall. He leaned into the wall choking back his tears. Suddenly he felt a small hand on his brow. "Hey, take it easy kid." Kero said in as much of an upbeat tone as he could. "We'll do all we can to protect her. I know you will. I know you would do a lot for her. Sakura looks to you probably more than anyone for strength and guidance. And that's why you've got to be strong for her. She needs all of us now more than ever. We all do. We're all in it together."
Touya looked at Kero for once not with annoyance but with gratitude. He then grabbed Kero by the waist and walked back into the room pretending Kero was what he had pretended to be for so long.
As she had every morning, Sakura managed to shake off the feeling of dread and doom from the dream and was getting ready to go off to school with Tomoyo. Her brother and father were in the kitchen cleaning up from breakfast. Touya watched his sister in the living room putting things in her bag, which today included a small orange irritating stuffed animal. Then he thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye out the window and he looked. It had a strange feeling with it. He didn't know what it was or even if it was anything but Kero had told him that he felt the same thing or something similar and was going to school with Sakura just in case.
He gazed out the window absently in thought and then put his bandaged hand to his temple as if the sun hurt his eyes. A slight headache had been nagging him now and then for the past few days. He suddenly felt a hand on his and looked from the window at his father coming out of his daze. "Are you feeling alright?" Fujitaka said to his son. He had bandaged his son's hand that morning but was now more concerned with his son's odd behavior.
"Fine. fine." Touya said as is speaking through spikes of pain. He then heard his sister's call.
"Bye, Sakura! Have a wonderful day!" Fujitaka called toward the door.
"Bye, daddy!" Touya heard his sister say as the door shut and the two men were left alone.
"No matter what is going on she always manages to smile and be her usual cherry self." Touya said quietly almost to himself.
"It's how she is. She's a naturally happy girl, just like her mother." Fujitaka said but was still a bit concerned. He looked at his son with a lighthearted smile but after a moment it faded. "Is there something I should know about?" He said.
Touya stopped in his tracks for a second. "N- no. Why?"
"It seems like something more is wrong then simple bad dreams." Fujitaka said.
"Why do you say that?" Touya said resuming drying a dish his father had washed staying as calm and apathetic to the conversation as possible.
Fujitaka put a hand on his son's shoulder and looked at him. "I'm you father. I can tell."
Touya felt exposed. He knew he couldn't hide any of his feelings from this man but he could keep the truth from him even though he would see through any lie. "Sakura's just a little stressed right now, that's all. I wouldn't worry." He said breaking eye contact.
"Oh, okay," Fujitaka said but wasn't convinced in any way. "But, what about yourself?"
Touya stopped and looked at his hands. "What?" He said looking up.
"What about you? I know you're twenty-two now but you're my son and I still worry about you. And I can tell that it's not just Sakura who is having trouble." Fujitaka said.
'What about me?' Touya thought. 'I've been so caught up with protecting Sakura that I've not really thought about it' Touya looked out the window again and the light of the morning assaulted his eyes again. Then he looked back to his father. "I'm doen' alright, considering." He said.
"Considering what?" His father asked.
"What? Ah, nothing, just everything." Touya said putting the last dish away.
Fujitaka smiled as he gazed at his son. "Just remember." He said. Touya looked at his father in wonder for a moment as his words seemed to echo in his mind. "That if whenever you and your sister need me I'll be there for you. Whatever the reason."
Touya starred at his father for a moment and wondered if he already knew but how could he, he thought. The doorbell then rang and Touya grabbed his backpack. "That's Yuki and Nakuru. I've gotta go now. Bye dad." He said as he ran for the door.
With the door shut behind him he started walking with his two companions to class. "Something wrong?" Yukito said as he munched on a rice ball.
"Yah, you seemed in a bit of a rush. What's up?" Nakuru said.
"Nothing. It's just my dad." Touya said.
"Mr. Kinomoto? Is something wrong?" Yukito asked with concern.
"Nothing's wrong with him, but he's starting to become suspicious. He knows something is going on." Touya said as he strode to the head of the group.
Nakuru looked at him and he seemed taller today but not any more in control than usual. He seemed distressed to Nakuru as if he was questioning himself. She skipped up to his side and looked up at him. "Are you sure that it would be such a bad thing?" She said and he looked down at her. "If he knew?"
"I think it would be better if he didn't. It's less for him to worry about." Touya said.
"Are you sure?" Yukito said as he walked on the other side of Touya. "I'm no expert at families but don't you think that maybe he has the right to know what it is he's worried about?"
"Let's just drop it okay! Everything's fine the way it is." Touya stated. He looked straight ahead ignoring the two. They dropped it and the three walked on in silence.
Nakuru noticed the bandage. "What happened to your hand?" She asked.
Meanwhile Sakura and the others stepped into the halls of their high school to find the walls adorn with pink and red streamers with pictures of hearts and cupids. Sakura felt instantly better and excited. With the group was Takashi and Chiharu holding hands as always. "Are you guys going to the dance tonight?" Chiharu asked the group as they waited for the first bell.
"Oh course WE are!" Meling announced loudly as she linked arms with Syaoran. The others started to converse about the night but Syaoran felt someone brush past his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder while attempting to escape Meling's Kung Fu-grip and he saw Kako walk by looking at him with a small smile. He knew that she was trying to get his attention as she had a subtle way toward him. He managed to ditch Meling and made his way through the crowded hall to find Kako.
Chiharu was particularly excited about the dance. "It's going to be really great! The auditorium has a ton of decorations and there's gonna a DJ and food and everything! And it's formal so I get to wear my best dress!"
At hearing this Tomoyo put an arm around Sakura. "Sakura's going to look wonderful! I've been making her dress for weeks." Tomoyo said. Sakura had her hands together in front of her and her face was red from embarrassment. Tomoyo clasped her hands up by her head and had stars in her eyes. "She going to look so beautiful! I'm going to record every second of it!" Tomoyo rambled on as Sakura became more and more embarrassed.
"So then, Sakura," Chiharu said. "Who is it then?"
Sakura looked confused for a moment. "What? who is what?"
"Who is taking you!?" Chiharu exclaimed getting the attention of almost everyone. Sakura swallowed a lump in her throat and turned a new shade of red never before seen by man. Eriol, who was standing tall next to her gazed down at her and chuckled.
"W-well, Yukito and my brother are chaperoning so I thought.or maybe I could ask." Sakura stammered. She then looked around as if to find someone but she then hung her head in defeat feeling as if everyone in the hallway were laughing at her. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Eriol to find his caring eyes on her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I'm sure someone will ask you. Beauty such as yours cannot go unnoticed." He said.
Down the hall Kako was leaning on the wall with her hands behind her back. Syaoran came up to her through the crowd and leaned on the wall next to her. "Hi, Kako." he said softly.
She leaned her shoulder against his arm and rested her head on his shoulder looking up at him. "Hi, Syaoran." She said. They stood there for a while and her arm somehow found it's way around his waist. He looked at her in question and she just giggled. Kako's sweet smile allowed Syaoran to forget his troubles for a time and her soft blue eyes like the calm waters of a crystal sea danced in his eyes. She then seemed not as happy as she looked into his deep brown eyes. "So, are you going to the dance tonight with that girl, Meling?"
Syaoran looked down the hall but it was so crowded he could see no sign of the group. He then looked back at Kako. "I guess I don't have to." He said in a deep voice bordering between disappointment and the feeling of levity he had when with Kako. She giggled with happiness and rolled from his side to his chest. Syaoran felt a sudden warmness as her lips came onto his and without thought his arms went about her waist and he thought about none other.
Their moment was paused for a moment as the bell rang and they broke from each other and walked into the classroom and sat down on a table in the back near the window to talk.
Once again sitting in their seats with their teacher letting the room run amuck, Meling was in a funk and Sakura couldn't help glancing at Syaoran every once in a while though he never noticed. She then noticed that Eriol wasn't in his seat. She then spotted him at the other end of the long window, which ran the length of the room opposite Li and Kako. Sakura wasn't sure but she thought he seemed to be looking at something. They were on the second floor so it could have been a number of things she thought.
Finally she decided to leave Tomoyo and Meling and go over to Eriol. "Is something wrong?" She asked as she walked up to him. Seeming to be woken out of a trance he looked at the emerald-eyed girl.
"No, my dear. I just thought I saw something. There is an ominous feel to today. It doesn't feel like a card. I would not rule it out but it may be something else. I do not know what though." Eriol said. Sakura stood in front of him and leaned slightly on his arm, which was resting on the windowsill.
"What do you think it is?" Sakura said dumbly as she looked around out of the window. Eriol knew of Sakura's troubled nights from both her and her brother and was also concerned. Though he shared Touya's opinion that it may be too much for her, he also agreed with her Guardian; that they all needed to be strong to pull through.
"Never you mind, Sakura." He said and she turned around to face him. "To the matter of tonight. You are without an escort to the gathering tonight, am I correct?"
"Well, yah." Sakura said.
"Would you like me to be your escort?" He said with a smile.
"You're asking me to the dance?!" Sakura said surprised despite Eriol's allusion.
Sakura's face lit up with glee. "I'd love to!"
Later in the day, Touya, Yukito and Nakuru had finished their classes for the day. The sun was shining dimly down from atop the sky; it was about noon and the three companions were about to have lunch. They were in the courtyard of their university and Yukito had packed everyone a lunch. They sat at a table with an umbrella shaded by a large tree with a large trunk, though the sun was not at all hot. Yukito and Nakuru sat and ate but Touya stood away by the tree staring into the crowd of people occupying the courtyard.
Nakuru looked at him suspiciously with half a mind to bound up to him and jump on his back. A sly smile came over her red lips as the desire of irritating him grew stronger. With barely another thought she jumped up and with only a few light strides toward Touya, jumped onto him nearly knocking him down. After Touya regained his balance he paid the girl no mind and just sighed with a shrug of his shoulders despite Nakuru's arms still clinging to him.
She was disappointed in not getting the reaction she wanted. She rested her head on her arm and whispered into his ear. "Whatcha' doen'?"
He turned his head and looked into her eyes finally with an irritated look. "I thought I sensed something." he said. He reached to his chest and pried her arms from about his neck and she hopped to the ground. He leaned on the tree and tried to ignore Nakuru. She wasn't finished having fun however. She grabbed his sweater and leaned in on his chest. But all of a sudden there came a hand strike on her rear and her eyes shot open. "HEY!" She shouted at Touya with balled up fists. Touya didn't say anything but pointed to Nakuru's rear. She turned around after eyeing Touya for a moment and realizing that it wasn't something he would do. Not too much to her surprise she found behind her Dorian with a wide smile across his sinister face.
Nakuru was slightly offended. "You sonofabitch!" She shouted raising a fist into the air. Touya thought about letting Nakuru hit Dorian for a moment just for fun but he didn't want a fight so he grabbed Nakuru by the shoulders and pulled her into his chest putting an arm across her just to make sure she didn't break free and then break Dorian's face. She actually looked a little stronger than Dorian to Touya but it could have been because he knew what she was. "That's enough." Touya said passively but also commandingly.
For someone who enjoyed provoking so much Nakuru sure didn't take it very well Touya noted. "What do ya want, Dorian?" Touya said trying not to sound too inconvenienced.
Dorian pointed with his thumb at the table. "I brought some friends." He said. Touya glanced at the table and saw another guy, very tall, even taller than himself and two other girls one of which he had met before. Yukito seemed to have introduced himself already and was chatting with the girl with green hair happily while sharing Touya's food with her.
The three walked back to the table and Dorian introduced his group. "You already know Traya," She stood looked up from Yukito and greeted them with a smile blowing a kiss to Touya. For a split second Nakuru's brow wrinkled defensively. "And this beauty of the night is Dieae," Dorian paused for a moment. "And that's Roan." He said flatly.
Roan stood up from his seat next to Traya and held out a hand to Touya. Touya hesitated for a moment. Roan unlike Dorian didn't look at all Japanese. Now that he looked, Traya didn't either. Touya guessed by his height and both their facial features that they were of European decent. He blinked and then took Roan's hand. "Hi."
"Hi." Roan said back deeply. He glanced at Nakuru standing beside Touya. He gripped Touya's hand tightly. Touya looked at him curiously. His teeth had become clenched and he seemed tense as he gazed at Nakuru. She looked confused at him for a moment and then looked at Touya with a 'get a load of this guy' look. Touya, still in Roan's formidable grasp cleared his throat. Roan's eyes jumped back to his victim and he let go slightly apologetically. He then looked at his wrist watch.
"We have to go. Sorry." He said as he gave Nakuru a last glance and then turned and started walking away. Traya got up. "Bye, guys!" She slapped Dorian in the back of the head. "C'mon." Dorian put a hand on the back of his head. "Ow." He muttered. He then looked at Touya with a crocked smile. "Well, see ya later tonight." The other girl, Dieae had stood and was now collecting Dorian and dragging him away seeming a bit angry.
Touya watched as the four disappeared into the crowd and let out a long sigh as if he had been holding his breath. He shook his hand and looked at it. Roan hadn't noticed the bandages and his hand was bleeding again. Nakuru looked at his hand and was slightly impressed with his strength in not crying out in pain. "What was that about?" She said. "That girl, Dieae? She seemed piiiiiiissed."
"Maybe she felt left out? She didn't talk to anyone." Yukito said while bagging up the remainder of the lunches. "Touya, what do you think?"
"What did he mean?" Touya seemed to say to himself as he went back to the tree. Nakuru looked at Yukito summoning him and he got up and they walked over to him. Nakuru could see the feeling of distress in Touya again. He seemed to her stressed or afflicted. Yukito noticed the same thing by now. He looked at Touya with concern. "Maybe.maybe you should have eaten something." He said not as upbeat as normal.
Touya turned to his companions. "When he said. never mind." Touya put a hand to his brow again and shut his eyes feeling somewhat weak as if some weight were on him. Yukito was becoming concerned. "Touay are you feeling alright?" Yukito said in a low voice.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Touya said in a shaky voice. The world seemed hazy and far to him and his companion seemed like distant shdows their voices only echos. "what's happening." Touya whispered weakly as he fell into darkness.
To Be Continued.
Sakura blinked and opened her eyes but the world around her seemed hazy and dull. She tried to speak but could not. She tried to move but it was as if she had no body; just eyes. The haze was shades of gray being lighter here and darker there as if shallower and deeper like points of a foggy landscape of sheer rock. It seemed to her that she was peering down into the deep of the gray and far beneath a dull light began to glow. It seemed to be rising toward her and it began to take form. She could see after a while not one dull glow but three individual glows, their light blurring together. As it came nearer Sakura began to feel an apprehension or fear of these rising lights. They suddenly seemed menacing if not terrifying to her mind. They began to rise faster and their forms became more defined and numerous as there seemed to now be five glowing shapes ascending toward Sakura all in a line. Their light was of different colors now Sakura could see: the one in the center was a blinding white, to it's right was a form of fiery red, to the left was a form of dark turbulent blue, and to the ends were forms of no discernable color though no less daunting.
They rose and rose and became more and more clear until Sakura could make out each form. They were humanlike in appearance though only blazing silhouettes. But unlike humans the first three bore on their backs great wings who's span was vast. They're forms were like flame burning hotter that the sun flying to Sakura. No distance could she measure but she knew they were almost upon her. The one of white was closest with the others branching back. It's eyes unlike it's blinding body and wings like white flame were dark and deep, only black slits in its burning form. Though dark Sakura felt their gaze burning into her very soul. If possible fear and panic took Sakura and she felt alone and unprotected.
She wished for someone to come an rescue her from this new evil. Someone strong and trusting. Someone for whom she felt safe from all things around. He would come his sword shining with the power of the Sun and the Moon. With it he would smite this new evil down and deliver Sakura from them and they would leave this dreary place and return home. Though the form of such a warrior appeared before her, but a moment later it was gone and be it real or just imagined by Sakura's turbulent mind the white form with wings of white flame seemed upon her it's arm outstretched toward her and its light was now more intense than anything she had ever known. The light's luminosity grew and grew until right as the hand would take her in its hateful grasp and screams seemed to pierce the dead of this gray night the light swept over all.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhg!" Sakura screamed as she awoke still ridden by the terror of the dream. She then felt the grasp of two small hands on her shoulders and as she focused her wide eyes they fell on a very fair girl in white and in the air with a concerned look floated Kero.
"Kid?! Kid!" Kero pleaded as Sakura held her face in her hands.
"Sakura what's wrong?!" Tomoyo exclaimed as she grasped Sakura's shoulder as she panted short of breath from the dream of horror. There were tears in Sakura's eyes and she seemed ready to cry with the sorrow and weight of the world. She sobbingly embraced her friend finally finding some little comfort and peace.
"What's wrong?! What going on? Is Sakura okay?!" Touya exclaimed as he busted into the room followed by his father. Kero quickly hid himself from the father under the covers though he stayed near to Sakura listening intently.
No words could they get out of Sakura and Fujitaka joined Tomoyo on the bed in their attempt to comfort the troubled girl.
With his arms crossed, Touya leaned by the door looking at his sister with an uncharacteristic look of sadness on his face. He suddenly saw a small orange object whiz past him and out into the hall. He then saw Kero's head pop out from behind the doorframe. He signaled Touya to follow him and he walked out of the room quietly into the hallway. He shut Sakura's door softly and turned to Kero. "This is getting out of control!" He said angered but kept his voice down all the same.
"I'd think you would realize that control is the one thing that we don't have." Kero responded.
"I mean it's dangerous! Every other night for the last two weeks! She can't handle it! It's too much of a strain on her! How do we make it stop!"
"That's not the easiest question to answer and you won't like any of them." Kero said as he hovered in the air with his arms crossed. "Like Clow, Sakura has precognitive capabilities. -That means she can see the future in her dreams."
"I know that!" Touya sneered. "Get to the point."
"My point is: If this is a precognition then the dreams won't stop until what the dream is alluding to happens. Either that or." Kero said and trailed off seemingly unwilling to utter the words he would say.
"Or what!?" Touya snapped.
"Or this isn't a dream of the future. It may be some form of sorcery or curse that we might not be able to counter." Kero said grimly.
"And what if." Touya said in almost a whisper. "What if we can't counter it?"
"Then it won't stop. And every night Sakura will suffer thorough it until it becomes too much. And then." Kero said but didn't finish.
There was a long pause in the dark of the hallway. Touya was starting to feel overcome. He fought back tears with the anger boiling his blood. His chest felt tight and his fist clenched and there was a loud sound and with it his voice. "NO!" Everyone's heart in the house stopped for a split second and they looked up and toward the hall. And then with even more despair they turned back their attention to Sakura.
No longer holding back the tears, Touya unclenched his fist and pulled it bleeding from the wall. He leaned into the wall choking back his tears. Suddenly he felt a small hand on his brow. "Hey, take it easy kid." Kero said in as much of an upbeat tone as he could. "We'll do all we can to protect her. I know you will. I know you would do a lot for her. Sakura looks to you probably more than anyone for strength and guidance. And that's why you've got to be strong for her. She needs all of us now more than ever. We all do. We're all in it together."
Touya looked at Kero for once not with annoyance but with gratitude. He then grabbed Kero by the waist and walked back into the room pretending Kero was what he had pretended to be for so long.
As she had every morning, Sakura managed to shake off the feeling of dread and doom from the dream and was getting ready to go off to school with Tomoyo. Her brother and father were in the kitchen cleaning up from breakfast. Touya watched his sister in the living room putting things in her bag, which today included a small orange irritating stuffed animal. Then he thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye out the window and he looked. It had a strange feeling with it. He didn't know what it was or even if it was anything but Kero had told him that he felt the same thing or something similar and was going to school with Sakura just in case.
He gazed out the window absently in thought and then put his bandaged hand to his temple as if the sun hurt his eyes. A slight headache had been nagging him now and then for the past few days. He suddenly felt a hand on his and looked from the window at his father coming out of his daze. "Are you feeling alright?" Fujitaka said to his son. He had bandaged his son's hand that morning but was now more concerned with his son's odd behavior.
"Fine. fine." Touya said as is speaking through spikes of pain. He then heard his sister's call.
"Bye, Sakura! Have a wonderful day!" Fujitaka called toward the door.
"Bye, daddy!" Touya heard his sister say as the door shut and the two men were left alone.
"No matter what is going on she always manages to smile and be her usual cherry self." Touya said quietly almost to himself.
"It's how she is. She's a naturally happy girl, just like her mother." Fujitaka said but was still a bit concerned. He looked at his son with a lighthearted smile but after a moment it faded. "Is there something I should know about?" He said.
Touya stopped in his tracks for a second. "N- no. Why?"
"It seems like something more is wrong then simple bad dreams." Fujitaka said.
"Why do you say that?" Touya said resuming drying a dish his father had washed staying as calm and apathetic to the conversation as possible.
Fujitaka put a hand on his son's shoulder and looked at him. "I'm you father. I can tell."
Touya felt exposed. He knew he couldn't hide any of his feelings from this man but he could keep the truth from him even though he would see through any lie. "Sakura's just a little stressed right now, that's all. I wouldn't worry." He said breaking eye contact.
"Oh, okay," Fujitaka said but wasn't convinced in any way. "But, what about yourself?"
Touya stopped and looked at his hands. "What?" He said looking up.
"What about you? I know you're twenty-two now but you're my son and I still worry about you. And I can tell that it's not just Sakura who is having trouble." Fujitaka said.
'What about me?' Touya thought. 'I've been so caught up with protecting Sakura that I've not really thought about it' Touya looked out the window again and the light of the morning assaulted his eyes again. Then he looked back to his father. "I'm doen' alright, considering." He said.
"Considering what?" His father asked.
"What? Ah, nothing, just everything." Touya said putting the last dish away.
Fujitaka smiled as he gazed at his son. "Just remember." He said. Touya looked at his father in wonder for a moment as his words seemed to echo in his mind. "That if whenever you and your sister need me I'll be there for you. Whatever the reason."
Touya starred at his father for a moment and wondered if he already knew but how could he, he thought. The doorbell then rang and Touya grabbed his backpack. "That's Yuki and Nakuru. I've gotta go now. Bye dad." He said as he ran for the door.
With the door shut behind him he started walking with his two companions to class. "Something wrong?" Yukito said as he munched on a rice ball.
"Yah, you seemed in a bit of a rush. What's up?" Nakuru said.
"Nothing. It's just my dad." Touya said.
"Mr. Kinomoto? Is something wrong?" Yukito asked with concern.
"Nothing's wrong with him, but he's starting to become suspicious. He knows something is going on." Touya said as he strode to the head of the group.
Nakuru looked at him and he seemed taller today but not any more in control than usual. He seemed distressed to Nakuru as if he was questioning himself. She skipped up to his side and looked up at him. "Are you sure that it would be such a bad thing?" She said and he looked down at her. "If he knew?"
"I think it would be better if he didn't. It's less for him to worry about." Touya said.
"Are you sure?" Yukito said as he walked on the other side of Touya. "I'm no expert at families but don't you think that maybe he has the right to know what it is he's worried about?"
"Let's just drop it okay! Everything's fine the way it is." Touya stated. He looked straight ahead ignoring the two. They dropped it and the three walked on in silence.
Nakuru noticed the bandage. "What happened to your hand?" She asked.
Meanwhile Sakura and the others stepped into the halls of their high school to find the walls adorn with pink and red streamers with pictures of hearts and cupids. Sakura felt instantly better and excited. With the group was Takashi and Chiharu holding hands as always. "Are you guys going to the dance tonight?" Chiharu asked the group as they waited for the first bell.
"Oh course WE are!" Meling announced loudly as she linked arms with Syaoran. The others started to converse about the night but Syaoran felt someone brush past his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder while attempting to escape Meling's Kung Fu-grip and he saw Kako walk by looking at him with a small smile. He knew that she was trying to get his attention as she had a subtle way toward him. He managed to ditch Meling and made his way through the crowded hall to find Kako.
Chiharu was particularly excited about the dance. "It's going to be really great! The auditorium has a ton of decorations and there's gonna a DJ and food and everything! And it's formal so I get to wear my best dress!"
At hearing this Tomoyo put an arm around Sakura. "Sakura's going to look wonderful! I've been making her dress for weeks." Tomoyo said. Sakura had her hands together in front of her and her face was red from embarrassment. Tomoyo clasped her hands up by her head and had stars in her eyes. "She going to look so beautiful! I'm going to record every second of it!" Tomoyo rambled on as Sakura became more and more embarrassed.
"So then, Sakura," Chiharu said. "Who is it then?"
Sakura looked confused for a moment. "What? who is what?"
"Who is taking you!?" Chiharu exclaimed getting the attention of almost everyone. Sakura swallowed a lump in her throat and turned a new shade of red never before seen by man. Eriol, who was standing tall next to her gazed down at her and chuckled.
"W-well, Yukito and my brother are chaperoning so I thought.or maybe I could ask." Sakura stammered. She then looked around as if to find someone but she then hung her head in defeat feeling as if everyone in the hallway were laughing at her. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at Eriol to find his caring eyes on her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I'm sure someone will ask you. Beauty such as yours cannot go unnoticed." He said.
Down the hall Kako was leaning on the wall with her hands behind her back. Syaoran came up to her through the crowd and leaned on the wall next to her. "Hi, Kako." he said softly.
She leaned her shoulder against his arm and rested her head on his shoulder looking up at him. "Hi, Syaoran." She said. They stood there for a while and her arm somehow found it's way around his waist. He looked at her in question and she just giggled. Kako's sweet smile allowed Syaoran to forget his troubles for a time and her soft blue eyes like the calm waters of a crystal sea danced in his eyes. She then seemed not as happy as she looked into his deep brown eyes. "So, are you going to the dance tonight with that girl, Meling?"
Syaoran looked down the hall but it was so crowded he could see no sign of the group. He then looked back at Kako. "I guess I don't have to." He said in a deep voice bordering between disappointment and the feeling of levity he had when with Kako. She giggled with happiness and rolled from his side to his chest. Syaoran felt a sudden warmness as her lips came onto his and without thought his arms went about her waist and he thought about none other.
Their moment was paused for a moment as the bell rang and they broke from each other and walked into the classroom and sat down on a table in the back near the window to talk.
Once again sitting in their seats with their teacher letting the room run amuck, Meling was in a funk and Sakura couldn't help glancing at Syaoran every once in a while though he never noticed. She then noticed that Eriol wasn't in his seat. She then spotted him at the other end of the long window, which ran the length of the room opposite Li and Kako. Sakura wasn't sure but she thought he seemed to be looking at something. They were on the second floor so it could have been a number of things she thought.
Finally she decided to leave Tomoyo and Meling and go over to Eriol. "Is something wrong?" She asked as she walked up to him. Seeming to be woken out of a trance he looked at the emerald-eyed girl.
"No, my dear. I just thought I saw something. There is an ominous feel to today. It doesn't feel like a card. I would not rule it out but it may be something else. I do not know what though." Eriol said. Sakura stood in front of him and leaned slightly on his arm, which was resting on the windowsill.
"What do you think it is?" Sakura said dumbly as she looked around out of the window. Eriol knew of Sakura's troubled nights from both her and her brother and was also concerned. Though he shared Touya's opinion that it may be too much for her, he also agreed with her Guardian; that they all needed to be strong to pull through.
"Never you mind, Sakura." He said and she turned around to face him. "To the matter of tonight. You are without an escort to the gathering tonight, am I correct?"
"Well, yah." Sakura said.
"Would you like me to be your escort?" He said with a smile.
"You're asking me to the dance?!" Sakura said surprised despite Eriol's allusion.
Sakura's face lit up with glee. "I'd love to!"
Later in the day, Touya, Yukito and Nakuru had finished their classes for the day. The sun was shining dimly down from atop the sky; it was about noon and the three companions were about to have lunch. They were in the courtyard of their university and Yukito had packed everyone a lunch. They sat at a table with an umbrella shaded by a large tree with a large trunk, though the sun was not at all hot. Yukito and Nakuru sat and ate but Touya stood away by the tree staring into the crowd of people occupying the courtyard.
Nakuru looked at him suspiciously with half a mind to bound up to him and jump on his back. A sly smile came over her red lips as the desire of irritating him grew stronger. With barely another thought she jumped up and with only a few light strides toward Touya, jumped onto him nearly knocking him down. After Touya regained his balance he paid the girl no mind and just sighed with a shrug of his shoulders despite Nakuru's arms still clinging to him.
She was disappointed in not getting the reaction she wanted. She rested her head on her arm and whispered into his ear. "Whatcha' doen'?"
He turned his head and looked into her eyes finally with an irritated look. "I thought I sensed something." he said. He reached to his chest and pried her arms from about his neck and she hopped to the ground. He leaned on the tree and tried to ignore Nakuru. She wasn't finished having fun however. She grabbed his sweater and leaned in on his chest. But all of a sudden there came a hand strike on her rear and her eyes shot open. "HEY!" She shouted at Touya with balled up fists. Touya didn't say anything but pointed to Nakuru's rear. She turned around after eyeing Touya for a moment and realizing that it wasn't something he would do. Not too much to her surprise she found behind her Dorian with a wide smile across his sinister face.
Nakuru was slightly offended. "You sonofabitch!" She shouted raising a fist into the air. Touya thought about letting Nakuru hit Dorian for a moment just for fun but he didn't want a fight so he grabbed Nakuru by the shoulders and pulled her into his chest putting an arm across her just to make sure she didn't break free and then break Dorian's face. She actually looked a little stronger than Dorian to Touya but it could have been because he knew what she was. "That's enough." Touya said passively but also commandingly.
For someone who enjoyed provoking so much Nakuru sure didn't take it very well Touya noted. "What do ya want, Dorian?" Touya said trying not to sound too inconvenienced.
Dorian pointed with his thumb at the table. "I brought some friends." He said. Touya glanced at the table and saw another guy, very tall, even taller than himself and two other girls one of which he had met before. Yukito seemed to have introduced himself already and was chatting with the girl with green hair happily while sharing Touya's food with her.
The three walked back to the table and Dorian introduced his group. "You already know Traya," She stood looked up from Yukito and greeted them with a smile blowing a kiss to Touya. For a split second Nakuru's brow wrinkled defensively. "And this beauty of the night is Dieae," Dorian paused for a moment. "And that's Roan." He said flatly.
Roan stood up from his seat next to Traya and held out a hand to Touya. Touya hesitated for a moment. Roan unlike Dorian didn't look at all Japanese. Now that he looked, Traya didn't either. Touya guessed by his height and both their facial features that they were of European decent. He blinked and then took Roan's hand. "Hi."
"Hi." Roan said back deeply. He glanced at Nakuru standing beside Touya. He gripped Touya's hand tightly. Touya looked at him curiously. His teeth had become clenched and he seemed tense as he gazed at Nakuru. She looked confused at him for a moment and then looked at Touya with a 'get a load of this guy' look. Touya, still in Roan's formidable grasp cleared his throat. Roan's eyes jumped back to his victim and he let go slightly apologetically. He then looked at his wrist watch.
"We have to go. Sorry." He said as he gave Nakuru a last glance and then turned and started walking away. Traya got up. "Bye, guys!" She slapped Dorian in the back of the head. "C'mon." Dorian put a hand on the back of his head. "Ow." He muttered. He then looked at Touya with a crocked smile. "Well, see ya later tonight." The other girl, Dieae had stood and was now collecting Dorian and dragging him away seeming a bit angry.
Touya watched as the four disappeared into the crowd and let out a long sigh as if he had been holding his breath. He shook his hand and looked at it. Roan hadn't noticed the bandages and his hand was bleeding again. Nakuru looked at his hand and was slightly impressed with his strength in not crying out in pain. "What was that about?" She said. "That girl, Dieae? She seemed piiiiiiissed."
"Maybe she felt left out? She didn't talk to anyone." Yukito said while bagging up the remainder of the lunches. "Touya, what do you think?"
"What did he mean?" Touya seemed to say to himself as he went back to the tree. Nakuru looked at Yukito summoning him and he got up and they walked over to him. Nakuru could see the feeling of distress in Touya again. He seemed to her stressed or afflicted. Yukito noticed the same thing by now. He looked at Touya with concern. "Maybe.maybe you should have eaten something." He said not as upbeat as normal.
Touya turned to his companions. "When he said. never mind." Touya put a hand to his brow again and shut his eyes feeling somewhat weak as if some weight were on him. Yukito was becoming concerned. "Touay are you feeling alright?" Yukito said in a low voice.
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Touya said in a shaky voice. The world seemed hazy and far to him and his companion seemed like distant shdows their voices only echos. "what's happening." Touya whispered weakly as he fell into darkness.
To Be Continued.
