Sakura and her Abandoned Heart
In a darkly lit room a young girl stood by her lonesome looking into a tall oval mirror. Her hair was up in a bun and many thin braids hanging down or wrapped around the bun and she wore a long flowing purple satin dress. She looked at her reflection feeling that perhaps it told not of how she really was. Her face was smooth like porcelain and her hair obsidian black, shinny like moonlight reflecting off dark calm ocean waters. She was by all means as beautiful as the night and yet she was troubled, nonetheless. From a desk with other things she used to make herself up she took a comb with a dark gray metal crescent handle with many long forks to hold her hair. It was a very pretty thing but she didn't think of it so. "All of this. for one moment. One time. A time when I must do what I have to. But." She said slowly in a whisper to herself.
Then there was a soft knock at the door and it cracked open letting some light stream in. "Kako?" A soft voice said and a girl stepped into the room. Kako looked at the girl. She was almost entirely in shadow but Kako could see clearly her eyes, a deep but luminous blue. Kako felt no fear or tension with the girl's appearance unlike some others in her life. "Kako," the girl continued in a low and soft voice "how are you doing? Are you ready?"
"Dieae." Kako said as she looked from the girl to the drawn curtains of the window. Dieae went to Kako and put her hands on the girl's shoulders.
"What is it?" She asked.
Kako looked up into Dieae's soft eyes. "I. I don't know if I can do it." Kako felt the comb still in her hands and looked down at it. Dieae took it in her grasp and gently and carefully put it in Kako's hair in the back so as it couldn't be seen. Dieae then took Kako's hands in her own.
"Only use it if you must." She said.
"His will is much stronger than I thought." Kako said. "I fear I may have to but. I don't know. I don't know if I."
"Oh if you weren't so human." Dieae said stopping Kako. "I told you not to attach yourself. Not to let feelings get in the way. But did you listen to me? For so long I have cared for you and I would think that by now I would have learned that you never listen." Dieae's intention was to scold but she could never manage it. "Come now my girl. They are waiting for us."
The two girls left the room into an only slightly brighter hallway and followed it to a room lit only by candles and a crackling fire. In the room were soft arm chairs one to each side of the fire place, oriental rugs on the floor and other things of comfort here and about. Though appearing as an inviting and comfortable place, Kako felt ill-at-ease in it. She felt this way not for any reason but the eyes that bore down on her from one of the arm chairs. Dorian sat, his face in shadow but his eyes glinting from the darkness of his visage searching her over judgmentally. She noted another in the other armchair peripherally.
Dorian stood and gazed at the two girls with his back to the fire appearing as a shadow wreathed in firelight. "So it all comes down to this night then. Just make sure to do your part. It all ends now." He said with a low laugh that crackled like the fire and chilled Kako through. Dorian seemed different to her tonight, more crazed and intent. His nature of reckless hate and disregard for life seemed to be burning in his eyes, eyes she felt boring into her and taking hold of her very soul.
Kako turned away from him feeling small and weak as she had in his presence so many times. She then felt the delicate hands of Dieae upon her and they drew her close as she held her protectively. The now hard eyes of Dieae descended upon Dorian as hawk on it's prey. "She needs no encouragement from you! And don't presume victory so near. No plan, even one contrived by he whom we serve is immaculate."
Dorian's eyes narrowed at the girl's words. "You speak blasphemy. You know of his power. Any failure would be at the erratum of those carrying out his plan, not attributed to a flawed plan for he has none!" Dorian's hands clenched at his sides and the room became tense.
The hand of the one remaining in the other chair raised as his words stopped all. "That is enough." Rashein said. He stood. "Do well to remember who our enemy is. I will not tolerate this petty bickering. Roan and Traya await you at the gate. Go now and do not fail for if you do." He said and his eyes went first to Dorian with distrust and then to Kako with almost a glint of pity. "You know what will happen, and to provoke his wrath is to ask for death." he said in warning.
And with that Rashein sent them away and the three made their way to the others waiting for them outside the shrine in which they dwelt. With the knowledge of what lie ahead the five souls went and Kako perceived her companions in the dusk and falling darkness of the night. Roan and Traya, tall and stern; they went hand in had as they always had; two souls together to the end. And then to Dieae, calm and apart; always separate from the others answering only to one. And finally Dorian she felt as his was the most imposing presence. His breath upon her neck she felt as he followed her closely adding to her already uneasy feeling.
The distance ahead faded into dark and the streets and trees around seemed gray and featureless. Kako could remember no sounds as they walked, only the whisper of the wind through the trees and the faint call of echoes from the hollows of the distant dark places.
Outside Sakura's school, attendants of the dance began to convene and there was a hint of vibrant energy to the air and Sakura couldn't help despite the forlorn tidings of the day, to feel excited and happy. With Yukito, Kero and Tomoyo she had arrived and there already was her brother, Naruku and Meling. They needed only now to wait for Spinnal and Eriol for Meling had to Sakura's dismay told that Syaoran had left to meet Kako once he had delivered her to the first of the gathering group.
Sakura stood in the courtyard of the school with Tomoyo in her dress. It was of course her favorite colors of white and pink. In her hands Sakura nervously handled the headband of flowers that Syaoran had given her and around her neck was the necklace her father had given her. Tomoyo had redesigned the dress to match the headband after Sakura had showed it to her and told her of how she got it. It was Tomoyo's intent to make another piece of clothing to match the dress in cretin hopes but in the sadness of both girls things were not as they would design them to be. Sakura looked about at the people around her but perhaps noticing more who was absent. Next to her was her beloved Tomoyo in a simple blue satin dress. On Sakura's other side was Yukito in a cream-white suit. A few feet away from her stood her brother in a black suit his arms crossed and Nakuru in a sleek red dress leaning on his arm.
Everything seemed calm to Sakura for the moment and she was hopeful that they would be able to enjoy their night without anything going wrong. But the expression of her brother troubled her. His eyes were somber and no trace of a smile it seemed would ever come to him again. He hadn't said anything but Sakura knew he was feeling tired again and she was worried for him. But she was slightly gladdened by Nakuru being with him. She didn't know why but it seemed to her that his mood wasn't quite as heavy when he was with her, as if some worry was lifted from him by her.
No one had spoken for a time and Sakura was beginning to become restless. She looked to the sky and it was already becoming dark though she could see no stars. The thought of all the world coming to darkness came to her mind and she shuttered. Times were becoming darker by the day and there was no end in sight. She remembered what Eriol had said about the cards only being part of a grander scheme and despite her ability to capture the cards Sakura felt there was nothing she could do.
With her hands clasped around her headband she closed her eyes and tried to shake the feeling of doubt in her heart. When she opened them she was met with an encouraging sight. To her Eriol strode up clad in a hansom double- breasted red and black suit and took her hand. "I apologize for my belatedness, I. had things to attend to." Sakura wondered for a moment what he could mean by this. She felt cretin it had something to do with when he ended the council early, earlier that day but she was sure he had everything under control. "Come now. We will go." he said as he took Sakura's arm and led the group into the dance.
The auditorium was decorated just as well as Chiharu had said and upon it's sight Sakura felt that much better. It was a long rectangular room with long tables with food and drink on the sides and in the middle there was a dance floor on one end and round buffet tables occupying the rest of the space. There was much activity about with many happy people socializing and it made Sakura happy. She held onto Eriol's arm and lay her head on his shoulder and enjoyed his company and the company of her companions. But somewhere in her heart she felt she was missing something.
Eriol was happy that Sakura was happy but he was still concerned. To his mind's eye the wicked feel of the day had not yet passed. To Touya, Nakuru and Yukito standing together not far off he gazed and not to his surprise once again Touya looked weak though unwilling to admit it.
Nakuru with Yukito stood behind a buffet table distributing drinks. Touya stood some distance away alone leaning on the near by wall. Nakuru glanced at him with a look of apprehension and then departed Yukito to Touya's side. He acknowledged her with an almost appreciative glance but made no other movement. Nakuru felt disheartened. He was once again weakening despite her efforts. She turned to him and put her hand upon his breast. She felt the beating of his heart and she looked into the deep of his eyes. In her heart she felt a pain, one that lye deep within Touya. 'Despite all your strength you have no defense against that of which you are assailed. I can give you only some of my strength but if I am weakened if fear for what may happen to you.' She though. Her hand moved to his shoulder and she lye her head on his chest so as to look casual to any observers.
"It wasn't enough." She said softly. "You suffer still."
Touya closed his eyes and felt the girl upon him. His hand ran through her silky hair and then rested upon the crick of her neck. "It's not your fault." he said softly. Nakuru looked up to him and he looked down into her lucid eyes. He touched the smooth flesh of her cheek slightly flushed a pail red. He ran his thumb over her lips as he opened his as if to speak though he did not. She could feel on her chest his heart racing but she thought perhaps it was her own.
Suddenly Touya's expression changed and his eyes went to Yukito. He looked back to Nakuru and then away from her. He took his hand from her cheek. "I'm sorry." He said as he hastened off. Though he did so not without some regret, Nakuru's heart sank. She leaned on the wall still warm from his body. Suddenly Nakuru's attention was called by something. She sensed it as she would magic but she felt nothing of the sort. She went back to Touya and Yukito and with a look at Touya's eyes she knew he had felt the same.
It was there and gone. No trace of it they could feel any more but it concerned them still. Nakuru looked at Touya once again with some regret. But before she could say a word he spoke to her: "Whatever it is we can talk about it later." he said though he knew very well what it was.
"Your right." She responded with her head slightly bowed with a sense of regret.
Touya sighed and felt fatigued. But then something caught his eye and he looked up. Nakuru looked in the direction he was looking but saw nothing. "What is it?" She asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe nothing." He said as skipped into the crowd in pursuit. Nakuru attempted to followed and sent Yukito to get the others.
Sakura sat with Tomoyo and Meling at a small round banquet table with a pink tablecloth. Eriol had gone to watch for signs of trouble as well as to get some more drinks. He had earlier told Kero and Spinel to stay out of sight but to keep their eyes open. Kero was particularly upset by this and spent most of the night looking for signs of trouble near the refreshment tables with only Spinel to keep him from ambushing them. Sakura leaned on her had and watched Tomoyo run her finger over the rim of her glass making a soft but heavenly hum. Sakura let out a melancholy sigh and glanced at Meling. Even though Sakura was with Eriol this night. But as she glanced at Meling it was evident that she felt ten times as miserable.
"Come on, cheer up you two!" Tomoyo said as cheerfully as she could.
"What do I have to be cheerful about?" Meling said seeming on the brink of tears or a temper tantrum. "I haven't seen Li all night and he promised that even though. even th. he promised to come and dance with me and he hasn't." Meling's whimpering was getting more and more irritating even though the other two girls understood. Tomoyo attempted to console her while Sakura sat still and ran her finger along the rim of her glass.
No sound could she make but she fell too deep into thought to notice. She thought of Syaoran and how seldom he was around as of late and the apparent reasons behind it. The more she thought about it the more suspicious she became of Kako. She didn't know what she was suspicious of though. Syaoran would seem to drop everything when Kako was around and when she wasn't around Syaoran seemed distant or uninterested in anything that the group was doing. Sakura was beginning to admit to herself that she was jealous but still she wondered, if Kako could be doing something to Syaoran. And she wondered still while on the subject of distant friends about her dear Yukito. He had been as he always was but that is all; it was only him. It had been some time since she had seen Yue's white wings and she missed him dearly.
Nakuru worked her way through the crowd and when she found him he was standing in the middle of the dance floor starring. "What is it?" she said before looking from him to the sight he was so intent on. For a moment he seemed to have an angry look but it was mixed with quarry or doubt. She then looked and was surprised if not disgusted by what she saw. Dorian with Dieae, Roan and Traya stood on the other side of the gym with their backs to Nakuru and Touya. "What is he doing here!" Touya said rhetorically in a low but wrathful voice.
Before Nakuru could stop him, Touya stormed over to Dorian and dug his fingers into his shoulder before turning him around to face him. "What are you doing here!" Touya accused loudly drawing the attention of all the people around him. As Nakuru caught up and stood next to Touya, the expression on Dorian's face was somewhat uncharacteristic. He was wincing a bit from Touya's grasp but there was also a look of sheer shock on his face as if he were surprised to see Touya alive. But after a moment the shock began to turn to reproach as he grit his teeth and narrowed his eyes at Touya.
Recognizing that if something was not done immediately there would be a regrettable occurrence, the hands of Traya and Nakuru took hold of Touya's arm, which still held the shoulder of Dorian's crimson suit. Naruku made eye contact with Touya. "Is this any way to greet our friends?" she stated. Touya let go of Dorian and the situation seemed to calm.
The six then walked over to a refreshments table and got some punch. They then sat down at a buffet table. Despite Nakuru's obvious message to stop acting rashly, Touya did so anyway. "Why are you at a high school dance? I know for a fact how old you are." He said only a little less accusingly this time.
Dorian cackled a bit and then responded. "I could ask you the same, but I'm helping Dieae here chaperone. She has a sister that goes here."
"Oh yah?" Touya said as he looked at Dieae sitting on the other side of the table. "Is that right."
"Her name is Kako." Dieae said.
"Huhm." Touya said seemingly not listening to the girl. He instead starred at Dorian a couple of seats over to his left with Nakuru between them. Dorian with a snide smile ignored him and gazed off into the crowd idly slurping on his punch.
Nakuru was relived that nothing had happened but she was starting to develop doubts or even suspicions about these people, as she was sure that Touya had. But Nakuru wasn't so much tipped-off by Dorian as Touya was but by Roan. For some reason beyond her reasoning, he felt eerily familiar to her and defiantly not in a good way. That and even though she had only met him a few times he always acted strange as if he was somehow put off by her. Tonight was no different. She had noticed that he was making an effort not to make eye contact with her. And not only that he seemed on edge or timid and she thought that odd of such a tall and broad guy.
After a few minuets of idle and somewhat evasive conversation, Touya and Nakuru took their leave of Dorian and the others. After they had gone Dorian ceased to control himself. His fist came down upon the table with a crash making the silverware jump and then clatter. "Damn it!" He said but tried to keep it to a low roar. "What am I doing here he asks? What about him? He's supposed to be dead already!"
"Calm yourself before you draw attention." Dieae snapped. "So your spell wasn't completely effective, deal with it! He is your charge after all."
Dorian slumped in his chare seeming to be brooding. "He's just a human, he couldn't have survived."
"So he had help. It doesn't surprise me; they tend to do that for each other, humans. I'd say it was Nakuru, the girl that was by his side. But your spell may still run its course after all, just be patient." Dieae said seeming to be amused with Dorian's failure.
"That wasn't a girl named Nakuru, Dieae." Roan interrupted. "You know who and what she was, certainly not human."
"No more human than you, Roan." She responded. "But human enough. Clow made them that way. All of them. And I suggest that you fix whatever problem you have with her that is making you cower like a dog."
Roan didn't respond but stood and walked away. Before following, Traya put in her two cents: "He's not afraid."
"Afraid of her, angry for what she did, it matters not. As long as he can fight. You know that." Dieae said in a sympathetic way.
"Well you could be nicer about it." Traya said and then went after him.
Dieae closed her eyes and sighed. Dorian was beginning to feel restless. "Dieae!" he said jolting her out of any calm state she might have been in.
"Your right. It is time." She said.
"The others?"
"They will know, they are more capable than you give them credit for." Dieae said. "The trap is set. They are dormant but will awaken. Kako made sure of that and when they do, that is when we will strike."
"Oh no, oh no, oh no." Sakura whispered as she, Tomoyo, Meling and Yukito rushed to find her brother and Nakuru. "Sakura, what is it?" Tomoyo asked as they stopped to look around for a moment.
Sakura's hand went to her chest and clutched her Star Key. "I'm not sure. I feel something." Sakura said as she held onto Yukito's hand. She looked up to him and he gave her a reassuring smile and one also broke across her lips through her worry. For a moment she saw the flowing white hair and piercing blue eyes of Yueh in her mind as she gazed up at Yukito. She felt even more grief in her heart for yet another whom she felt abandoned by.
"Sakura!" She heard Tomoyo call and as she looked and saw what she thought was a very welcome sight. Eriol strode up and Sakura felt her spirits rise just a little but however they fell from any height they might have obtained once she saw his grim expression and heard his words.
"Come quickly. The others are waiting for us." He said.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked rather desperately.
"I fear we will find out soon enough" Eriol said. "Touya and the other guardians await us." Eriol repeated and then looked toward doors leading to a hallway. "There."
Eriol began toward the door but Sakura quickly realized who he had left out. "Wait!" She exclaimed as she ran up to him. "What about Syaoran? Where's Syaoran?"
"Yah, where is Li!" Meling joined in.
Eriol stopped. He paused for a moment before responding but it seemed years to Sakura. "The Descendant alone faces his own trial this night." Eriol's voice sounded grim or without hope to Sakura's ears. She stood for a moment not knowing what to do. The look of distress on Sakura's face concerned Eriol. He caught a glint of intent and what looked like anger in Sakura's eyes, anger of the sort toward a person with malice or jealousy. As he expected, Sakura turned on her heal to go in search of her friend seemingly with a vengeance.
"Sakura, no!" Eriol said as he took hold of Sakura's arm and she suddenly felt frozen stiff. "You cannot help him! Even though it is true that we are committed to one another some paths must be walked alone." His words were stern and his eyes commanding, Sakura felt them like thunder. She now knew what she had suspected for some time. She saw into him at this brief moment. She saw what wrath lie within him. But Sakura had no fear of this wrath by the softness that presently came to Eriol's eyes. "You must walk your own path, Sakura" he said "as do we all but do not worry for our paths all lead to the same place and yours will cross with his again. Of this I am sure."
Once again Eriol's words brought a smile to Sakura's face and her spirits somewhat rose. As she walked ahead with the others Eriol stood for a moment and whispered to himself: "Fear not, Sakura for his is not wholly without aid." he waved his hand though the air and closed his eyes. "Let the wind carry you from you peril, son of Clow."
The white light of the moon shone through the panes of a classroom window through the branches of a tree shattering the light as it fell onto Kako's fair skin. She stood peering out the window admiringly with her arms wrapped about her. Behind her on the edge of a desk, Syaoran sat gazing at her in wonder.
"Kako" he said quietly "why have you brought me here?" Syaoran couldn't help question himself as he looked back on the day. It seemed blurry or fragmented. Many mornings seemed this way. Anytime he was with Kako time seemed to pass differently, if slower or faster he could not tell. It troubled him as time was once his dominion and he now felt a longing for that power. He looked up at Kako returning from his thoughts. Her hair glinted in the light of the moon and he rose and went to her but out of what impulse he couldn't discern.
She put her arms about his neck and looked out the window. Syaoran looked as well and beyond through the branches of the tree he saw the cold of the night and the moon low in the sky. "Isn't it beautiful?" Kako murmured. The soft sound of the wind seemed to come and go with her voice. Syaoran felt himself begin to lull into the state that this girl seemed to bring him into as if by magic.
His gaze became bleak and his attention wavered. But then he saw something that seemed to kindle a fire deep within his heart; seemingly brought by the wind, fluttering down from some unknown height they came; cherry blossoms. Their color was vibrant despite the dark of the night and they glittered in the sky by the light of the crescent moon. Out of the fire of his heart brought by this vision of serendipity ascended the thought of another and her warm lips upon a frigid morn. 'Sakura.' he whispered on a soft breath.
Kako heard no sound but saw his lips and knew then what truly was in his heart. She told herself she had been right all along and there was no room left in his heart. Her hand found it's way to the comb at the back of her hair. It's metal felt cold on her fingertips. She hesitated to draw it for if she did she knew what fate would befall Syaoran but at the same time if she did not she also knew her own fate.
To be continued.
In a darkly lit room a young girl stood by her lonesome looking into a tall oval mirror. Her hair was up in a bun and many thin braids hanging down or wrapped around the bun and she wore a long flowing purple satin dress. She looked at her reflection feeling that perhaps it told not of how she really was. Her face was smooth like porcelain and her hair obsidian black, shinny like moonlight reflecting off dark calm ocean waters. She was by all means as beautiful as the night and yet she was troubled, nonetheless. From a desk with other things she used to make herself up she took a comb with a dark gray metal crescent handle with many long forks to hold her hair. It was a very pretty thing but she didn't think of it so. "All of this. for one moment. One time. A time when I must do what I have to. But." She said slowly in a whisper to herself.
Then there was a soft knock at the door and it cracked open letting some light stream in. "Kako?" A soft voice said and a girl stepped into the room. Kako looked at the girl. She was almost entirely in shadow but Kako could see clearly her eyes, a deep but luminous blue. Kako felt no fear or tension with the girl's appearance unlike some others in her life. "Kako," the girl continued in a low and soft voice "how are you doing? Are you ready?"
"Dieae." Kako said as she looked from the girl to the drawn curtains of the window. Dieae went to Kako and put her hands on the girl's shoulders.
"What is it?" She asked.
Kako looked up into Dieae's soft eyes. "I. I don't know if I can do it." Kako felt the comb still in her hands and looked down at it. Dieae took it in her grasp and gently and carefully put it in Kako's hair in the back so as it couldn't be seen. Dieae then took Kako's hands in her own.
"Only use it if you must." She said.
"His will is much stronger than I thought." Kako said. "I fear I may have to but. I don't know. I don't know if I."
"Oh if you weren't so human." Dieae said stopping Kako. "I told you not to attach yourself. Not to let feelings get in the way. But did you listen to me? For so long I have cared for you and I would think that by now I would have learned that you never listen." Dieae's intention was to scold but she could never manage it. "Come now my girl. They are waiting for us."
The two girls left the room into an only slightly brighter hallway and followed it to a room lit only by candles and a crackling fire. In the room were soft arm chairs one to each side of the fire place, oriental rugs on the floor and other things of comfort here and about. Though appearing as an inviting and comfortable place, Kako felt ill-at-ease in it. She felt this way not for any reason but the eyes that bore down on her from one of the arm chairs. Dorian sat, his face in shadow but his eyes glinting from the darkness of his visage searching her over judgmentally. She noted another in the other armchair peripherally.
Dorian stood and gazed at the two girls with his back to the fire appearing as a shadow wreathed in firelight. "So it all comes down to this night then. Just make sure to do your part. It all ends now." He said with a low laugh that crackled like the fire and chilled Kako through. Dorian seemed different to her tonight, more crazed and intent. His nature of reckless hate and disregard for life seemed to be burning in his eyes, eyes she felt boring into her and taking hold of her very soul.
Kako turned away from him feeling small and weak as she had in his presence so many times. She then felt the delicate hands of Dieae upon her and they drew her close as she held her protectively. The now hard eyes of Dieae descended upon Dorian as hawk on it's prey. "She needs no encouragement from you! And don't presume victory so near. No plan, even one contrived by he whom we serve is immaculate."
Dorian's eyes narrowed at the girl's words. "You speak blasphemy. You know of his power. Any failure would be at the erratum of those carrying out his plan, not attributed to a flawed plan for he has none!" Dorian's hands clenched at his sides and the room became tense.
The hand of the one remaining in the other chair raised as his words stopped all. "That is enough." Rashein said. He stood. "Do well to remember who our enemy is. I will not tolerate this petty bickering. Roan and Traya await you at the gate. Go now and do not fail for if you do." He said and his eyes went first to Dorian with distrust and then to Kako with almost a glint of pity. "You know what will happen, and to provoke his wrath is to ask for death." he said in warning.
And with that Rashein sent them away and the three made their way to the others waiting for them outside the shrine in which they dwelt. With the knowledge of what lie ahead the five souls went and Kako perceived her companions in the dusk and falling darkness of the night. Roan and Traya, tall and stern; they went hand in had as they always had; two souls together to the end. And then to Dieae, calm and apart; always separate from the others answering only to one. And finally Dorian she felt as his was the most imposing presence. His breath upon her neck she felt as he followed her closely adding to her already uneasy feeling.
The distance ahead faded into dark and the streets and trees around seemed gray and featureless. Kako could remember no sounds as they walked, only the whisper of the wind through the trees and the faint call of echoes from the hollows of the distant dark places.
Outside Sakura's school, attendants of the dance began to convene and there was a hint of vibrant energy to the air and Sakura couldn't help despite the forlorn tidings of the day, to feel excited and happy. With Yukito, Kero and Tomoyo she had arrived and there already was her brother, Naruku and Meling. They needed only now to wait for Spinnal and Eriol for Meling had to Sakura's dismay told that Syaoran had left to meet Kako once he had delivered her to the first of the gathering group.
Sakura stood in the courtyard of the school with Tomoyo in her dress. It was of course her favorite colors of white and pink. In her hands Sakura nervously handled the headband of flowers that Syaoran had given her and around her neck was the necklace her father had given her. Tomoyo had redesigned the dress to match the headband after Sakura had showed it to her and told her of how she got it. It was Tomoyo's intent to make another piece of clothing to match the dress in cretin hopes but in the sadness of both girls things were not as they would design them to be. Sakura looked about at the people around her but perhaps noticing more who was absent. Next to her was her beloved Tomoyo in a simple blue satin dress. On Sakura's other side was Yukito in a cream-white suit. A few feet away from her stood her brother in a black suit his arms crossed and Nakuru in a sleek red dress leaning on his arm.
Everything seemed calm to Sakura for the moment and she was hopeful that they would be able to enjoy their night without anything going wrong. But the expression of her brother troubled her. His eyes were somber and no trace of a smile it seemed would ever come to him again. He hadn't said anything but Sakura knew he was feeling tired again and she was worried for him. But she was slightly gladdened by Nakuru being with him. She didn't know why but it seemed to her that his mood wasn't quite as heavy when he was with her, as if some worry was lifted from him by her.
No one had spoken for a time and Sakura was beginning to become restless. She looked to the sky and it was already becoming dark though she could see no stars. The thought of all the world coming to darkness came to her mind and she shuttered. Times were becoming darker by the day and there was no end in sight. She remembered what Eriol had said about the cards only being part of a grander scheme and despite her ability to capture the cards Sakura felt there was nothing she could do.
With her hands clasped around her headband she closed her eyes and tried to shake the feeling of doubt in her heart. When she opened them she was met with an encouraging sight. To her Eriol strode up clad in a hansom double- breasted red and black suit and took her hand. "I apologize for my belatedness, I. had things to attend to." Sakura wondered for a moment what he could mean by this. She felt cretin it had something to do with when he ended the council early, earlier that day but she was sure he had everything under control. "Come now. We will go." he said as he took Sakura's arm and led the group into the dance.
The auditorium was decorated just as well as Chiharu had said and upon it's sight Sakura felt that much better. It was a long rectangular room with long tables with food and drink on the sides and in the middle there was a dance floor on one end and round buffet tables occupying the rest of the space. There was much activity about with many happy people socializing and it made Sakura happy. She held onto Eriol's arm and lay her head on his shoulder and enjoyed his company and the company of her companions. But somewhere in her heart she felt she was missing something.
Eriol was happy that Sakura was happy but he was still concerned. To his mind's eye the wicked feel of the day had not yet passed. To Touya, Nakuru and Yukito standing together not far off he gazed and not to his surprise once again Touya looked weak though unwilling to admit it.
Nakuru with Yukito stood behind a buffet table distributing drinks. Touya stood some distance away alone leaning on the near by wall. Nakuru glanced at him with a look of apprehension and then departed Yukito to Touya's side. He acknowledged her with an almost appreciative glance but made no other movement. Nakuru felt disheartened. He was once again weakening despite her efforts. She turned to him and put her hand upon his breast. She felt the beating of his heart and she looked into the deep of his eyes. In her heart she felt a pain, one that lye deep within Touya. 'Despite all your strength you have no defense against that of which you are assailed. I can give you only some of my strength but if I am weakened if fear for what may happen to you.' She though. Her hand moved to his shoulder and she lye her head on his chest so as to look casual to any observers.
"It wasn't enough." She said softly. "You suffer still."
Touya closed his eyes and felt the girl upon him. His hand ran through her silky hair and then rested upon the crick of her neck. "It's not your fault." he said softly. Nakuru looked up to him and he looked down into her lucid eyes. He touched the smooth flesh of her cheek slightly flushed a pail red. He ran his thumb over her lips as he opened his as if to speak though he did not. She could feel on her chest his heart racing but she thought perhaps it was her own.
Suddenly Touya's expression changed and his eyes went to Yukito. He looked back to Nakuru and then away from her. He took his hand from her cheek. "I'm sorry." He said as he hastened off. Though he did so not without some regret, Nakuru's heart sank. She leaned on the wall still warm from his body. Suddenly Nakuru's attention was called by something. She sensed it as she would magic but she felt nothing of the sort. She went back to Touya and Yukito and with a look at Touya's eyes she knew he had felt the same.
It was there and gone. No trace of it they could feel any more but it concerned them still. Nakuru looked at Touya once again with some regret. But before she could say a word he spoke to her: "Whatever it is we can talk about it later." he said though he knew very well what it was.
"Your right." She responded with her head slightly bowed with a sense of regret.
Touya sighed and felt fatigued. But then something caught his eye and he looked up. Nakuru looked in the direction he was looking but saw nothing. "What is it?" She asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe nothing." He said as skipped into the crowd in pursuit. Nakuru attempted to followed and sent Yukito to get the others.
Sakura sat with Tomoyo and Meling at a small round banquet table with a pink tablecloth. Eriol had gone to watch for signs of trouble as well as to get some more drinks. He had earlier told Kero and Spinel to stay out of sight but to keep their eyes open. Kero was particularly upset by this and spent most of the night looking for signs of trouble near the refreshment tables with only Spinel to keep him from ambushing them. Sakura leaned on her had and watched Tomoyo run her finger over the rim of her glass making a soft but heavenly hum. Sakura let out a melancholy sigh and glanced at Meling. Even though Sakura was with Eriol this night. But as she glanced at Meling it was evident that she felt ten times as miserable.
"Come on, cheer up you two!" Tomoyo said as cheerfully as she could.
"What do I have to be cheerful about?" Meling said seeming on the brink of tears or a temper tantrum. "I haven't seen Li all night and he promised that even though. even th. he promised to come and dance with me and he hasn't." Meling's whimpering was getting more and more irritating even though the other two girls understood. Tomoyo attempted to console her while Sakura sat still and ran her finger along the rim of her glass.
No sound could she make but she fell too deep into thought to notice. She thought of Syaoran and how seldom he was around as of late and the apparent reasons behind it. The more she thought about it the more suspicious she became of Kako. She didn't know what she was suspicious of though. Syaoran would seem to drop everything when Kako was around and when she wasn't around Syaoran seemed distant or uninterested in anything that the group was doing. Sakura was beginning to admit to herself that she was jealous but still she wondered, if Kako could be doing something to Syaoran. And she wondered still while on the subject of distant friends about her dear Yukito. He had been as he always was but that is all; it was only him. It had been some time since she had seen Yue's white wings and she missed him dearly.
Nakuru worked her way through the crowd and when she found him he was standing in the middle of the dance floor starring. "What is it?" she said before looking from him to the sight he was so intent on. For a moment he seemed to have an angry look but it was mixed with quarry or doubt. She then looked and was surprised if not disgusted by what she saw. Dorian with Dieae, Roan and Traya stood on the other side of the gym with their backs to Nakuru and Touya. "What is he doing here!" Touya said rhetorically in a low but wrathful voice.
Before Nakuru could stop him, Touya stormed over to Dorian and dug his fingers into his shoulder before turning him around to face him. "What are you doing here!" Touya accused loudly drawing the attention of all the people around him. As Nakuru caught up and stood next to Touya, the expression on Dorian's face was somewhat uncharacteristic. He was wincing a bit from Touya's grasp but there was also a look of sheer shock on his face as if he were surprised to see Touya alive. But after a moment the shock began to turn to reproach as he grit his teeth and narrowed his eyes at Touya.
Recognizing that if something was not done immediately there would be a regrettable occurrence, the hands of Traya and Nakuru took hold of Touya's arm, which still held the shoulder of Dorian's crimson suit. Naruku made eye contact with Touya. "Is this any way to greet our friends?" she stated. Touya let go of Dorian and the situation seemed to calm.
The six then walked over to a refreshments table and got some punch. They then sat down at a buffet table. Despite Nakuru's obvious message to stop acting rashly, Touya did so anyway. "Why are you at a high school dance? I know for a fact how old you are." He said only a little less accusingly this time.
Dorian cackled a bit and then responded. "I could ask you the same, but I'm helping Dieae here chaperone. She has a sister that goes here."
"Oh yah?" Touya said as he looked at Dieae sitting on the other side of the table. "Is that right."
"Her name is Kako." Dieae said.
"Huhm." Touya said seemingly not listening to the girl. He instead starred at Dorian a couple of seats over to his left with Nakuru between them. Dorian with a snide smile ignored him and gazed off into the crowd idly slurping on his punch.
Nakuru was relived that nothing had happened but she was starting to develop doubts or even suspicions about these people, as she was sure that Touya had. But Nakuru wasn't so much tipped-off by Dorian as Touya was but by Roan. For some reason beyond her reasoning, he felt eerily familiar to her and defiantly not in a good way. That and even though she had only met him a few times he always acted strange as if he was somehow put off by her. Tonight was no different. She had noticed that he was making an effort not to make eye contact with her. And not only that he seemed on edge or timid and she thought that odd of such a tall and broad guy.
After a few minuets of idle and somewhat evasive conversation, Touya and Nakuru took their leave of Dorian and the others. After they had gone Dorian ceased to control himself. His fist came down upon the table with a crash making the silverware jump and then clatter. "Damn it!" He said but tried to keep it to a low roar. "What am I doing here he asks? What about him? He's supposed to be dead already!"
"Calm yourself before you draw attention." Dieae snapped. "So your spell wasn't completely effective, deal with it! He is your charge after all."
Dorian slumped in his chare seeming to be brooding. "He's just a human, he couldn't have survived."
"So he had help. It doesn't surprise me; they tend to do that for each other, humans. I'd say it was Nakuru, the girl that was by his side. But your spell may still run its course after all, just be patient." Dieae said seeming to be amused with Dorian's failure.
"That wasn't a girl named Nakuru, Dieae." Roan interrupted. "You know who and what she was, certainly not human."
"No more human than you, Roan." She responded. "But human enough. Clow made them that way. All of them. And I suggest that you fix whatever problem you have with her that is making you cower like a dog."
Roan didn't respond but stood and walked away. Before following, Traya put in her two cents: "He's not afraid."
"Afraid of her, angry for what she did, it matters not. As long as he can fight. You know that." Dieae said in a sympathetic way.
"Well you could be nicer about it." Traya said and then went after him.
Dieae closed her eyes and sighed. Dorian was beginning to feel restless. "Dieae!" he said jolting her out of any calm state she might have been in.
"Your right. It is time." She said.
"The others?"
"They will know, they are more capable than you give them credit for." Dieae said. "The trap is set. They are dormant but will awaken. Kako made sure of that and when they do, that is when we will strike."
"Oh no, oh no, oh no." Sakura whispered as she, Tomoyo, Meling and Yukito rushed to find her brother and Nakuru. "Sakura, what is it?" Tomoyo asked as they stopped to look around for a moment.
Sakura's hand went to her chest and clutched her Star Key. "I'm not sure. I feel something." Sakura said as she held onto Yukito's hand. She looked up to him and he gave her a reassuring smile and one also broke across her lips through her worry. For a moment she saw the flowing white hair and piercing blue eyes of Yueh in her mind as she gazed up at Yukito. She felt even more grief in her heart for yet another whom she felt abandoned by.
"Sakura!" She heard Tomoyo call and as she looked and saw what she thought was a very welcome sight. Eriol strode up and Sakura felt her spirits rise just a little but however they fell from any height they might have obtained once she saw his grim expression and heard his words.
"Come quickly. The others are waiting for us." He said.
"What's going on?" Sakura asked rather desperately.
"I fear we will find out soon enough" Eriol said. "Touya and the other guardians await us." Eriol repeated and then looked toward doors leading to a hallway. "There."
Eriol began toward the door but Sakura quickly realized who he had left out. "Wait!" She exclaimed as she ran up to him. "What about Syaoran? Where's Syaoran?"
"Yah, where is Li!" Meling joined in.
Eriol stopped. He paused for a moment before responding but it seemed years to Sakura. "The Descendant alone faces his own trial this night." Eriol's voice sounded grim or without hope to Sakura's ears. She stood for a moment not knowing what to do. The look of distress on Sakura's face concerned Eriol. He caught a glint of intent and what looked like anger in Sakura's eyes, anger of the sort toward a person with malice or jealousy. As he expected, Sakura turned on her heal to go in search of her friend seemingly with a vengeance.
"Sakura, no!" Eriol said as he took hold of Sakura's arm and she suddenly felt frozen stiff. "You cannot help him! Even though it is true that we are committed to one another some paths must be walked alone." His words were stern and his eyes commanding, Sakura felt them like thunder. She now knew what she had suspected for some time. She saw into him at this brief moment. She saw what wrath lie within him. But Sakura had no fear of this wrath by the softness that presently came to Eriol's eyes. "You must walk your own path, Sakura" he said "as do we all but do not worry for our paths all lead to the same place and yours will cross with his again. Of this I am sure."
Once again Eriol's words brought a smile to Sakura's face and her spirits somewhat rose. As she walked ahead with the others Eriol stood for a moment and whispered to himself: "Fear not, Sakura for his is not wholly without aid." he waved his hand though the air and closed his eyes. "Let the wind carry you from you peril, son of Clow."
The white light of the moon shone through the panes of a classroom window through the branches of a tree shattering the light as it fell onto Kako's fair skin. She stood peering out the window admiringly with her arms wrapped about her. Behind her on the edge of a desk, Syaoran sat gazing at her in wonder.
"Kako" he said quietly "why have you brought me here?" Syaoran couldn't help question himself as he looked back on the day. It seemed blurry or fragmented. Many mornings seemed this way. Anytime he was with Kako time seemed to pass differently, if slower or faster he could not tell. It troubled him as time was once his dominion and he now felt a longing for that power. He looked up at Kako returning from his thoughts. Her hair glinted in the light of the moon and he rose and went to her but out of what impulse he couldn't discern.
She put her arms about his neck and looked out the window. Syaoran looked as well and beyond through the branches of the tree he saw the cold of the night and the moon low in the sky. "Isn't it beautiful?" Kako murmured. The soft sound of the wind seemed to come and go with her voice. Syaoran felt himself begin to lull into the state that this girl seemed to bring him into as if by magic.
His gaze became bleak and his attention wavered. But then he saw something that seemed to kindle a fire deep within his heart; seemingly brought by the wind, fluttering down from some unknown height they came; cherry blossoms. Their color was vibrant despite the dark of the night and they glittered in the sky by the light of the crescent moon. Out of the fire of his heart brought by this vision of serendipity ascended the thought of another and her warm lips upon a frigid morn. 'Sakura.' he whispered on a soft breath.
Kako heard no sound but saw his lips and knew then what truly was in his heart. She told herself she had been right all along and there was no room left in his heart. Her hand found it's way to the comb at the back of her hair. It's metal felt cold on her fingertips. She hesitated to draw it for if she did she knew what fate would befall Syaoran but at the same time if she did not she also knew her own fate.
To be continued.
