For all of the others of you, I hope you enjoy this chapter. This is when the "tradgic event" takes place. You'll be going back and forth between two scenes. This chapter is getting you ready for the next one. I hope you'll be ready. Please remember to review. Anything is welcomed.
Chapter 1
"I cannot wait to get into the ring and pound that creep." Syaoran slammed his fist down on the table. "No one disrespects my family or me that way."
Sakura sat down at the table, looking a bit unnerved. She started to wave her hand a little, brushing what he was saying away. "Oh, come on, Syaoran. Don't get so upset. Isn't that bad for fighting? Besides, Meilin can take care of herself, you know. Calm down before the fight starts."
Pouting, Syaoran pushed himself away from the table and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine. I'll get him back anyway."
Sakura smiled brightly at Syaoran. "I guess that's the spirit." She laughed a bit. Then, she looked at her watch. "I think we've got a few minutes before the next match. So we have some alone time." She cupped her hands around her drink and sipped some of it.
Syaoran checked his watch-twelve minutes. "I guess you're right. How have you been enjoying yourself?"
"I have been having a wonderful time!" Sakura exclaimed. "It's all so exciting. You and Meilin look great up there-just as good as your fight with the Twin Card. Neither one of you has slowed down since then, and I wouldn't expect you to either."
"I'm glad you're having fun. I have to admit I'm enjoying it myself, especially with Meilin being here. I haven't seen her in a while. It's nice when she comes to visit. I still feel kind of bad about how things worked out for her."
Sakura looked down, and then back at Syaoran with a reassuring smile. "I know what you mean. It feels right when she's around, like the gang is all complete again. As far as how things worked out, I think she's happy as long as you're happy."
"I guess you are right." Syaoran gave a slight smile before returning to his usual stony look. "She always has a way of bouncing back. She's a survivor, like you. Too bad this Zan guy isn't going to be." Syaoran stood up, and looked down to Sakura. "We had better be getting back. I don't want to be late."
Sakura gulped down the rest of her beverage and stood up. "You're right." She kissed Syaoran on the cheek. "I know you'll do great."
Syaoran blushed for the briefest second, then started to walk away.
"Don't forget about me, Syaoran," Sakura said, as she ran up to him, slipping her hand in his as she did so.
* "Where are they?!" Meilin asked, looking at her watch. "They have five minutes to get back here. I won't lose this tournament after all of this on some technicality."
"Calm down, Meilin," Tomoyo said. "I'm sure they won't be late. They're most likely coming as we speak."
"How can you be sure about that?" Meilin growled.
"Everything will be fine," Eriol added. "Syaoran is quite punctual and determined, he won't let you down."
Yukito and Touya stood to the side watching Meilin's ranting. Touya stared into the crowd. "I wish I knew where they were myself. That kid is probably off in some dark corner feeling up my sister. I don't like it when she's alone with him."
"Chill," Yukito told him. "They're probably at the food area getting something to eat." Yukito patted his stomach, then smiled at Touya. "Now that I think about it, I'm a bit hungry myself. I wish I would have told them to get me something."
Touya smiled, shaking his head. His mind was taken away from Sakura for the moment. "Yuki, you're like a bottomless pit. As much as you ate earlier today, and you're wanting more? It's only been a few hours."
Yukito laughed, rubbing his head. "The stomach wants what the stomach wants. I hope when Meilin and Syaoran win this thing they take us all out to eat with the prize money."
"You'll never learn," Touya laughed, as he returned his attention back to the crowd. "Speaking of Syaoran, here comes the brat with Sakura."
Meilin overheard Touya and looked around. "Syaoran!" She cried when she saw him. She then proceeded to run over to him. "Where have you been? We almost missed the-"
"Will the finalists please come to the ring?" The announcer called over the herd of people.
"Oh no," Meilin grabbed his arm and led him to the fighting area, "come on."
"Wait!" Sakura exclaimed, as she grabbed Syaoran's arm at the stairs leading to the stage. Meilin stopped and looked back at Sakura a bit annoyed, staring down at them from the next to the last step.
"What?" Syaoran said, looking up to Meilin, then to Sakura. "Meilin really wants this, and she's in a rush."
"I just wanted this," Sakura stood on her tiptoes and kissed him passionately, running her hands through his hair. She pulled back and smiled. "Good luck. I love you. I know you two will win."
Syaoran blushed a deep red, smiling at Sakura. "Thank, thank you."
Meilin watched them with a little resentment, but smiled knowing that it was what made Syaoran happy. She looked back to the stage, setting her sights once more on winning. "Come on, Syaoran. We cannot forfeit like this." She pulled him up the rest of the stairs and onto the stage. The crowd roared as they entered the ring, Syaoran glancing back at Sakura one last time and smiling.
"Good luck you two!" Sakura yelled after them.
"That will look great when this is edited."
Sakura turned her head to see Tomoyo looking at her from behind her camera. She screamed out and fell back onto Touya from the surprise. "Tomo-chan you have gotten better at that with every year. I shouldn't even be surprised anymore."
"That makes it even better," Tomoyo responded, after she smiled, and turned the camera onto a serious looking Meilin and Syaoran staring down their opponents. "You can be natural in front of the camera, not seeming so fake."
"She does have a point," Eriol said, not even turning his head away from Meilin.
"You wouldn't want to get the tapes back from her with you looking all stressed out, would you?" Yukito replied, smiling down at Sakura. "It's all the better to see yourself actually having fun."
Touya turned his head away from their scene onto the stage with his eyes burning at Syaoran. "You would know."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yukito asked, laughing.
Sakura laughed as she listened to them. She then turned her attention to Tomoyo. "You're going to record every single moment of this, right?"
"Of course I am. We're going to watch this a million times afterward, going through every moment. It's my gift to Meilin, and Syaoran, for them winning the tournament. I'm sure Meilin will love it, especially after she goes back to China."
"That's right. I want to get them something also. I saw this really cute gift shop across the street. I'll go and buy them something right now. I can watch their victorious triumph on video with everyone else."
"That's a great idea. I'll make sure I get great shots just for you."
"Would you like me to accompany you, Sakura?" Eriol asked her.
"No, I'll be fine. You just enjoy the show."
"You better make sure you're back before the kid notices you're gone," Touya said still looking toward the stage.
"Oh, you care how the kid feels?" Yukito asked facetiously.
"No, I care about my sister. If he says something to her about it, I'll be there to set him straight."
"Okay." Sakura rolled her eyes. "I'll be back in no time at all. Just enjoy the show, I know how much you enjoy this kind of stuff, Onni-chan." Sakura didn't wait for a response, she started to weed her way in and out of the crowd towards the door-the announcer's voice fading in the background.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Meilin stepped further toward the center of the stage, staring down Zan. Syaoran followed suit, still remembering what had happened earlier between them. This wasn't going to be an easy match for either to win. Syaoran shot his eyes toward Zan's grungy looking partner. He had jet black hair in a Peter Pan cut that was all over his head, and had ominous, black eyes. The man also wore a tore T-shirt, maybe from one of the earlier matches, and black pants. Zan's partner wasn't one to be taken lightly because of his shaggy appearance though, because he obviously had the training to have made it so far, besides the fact that he was quite muscular. Syaoran stared them both down, not even impressed.
"Here we are ladies and gentlemen, the final showdown!" The announcer screamed through the microphone. "It seems to be all in the family this year, having cousins Meilin and Syaoran Li in the finals, along with brothers Zan and Koku Tsuki. Will the opponents please come and bow to each other?" Meilin and Syaoran lined up and bowed to Zan and Koku, who did the same opposite them. "This will be our last match today, let's see some action." The announcer raised his hand, stepping from the middle of the four.
"Don't worry, they'll be plenty," Syaoran whispered, as he got into his fighting stance identical to Meilin's, never losing his gaze.
"I agree, but maybe a bit later," Zan said, winking at Meilin.
"Jerk," Meilin responded.
"This seems like it'll be some fun," Koku said, smiling and loving the tension.
The announcer looked at the four staring at each other in their fighting positions, smiling nervously. "Yo-you could cut the tension with a knife." He called out over the crowd, stumbling over his words. "Let's get this match on the road. Begin!" The announcer sliced his arm down through the air.
The two teams charged each other as soon as his hand was released.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sakura finally made it through the crowd and out the door, the sunlight rushing into her face-a nice change from the artificial stuff she had been under for the past couple of hours, her eyes just needed to get use to it. Sakura shielded her eyes looked up into the clear, blue sky smiling. "What a beautiful day it is today? Maybe I should set up a picnic for us, but it'll be too late by the time the competition is over. I'll just get the gifts." Sakura took a moment to look around at the scenery, taking in the peacefulness of the it all-for some reason feeling that she desperately needed to. She stood there for a few minutes, the wind blowing through her hair and over her clothes. She felt calm on the inside, and at peace with the world. "I bet Flower and Light would love this."
Sakura turned her head to the sakura trees that were in a small clearing. The blossoms fell lightly from the trees, drifting in the wind to surround Sakura. She held out her hand and caught a single sakura in her hand. Sakura brought the blossom to her cheek, feeling it against her. A soft wind came and blew the blossom from her hand. Sakura watched as the sakura fell through the air and into the bosom of a lone nadeshiko blossom. The sakura nestled warmly onto the nadeshiko. Sakura closed her eyes, and felt a warm presence near her that gave her the warmest feeling she had ever had. "Mother," she whispered.
* "Mrs. Warui, the reports are a bit late," came the voice from the other line of the phone.
"What are you talking about you baka?" The woman yelled, as she checked the street and looked at the papers in her hand. "You better have a damn good excuse for it."
"I do," the man's voice came from the other line, you could tell he was shaking on the other line.
"Well?" She screamed into the phone.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I was caught off guard for a moment." One could visualize him bowing to her on his knees.
"That won't help you if you expect to get anywhere in this line of business." She turned sharply, cutting off the car in the other lane.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Meilin, look out!" Syaoran yelled, as Zan snuck up behind her putting her into a choke hold. Syaoran started to run over to help her, but was met with a punch to the face. He stumbled backwards, looking up to see Koku there.
"Not now. They're having fun." He smiled towards Syaoran sinisterly.
"Get out of my way before I force you to," Syaoran warned him, sliding into his fighting stance.
"Try me."
"Get away from me you creep!" Meilin exclaimed, short of breath. She struggled with his arms around her neck.
Zan slid his tongue over Meilin's cheek. "You know you love being this close to me."
"Weird me out! I bet you will love this." Meilin brought her arm out and back, elbowing Zan in the gut. While he was staggering, Meilin grasped his arm and brought him up and over her, throwing him to the floor. He landed with a gasp.
Koku fell to the floor as Syaoran's spinning kick met with the side of his head. Blood trickled down the side of Koku's face from a cut he had just received.
"It seems like this year we have indeed saved the best for last," the announcer called out to everyone. "In past years where the final match was a gimme, this year it'll be a real challenge. For now, it seems Team Li is in the lead, whereas Team Tsuki was only a few moments ago."
"I love it when you're rough with me," Zan laughed, as he wiped blood from his lip caused by a blow Meilin had just served him, "but even better when I'm rough with you!" He brought his leg up, and kicked Meilin in her stomach, sending her across the stage.
Syaoran held onto Koku's arm, then turned around facing his back and kicked him in the back of his head. Koku's face collided with the floor, his face bouncing off of it as he spit up blood. Syaoran quickly ran over towards Meilin catching her under the arms before she hit the ground. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, just a bit sore around the rib area-nothing I can't take," she replied, looking up to him. "My problem now is that you're dripping on me."
Syaoran gave her a half smile. "Well, what can I say, they're actually giving me a work out. What do you say we get this over with?"
"I am with you-whatever you do." Meilin got to her feet and stared at Zan and Koku who were now side by side.
"Are you sure you're only cousins?" Koku asked.
"Are you sure you're actually a fighter?" Meilin retorted. She turned her gaze to Syaoran and gave a nod. He did one in return. At that second, Meilin and he ran towards them both at once. Koku and Zan stood readily for them at the other end of the ring. When Meilin and Syaoran were only a few feet away, Meilin ran in front of Syaoran, turning around and grabbing his hands as he took hold of her. As she jumped into the air, he swung her around, as she came back around she kicked both Zan and Koku in the chest, who were caught off guard by the unexpected move. Zan and Koku were lifted off their feet, falling back onto their heads, their bodies bouncing a few times after contact. After Meilin's hit connected, Syaoran let her go. She did a somersault in the air landing on one knee, her hand bracing her.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sakura let out a final breath as she took in the scenery once more. She looked around, then across the street. She took a look down at her watch. "I've been gone for a while now. I hope Syaoran hasn't noticed I'm gone. I better be going to get those gifts right about now."
Sakura walked over to the street, watching the sign and waiting for it to signal her to go. Mostly everyone in a mile must have been at the tournament because Sakura was the only one waiting to cross the street. She smiled to herself, enjoying the alone time she was getting. She looked over to the sign again, and it flashed for her to go. Sakura stepped into the street, starting for the gift shop across the way.
* "Have you looked at these papers you left on my desk?" Mrs. Warui screamed into the phone, as she alternated between the street and the papers. "They are all out of order, and the way this presentation looks-it's a mess!"
"Yes, ma'am. I'll redo them as soon as you return to the office."
"Oh, you bet you will or I'll have your ass." She placed the papers into her lap and took a sip of her coffee. She hit a bump in the road causing her to spill the coffee into her lap. "Shit!"
"Ma'am, are you okay?" The man's voice came from the other end.
"I'm fine," she said. "All I need is a napkin, which I have somewhere." She took her eyes off the steering wheel, fumbling around the car looking for one. Finally, she found one, and sat back straight in the car. Mrs. Warui looked to the street, and saw a girl walking across the intersection. "Holy-" She tried to swerve out of the way, but hit her. The girl went up and over the car, falling to the ground. The woman's car spun, hitting an electrical pole, killing her on impact.
"Ma'am? Mrs. Warui?" The man's voice drowning the dead woman's ear. "Mrs. Warui?"
* Sakura walked across the street looking straight ahead, and at the same time at nothing at all. She felt calm, and peaceful. She was almost in a trance from the wonderful feeling, she didn't even hear the car coming towards her from nowhere. All of a sudden, she felt herself being thrown through the air and rolling over a car. It all felt as if it was in slow motion to her. The only thing going through her mind was Meilin and Syaoran having a good time for the short period that they were able to be together. She really didn't feel any pain. She rolled over the last of the car and before she hit the ground her body was caught, cradled in some motherly arms that lay her softly to the ground. "Syaoran," she whispered, as she lost all consciousness, lying limply on the ground.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Meilin blocked the punch that came towards her face with a quick move of her arm. She then bent back and did a flip, avoiding the kick that Koku took towards her. She looked at him, breathing heavily.
"You're not giving up so easily now that we have you on the ropes, are you?" Koku questioned her.
"Of course not," Meilin yelled, as she charged him. She jumped into the air, spinning around her leg and hoping for his face. Koku evaded the kick and gave her one to the back before she could retain herself.
Meilin hit the floor hard. Koku tried to take the upper hand as she was down and sent a punch straight for her spinal cord. Syaoran came to her rescue, kicking Koku out of the way. "Get up, Meilin!" He yelled as he gave her a hand. "You've got to watch yourself."
"Yeah, and so should you." Syaoran took the hint, bending down as Meilin rolled over his back, kicking Zan in the face, stopping his assault on Syaoran.
"Thanks for watching my back, Meilin," Syaoran thanked her. "What do you say we finish this Twin Card style?"
"I'm with you!" Meilin exclaimed.
Meilin and Syaoran looked toward Zan and Koku, in the blink of an eye they were in identical fighting stances and staring down their opponents with equal determination and seriousness on their faces. They both charged Zan and Koku instantly. For their first attack, they spun around, bringing their elbows up to Zan and Koku's chins. Turning themselves back to face their challengers, Meilin and Syaoran grabbed Zan and Koku by the shoulders and brought their knees up into their guts, then kicked them in the same spot. Zan and Koku stumbled on their feet, the pain affecting their consciousness that was only intact by a thin string. Meilin and Syaoran delivered the final hit, turning their bodies slightly and kicking them with all their might right below their temple. Zan and Koku's bodies flew into the air, up and over Meilin and Syaoran's legs that hadn't made their way back to the ground yet, hitting the floor unconscious. Meilin and Syaoran stared at their opponents intently, in their fighting stance before determining that they were down for the count. Each of them covered in someone's blood of the ensued match.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Oh my god!" A woman's voice cried as she ran toward Sakura in the middle of the street. She looked over to the car wrapped around the pole. The woman grabbed her cell phone and dialed 911. Slowly, a crowd started to form around the car and Sakura. "Hello. Yes, I have an emergency. There is a girl about 16 here with heavy bleeding." She took Sakura's pulse. "She has a slight pulse, yes. You've got to hurry. I am at the Muraski and Mizu intersection. Please hurry. This girl needs immediate medical attention, and there's also a woman in a car. Thank you." The woman put away her cell phone.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The crowd roared as the announcer proclaimed Syaoran and Meilin the winners. Meilin and Syaoran were actually both hugging on the stage. They were enjoying every second of their victory, not even noticing the medical crew scooping up Zan and Koku.
"Wow, that was great!" Tomoyo said from behind her camera.
"Yes, it was a good show," Eriol agreed, "although rather long."
"Speaking of long, I wonder where Sakura is," Touya said, looking at his watch.
"Don't worry about her," Yukito said. "She probably can't decide which necklace to pick or something. You know how she gets."
"I guess you're right," Touya returned his attention to the two on stage that were having a wonderful time together. Even though the ones he was rooting for won, he couldn't help giving off the feeling that something was wrong, terribly wrong.
Author's Notes: So, how did you all like it? Please give me your opinions and feelings. I would love it if you could review, whatever you want. I take flames because they give me the drive to continue, and help my writing. Thank you all.