Life Lost, Love Discovered
Chapter Six
***
Syaoran sipped his cup of coffee in his apartment's kitchen, his stomach twisting ferociously. That's what had woken him up in the first place, and now, sleep wouldn't come for him. Something was wrong, he could tell . . . but what?
'. . .elp . . .aoran-kun! On . . . an! . . .one!'
"What the hell was that!?" Syaoran stood up brusquely, startled by the plea he suddenly heard. "It was so familiar . . . Sakura-chan!"
Not even bothering to change out of his nightclothes, he bolted from the door, spilling his coffee in the process. His heart was thumping crazily in his chest, while he pounded through the night. . .
She struggled gallantly, but to no avail. Not even when Yue had tested her had she been this frightened; she had been in a different state of mind then.
Sakura was in good shape, all that cheerleading and rollerblading did wonders in the long run. Yet against three dangerous and drunken—potentially armed—men, who were obviously no stranger to weight rooms and to gyms, she stood no chance. She gasped as one of her attackers threw her against the solid brick of the store adjourning the sidewalk, pain now running jaggedly up and down her left arm.
"St—Stay away from me," Sakura threatened boldly, grasping her Key of the Star. "You'll be sorry if you come any closer."
"Is that so?" The leader chuckled, groping hands coming down at her. With a yell, she kicked the man in the groin with all her might. He squeaked, and fell to the ground, seething in agony, clenching the tender area.
"Yeah, that's right," Sakura snapped.
She leapt from the ground and began to sprint off in no discernible direction. Once she lost them, she'd find her way back home.
"Hold it!"
Footsteps behind her eluded that the two men that were able were in hot pursuit. "Stay away!" She shrieked.
"Key which holds the power of the stars, reveal thy true form before me by the contract, I, Sakura, command you . . ." Sakura's key detached itself from her neck, and the handle grew longer and longer and fell into Sakura's awaiting palm. "RELEASE!" The staff was now perfectly visible, the two wings that sprouted from the sides gave a decisive flap, the star between them twirling twice.
"What the hell did she get that pink stick from?" The thug with the raven hair, reminiscent of Tomoyo's, pondered aloud. Sakura had hoped they would stop and gawk at the sudden appearance at the wondrous staff, but her hopes were dashed when the two still pressed on towards her.
'Wait a minute, Dash! That's it!' The thought dawned on her—she could get away without truly revealing her magic.
"Dash Card, let me get away from these disgusting bastards! DASH!"
And with that, Sakura darted off from sight. She was so quick, in fact, that her actions were invisible to the human eye. Mr. Raven Hair and his comrade, finally, stopped and stared in utter disbelief.
Syaoran beat upon the Kinomoto's front door with all his might. The fact that he was making such a ruckus in the dead of night not even bothering him. "Dammit, Touya, open the stupid door!"
And suddenly, as if he had heard Syaoran's angered call, there was Kinomoto Touya standing before him. His hair was mused from sleep and his eyes blood-shot. He wore puffy crimson slippers and a long bathrobe of the same color. "What the hell . . ." Touya blinked once, then twice, trying to get a clear picture of the man at his front stoop. Eventually everything came into focus, and Touya's face went fire engine red in outrage.
"Sakura . . ." Syaoran panted, having run the whole distance from his house to hers. "Where is . . . Sakura?"
"Dammit, you gaki, she's in bed! Who the hell do you think you are, waking me up like that?! I swear, I'm going to kill you!" Touya was not joking.
"Can I go up to . . . talk to her?"
"Hell no!" Touya's hands were reaching for Syaoran's tanned neck when they were startled by a loud crash from behind them. Both turned around to look instantly.
Sakura, in a frenzied stupor, had rammed directly into the trashcan outside her home. Now she was on her hands and knees, unable to catch her breath, the Dash's effect finally wearing off. She glanced up to see the two men she loved most in the world—father excluded—running towards her, shouting her name. A smile played upon her lips, but the night's past events all caught up to her, and she lost consciousness from fatigue, her arm aching with a passion.
"Sakura!" Syaoran reached her first. "Oh, God, what happened to you? Sakura!" He gathered her in his arms and got back to his feet, looking to Touya. "What are you waiting for? Go inside and get her bed ready!"
It was cue for Touya to grumble and shake his fist, but he was in no position to do so. Killing the gaki would come later. Sakura's onii-chan bustled inside, Syaoran on his heels. 'What happened? Why was she out this late?' The questions were burning inside of him, but he would have to wait for the answers . . .
"Lady Kirika, you have a guest."
Kirika's chestnut head tilted painfully to the right, hoping against all hope that it would be Isao, her Isao, that walked through the door to her room . . . but alas, it was merely Jun, a good, childhood friend of hers. She was a bit disappointed, but it was nice to have company.
"Hello Jun," Kirika croaked.
"You poor thing," Jun fussed. "Are they taking good care of you? I've been so worried." Her chrome locks swished about as she fluffed Kirika's pillows.
"Oh, I've been spoiled," Kirika smiled. "No need to fret. But thank you for the concern."
"I've known you for as long as I remember, of course I have a perfectly good reason to check up on who's taking care of you," Jun put her hands on her hips.
"You're not interrogating all of the nurse maids, are you?" Kirika chuckled, but it came out dry sounding. She coughed, her entire frail body trembling with each hack.
"Oh, dear."
"It's not bad," Kirika whispered, leaning down against her sheets. "A few days ago was the worst . . . I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but here I am. They say I'm on the mend. By the way," she changed the subject, "where is Isao—erm, Sir Yamamoto? Has he returned to the village yet?"
At this, Jun's expression soured. "Hai. He's making his way over here as we speak." She lifted her chin, eyes going stone cold. "I'm sure he's incredibly concerned." Jun's stomach twisted at the way Kirika's face seemed to flush, and at the ecstatic grin crawling across her once-pale face.
"Is there something wrong, Jun?" Kirika asked, her voice stronger now.
"No. There's absolutely nothing the matter. I'm sorry, Kirika, but I have to be going. I'm going to be dropping by again as soon as possible, all right?" She lifted her hand in a small wave. "Say hi to Sir Yamamoto to me!" She hustled out the door, leaving a baffled Kirika in her wake.
'I hope I haven't offended her . . .' Kirika mused.
Jun brushed by all the attendants rudely; apologizing in a mumble that only she herself could hear. Her head was lowered, and she didn't realize the man flying through the door.
They collided, and Jun reeled back. She would have fallen to the floor had the man not grabbed her by the wrist. "Gomen nasai . . ." She said quickly, glancing up.
Isao let go of her arm. "No, no, I'm sorry. It was my fault, Jun."
Jun's heart pounded in her ribcage at the sight of his amber hues and apologetic smile. "I-Iie, Sir Yamamoto. I-I have to . . . be going." She walked by him without shooting another peek back, wild emotions streaming through her in a rampant flow. She didn't know what would hurt worse—seeing that he watched her retreating back, or that he went on to see Kirika, totally dismissing the fact that Jun Sakurazawa had ever existed.
Somehow, she thought it was the latter.
She stomped outside, fists clenched as red-hot tears made salty tracks down her cheeks.
'I hate you, Kirika! Oh, God, I hate YOU!' What did Kirika have that she didn't? What did Isao see in her, but not in Jun? Sobs racked her bronze frame, as she slowly cursed the one who used to be her best friend, swearing her revenge.
Sakura woke with a start, emerald hues flying open. She heard heavy breathing nearby that was not her own. As she sat up, she saw Syaoran sleeping peacefully in a rocking chair by her bed, nestled underneath a quilt. His mouth was open slightly, a bit of drool dribbling down his chin. Sakura smiled. 'He looks like a little boy in his sleep.' She reached over and lovingly stroked Syaoran's cheek with her hand. She slowly stood, pulling off her covers. 'Were you here all night, Syaoran? Thank you . . . thank you . . .' According to her clock, it was a little after dawn. Ribbons of color streamed through her window, illuminating Sakura's small albeit cozy room.
She was quietly making her way out the door when a floorboard beneath her creaked, and she heard a sleepy moan from behind her. She pivoted on her foot to see Syaoran blearily open his eyes. "Syaoran? Are you up?" She asked.
Without responding, he leapt up, still wrapped in his blanket. "Sakura, are you well enough to be—WHOA!" He tried to take a step forward but tripped over the quilt. He took a spill and fell against Sakura.
"Watch it!" She caught him but couldn't support both of their weight and tumbled backwards, Syaoran lying on top of her in a very kinky position.
Of course, cue Touya. He burst into the room, gaping at the misleading scene unfolding before him.
"YOU PERVERTED BASTARD! HANDS OFF OF MY SISTER!"
Touya easily hauled Syaoran up by the back of his shirt. "I knew letting you stay in here to keep an eye on her was a mistake! When I'm done with you, you'll have to drink your entire dinner through a straw!"
"Touya! Put him down!" Sakura protested, wrapping her arms around her brother's waist and pulling backwards. "Get off, get off! This is all a mistake, baka!"
"I'm tired of you hanging around him, kaijuu!"
"Watch the names, onii-chan!" She snapped. Oh, if only she could use a card on him right about now . . .
"What in the world is going on in here?"
The voice of reason strode into Sakura's room, disguised as Fujitaka. Her father rubbed his eyes wearily. "Do you know what time it is? And on a weekend!"
Syaoran used the distraction to remove Touya's hands from the collar of his shirt. "I slipped. What did you think I was trying to do?"
Sakura popped up at Syaoran's side. "He's right. Get your mind out of the gutter." She rubbed her arm self-consciously, wincing a bit as her fingers grazed over where the flesh had hit brick the prior night.
"Daijoubu desu ka*?" Syaoran knitted his brow.
"I'm fine," Sakura reassured. "It's not that bad." She then feigned a yawn. "Onii-chan, why don't you show Syaoran those awesome pancakes you can whip up? I'm starved, and I bet he is, too." Syaoran nodded, his stomach growling in affirmation.
Fujitaka grinned, eyes crinkling. "I'll make some tea."
Touya glared at Syaoran one more time before he and his dad left Sakura's room. When Sakura was sure they were out of an earshot, she turned to Syaoran, who was scratching his head in embarrassment. "Sorry about that . . . that . . . you know. I'm a klutz sometimes."
Sakura just laughed. "No need to fret--" She stopped talking abruptly, realizing how familiar saying that felt. 'That's what Kirika said to Jun in my dream, wasn't it? "No need to fret. But thank you for the concern."'
Syaoran saw how troubled Sakura looked so suddenly. "Is something the matter?" He crouched down a bit so he could be face-to-face with the petite chestnut-haired girl.
"I-I . . ." Sakura stuttered. "It really, truly don't know, Syaoran."
A/N: Dun dun dunn! Another semi-cliffhanger! Frightening! By the way, I apologize for the long delay in getting this chapter out. My computer crashed! (AHH!) Luckily, I managed to save this file. It just took me awhile to finish. However, notice it is slightly longer. ^_^ Thanks so much to those who reviewed! I can't thank you guys enough. (Have I stressed that too much? ._.; ) Until next time!
*Daijoubu desu ka—translates to "Are you alright?" in English