Hunting Emerald's Secret

Chapter 13: Drifted back home

--- Author's Comment: ---

Well, I'm back. I'm so sorry it took so long. Gah! I hate writer's blocks. It kills me. I didn't know what to do next... Ad to top it my computer crashed when I was about to finish it. Unfortunately a virus had gotten into it, and I had to rewrite the whole chapter again. Anyway, thank you soooo much for your reviews! I never thought that I could get that much! ^^

I forgot to say the song of the last chapter which was ' Im not the enemy ' by Lina Santiago. It's a cool jazz song.

Sorry about this, but I forgot to say that I don't do e-mails telling when I just updated. I would gladly do this, but I barely have the time to check twice this story... I hope you understand...

On with the story...

--- ? ---

The guy sighed and slumped in the chair, nodding slightly. He wondered what, when and how he would do it. This information that he held was... different and heartbreaking.

" Oh and be careful with the others, " the man reminded him.

" Huh? "

" You know who... and it's a good thing that I warned Kazue "

" You warned her? " The young man asked in disbelief.

" Yeah, and she got the message alright. "

--- The next day ---

Sakura looked up at a clear gray sky from her window. She started noticing that each day was getting colder; the wind was getting more violent. The sun didn't shine that much, since it was covered with a big puffy cloud in the east. She yawned and looked at the clock. 6:30.

She decided to go outside and read the book that she had proudly taken away from Syaoran. She found an oak tree and nestled herself against the trunk. She examined the book title. ' Hmm... No title... '  And opened it. She saw the many subtitles in the context. Within them was the word 'vesper'. She immediately turned it to the page, and landed on the very same story we all have heard:

 " Seven pieces lie imperceptible within the territory, all leading to a secret, named vespers after a planet. But soon the earth will fall into chaos when the five millionth times this planet is seen on the western sky, activates the seven making them become visible to humanity. All of them joined together unlock an emerald secret, making all wishes desired to come true. But humanity is full of blunder; therefore if the secret is taken hold of in the wrong hands... everything will perish into its own darkness. "

'Well, that I already know...' She continued reading.

" However, recent discoveries have been made mostly by the master archeologist of them all: Yue. "

Sakura gasped. It was the same person that she had seen in the portrait inside the haunted mansion.

" Yue nevertheless became crazy. Nobody believed him; they thought he was on a wild goose chase. He didn't give up though. They say that he even traveled the world and made theories to prove that he was right. It lead to disarray afterwards, since others went on separate journeys to make their dreams come true... They all lost their lives. "

' Those poor people ' Sakura started feeling pity and sadness for people that had died just to make their dreams come true. That wasn't right. She continued reading.

" However, according to one of Yue's famous theories... it's said to believe that once the seven are joined

' Huh?! ' She turned the page a few several times. ' It's been... cut off! Someone didn't want me, or any of us to find out that last part, but who? ' She thought harder, ' Syaoran couldn't have been... but he IS the owner of the book... '

" You already got to that page? " A voice suddenly asked, giving her chills. She looked up at Syaoran. He was standing right in front of her, shirtless as always in the mornings, with his blade resting against his right shoulder.

" No, I just saw the word 'vesper'... and wanted to know more about them "

" Oh. Is that why you took it away from me? " He raised an eyebrow at her.

" No, silly. I had no clue of what this book was about. I only took it away to annoy you, " she admitted grinning.

Syaoran made a glare and sat beside her. Sakura eyed his sword.

" You are still training in this weather? "

" Heck yes. I've trained under worse conditions, " he replied, passing his hand through his soaked hair.

" Must be hard for you... "

" Already used to it. " Syaoran interrupted her.

" So... where did you find this book? " Sakura asked him, changing the subject.

" From Saori's home, " Syaoran answered.

" The trunk inside the sheets? "

Syaoran nodded, " Yeah, why? "

Sakura thought for a while. ' Saori had said that she had a protector. Could it be that the protector was the owner of this book? What if it was of Yue himself? This book seemed old enough, and the dynamite... ' She remembered how Syaoran couldn't get them to work.

It was impossible for a person to live a lot of years, so the trunk couldn't have belonged to the person that took care of Saori. It could have been of Yue. ' But why would Yue keep a book about himself? It can't be. The book clearly states that Yue is already dead... '

The weird thing was that Syaoran had been hurt the whole time. She didn't remember him going up to her and where the trunk was, except the time that she gave him the dynamite...

Her head started feeling dizzy and she decided not to continue thinking. She slightly blushed when she realized that Syaoran had been watching her the whole time. He smirked to himself at her reaction.

They stood in silence for a couple of more minutes. After a while it started to slightly rain. Sakura took notice of this when she felt a cold raindrop trickle down her nose. She loved rain, ever since she was little. What she hated was thunder. Even though she was old, she still admitted that she was afraid of the rumbling it did in the sky.

" You better get inside, or you'll be soaked, " Syaoran stated.

" And what about yourself? " Sakura asked.

" I'll go back to my apartment "

" Oh no, you won't. In the way you'll get wet! " Sakura now stated.

" You got a point, but I can run "

" Nonsense! YOU are coming inside! "

Sakura forcefully dragged Syaoran into the house by grabbing his hand. He blushed red when he realized what she was doing. Nobody dared to force him go anywhere. Yet somehow he let himself be drifted.

--- Hangout ---

The gang gathered at the hangout that day. It was still raining, and there had been a forecast that it would rain even harder in the night. This day also brought depression. Partly because Meilin hadn't gotten what she wanted: Daisuke.

Before they knew it, another argument had started with Syaoran and Meilin. She wasn't happy with how they were taking this; she swore that they hadn't bothered on searching for him.

" Meilin get this! Daisuke is alive! He is out there! And he will come when he gets the chance! "

Syaoran tried to reason with Meilin, but it was impossible. She was as stubborn as him. It was as though he were fighting against himself.

Sakura winced whenever she heard their yelling. Eriol and Tomoyo had gone out on a date, and Sakura was now stuck in an endless quarrel. She sighed and covered her ears with hear hands and shut her eyes. It was of no use; she could still hear them. 

" That's it! I had it with you two! " Sakura stood up from the chair and went to the door, ready to leave this place. On her way to it, someone opened the door from the other end, and the person came inside. The person was hidden under a coat and a brown hat.

Sakura decided to retreat to where Syaoran was. ' Just in case he is bad or something, ' she thought. Syaoran could feel her uneasiness, and held her hand, giving it a slight squeeze, trying to reassure that everything would be ok.   

Meilin's jaw dropped open when she saw the mysterious person inside. Who would have dared to come inside? She examined the person as it took the coat and hat off. She then saw a grin that she knew. The person standing in front of her, with dark-brown and spiky hair with the tips dyed red, was...

" Did you miss me? " He suddenly asked, not taking away that grin he always made.

Meilin didn't make a move. She was paralyzed, stunned. Was her mind playing tricks on her? No. He was standing in front of her and he was smiling. She doubted another few seconds and finally blurted out with tears in her eyes:

" YOU IDIOT! How could you do this to me!!! You made me get worried sick for you! Why didn't you come earlier?! I HATE YOU! "

She wanted to torture him for making her cry, but instead she lunged into his open arms.

" I hate you, " she continued whispering, closing her eyes. " You stole away my heart, I couldn't stop thinking about you "

" Do you think that it wasn't hard for me to be apart from you? " he asked.

" It was like eternity to me " He held her tight, rocking her back and forth. He had missed her a lot, even if it was for two days. They both remained silent for a while.

Sakura, overwhelmed by the scene between the two of them, started to cry on her own. Syaoran sweat dropped, but nevertheless placed his arm across her shoulder, letting her head lean in his shoulder.

--- After that while ---  

Daisuke got the details about what had happened that night, and how they had managed to get yet another vesper. He finally got to tell the gang about his 'mysterious' disappearance. He told them that he had been delayed by one of the explosions.

" Since there was a lot of dust, I lost my way through the tunnel and landed on the other side of the house. I tried searching for you, but you weren't near. A few minutes later the police came, followed by the firemen. I had no choice, but to escape and wait when the coast was clear "

" See?  That was what I was trying to tell you! " Syaoran replied to Meilin. 

" And it took you two days to get to us? " Meilin asked, ignoring Syaoran.

" Yep. I slept the rest of the night in an apartment, and the next day, I found out something: I know where the next vesper is located. "

" Where? " Syaoran asked.

" TACOS DEL RIO DELGADO... I'll give you the details on the way... "

---

" Mexican restaurant?! What would a vesper be doing there? " Sakura asked in disbelief.

The four of them decided to take a car, not waiting for Tomoyo and Eriol, since they knew that it would probably take them time to get back from their date. Syaoran was driving with Daisuke in the front, and Meilin and Sakura were in the back.

" I don't know. I just met some weird guy in the streets, who told me where I could find it... "

" And you trusted him? " Meilin incredulously asked, getting a nod from him. " This is just great! "

" Look, he showed me a picture of the vesper. He said that he knew the owner, and that with a certain password, you could have it... "

Meilin scoffed, " That is the weirdest story that I had heard "

Daisuke shrugged, " I don't know why, but we have to look anyway "

Sakura remained silent for the whole ride. Something was oddly familiar about that name... ' TACOS DEL RIO DELGADO (Rio means river; Delgado means thin; when you join them: thin river; what I mean is: tacos from the thin river) ... Why does it sound familiar to me? ' She bit her lower lip and dared to ask the next question.

" Where is the restaurant located? "

" In a mall " Daisuke answered, " Why do you ask? "

" Nothing, just curious I guess... "

--- Mall ---

They all entered and followed Daisuke. The mall was crowded, and they got a hard time keeping up with him. What Sakura noticed was that something was weird.  Daisuke was acting different; serious. Whenever he looked at her, Sakura could clearly distinguish that he was sad about something.

' But why? ' Sakura wondered. What had she done to him?

There was also another weird thing that disturbed her: Syaoran. He was doing the same as Daisuke. ' What is going on? '

They continued going until they reached the restaurant, which could have fooled you, since it looked like a store. They entered and saw that it was decorated in a Mexican style. Daisuke continued guiding, and finally headed to the cash register. A guy with a typical hat and mustache welcomed them.

" Buenos Dias! What would you like to order? "

" Buenos Dias, " Daisuke greeted back and whispered, " The tortillas that you make are delicious. So delicious that the flour, as I hear is as bright as a certain diamond. The day is becoming night. Only a few hours last..."

The man let out a smirk. Sakura got grossed out at the man's dirty teeth and decided to change her view. The man turned and headed to the back.

After a few minutes, he came out with a little black box.

Daisuke grinned and thanked the man. He took the box, and the started going out. He checked the content on his way, and smiled.

" Daisuke, just one thing that hasn't left my mind... ' Meilin started saying, " give a brief description about the man that showed you where you could find the vesper... "

" Well, he was in a black coat, and a hat. He was tall, and his face didn't show. He was sort of creepy in a way, since his voice was husky... "

Sakura stopped dead on her tracks. Her eyes widened. Her heart stopped beating, and she stopped breathing. ' Could it be possible? No, it was just a darn coincidence. But, what if... ' She started hesitating and shivering. Syaoran and the others turned back to her.

' Oh no. '

The windows shattered, the lights flickered and everyone started screaming ducking to the floors when gunshots were heard. An explosion blasted in the back and Sakura fell to the floor. Had she been shot? No. Someone had pulled her down. It was Syaoran.

" It was a trap! We've got to get out of here! They are everywhere! "

Sakura nodded and started crawling toward the exit. Syaoran took out his gun and also crawled, behind Sakura. The went below every table that they came across, for protection.Daisuke and Meilin also followed behind them.

They finally made their way outside, only to be continuously followed by the men. They decided on separating, and Sakura followed Syaoran through the crowd. They both held their hand, so that they could not separate in the abundant mass of people. He made her run in a lowered position, so they could be easily lost from sight.

They made their way and ended on a solitary hallway. ' Oh no, what do we do now?! ' Sakura nervously thought.

 Syaoran lead her to a gap between two stores and they both hid in it.

That was when she remembered...

--- Flashback ---

" You again! What are you doing here?! You are not supposed to be here!!! " He yelled at her making her wince, but she rounded up courage.

" What do you mean by that?! " Sakura also yelled, angry at the way he talked.

The guy continued to stare at her, when she looked at him straight in the eye.

" LOOK! I think that you dropped something and I think that you are very rude to speak to a lady like that! " She replied irritated, showing him that strange puzzle thingy.

The guy stared at it surprised, and then searched his pockets. Seeing they were empty, he snatched it away from her, carefully examining it.

" See!? And you were so rude! All I wanted was to return it back to you..." she tried stating.

--- Back to Reality ---

This was the same place where she had first met Syaoran. This was a mall that she knew. This mall was close to her home.

" Home, " she whispered.

" What? " Syaoran asked, looking confused.

Sakura had now the chance to run away from them. To go back to where she belonged. To be back with her dad, and her annoying brother Touya. To return to her school and have fun with her friends. To be a normal girl.

" Syaoran, I'm going home, " was all she said as she started running away. 

" WHAT?! " Syaoran's eyed widened. ' She can't go back, not now. I must stop her! '

He started chasing after her, but soon lost her in the crowd. He told Meilin and Daisuke that he would go after her and ran away.

" Oh no " Daisuke muttered.

" What's wrong Daisuke? " Meilin asked concerned. "... Daisuke? "

" N-N-Nothing. I-I-I-I... She can't go back to her house "

" Why? You've been hiding something, haven't you? " She replied with a frown in her face. " You and Syaoran both are doing it... "

--- Outside ---

Rain poured down to the almost empty streets as Sakura ran in search of her beloved home. It was already late, and blackness sorrounded every corner. The moon barely shined since it was hidden behind the clouds. ' I miss them so much ' She started seeing pictures of each and everyone of her dearest friends and family. She sighed as she continued. She couldn't back down, not now. This was her opportunity, a chance that she had to take.

Syaoran dashed away from the mall and started tracing her, sensing her. It would be difficult, since her aura wasn't that strong, but he could still feel it. He let his heart lead the way. One reason told him to stop her at all costs. But what was it? Could it be that he was still selfish? That he wanted to keep her all for himself? Or was he cold again, and just wanted to break her heart?

Sakura turned a corner. Memories started filling her mind, when she smelled the familiar scent of the cherry blossom trees that were in some houses. Her lips curled into a smile. ' Almost there '

She started panting after a while though, and started feeling tired. Her legs were numb, and she would fall in any second. Yet she still kept going on. Nothing was going to stop her. She was determined to find her way back.

Syaoran passed the same trees. ' She's near, I know it ' He smelled it's fragance and remembered Sakura's lovely face: her innocence and beauty that was not compared with any other girl. With this thought Syaoran gained even more strenght and he ran faster. ' I must stop her! '

Sakura closed her eyes. She was soaking from head to toe. There was no place in her body that hadn't been devoured by the rain. Her clothes were now sticking to her body, and her shoes were starting to get all muddy.

She suddenly fell down to her knees and splashed in the mud, but continued running. ' Just a few more seconds ' She kept reminding herself.

Just a few feet away.

She stopped, and slowly opened her eyes. ' Home ' She took in a deep breath, but gasped. Something wasn't right. She started shivering even more: her lips began to tremble, her eyes began to water, her mind became lost in a void.

---- Author's Comment: ---

I'm sorry for giving you this cliffhanger and for making this chapter short, but as I already told you, I had to rewrite it again, and it was kind of frustrating. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this one. I'll see ya then. ^^