Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. I never have and I never will. However, I do own this plot, so please! No taking!

Summary: Doomed to spending life with two faces, Kinomoto Sakura doesn't experience happiness very often. By day, she spends life as a human. By night, she becomes a phoenix. All seems dim, but there's always hope... right?

Special thanks to:

Kai: Thank you! Talk to ya on MSN sometime soon. It was good talking to you yesterday. It had been a while, ne? Anyway, Kai, enjoy the cahpter. ^_^

mycherrywolf: Hi, MCW. I'm glad you liked the chapter. And I'll catch up to you someday! I swear, I will! After about another 400 posts... --;; Oh well, I'm narrowing in! Beware! *evil laugh* *cough cough* Okay, WAY too much sugar today... O.o Enjoy the chapter.

Enchantress Azure: FT! XD Hiiii!!! I kinda feel sorry for Kaze too. Anyway, she makes a new friend in this chapter, so she'll be okay. I hope... thank you so much for your help this chapter! I couldn't have finished it without you. I'm really grateful. Thank you! *glomps*

Notes: Nothing much to say, so I'll leave you with: Enjoy!

Rising of the Phoenix: Melody ~ Chapter Two

Kaze sniffled a little, bringing her hands down from her face and wiping across her eye with the back of her hand. All around her were brick walls. Literally, she was in a dungeon. Her hands went to cover her eyes again. She wanted to be any place other than here. Heck, even boring school would have been fine! But no, she was stuck here because that man, or at least she thought it had been a man, had brought her here. What she would give to be away from this place.

Kaze made to move, but instead she huddled up in one of the corners of the dungeon. "Mummy..." she mumbled to herself, "I wish you were here..." Kaze brought her knees up to her chest. "I don't know what to do now, Mummy. What would you do if you were here? I know what you would do; you'd go beat up that bad man. You'd be able to too, Mummy. I know you would. I just wish that you could see me now, Mummy, to stop you worrying about me. I don't wanna hurt you, Mummy. I don't wanna make you cry... I don't wanna make you sad, but please, Mummy, be okay..." Kaze whispered the words, her brown eyes raised to the stone ceiling. "Be all right..." she whispered again.

"Very touching."

Kaze shivered involuntarily again. It was that man, she knew it was. Forever and for always, she again would always remember that voice. That familiar cold voice with the tone that just sent shivers down her spine and made her shudder and shake constantly. She had had a strange feeling the first night that she had known him from somewhere before, but she hadn't dared to ask. She had been too intimidated by him, by his appearance... everything about him seemed to send her into darkness. She had no idea why though.

"You want to see your mother again, don't you, Kaze?"

Kaze gave no answer, but instead looked away from the man, her eyes still fearful, her body still shaking like mad. She was speaking no words to him. It was as if her voice were lost. She did not have the gift of speech anymore, or so it appeared.

"Aren't you going to answer me, Kaze?"

Kaze still stayed silent, but her eyes went back to the man.

"Like it or not, you're still going to be staying here."

"So be it," Kaze mumbled.

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

"It looks like you screwed up big time, eh?" Satu said, walking through the doors of the tower. Laying on the bed was the phoenix in her human form. "Come on, Kinomoto, it can't have been that bad, eh? I know Amber can be a bit of a windbag sometimes, eh, but you've just gotta learn to put up with her." Satu grinned and tossed some dried apple chips into his mouth. "Sorry I wasn't there for you earlier, mate, but I had to go get some food. Can't go hungry now, can we?"

Sakura cracked a smile. "Yeah. Amber was pretty grumpy, but I guess she had a right to be this time."

"This time? What did you do?" Satu asked, still munching on apple chips. "It can't have been as worse as the time when you decided to go flying with the birdies, fell out of the air, and went missing for three days. Amber was having an absolute fit over you that week, you know."

Sakura looked down. "Yeah, I know. I'm lucky to have her. Without her, I'd be dead, that much I know. She's done so much for me, and she always does. No offence meant, Satu, but you don't exactly do much, either around her or to help protect me."

Satu shrugged and grinned good-naturedly. "Ah... what can I say? My sister's better than I am. I knew that a long time ago. Papa would be very proud of her if he was still alive."

"Yeah, I bet he would be," Sakura murmured. "Bt I can't help but wonder what things would have been like if he were still alive."

"Things would be different," Satu stated, eating more apple chips.

"That much is for certain." Sakura said as she looked back up at Satu. "Do you miss him?"

Satu shrugged again. "Don't know. Sometimes I guess."

"I bet you do," Sakura said.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Satu said. "I guess I miss the old fella a bit sometimes."

"He did so much for us," Sakura said. "Amber's doing a great job, but there are just some things that I can't talk to her about. It's hard, you know." She cast her gaze down, feeling a little bad about saying those things about Amber to Satu, but she was only speaking the truth.

"Yeah, I know..." Satu said, settling into thought for a while. He guessed that he hadn't really been thinking much about the past or his deceased family lately. It wasn't really in Satu's nature to reflect. He preferred to live in the moment. But the phoenix had really got him thinking this time. The words that she had said, the conversation that she had had with him, it would have even got Amber, what with her logical ways and such, pondering about what was really going on.

Sakura watched Satu's facial expression change, become more distant. She knew that maybe some stuff that she had said would make him think, but in all her eyes of knowing Satu, she had never considered the possibility that he would think this much. Sakura stared at the young teenager's face for a few more moments. She opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly thought better of it. Maybe it was best to keep quiet for now.

=-=-=-=-=

"I wish that you were here, Papa," Amber whispered quietly as she lay down on the bed. "The phoenix is getting so unruly now. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with her. I know that you'd set her straight, Papa. She always obeyed whatever you said to her, yet she completely ignores what I say. I'm confused, Papa. I don't know what to do anymore. You said that I was the only offspring of yours that had a level head and that's why I took over your duties as guardian when you passed away. I understand my role and responsibility, Papa, but you left such big shoes to fill when you died. I just don't know if I can do as good as you did. I want to, Papa, I really do, but it's hared. I feel so bad sometimes, like a slouch. I feel like I'm not firm enough. What's going wrong, Papa? Am I not confident enough?"

Amber rolled over on her bed. She was in her normal human form, eyes closed and her mind restless. She was being kept awake by these incessant thoughts that kept coming and absolutely refused to go, She needed to sleep, she wanted to, but she found that she just couldn't. At least, not with herself in a state like this. There was going to be a lot of exhaustion for her in the morning, and the hot air, wind and temperature coming from the desert weren't making things any easier. She guessed that it came from living in the Harisryu region.

Sweat drenched her forehead and down her back to where her hair was damp and matted. Tendrils of blond hair were everywhere and every breath that Amber drew in; she made herself feel even more sick. This wasn't helping her at all. She needed to get out of here, or get away from this, from her responsibilities.

Amber needed to see or hear from her father again. She wasn't feeling her best. If only... but it probably wasn't meant to be. Otherwise, she would have seen him already. Maybe it was time to give up hope. No! she thought. Her father had been all about persevering when times were tough, and he had been one of the strongest people that she had ever known.

She had to draw from his strength, be like him. He was her inspiration, so now she needed to use it. She was certain that she would find a way to get through this.

She knew she would.

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

"You need to eat something."

Meiling lifted her head. "My daughter goes missing and you tell me that I need to eat something?! Haven't I been through enough already today?!" She waved a hand at Fei Mei. "I'll be fine. I just need some peace and quiet."

"Cousin, I know that you're missing Kaze, and we will help you find her, but what use will you be to anyone if you're so weak that you can't help? Syaoran is looking for her as we speak. You need to have patience." Fei Mei sat down on the bed and put a hand on Meiling's shoulder, offering out the bowl. "You need to keep your strength up."

Meiling looked at her cousin with tear-stained eyes. "I just can't believe she's gone." She looked down at the ground. "I was so absorbed in finding out about that damned phoenix. I should have been with her. I should have done something to protect her. My baby, my baby's gone." A few tears leaked out of her eyes. "I'm going to personally kill whoever took her when I find them. They're going to pay."

Fei Mei shook her head. "Violence doesn't do anything, Meiling. You should know that already. It only makes things worse. Remember how it was with -"

Meiling cut her off, "Don't mention that. I don't want to hear it. That was painful enough without having to bring it up again. You hear me, Fei Mei, I don't want to talk about it and that's that."

Fei Mei closed her mouth. "Okay, but make sure you eat. I'll call you from downstairs if Syaoran comes in with any news."

Meiling nodded silently, not speaking. She didn't want to think anymore, the disbelief and memories were still too raw.

=-=-=-=-=

"Is she going to be all right?" Fan Ran asked.

Fei Mei was coming downstairs. "She's still in shock," she said to her sisters. "We really need to find Kaze, and fast. I don't know how long Meiling is going to be able to last like this. She seems depressed. I'm not used to Meiling being depressed. Usually she's the fiery one that never has a dull mood. Now she's had a complete switch, and I'm getting worried about her."

"We just have to keep caring for her, and make sure that she keeps her strength up," Fuutie stated. She gazed at her three sisters. "Someone keep a watch out for Syaoran. He should be here soon. He promised that he would be back here by four and it's almost that time now. Xie Fa, would you be able to do that?"

Xie Fa nodded her head. "Done."

"I can keep watching over Meiling," offered Fei Mei.

"You do that," Fuutie said. "Meanwhile, I'm going to go pay a visit to Mama."

"Okay, but be back in an hour," Fan Ran called out as Fuutie left through the door.

"Will do!" Fuutie opened the gate to the property and left.

"I'll go back upstairs," Fei Mei said. "Meiling wants to be left alone, but I'll be in the room next door doing some sewing. Fan Ran, could you go to the market and get some food supplies? We're running a bit low."

"Okay, I'll do that," Fan Ran said.

Fei Mei smiled and went upstairs.

They needed news of Kaze, and quickly. Meiling wasn't going to last long.

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

"Has there been any news at all?"

Syaoran winced as he heard his mother's voice. He turned to face her, his brown eyes hard. "No, there's been none."

Yelan looked down on her son. "Have you been looking for her?" she asked.

"Of course I've been looking for Kaze! Meiling is sick with worry about her little girl. I'd do anything for them at the moment. My sisters are with her, aren't they?" Syaoran pressed on. "They're looking after Meiling?"

Yelan nodded. "Yes, they are. But knowing Meiling, she won't want to stick around and do nothing for long. I want you to tell us of any news that you have of Kaze, understand?"

Syaoran nodded. "Very well." He looked at his mother, his eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"Look around the Harisryu region."

Syaoran cocked his head. "There? But that's a desert region. Why would she be there?"

"Things happen for the strangest reasons, Syaoran. Something is telling me that she is there and that is where I would like you to look for her. Is that all right?"

"Fine..." Syaoran mumbled. He had always listened to his mother's intuition before and she was usually right with her shrewd guesses. "I'll send Ako back if I see anything."

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

It was night-time and Sakura was in her phoenix form, laying on the bed curled up. She should have been sleeping by now, but restless thoughts were keeping her awake also. She could sense that Amber had the same problem. It wasn't often that she sensed a weak side to her guardian, and she was starting to get a little concerned about the girl.

Sakura's eyes closed and a tear formed in one of her eyes and dripped down the feathers of her face. She wanted out of here now. She knew that she had promised Satu that she wouldn't leave and get in trouble again, but she was hearing a particularly sorrowful cry from the city that she had been in earlier in her human form. She felt like she had to answer the call, like she was obliged to.

Sakura opened her eyes, got up from her bed and went to the window. She looked over at the other side of the room and watched Satu for a few moments. He was still sleeping thank goodness. She would have a relatively easy escape then.

Sakura went to the window and pecked at the lock with her beak. It opened easily and Sakura nudged at the window with her head to open it. It swung open with a loud creak and Sakura winced as she craned her head around to see if Satu had woken up. Luckily for her, he seemed to be a deep sleeper.

Sakura stepped up onto the window sill and looked down. There was enough room for her to jump out and flap her wings a few times before wheeling off into the night. Luckily it was a night when there was a lot of wind. The breeze ruffled her feathers as she jumped out, and with a few powerful beats of her wings, she was flying off into the night and away from the tower.

=-=-=-=-=

Meanwhile, Amber had awoken to the sound of the creak, and she had instantly known what had happened. Running through to Sakura and Satu's room, Amber found the phoenix's bed empty and Satu still sleeping peacefully. The window was open. Amber groaned out loud. They were really in trouble this time. She stormed over to her brother's bed and shook him awake violently, a look of unrestrained rage on her face. She was about ready to transform! She was that annoyed with her brother.

Satu took a while to open his eyes, but when he finally did, he blinked a few times sleepily and rubbing one hand across his right eye, he asked, "Amber, what' wrong? Why did you have to wake me up this early in the morning? You'll wake up Sakura."

Amber was seething. "If you noticed, Sakura is gone. She's flown away."

"Why would she have done that?" Satu asked. He was fully awake now. "I don't know, but you're gonna help me track her down. Time for you to transform."

"Me? Why? You know that I hate transforming. It hurts, and I can't even control it," Satu complained.

"Deal with it, otherwise you'll be the one that I vent my temper out on," Amber threatened. "So transform now."

"Fine," Satu grumbled.

There were corresponding low glows of cyan and fire alike. Amber had ice, wind, energy and water to call to do her bidding; Satu controlled fire, earth, wind and energy also. Both guardians had a similar dress, but Satu's robes were pale yellow with red trimming. Braids were wound all throughout his long brown hair and his brown eyes were the same colour as Amber's.

Amber walked to the window first. "You head to the city, Satu, and I'll take care of the rest of the region. You don't have the light travelling ability and I do. I'm depending on you to not go off and eat food. I want you staying in your guardian form. Anyway, the guards are scared of me already, and if they see someone looking remotely like me, then they'll start running away like cowards."

"I can see why," Satu mumbled.

"What was that?" Amber accused.

"Nothing... don't worry..." Satu grumbled.

Amber narrowed her eyes at her brother. She would have to keep an eye on him. Besides, he usually caused a lot of trouble anyway.

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

"Come on kid, you've got to eat something."

Kaze looked up and was startled to see something that looked vaguely like a stuffed toy floating into the room holding a plate. Her eyes widened. She had seen the phoenix before, but she had never seen something like this. She scrambled a bit closer and grabbed the animal in her hands before prodding and poking him, seeing if he was real.

When he yelled, she knew that he was and it took her by surprise. She ended up dropping the thing and it bounced to the floor.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Kaze cried in surprise. She picked it up again and cuddled it to her. "I'm so sorry..." she whispered. "It's just that this place is really scary and I don't like being here alone."

"Hey, it's okay, kid. None of us like being alone," the stuffed animal said. "What's your name?"

"Kaze. Li Kaze," Kaze answered. "And what's your name?"

"Keroberos, guardian of -" he cut himself off. It looked like he was a bit uncomfortable about what he was guarding. Either that or he didn't want that freaky man to hear.

"Can I call you Kero?" Kaze asked.

The stuffed animal smiled a little bit. "Sure, you can."

Kaze smiled back, feeling, for the first time since she had arrived at this horrible place, a little bit happier. "I think we're going to get along just fine, Kero."

"Yeah, I think so too," Kero grinned.

+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+*~*+

Sakura hunched back near a rock-face that she was hiding under. Amber was closing in on her presence; she could sense her from where she was now. Sakura had tried everything to hide her aura, but she hadn't been able to. Something was going wrong; she had to learn that skill. She had known that Satu had tried to teach her one time, but she hadn't been very good at learning at all.

Sakura saw Amber fly over head, not noticing where she was at all. Sakura watched her guardian fly past and then well after she was gone; Sakura took to the air again.

She had to answer that call. She just had to.

To be continued...

God, I love those words. To be continued... bliss.

It means that I can take a bit more time before I upload the next chapter. Currently I have about three or four fanfics going at the same time. I think there's Melody (this one), Wishing Well, Footprints in the Sand, and Regretting Looking Behind.

Anyhow...

Review if you want to.

--Kari