Disclaimer: I own the plot. The characters? Well, let's just say I'm still negotiating that.
Author's Note: Before I start, I'd just like to say, "WHEW!" 17 Reviews for a first chapter? I must confess, I was expecting maybe one review. A VERY pleasant surprise. You guys are wonderful! I only hope you enjoy this one as much as the last. ^-^
'Tournament of my Heart'
Chapter Two: First Matches
****
The tournament would be comprised of three days with the lowest matches, and one day for the semi-finals. The fifth, and final, day would be left for the championship match.
They were expected to fight three fights each of the first days. Between each of the three matches they would have roughly four hours to rest, though some would be unfortunate enough to have less time.
This information Sakura learned as she strolled carelessly amongst the crowd of sightseers. She had excused herself from Meiling and Tomoyo almost right after the referee had left them. They had let her go, knowing she needed the time to prepare her nerves.
She had checked the board before leaving and knew her fight would be the twenty-third that day, which meant she had plenty of time to wander around.
She pulled her scarf closer around her face to conceal her identity. Though the reverence given from the other opponents was both helpful and amusing at times, she didn't feel like being watched at the moment.
She ambled through the crowd, letting her feet lead while her brain wandered. For the most part, her thoughts were innocent, such as remembering whether she had closed the tent flap that morning. She also went over the more complicated moves she had learned recently. The only thing her brain carefully kept out were thoughts of Syaoran. She had learned over the years that entering a fight with him in her mind was not a good idea.
Excited shouts and a booming announcer's voice alerted her the tournament was starting. She turned and walked towards the nearest entrance, scanning the area for an open seat. There were plenty, as today was only the first day of competition.
She soon found a perfect seat: close enough to see the action yet giving ample distance from other viewers. Within minutes, she was seated and listening to the announcer building up the crowd for the first fight.
The ring itself was large and simple, without ropes on the sides. There were two pairs of steps, one on the north and the other on the south end of the ring. Her eyes could just make out a light path from both of the stairs, ending at small doors. Excluding these areas, all around the base of the ring was surrounded with a soft mat that extended roughly 15 feet from the end of the ring. The stands that seated the crowds were located another 15 feet from the edge of the mat.
The announcer's voice changed and Sakura's concentration narrowed onto his words. He was finishing the end of the rules.
"- will be thrown out. However, the risk is half the fun, right, folks?" As the crowd roared approval, the announcer continued. "There is no time limit; the fights will continue until a fighter is either knocked unconscious, is thrown from the ring, or gives up."
Sakura smirked. She could recite his speech by heart, thanks to Yue's teaching skills. She sent a thank you Yue's way before realizing the announcer was now motioning towards a closed door on the north end of the ring. She narrowed her eyes and watched as the door flung open and a large, heavily-muscled man strolled out.
She watched emotionlessly as he strutted to the ring, pumping his arms in an attempt to get the crowd on his side. Her smirk reappeared when she realized his childish antics were working.
The man reached the steps and started up them, still pumping his arms. When he reached the landing, he flexed his muscles, causing the audience to roar in approval. The announcer himself was laughing, obviously pleased.
Once the crowd had quieted down enough for the announcer's voice to be heard, he spoke. There was still a trail of mirth in his voice. "Hardly an introduction is needed for Thoran Gravedigger, I see!" The crowd applauded soundly and Thoran repeated his earlier antics. After the crowd quieted a second time, the announcer motioned toward the south end of the ring.
Another man, smaller this time, stepped out. His gait was just as sure as Thoran's, though he didn't try to pump up the crowd. When he had one foot on the steps, he suddenly threw himself forward into a flip. His hands landed flat on the third step and he pushed. He landed gracefully, dropping into a fluid bow as soon as his feet touched the ring.
The crowd again erupted into applause, giddy at the surprise entrance. Sakura eyed the man; she already knew who the victor would be. The announcer again laughed, pleased the two men were giving the crowd such a fine show. Sakura could practically hear him calculating the money he would earn from this tournament.
"And of course his fine opponent, Jessin, nicknamed the Cat for his stealth!" proclaimed the announcer.
Sakura's smirk deepened at his nickname. Though he had seemed graceful enough, she doubted he deserved to be called a cat. Very few possessed such grace.
'And Kero is hardly one of them,' she added ruefully.
The announcer now moved off the stage and a referee emerged from the sidelines. He stood on the ground-next to the action, but not hindering it.
The two opponents made their way to the middle of the ring, bowing to each other respectfully. A bell rang and the match started.
Sakura expected Thoran to attack first. He didn't disappoint her. The second after the bell rang, he ran forward, his arm swinging wildly for Jessin. Though it was badly aimed, there was strength behind it. Jessin, however, was not caught unaware. He quickly sidestepped the swing and put space between the two fighters.
Thoran stopped his first attempt and eyed the Cat wearily. Though he had rushed headfirst into his first attack, he was not stupid enough to do so in the second attack, as Jessin would expect him to. The pair began to circle each other, calculating the way the other moved and looking for holes in their defense.
While Jessin showed lasting patience, Thoran's temper was easy to rise. He soon grew tired of this game and decided to rush forward.
Sakura cursed his stupidity. This match would be over in seconds.
The Cat watched emotionlessly as Thoran raced towards him, stepping backwards slowly. Sakura knew what his move would be before he sidestepped. She watched as he grabbed the Gravedigger's outstretched hand and, using his hip, threw him out of the ring.
Her eyes calculated his move, slightly surprised. He had performed the move perfectly with the same quiet grace that seemed to surround him. She knew he would go far.
'And he's on my side of the bracket,' she thought distractedly.
Just like that, the match was over.
The audience was still in shock when Sakura started clapping. Sakura watched as Jessin's eyes locked on her own, surprise evident on his features. Very few had ever won praise from this cold maiden. He certainly had not expected to be one. He bowed to her as the crowd erupted in applause.
The announcer reappeared from the sidelines, grabbing Jessin's hand and holding it high.
"The winner of the first match today!"
The audience's loud calls intensified. Sakura watched through the now-standing people as Jessin left through the door he had emerged from.
Once he was gone, she watched the next couple matches, her thoughts hardly on them. She saw as people fell, but none seemed half as talented as Jessin had. She knew she could beat him, but it might take a little work.
Her eyes narrowed on a familiar head of chocolate hair moving through the crowd. His amber eyes locked onto her emerald ones and she had to wrench herself from his gaze. In ten solid strides, he found himself at her side. He dropped into the empty seat beside her.
"Eriol is fighting next," he said simply, by way of greeting.
She didn't answer and kept her eyes carefully locked on the ring. Though she wanted to stand and walk away without a second glance, she once again found her legs unable to move. Somehow she doubted her knees would support her, even if she managed to stand. Sakura hadn't laid eyes on Syaoran in three years but her body still remembered him as though he had never left.
She felt his gaze and fought to keep her own steady. She was thankful when the doors opened and a large sandy-haired man approached the ring. She watched numbly as he bellowed at the crowd. She found she couldn't understand him-she had never learned the egotistical side of English.
The crowd, as usual, bellowed in response. Sakura, however, had shifted her attention to the south entrance. She could feel his large aura; it was calling to her own. From the corner of her mind's eye, she could see Syaoran's reacting the same way. She stifled her pink aura quickly once she realized it had become tangled in Syaoran's.
Her attention left her aura as the door was thrown open. Out stalked Eriol. Or, rather, out floated Eriol. She watched numbly as he approached the ring, his magic carrying him. She felt every member of the crowd's jaw drop and had to fight back a laugh. She should have expected such from him.
The referee quickly reattached his jaw and approached Eriol hurriedly. They conversed in rushed undertones. Sakura didn't have to strain her ears; she knew what was being said. The referee would tell him magic was not allowed in the tournament and he would argue the match had not yet begun. Within seconds, the referee retreated, looking annoyed. Eriol, however, remained unfazed.
Once he had passed the last step, he bowed to the crowd in midair, and dropped down. His feet caught him without a sound.
The audience, more stunned than they had been after Jessin's entrance, watched numbly before finally jumping to their feet and applauding the navy-haired magician. Sakura's face broke into a smile, much to the surprise of Syaoran, who had been watching her the entire time.
"Always one for grand entrances, isn't he?" she asked before she remembered whom she was talking to.
A look of horror sprouted on her face and she clamped her hand over the betraying mouth. She averted her eyes, not wanting to see Syaoran's soft, understanding amber eyes, though she could feel his gaze. They sat in silence for a few moments. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, and she was once again reminded of someone approaching a wild animal.
"Sakura. . ."
Her aura broke free of her now-weakened grasp and mingled playfully with his. She turned her head slowly, emerald eyes gradually coming in contact with his deep amber orbs. Instantly, she knew her mistake.
The two fell deeply into each other's eyes, drowning. Neither were aware of the three gazes that had fallen on them; one smiling while the other two were startled.
Suddenly a jolt of pain shot up Sakura's arm. She broke the gaze quickly and looked up into a stranger's embarrassed eyes.
"Pardon me, ma'am," he said hurriedly before continuing past her. Numbly, she realized he had bumped into her arm.
Thanking the man silently but profusely, she rose to her feet. She had to get away from Syaoran. She had taken three steps when she felt his hand on her waist. It sent shivers down her spine and she found herself paralyzed once again. He spoke softly, but she heard his voice crack slightly.
"Sakura. . .," he repeated.
She threw herself forward and made her way down the stairs in a sprint. Thankfully, he didn't follow.
'Nothing's changed,' she thought numbly. 'I'll always be running from him.'
****
Syaoran watched her go before looking back at the ring. Eriol was staring at him, ignoring the announcer who was fighting to get his attention. Syaoran shrugged, answering the unasked question. Eriol frowned slightly before turning abruptly and approaching the middle of the ring.
The announcer stumbled back, flustered at his sudden change. Not wanting to jinx it, however, he quickly jumped off the stage.
Syaoran returned to his seat in time to watch Eriol bow to his opponent. The bell rang and the sandy-haired man lunged forward. Eriol's face was emotionless as he sidestepped, avoiding the man's attack. As the man fought to balance himself, Eriol smoothly swept a foot underneath him, knocking him to his knees.
Not wanting to press for an advantage, Eriol walked regally to the other side of the ring. By the time the man had stood, the magician was waiting in a defensive position. The sandy-haired man hesitated a moment before approaching the magician. He was, doubtlessly, remembering what had happened the last time he had attacked hurriedly.
Before the man could attack, the navy-haired man threw his arm out, grabbing his opponent in one hand and pulling him forward. His opponent was too surprised to react, giving Eriol time to whip around into a kick. Before the man knew what was happening, he was sailing towards the opposite end of the ring. Syaoran could practically see the stars sprouting in his sandy-haired head.
When the man managed to look up again, Eriol was charging him. With a quick slashing motion, he had sent his opponent flying into the air a second time. This time he landed with a soft thud on the mats.
The announcer reappeared suddenly, grabbing Eriol's hand and proclaiming him the victor. Syaoran could hardly keep the smirk from his face. As though Eriol would be beaten in his first match.
Checking the clock on the far wall of the stands, he realized his match would be coming up soon. With a sigh, he stood and started back to the practice ring.
Now that he no longer had the match to focus his attention on, his thoughts wandered back to Sakura. His hopes had soared when she'd caught his eye, and he had felt her shiver from his touch, but they had been forced to plummet back to the earth when she'd walked away.
'Her willpower is just as strong as mine,' he finally admitted. 'She won't let herself be drawn to me if she can help it.'
Still, his heart was pounding when he remembered the way she had looked at him.
'Like she loved me.'
Someone bumped him on the shoulder and he realized his thoughts had taken him too far from the real world. He mumbled an apology and continued his trek to the practice ring.
****
She was huddled in a corner when Eriol re-entered the building. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear the navy-haired man until he spoke.
"You left before the match began," he said shortly. Sakura jumped, spinning to face him in the same ungraceful move. She placed a scowl firmly on her lips as she fought to ignore the amusement in his eyes.
"I-I wanted to warm up," she lied. It wouldn't matter whether she kept her voice smooth and believable; Eriol could always see through lies. That had never stopped her from lying to him, however.
His eyes were sharp though his voice was calm. "You were running from Syaoran."
She didn't bother to answer; the ground had suddenly become very interesting.
"Why are you running from him? Your body clearly wants to be with him; what's hindering your mind?" She nearly winced from the smooth, yet firm, tone.
Something suddenly snapped inside of her. Why was he demanding so much from her? Why was she suddenly being made out as the villain of their history? She had been abandoned on the eve of her wedding, and she was wrong for not immediately falling into his arms?
"Common sense, Eriol," she answered sharply.
He blinked at her sudden anger. His eyes darted to her hips; she was about to move. Quickly placing an arm on her shoulder, he restrained her from moving with a strong grip.
Sakura gasped when he lowered his face in front of hers. His eyes were smoldering with both anger and urgency.
"Listen to me, Sakura. We did not go on vacation," he hissed. "We left to negotiate with the clan. We left to assure our place as your husbands."
Her eyes, however, were burning just as strongly. "I understand why you left, Eriol," she said, speaking his name as though it pained her to utter. "What you have never explained is why you stayed." The word 'stayed' seemed to ring in the air.
Using the moment to her advantage, she pushed herself away from Eriol. Every step seemed to drain her anger slowly and she was thankful when a familiar ruby-eyed girl came rushing towards her. Wordlessly, she put an arm around Sakura, leading her to a quieter corner. She didn't ask what had happened, only watched as the brunette collapsed into silent sobs.
A raven-haired girl appeared near them and quickly took over Meiling's position, letting the ruby-eyed girl serve as a human barrier to protect the crying girl from anyone else's prying gaze.
For a while they sat in perfect silence, each of the three understanding more deeply than can be put into words. Finally Sakura broke the quiet.
"Why is it so hard? Don't we hate them enough?" she said, her voice quiet from her sobs.
Tomoyo stroked her hair lovingly, her eyes sweeping over her friend's frame. "Three years is not enough to get over someone you loved." Her quiet voice rang with truth.
"We never should have come," came the soft reply.
Tomoyo laughed lightly, using her hand to force Sakura's chin up. "We had to face them sometime Sakura. We decide once and for all whether our lives will include them."
Meiling's playful voice broke through the moment. "And here I was thinking we were just going to kick their butts."
The three erupted into giggles, completely unaware of the two sets of eyes watching them intently.
****
"I'm up," said Meiling unnecessarily as she smoothed the front of her red fighting costume anxiously. The white sleeves trailed the ground when she let her arms hang.
The two nodded and walked with her to the door on the south end. Sakura's stomach was filled with butterflies as she watched her friend repeat the same stretch she had used only moments before.
She couldn't get the board out of her memory. She knew that Meiling would most likely advance to the next bracket, but it was unlikely she would get farther. Though Meiling had become better over the three years, her cousin's skill had always gone untouched by her own.
The announcer's voice broke through her thoughts. He was announcing the first competitor. Sakura threw a glance out an open flap and saw him as a dark-haired man approached the stage. From his movement, he was obviously a seasoned martial arts competitor. He held the same quiet grace Jessin had possessed. Memory clicked into place and she realized she had seen him with Jessin earlier. The announcer bellowed his name- Yuran.
She glanced back at her ruby-eyed friend and was relieved to see her calculating gaze fixed on Yuran. At least she wasn't taking the competitor lightly.
A man's voice broke through the quiet, alerting Meiling it was her turn to enter. Giving Sakura and Tomoyo an assured smile, she threw the door open and stalked out.
The two friends raced for the flap, ignoring the men who jumped back to allow them passage. Sakura bit back a laugh when she realized Meiling had adopted her own stalk, though her hips weren't moving smoothly enough.
'I'll give her lessons later,' she joked absently.
When she reached the steps, the announcer greeted her with a charming smile, obviously pleased with her looks.
"Folks, I'd like you to welcome the first woman, Meiling Li, to grace our tournament in over fifty years!" The crowd was quiet for a moment before they broke into a reserved clap. They were unsure about this new arrival.
She chose to ignore this. Instead, she moved toward the center of the ring. Yuran followed her and the announcer quickly left the ring. The two bowed, their eyes never leaving the other. Slowly, they rose and took to their fighting stances.
Meiling attacked first, as Sakura had known she would. Yuran also seemed to know this. Immediately he raised his arm to deflect her blow. No sooner had the move been blocked than she swung her other arm around, aiming lower for his torso. He just managed to get his arm there in time, again blocking her. She disentangled her own arm the second his touched hers and swung around in a kick.
It was a risky move, as Yuran was in a perfect position to grab her leg and, at the very least, force her away, but he just barely managed to block it.
Meiling jumped back from him, throwing her body into a back flip. She landed, eyes narrowed on her opponent. She now knew his speed. Sakura knew she would use it to her advantage.
Yuran circled her, though he made no move to attack. He was waiting for her to do so. Even from the sidelines, Sakura knew he had a trick up his sleeve. Sakura could only pray Meiling wouldn't let her temper get the better of her and fall into his trap.
She thought her prayers had gone unanswered when she saw Meiling rush forward, growling angrily. Instead, the girl feinted a left punch, her eyes intent on Yuran. The ruby-eyed girl had obviously expected a trick.
Yuran tried to grab the girl's arm, but Meiling pulled it back too fast. He stopped shifting his weight when he realized no one was there to throw over his hip. Instead, he swung his foot as Eriol had done, knocking Meiling's out from under her.
She went down in a flurry of curses. Slapping the ground, she managed the roll forward, using the childish move to take Yuran down with her. He nearly landed on her, but managed to throw himself forward just in time. Instead he sailed over her, landing in a roll.
The two righted themselves quickly and began circling again, carefully ignoring the cheers that went through the crowd. They were enjoying the fight. Meiling, however, clearly was not. Sakura knew how frustrated the girl was.
This time Yuran lunged forward, feinting right. Meiling started to swing her arm to block it before stopping abruptly. Instead she swung her hand lower, blocking his real punch aimed from her torso. She grabbed his hand and twisted, knocking him off balance. Before he could recover, she sent him over her hip.
He landed in a heap dangerously close to the edge of the ring.
Jumping forward, Meiling rolled him off the side. He landed with a light thud on the soft mat.
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, proud of her friend.
The announcer now appeared at her side, grabbing her arm and announcing the winner. The cheers that went through the crowd resembled nothing of the reserved clapping they had greeted her with. The audience had already fallen in love.
The two friends waited anxiously at the door as Meiling walked down the trail deliberately. No sooner had she opened the door than the two jumped on her, engulfing her in a ferocious hug.
"Good job!" squealed Tomoyo, though Sakura remained calm.
She detached herself from the group, flashing a congratulatory smile toward Meiling. The girl's eyes, however, were not on her. They were staring at something behind her.
Before Sakura could turn, he spoke.
"Good job, cousin," he said simply. Sakura kept herself pointedly staring at Meiling. She didn't dare turn.
"What are you doing here?" asked Meiling, her voice flat. Sakura glanced at her quickly; she had expected anger.
Sakura could feel his gaze on her. Still she refused to look. "I'm fighting next," he said simply.
Then, without another word, he strode past them, standing in front of the door as he waited to be called forth.
Feeling rather suffocated, Sakura excused herself from them. "I'm going back to the tent for a moment. I'll be back in time for your match, Tomoyo."
Syaoran turned and stared at her, eyes showing pain. "You're not going to watch my match?"
Though part of her wanted to shrivel under his gaze, the other half was defiant. She carefully raised an eyebrow. "Is there some reason I should watch?"
Before he could respond, the same man who had told Meiling to go screamed at Syaoran. With one meaningful look, he opened the door and stepped out.
Tomoyo and Meiling watched her, eyes searching. She smiled shakily and, with another polite excuse, left for the tent.
****
She sat on the soft pillows, staring through the open flap and watching the garden. She pointedly stopped thinking about what was going on and let the sounds be her main focus. She heard the far-off shouts from the stadium and the closer buzzing of the bees.
Slowly her eyes began to droop and she realized how soft the pillows were.
'I'll just close my eyes for a while,' she told herself slowly, though her eyes had already shut.
The world slowly turned black.
****
"SAKURA!"
A loud shout broke through the dreamless fog and she began to sit up when rough hands grabbed her. Their shaking woke her fully. Her eyes flung open and were met with angry ruby.
"Sakura, you have about three minutes to get back to the ring or you forfeit your match," she cried, her voice harsh enough to make Sakura cringe. Then her words hit.
She threw herself from the pillows and bolted out of the tent, thinking of nothing but making it on time. People in the crowd threw her hostile looks and she did her best to leave a trail of apologies behind her. Just when she was afraid her lungs would collapse, the door to the practice ring came into view. Giving it one last burst of speed, she pelted through the door.
Many pairs of surprised eyes locked on her form, but she ignored them and instead strode to the southern door. A man was eyeing her impatiently. She mumbled an apology, but the look of scorn was steady on his lips.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Syaoran's anxious glance. She chose to ignore it.
'I missed Tomoyo's match,' she realized. Though she desperately wanted to know that her friend had won, the man was giving her the cue.
With one last breath, she opened the door and started her strut towards the ring.
****
Author's Note: Whew. That is easily the longest chapter I've ever done. It's 4540 words long. That's just crazy. So. You guys better enjoy. Please review and excuse the typos, lol. . . I finished this late and I've had a rough day. . . I don't really have the energy to go back and check it right now.
Author's Note: Before I start, I'd just like to say, "WHEW!" 17 Reviews for a first chapter? I must confess, I was expecting maybe one review. A VERY pleasant surprise. You guys are wonderful! I only hope you enjoy this one as much as the last. ^-^
'Tournament of my Heart'
Chapter Two: First Matches
****
The tournament would be comprised of three days with the lowest matches, and one day for the semi-finals. The fifth, and final, day would be left for the championship match.
They were expected to fight three fights each of the first days. Between each of the three matches they would have roughly four hours to rest, though some would be unfortunate enough to have less time.
This information Sakura learned as she strolled carelessly amongst the crowd of sightseers. She had excused herself from Meiling and Tomoyo almost right after the referee had left them. They had let her go, knowing she needed the time to prepare her nerves.
She had checked the board before leaving and knew her fight would be the twenty-third that day, which meant she had plenty of time to wander around.
She pulled her scarf closer around her face to conceal her identity. Though the reverence given from the other opponents was both helpful and amusing at times, she didn't feel like being watched at the moment.
She ambled through the crowd, letting her feet lead while her brain wandered. For the most part, her thoughts were innocent, such as remembering whether she had closed the tent flap that morning. She also went over the more complicated moves she had learned recently. The only thing her brain carefully kept out were thoughts of Syaoran. She had learned over the years that entering a fight with him in her mind was not a good idea.
Excited shouts and a booming announcer's voice alerted her the tournament was starting. She turned and walked towards the nearest entrance, scanning the area for an open seat. There were plenty, as today was only the first day of competition.
She soon found a perfect seat: close enough to see the action yet giving ample distance from other viewers. Within minutes, she was seated and listening to the announcer building up the crowd for the first fight.
The ring itself was large and simple, without ropes on the sides. There were two pairs of steps, one on the north and the other on the south end of the ring. Her eyes could just make out a light path from both of the stairs, ending at small doors. Excluding these areas, all around the base of the ring was surrounded with a soft mat that extended roughly 15 feet from the end of the ring. The stands that seated the crowds were located another 15 feet from the edge of the mat.
The announcer's voice changed and Sakura's concentration narrowed onto his words. He was finishing the end of the rules.
"- will be thrown out. However, the risk is half the fun, right, folks?" As the crowd roared approval, the announcer continued. "There is no time limit; the fights will continue until a fighter is either knocked unconscious, is thrown from the ring, or gives up."
Sakura smirked. She could recite his speech by heart, thanks to Yue's teaching skills. She sent a thank you Yue's way before realizing the announcer was now motioning towards a closed door on the north end of the ring. She narrowed her eyes and watched as the door flung open and a large, heavily-muscled man strolled out.
She watched emotionlessly as he strutted to the ring, pumping his arms in an attempt to get the crowd on his side. Her smirk reappeared when she realized his childish antics were working.
The man reached the steps and started up them, still pumping his arms. When he reached the landing, he flexed his muscles, causing the audience to roar in approval. The announcer himself was laughing, obviously pleased.
Once the crowd had quieted down enough for the announcer's voice to be heard, he spoke. There was still a trail of mirth in his voice. "Hardly an introduction is needed for Thoran Gravedigger, I see!" The crowd applauded soundly and Thoran repeated his earlier antics. After the crowd quieted a second time, the announcer motioned toward the south end of the ring.
Another man, smaller this time, stepped out. His gait was just as sure as Thoran's, though he didn't try to pump up the crowd. When he had one foot on the steps, he suddenly threw himself forward into a flip. His hands landed flat on the third step and he pushed. He landed gracefully, dropping into a fluid bow as soon as his feet touched the ring.
The crowd again erupted into applause, giddy at the surprise entrance. Sakura eyed the man; she already knew who the victor would be. The announcer again laughed, pleased the two men were giving the crowd such a fine show. Sakura could practically hear him calculating the money he would earn from this tournament.
"And of course his fine opponent, Jessin, nicknamed the Cat for his stealth!" proclaimed the announcer.
Sakura's smirk deepened at his nickname. Though he had seemed graceful enough, she doubted he deserved to be called a cat. Very few possessed such grace.
'And Kero is hardly one of them,' she added ruefully.
The announcer now moved off the stage and a referee emerged from the sidelines. He stood on the ground-next to the action, but not hindering it.
The two opponents made their way to the middle of the ring, bowing to each other respectfully. A bell rang and the match started.
Sakura expected Thoran to attack first. He didn't disappoint her. The second after the bell rang, he ran forward, his arm swinging wildly for Jessin. Though it was badly aimed, there was strength behind it. Jessin, however, was not caught unaware. He quickly sidestepped the swing and put space between the two fighters.
Thoran stopped his first attempt and eyed the Cat wearily. Though he had rushed headfirst into his first attack, he was not stupid enough to do so in the second attack, as Jessin would expect him to. The pair began to circle each other, calculating the way the other moved and looking for holes in their defense.
While Jessin showed lasting patience, Thoran's temper was easy to rise. He soon grew tired of this game and decided to rush forward.
Sakura cursed his stupidity. This match would be over in seconds.
The Cat watched emotionlessly as Thoran raced towards him, stepping backwards slowly. Sakura knew what his move would be before he sidestepped. She watched as he grabbed the Gravedigger's outstretched hand and, using his hip, threw him out of the ring.
Her eyes calculated his move, slightly surprised. He had performed the move perfectly with the same quiet grace that seemed to surround him. She knew he would go far.
'And he's on my side of the bracket,' she thought distractedly.
Just like that, the match was over.
The audience was still in shock when Sakura started clapping. Sakura watched as Jessin's eyes locked on her own, surprise evident on his features. Very few had ever won praise from this cold maiden. He certainly had not expected to be one. He bowed to her as the crowd erupted in applause.
The announcer reappeared from the sidelines, grabbing Jessin's hand and holding it high.
"The winner of the first match today!"
The audience's loud calls intensified. Sakura watched through the now-standing people as Jessin left through the door he had emerged from.
Once he was gone, she watched the next couple matches, her thoughts hardly on them. She saw as people fell, but none seemed half as talented as Jessin had. She knew she could beat him, but it might take a little work.
Her eyes narrowed on a familiar head of chocolate hair moving through the crowd. His amber eyes locked onto her emerald ones and she had to wrench herself from his gaze. In ten solid strides, he found himself at her side. He dropped into the empty seat beside her.
"Eriol is fighting next," he said simply, by way of greeting.
She didn't answer and kept her eyes carefully locked on the ring. Though she wanted to stand and walk away without a second glance, she once again found her legs unable to move. Somehow she doubted her knees would support her, even if she managed to stand. Sakura hadn't laid eyes on Syaoran in three years but her body still remembered him as though he had never left.
She felt his gaze and fought to keep her own steady. She was thankful when the doors opened and a large sandy-haired man approached the ring. She watched numbly as he bellowed at the crowd. She found she couldn't understand him-she had never learned the egotistical side of English.
The crowd, as usual, bellowed in response. Sakura, however, had shifted her attention to the south entrance. She could feel his large aura; it was calling to her own. From the corner of her mind's eye, she could see Syaoran's reacting the same way. She stifled her pink aura quickly once she realized it had become tangled in Syaoran's.
Her attention left her aura as the door was thrown open. Out stalked Eriol. Or, rather, out floated Eriol. She watched numbly as he approached the ring, his magic carrying him. She felt every member of the crowd's jaw drop and had to fight back a laugh. She should have expected such from him.
The referee quickly reattached his jaw and approached Eriol hurriedly. They conversed in rushed undertones. Sakura didn't have to strain her ears; she knew what was being said. The referee would tell him magic was not allowed in the tournament and he would argue the match had not yet begun. Within seconds, the referee retreated, looking annoyed. Eriol, however, remained unfazed.
Once he had passed the last step, he bowed to the crowd in midair, and dropped down. His feet caught him without a sound.
The audience, more stunned than they had been after Jessin's entrance, watched numbly before finally jumping to their feet and applauding the navy-haired magician. Sakura's face broke into a smile, much to the surprise of Syaoran, who had been watching her the entire time.
"Always one for grand entrances, isn't he?" she asked before she remembered whom she was talking to.
A look of horror sprouted on her face and she clamped her hand over the betraying mouth. She averted her eyes, not wanting to see Syaoran's soft, understanding amber eyes, though she could feel his gaze. They sat in silence for a few moments. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, and she was once again reminded of someone approaching a wild animal.
"Sakura. . ."
Her aura broke free of her now-weakened grasp and mingled playfully with his. She turned her head slowly, emerald eyes gradually coming in contact with his deep amber orbs. Instantly, she knew her mistake.
The two fell deeply into each other's eyes, drowning. Neither were aware of the three gazes that had fallen on them; one smiling while the other two were startled.
Suddenly a jolt of pain shot up Sakura's arm. She broke the gaze quickly and looked up into a stranger's embarrassed eyes.
"Pardon me, ma'am," he said hurriedly before continuing past her. Numbly, she realized he had bumped into her arm.
Thanking the man silently but profusely, she rose to her feet. She had to get away from Syaoran. She had taken three steps when she felt his hand on her waist. It sent shivers down her spine and she found herself paralyzed once again. He spoke softly, but she heard his voice crack slightly.
"Sakura. . .," he repeated.
She threw herself forward and made her way down the stairs in a sprint. Thankfully, he didn't follow.
'Nothing's changed,' she thought numbly. 'I'll always be running from him.'
****
Syaoran watched her go before looking back at the ring. Eriol was staring at him, ignoring the announcer who was fighting to get his attention. Syaoran shrugged, answering the unasked question. Eriol frowned slightly before turning abruptly and approaching the middle of the ring.
The announcer stumbled back, flustered at his sudden change. Not wanting to jinx it, however, he quickly jumped off the stage.
Syaoran returned to his seat in time to watch Eriol bow to his opponent. The bell rang and the sandy-haired man lunged forward. Eriol's face was emotionless as he sidestepped, avoiding the man's attack. As the man fought to balance himself, Eriol smoothly swept a foot underneath him, knocking him to his knees.
Not wanting to press for an advantage, Eriol walked regally to the other side of the ring. By the time the man had stood, the magician was waiting in a defensive position. The sandy-haired man hesitated a moment before approaching the magician. He was, doubtlessly, remembering what had happened the last time he had attacked hurriedly.
Before the man could attack, the navy-haired man threw his arm out, grabbing his opponent in one hand and pulling him forward. His opponent was too surprised to react, giving Eriol time to whip around into a kick. Before the man knew what was happening, he was sailing towards the opposite end of the ring. Syaoran could practically see the stars sprouting in his sandy-haired head.
When the man managed to look up again, Eriol was charging him. With a quick slashing motion, he had sent his opponent flying into the air a second time. This time he landed with a soft thud on the mats.
The announcer reappeared suddenly, grabbing Eriol's hand and proclaiming him the victor. Syaoran could hardly keep the smirk from his face. As though Eriol would be beaten in his first match.
Checking the clock on the far wall of the stands, he realized his match would be coming up soon. With a sigh, he stood and started back to the practice ring.
Now that he no longer had the match to focus his attention on, his thoughts wandered back to Sakura. His hopes had soared when she'd caught his eye, and he had felt her shiver from his touch, but they had been forced to plummet back to the earth when she'd walked away.
'Her willpower is just as strong as mine,' he finally admitted. 'She won't let herself be drawn to me if she can help it.'
Still, his heart was pounding when he remembered the way she had looked at him.
'Like she loved me.'
Someone bumped him on the shoulder and he realized his thoughts had taken him too far from the real world. He mumbled an apology and continued his trek to the practice ring.
****
She was huddled in a corner when Eriol re-entered the building. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear the navy-haired man until he spoke.
"You left before the match began," he said shortly. Sakura jumped, spinning to face him in the same ungraceful move. She placed a scowl firmly on her lips as she fought to ignore the amusement in his eyes.
"I-I wanted to warm up," she lied. It wouldn't matter whether she kept her voice smooth and believable; Eriol could always see through lies. That had never stopped her from lying to him, however.
His eyes were sharp though his voice was calm. "You were running from Syaoran."
She didn't bother to answer; the ground had suddenly become very interesting.
"Why are you running from him? Your body clearly wants to be with him; what's hindering your mind?" She nearly winced from the smooth, yet firm, tone.
Something suddenly snapped inside of her. Why was he demanding so much from her? Why was she suddenly being made out as the villain of their history? She had been abandoned on the eve of her wedding, and she was wrong for not immediately falling into his arms?
"Common sense, Eriol," she answered sharply.
He blinked at her sudden anger. His eyes darted to her hips; she was about to move. Quickly placing an arm on her shoulder, he restrained her from moving with a strong grip.
Sakura gasped when he lowered his face in front of hers. His eyes were smoldering with both anger and urgency.
"Listen to me, Sakura. We did not go on vacation," he hissed. "We left to negotiate with the clan. We left to assure our place as your husbands."
Her eyes, however, were burning just as strongly. "I understand why you left, Eriol," she said, speaking his name as though it pained her to utter. "What you have never explained is why you stayed." The word 'stayed' seemed to ring in the air.
Using the moment to her advantage, she pushed herself away from Eriol. Every step seemed to drain her anger slowly and she was thankful when a familiar ruby-eyed girl came rushing towards her. Wordlessly, she put an arm around Sakura, leading her to a quieter corner. She didn't ask what had happened, only watched as the brunette collapsed into silent sobs.
A raven-haired girl appeared near them and quickly took over Meiling's position, letting the ruby-eyed girl serve as a human barrier to protect the crying girl from anyone else's prying gaze.
For a while they sat in perfect silence, each of the three understanding more deeply than can be put into words. Finally Sakura broke the quiet.
"Why is it so hard? Don't we hate them enough?" she said, her voice quiet from her sobs.
Tomoyo stroked her hair lovingly, her eyes sweeping over her friend's frame. "Three years is not enough to get over someone you loved." Her quiet voice rang with truth.
"We never should have come," came the soft reply.
Tomoyo laughed lightly, using her hand to force Sakura's chin up. "We had to face them sometime Sakura. We decide once and for all whether our lives will include them."
Meiling's playful voice broke through the moment. "And here I was thinking we were just going to kick their butts."
The three erupted into giggles, completely unaware of the two sets of eyes watching them intently.
****
"I'm up," said Meiling unnecessarily as she smoothed the front of her red fighting costume anxiously. The white sleeves trailed the ground when she let her arms hang.
The two nodded and walked with her to the door on the south end. Sakura's stomach was filled with butterflies as she watched her friend repeat the same stretch she had used only moments before.
She couldn't get the board out of her memory. She knew that Meiling would most likely advance to the next bracket, but it was unlikely she would get farther. Though Meiling had become better over the three years, her cousin's skill had always gone untouched by her own.
The announcer's voice broke through her thoughts. He was announcing the first competitor. Sakura threw a glance out an open flap and saw him as a dark-haired man approached the stage. From his movement, he was obviously a seasoned martial arts competitor. He held the same quiet grace Jessin had possessed. Memory clicked into place and she realized she had seen him with Jessin earlier. The announcer bellowed his name- Yuran.
She glanced back at her ruby-eyed friend and was relieved to see her calculating gaze fixed on Yuran. At least she wasn't taking the competitor lightly.
A man's voice broke through the quiet, alerting Meiling it was her turn to enter. Giving Sakura and Tomoyo an assured smile, she threw the door open and stalked out.
The two friends raced for the flap, ignoring the men who jumped back to allow them passage. Sakura bit back a laugh when she realized Meiling had adopted her own stalk, though her hips weren't moving smoothly enough.
'I'll give her lessons later,' she joked absently.
When she reached the steps, the announcer greeted her with a charming smile, obviously pleased with her looks.
"Folks, I'd like you to welcome the first woman, Meiling Li, to grace our tournament in over fifty years!" The crowd was quiet for a moment before they broke into a reserved clap. They were unsure about this new arrival.
She chose to ignore this. Instead, she moved toward the center of the ring. Yuran followed her and the announcer quickly left the ring. The two bowed, their eyes never leaving the other. Slowly, they rose and took to their fighting stances.
Meiling attacked first, as Sakura had known she would. Yuran also seemed to know this. Immediately he raised his arm to deflect her blow. No sooner had the move been blocked than she swung her other arm around, aiming lower for his torso. He just managed to get his arm there in time, again blocking her. She disentangled her own arm the second his touched hers and swung around in a kick.
It was a risky move, as Yuran was in a perfect position to grab her leg and, at the very least, force her away, but he just barely managed to block it.
Meiling jumped back from him, throwing her body into a back flip. She landed, eyes narrowed on her opponent. She now knew his speed. Sakura knew she would use it to her advantage.
Yuran circled her, though he made no move to attack. He was waiting for her to do so. Even from the sidelines, Sakura knew he had a trick up his sleeve. Sakura could only pray Meiling wouldn't let her temper get the better of her and fall into his trap.
She thought her prayers had gone unanswered when she saw Meiling rush forward, growling angrily. Instead, the girl feinted a left punch, her eyes intent on Yuran. The ruby-eyed girl had obviously expected a trick.
Yuran tried to grab the girl's arm, but Meiling pulled it back too fast. He stopped shifting his weight when he realized no one was there to throw over his hip. Instead, he swung his foot as Eriol had done, knocking Meiling's out from under her.
She went down in a flurry of curses. Slapping the ground, she managed the roll forward, using the childish move to take Yuran down with her. He nearly landed on her, but managed to throw himself forward just in time. Instead he sailed over her, landing in a roll.
The two righted themselves quickly and began circling again, carefully ignoring the cheers that went through the crowd. They were enjoying the fight. Meiling, however, clearly was not. Sakura knew how frustrated the girl was.
This time Yuran lunged forward, feinting right. Meiling started to swing her arm to block it before stopping abruptly. Instead she swung her hand lower, blocking his real punch aimed from her torso. She grabbed his hand and twisted, knocking him off balance. Before he could recover, she sent him over her hip.
He landed in a heap dangerously close to the edge of the ring.
Jumping forward, Meiling rolled him off the side. He landed with a light thud on the soft mat.
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, proud of her friend.
The announcer now appeared at her side, grabbing her arm and announcing the winner. The cheers that went through the crowd resembled nothing of the reserved clapping they had greeted her with. The audience had already fallen in love.
The two friends waited anxiously at the door as Meiling walked down the trail deliberately. No sooner had she opened the door than the two jumped on her, engulfing her in a ferocious hug.
"Good job!" squealed Tomoyo, though Sakura remained calm.
She detached herself from the group, flashing a congratulatory smile toward Meiling. The girl's eyes, however, were not on her. They were staring at something behind her.
Before Sakura could turn, he spoke.
"Good job, cousin," he said simply. Sakura kept herself pointedly staring at Meiling. She didn't dare turn.
"What are you doing here?" asked Meiling, her voice flat. Sakura glanced at her quickly; she had expected anger.
Sakura could feel his gaze on her. Still she refused to look. "I'm fighting next," he said simply.
Then, without another word, he strode past them, standing in front of the door as he waited to be called forth.
Feeling rather suffocated, Sakura excused herself from them. "I'm going back to the tent for a moment. I'll be back in time for your match, Tomoyo."
Syaoran turned and stared at her, eyes showing pain. "You're not going to watch my match?"
Though part of her wanted to shrivel under his gaze, the other half was defiant. She carefully raised an eyebrow. "Is there some reason I should watch?"
Before he could respond, the same man who had told Meiling to go screamed at Syaoran. With one meaningful look, he opened the door and stepped out.
Tomoyo and Meiling watched her, eyes searching. She smiled shakily and, with another polite excuse, left for the tent.
****
She sat on the soft pillows, staring through the open flap and watching the garden. She pointedly stopped thinking about what was going on and let the sounds be her main focus. She heard the far-off shouts from the stadium and the closer buzzing of the bees.
Slowly her eyes began to droop and she realized how soft the pillows were.
'I'll just close my eyes for a while,' she told herself slowly, though her eyes had already shut.
The world slowly turned black.
****
"SAKURA!"
A loud shout broke through the dreamless fog and she began to sit up when rough hands grabbed her. Their shaking woke her fully. Her eyes flung open and were met with angry ruby.
"Sakura, you have about three minutes to get back to the ring or you forfeit your match," she cried, her voice harsh enough to make Sakura cringe. Then her words hit.
She threw herself from the pillows and bolted out of the tent, thinking of nothing but making it on time. People in the crowd threw her hostile looks and she did her best to leave a trail of apologies behind her. Just when she was afraid her lungs would collapse, the door to the practice ring came into view. Giving it one last burst of speed, she pelted through the door.
Many pairs of surprised eyes locked on her form, but she ignored them and instead strode to the southern door. A man was eyeing her impatiently. She mumbled an apology, but the look of scorn was steady on his lips.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Syaoran's anxious glance. She chose to ignore it.
'I missed Tomoyo's match,' she realized. Though she desperately wanted to know that her friend had won, the man was giving her the cue.
With one last breath, she opened the door and started her strut towards the ring.
****
Author's Note: Whew. That is easily the longest chapter I've ever done. It's 4540 words long. That's just crazy. So. You guys better enjoy. Please review and excuse the typos, lol. . . I finished this late and I've had a rough day. . . I don't really have the energy to go back and check it right now.