Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Author's Note: My school starts back on the 11th! How much does that stink? So yea, I've been busy with finishing-up-the-summer type things. That and Final Fantasy X. :D
But you guys don't want excuses, so here's the chapter. ^-^
'Tournament of my Heart'
Chapter Three: A Guard of Glass
****
With one step she caught the crowd's attention. Though they had already seen two women fight today, this one, with her chestnut hair and deep emerald eyes, stuck out like a black cat in a holy gathering. They watched her every move seemingly in a trance, such as the one the competitors had found themselves in just yesterday.
Though she was still slightly out of breath from her run, no one noticed excepting a small group of those who knew her best. Her hips rocked smoothly, just enough to make Meiling twinge with envy. A light smile tainted her lips as she recognized the crowd's reaction. She stepped carefully up the stairs, making not a sound with her soft slippers.
She reached the announcer, looking down her nose at him, though he towered over her. The corners of her lips twitched upwards, breaking the spell. The man stepped back, shaking his head and looking slightly embarrassed. With a fleeting look at Sakura, he turned and faced the crowd, opening his hands wide and proclaiming her name, attempting to break the eerie silence that had settled upon them.
"Let's greet her well folks! The third woman contestant we've seen today, Sakura Kinomoto!"
The crowd was silent, distrusting. Though they had been caught up in her spell only moments before, they now were weary. This match would be her trial; her prize would be their approval.
She cared naught for them. A picture of intense amber eyes framed in a handsome face appeared before her eyes. He was the reason she would win.
Ignoring the silence and pushing the picture away, she quickly crossed toward the middle of the ring. The crowd came to life as her opponent, Kyannaf, took his place across from her. It was obvious who the crowd preferred.
They bowed to each other, Sakura's eyes focusing on his legs. It was not her habit to strike first, but she needed to know what his reaction would be.
They straightened, and just before the bell could ring, she saw the telltale bunching of muscle. Fighting to keep her smile hidden, she adjusted her muscles, ready to spring to the left.
He moved quickly; quicker than she'd guessed he would. But it was no matter- he was still slower. She used her speed to dodge his first lunge easily. He looked a bit uncertain at her haste; she moved like a rabbit.
He regained his footing quickly, turning and facing her. She made no move to attack him; she would let him wear himself down first. There were, after all, two other fights she must save her strength for.
He was still eyeing her uncertainly, sizing her up she supposed. Her eyes strayed to his feet. He had those heavy boots she had seen men wearing lately. A single kick from him would send her sprawling.
They could also be a disadvantage, however. In her soft slippers, Sakura moved like a ghost-much faster than him. They fit her feet perfectly, while his boots were larger-making it easier for her to knock him off balance.
With a smile, she feinted forward, giving him time to jump back. As he jumped, she kept her eyes posted firmly on his shoes. As she had expected, he stumbled a bit.
He regained his footing and lunged forward, feinting right, attacking lower instead. Sakura dropped her arm to block the real punch. Twisting, she freed herself from his arm, grabbing his wrist in the same moment. She attempted to pull him forward, but he twisted out of her grip, sending her off balance.
She threw herself into a backwards flip, landing closer to the edge, steadying herself as she landed. He stopped, watching her. Neither made a move toward the other.
Smiling, Sakura realized he was getting smarter. He knew how close he was to going down moments before and would be more careful now. Though she hated warning someone to be more careful, she was thankful to have a tougher fight. Maybe now she wouldn't be so bored.
He threw himself forward finally and Sakura knew she would have to wait for a good match after all.
Instead of sidestepping as most would do, she planted her feet firmly, waiting for him to reach her. She heard a couple gasps from the crowd. Though his eyes showed surprise, he didn't falter in his charge.
His hands reached out in attempt to grab hold of her. Swinging her hands up quickly, she grasped his arm around the elbows. Holding them tightly, she raised a knee and drove it into his stomach, making plain she had aimed high enough for the move to be legal.
It was enough to knock the air out of him. For a second, he nearly collapsed in her arms. Her grip was the only thing holding him up. She pushed him from her grip and he backed up, falling as he fought to regain his balance.
Using the moment of uncertainty, she spun, her kick landing where her knee had been. He went flying across the ring, landing on the very edge in a crumpled heap. She slowly sauntered over to him, stopping just in front of him. He raised his eyes to hers, showing fear.
Leaning down, she whispered something to him.
"Do you know why you lost?"
When he continued to stare, she answered him, a smirk heavy on her lips. "Because you're a man."
Then, with a dainty foot, she rolled him off the side of the ring, enjoying the soft plop he made.
The crowd was still until someone's clapping broke the silence. Sakura caught the man's eye. It was Jessin. She gave him a light nod, one he returned, before she felt the announcer grabbing her arm.
Throwing it into the air, he exclaimed, "The winner of the match is Sakura Kinomoto!"
The audience erupted into applause, all memories of their uncertainty a distant dream. She, a stranger in their predictable world, was now their champion. She had gained their respect with just a few well-placed blows, just as Meiling had before her.
Though she had thought herself uncaring, she wondered whether Syaoran was among the clapping.
****
Despite how hurt he had been when she had not attended his match, he found he could not do the same to her. Quickly finding a seat in the crowd near Eriol, he settled in. His eyes had watched her, intent upon her every move from the beginning until the very end. He faintly remembered asking Eriol, baffled, where they had learned how to fight. His friend's answer had been sharp, reminding him they'd had three years to perfect the art.
'And three years of anger is more than enough to fuel someone,' he thought grimly, only, part of him was still surprised at how good she had been. Though he had spent most of his life learning martial arts, she looked as though she might give him a run for his money.
'Certainly enough to make it far,' he thought. But then again, Eriol had told him she would the night he'd decided they must enter the competition. At first Syaoran hadn't understood why entering a tournament would help, but he knew not to doubt Eriol's visions. So here they were.
Every part of him was screaming with pride when he saw her opponent land on the mat. In his heart, he still considered Sakura his. Her successes were as important as his own.
Yet before he could get to his feet to clap, someone else was clapping. His eyes narrowed on the figure at the same time Sakura's did. Noticing the gentle nods that passed between them, he realized they must have some sort of understanding. And now, instead of pride, his heart was filled with another emotion.
Jealousy.
When the crowd finally broke the silence and began clapping enthusiastically, Syaoran found himself leaving the stands and bolting towards the tent. He was just bursting through the curtain when Sakura stepped inside.
Immediately she was engulfed in the arms of her two friends, leaving Syaoran to watch from the corner. Though he desperately wanted to march up and shake her, demanding answers, he knew he couldn't mess this victory up for her. She would never forgive him.
He stood, watching her intently, enjoying the happiness that was on her face. It had been a long time since he had truly seen her happy. Whenever they were together, she always seemed so guarded. Which was why he was surprised when he heard his name.
Curiosity immediately taking him, he moved closer to the circle of friends, hiding behind a bulky fighter and straining his ears.
"-don't know if he was watching. He disappeared right after you left for the ring," said Meiling, her voice soft.
"I'm sure he was just going for a better seat," piped in Tomoyo quickly.
"Of course he didn't look for a seat, Tomoyo. He did the same thing I did to him; he left," said Sakura, her voice bitter, all traces of the happiness gone now. She added hastily, "But it doesn't matter. He'll find out soon enough I can fight."
Not wanting to be found, he stepped from behind the man. Try as he might, he couldn't keep the smile from his lips.
'Maybe she's trying to keep herself from caring, but at least she's finding it's harder than she thinks,' he thought, hope flowing through his body at the thought.
Hating that she was upset about his absence, he quietly approached her. Meiling and Tomoyo looked up before she did. Tomoyo's eyes were carefully blank while Meiling's were curious. When Sakura finally realized he was there, her eyes flashed with surprise before turning into a mild glare.
Tomoyo and Meiling shared a discreet glance before jumping up and excusing themselves. He caught Sakura glaring at their fleeting forms before refocusing on him.
Moving slowly, he approached the bench she was seated on. He didn't sit; he was too afraid he would scare her away.
"You did well," he said simply.
Her eyes didn't give away anything.
"In your match, I mean. You fought well," he said, stuttering slightly underneath her intense gaze.
This time she nodded curtly. "Thank you."
"I watched the whole thing."
She raised an eyebrow. "Good to know," she said, her voice tinted lightly with sarcasm. If Syaoran hadn't heard her earlier conversation, he would've been wounded. Instead, he moved to sit next to her, praying she wouldn't bolt for the door.
"Did Yue teach you?" he asked, eyeing her carefully. She looked as though she was ready to run.
She nodded, her expression hard for him to read.
"And that evil ball of fluff? Did he help?" he asked, his voice carrying the light joke softly.
To his amazement, she let out a quiet laugh and her eyes softened. "You never did like Kero, Syaoran."
"The stuffed animal never liked me!" he broke out, letting the familiarity of the argument take over. The second after he said it, he regretted it. He had spoken far too loudly-she would think he was angry. He longed to hit himself for scaring her away. Her laugh, a sweet trickling sound, broke through his thoughts. He looked up, even more amazed than before.
His eyes locked onto her deep emerald ones, welcomed by the warmth that was in them. Underneath it, he detected strong untrust. Pushing through this startling layer, he found an abundant emotion. Though it might take many people long to recognize it, he was used to searching for it. Since fourth grade, he had been searching for it. And here it was-the love he thought he'd never see again.
She blinked, causing the connection to break. Syaoran stifled the urge to shake his head, dizzy in a way only she could make him.
He realized slowly that she was standing.
Moments before he had been terrified that he would scare her off. Fear gripped him and he lunged out, grabbing her hand, enjoying the familiar tingles of happiness that strayed up his arm. Their hands seemed to recognize each other's.
Sakura stopped in her tracks, staring down at their interlocked hands with confusion. Using the moment of confusion, he pulled her closer to him. Though his hands ached for the familiarity of her waist, he didn't want her to feel caged in. Instead, he placed his free hand underneath her chin, tilting her head back until she was looking at him.
He noticed that she was avoiding his eyes. A sharp pain filled his heart, but he ignored it, enjoying the simple happiness touching her brought him.
He realized he should say something-anything-before the trance broke. He looked inside himself for a speech, something to convince her, but didn't find it. Instead his heart supplied the only thing that could be said at a moment like this.
"I love you, Sakura."
He watched as the words broke into her mind-saw the way her eyes widened with fear. He felt her body shaking as she pulled her hand from his. She turned on her heel and raced out the door.
Syaoran watched her go, ignoring the gaping men around him. Eriol appeared from behind him, clapping him on the back.
With a silent understanding between them, they left the tent.
****
Sakura didn't know where she was going. She found herself running through the crowds, ignoring the looks. She realized, faintly, she was always ignoring someone's looks.
'Why does he always do this to me?' she asked herself, her mind's voice heavy with bitterness. 'Why must I keep letting him in? I'm just giving him a chance to hurt me.'
'He's not hurting you,' answered part of her brain. She scowled, resenting this voice-the voice that always appeared when she didn't want it to. Still, it went on.
'You're hurting yourself.'
The words made her stop dead in her tracks. A man walking through the crowd just barely managed to sidestep her, avoiding collision. He cast her a deadly scowl before passing her. She hardly noticed-she was too busy trying to deny the truth in the statement.
'He said he loved me-he'd only do that to hurt me,' she reasoned. The voice didn't bother answering-it was too weak of an argument anyway. She knew the voice was never wrong. She was indeed the only one hurting herself.
But was she hurting herself by putting herself so close to him? Or was it because she was ignoring her heart?
She didn't want the answer.
Instead, she picked up her pace again, now passing through the crowds on her way to the tent. She pumped her legs harder than before, concentrating on the feeling of running.
The wind in her hair, the freedom of her heart, the surroundings passing by in a blur-they were her medicine. No matter what happened to her, she could run.
A realization shook her concentration. Though she had easily kept her guard up whilst fighting a man twice her size and weight, one touch of his could punch through her guard like a rock through glass.
She pushed it away, desperately clinging to the enjoyment running gave her. This time she succeeded in going uninterrupted.
When she finally reached the tent, her breath was coming hard. She stopped to regain her breath before she entered the tent.
Meiling was waiting for her, her eyes quickly scanning her friend's face. Sakura watched as her friend jumped up and pulled her down onto the cushions, easily knowing something was wrong. She didn't ask what had happened-she would wait to see if Sakura would tell her.
Sakura kept her mouth shut, letting herself relax against the soft cushions for a while. Meiling would be contented in finding out later.
They sat in friendly silence until Sakura realized someone was missing. Sitting bolt upright, she turned to Meiling.
"Where's Tomoyo?"
Meiling shifted her eyes to the door of the tent, obviously uncomfortable. Sakura's heartbeat quickened; something was wrong. She stifled the urge to shake the answer from her ruby-eyed friend.
"Meiling? Tell me where she is," she demanded.
But Meiling wouldn't answer. She mumbled something about telling her later and try as she might, Sakura could get no more from her.
Though her anxiety was heavy for her friend, her body was tired. She would be fighting in less than four hours; she needed her rest. She spared a glance at her friend, who had resumed her spot amongst the soft cushions. Meiling would be facing Syaoran; she needed every ounce of her strength.
Yue appeared in the entrance of the tent, walking with a silence only a moon guardian could carry. His voice was quiet and soothing, but full of seriousness.
"You two must sleep; your bodies need the rest. I will wake you in time for your matches," he said simply. His gaze lingered on Meiling as he continued. "You will be fighting your cousin. I believe you know the strategy you should use better than I do."
She nodded grimly, staring at the top of the tent instead of them. Yue accepted this answer and turned instead to Sakura. "You're fighting a man named Anker-he's little more than muscles," he said, his voice full of disgust.
Sakura nodded, watching as her guardian's eyes again swept over Meiling. For perhaps the millionth time, she wondered what Yue was thinking. This time, however, was no different. She received no answer and he left, presumably to stand guard outside.
After watching Meiling fall asleep, Sakura felt herself drifting out of consciousness. Soon she found herself in a heavy, dreamless sleep. She didn't even hear Tomoyo enter the tent.
**** [Bleh. I'd like to end it here, but I need to get a few more matches in.]
True to his word, Yue woke them in time to arrive at the matches. Meiling was told her match would be toward the end of the second seeds and Sakura instantly felt pity for her friend. Just one look at her friend told Sakura how nervous she was.
She soon was informed of Tomoyo's match-how she had easily beaten her first opponent. Sakura apologized so many times that Meiling finally had to threaten her just for the silence.
In all her anxiety for her friend, Tomoyo's absence was forgotten.
Time passed and Tomoyo took the ring. Sakura and Meiling watched as their friend approached it. She gave the crowd her usual charming smile and they instantly responded with approval, the women chatting about how sweet she seemed, the men going starry-eyed.
Sakura watched her friend flawlessly execute her moves, calm and gentle but leaving no room for her opponent to win. In no time, the man was flying over the side of the ring.
Sakura's fight came and went, with the same effect-the man tried his strength on her and she used her speed to counter it. In a time that seemed far too short to be true, Meiling was warming up, waiting to be called for her match.
This time she was called to enter from the opposite end of the field. Sakura and Tomoyo walked with her to the other side, never giving Syaoran a second glance as they left the tent.
Once she reached the door, a man was calling her cue. She ignored him, hugging Tomoyo first and Sakura second.
Sakura had to strain her ears to hear Meiling's whisper. "I won't steal this victory from you, Sakura."
She jumped back in surprise, speaking over the man's attempts to get their attention. "You must try your hardest, Meiling. He hurt you too."
Though Meiling's ruby eyes showed doubt, she nodded before finally heeding the man's yells. Turning briskly, she threw open the door and started down the pathway.
Sakura listened to the crowd's calls, happy her friend had won them over so easily, before grabbing Tomoyo's arm. Together, the two raced for the stadium seats, hoping to find a better seat.
****
Author's Note 2: I know, I know. I meant to put Meiling and Syaoran's match in this chapter, but it's late and if I'm going to get a chance to update this today, it must be now. Sorry guys! Don't worry, the next update should come sooner. This one was held off by the ending of summer and the beginning of school. . . not to mention I had to move all my files to this computer. But enough excuses. Tell me how you liked it.
Author's Note: My school starts back on the 11th! How much does that stink? So yea, I've been busy with finishing-up-the-summer type things. That and Final Fantasy X. :D
But you guys don't want excuses, so here's the chapter. ^-^
'Tournament of my Heart'
Chapter Three: A Guard of Glass
****
With one step she caught the crowd's attention. Though they had already seen two women fight today, this one, with her chestnut hair and deep emerald eyes, stuck out like a black cat in a holy gathering. They watched her every move seemingly in a trance, such as the one the competitors had found themselves in just yesterday.
Though she was still slightly out of breath from her run, no one noticed excepting a small group of those who knew her best. Her hips rocked smoothly, just enough to make Meiling twinge with envy. A light smile tainted her lips as she recognized the crowd's reaction. She stepped carefully up the stairs, making not a sound with her soft slippers.
She reached the announcer, looking down her nose at him, though he towered over her. The corners of her lips twitched upwards, breaking the spell. The man stepped back, shaking his head and looking slightly embarrassed. With a fleeting look at Sakura, he turned and faced the crowd, opening his hands wide and proclaiming her name, attempting to break the eerie silence that had settled upon them.
"Let's greet her well folks! The third woman contestant we've seen today, Sakura Kinomoto!"
The crowd was silent, distrusting. Though they had been caught up in her spell only moments before, they now were weary. This match would be her trial; her prize would be their approval.
She cared naught for them. A picture of intense amber eyes framed in a handsome face appeared before her eyes. He was the reason she would win.
Ignoring the silence and pushing the picture away, she quickly crossed toward the middle of the ring. The crowd came to life as her opponent, Kyannaf, took his place across from her. It was obvious who the crowd preferred.
They bowed to each other, Sakura's eyes focusing on his legs. It was not her habit to strike first, but she needed to know what his reaction would be.
They straightened, and just before the bell could ring, she saw the telltale bunching of muscle. Fighting to keep her smile hidden, she adjusted her muscles, ready to spring to the left.
He moved quickly; quicker than she'd guessed he would. But it was no matter- he was still slower. She used her speed to dodge his first lunge easily. He looked a bit uncertain at her haste; she moved like a rabbit.
He regained his footing quickly, turning and facing her. She made no move to attack him; she would let him wear himself down first. There were, after all, two other fights she must save her strength for.
He was still eyeing her uncertainly, sizing her up she supposed. Her eyes strayed to his feet. He had those heavy boots she had seen men wearing lately. A single kick from him would send her sprawling.
They could also be a disadvantage, however. In her soft slippers, Sakura moved like a ghost-much faster than him. They fit her feet perfectly, while his boots were larger-making it easier for her to knock him off balance.
With a smile, she feinted forward, giving him time to jump back. As he jumped, she kept her eyes posted firmly on his shoes. As she had expected, he stumbled a bit.
He regained his footing and lunged forward, feinting right, attacking lower instead. Sakura dropped her arm to block the real punch. Twisting, she freed herself from his arm, grabbing his wrist in the same moment. She attempted to pull him forward, but he twisted out of her grip, sending her off balance.
She threw herself into a backwards flip, landing closer to the edge, steadying herself as she landed. He stopped, watching her. Neither made a move toward the other.
Smiling, Sakura realized he was getting smarter. He knew how close he was to going down moments before and would be more careful now. Though she hated warning someone to be more careful, she was thankful to have a tougher fight. Maybe now she wouldn't be so bored.
He threw himself forward finally and Sakura knew she would have to wait for a good match after all.
Instead of sidestepping as most would do, she planted her feet firmly, waiting for him to reach her. She heard a couple gasps from the crowd. Though his eyes showed surprise, he didn't falter in his charge.
His hands reached out in attempt to grab hold of her. Swinging her hands up quickly, she grasped his arm around the elbows. Holding them tightly, she raised a knee and drove it into his stomach, making plain she had aimed high enough for the move to be legal.
It was enough to knock the air out of him. For a second, he nearly collapsed in her arms. Her grip was the only thing holding him up. She pushed him from her grip and he backed up, falling as he fought to regain his balance.
Using the moment of uncertainty, she spun, her kick landing where her knee had been. He went flying across the ring, landing on the very edge in a crumpled heap. She slowly sauntered over to him, stopping just in front of him. He raised his eyes to hers, showing fear.
Leaning down, she whispered something to him.
"Do you know why you lost?"
When he continued to stare, she answered him, a smirk heavy on her lips. "Because you're a man."
Then, with a dainty foot, she rolled him off the side of the ring, enjoying the soft plop he made.
The crowd was still until someone's clapping broke the silence. Sakura caught the man's eye. It was Jessin. She gave him a light nod, one he returned, before she felt the announcer grabbing her arm.
Throwing it into the air, he exclaimed, "The winner of the match is Sakura Kinomoto!"
The audience erupted into applause, all memories of their uncertainty a distant dream. She, a stranger in their predictable world, was now their champion. She had gained their respect with just a few well-placed blows, just as Meiling had before her.
Though she had thought herself uncaring, she wondered whether Syaoran was among the clapping.
****
Despite how hurt he had been when she had not attended his match, he found he could not do the same to her. Quickly finding a seat in the crowd near Eriol, he settled in. His eyes had watched her, intent upon her every move from the beginning until the very end. He faintly remembered asking Eriol, baffled, where they had learned how to fight. His friend's answer had been sharp, reminding him they'd had three years to perfect the art.
'And three years of anger is more than enough to fuel someone,' he thought grimly, only, part of him was still surprised at how good she had been. Though he had spent most of his life learning martial arts, she looked as though she might give him a run for his money.
'Certainly enough to make it far,' he thought. But then again, Eriol had told him she would the night he'd decided they must enter the competition. At first Syaoran hadn't understood why entering a tournament would help, but he knew not to doubt Eriol's visions. So here they were.
Every part of him was screaming with pride when he saw her opponent land on the mat. In his heart, he still considered Sakura his. Her successes were as important as his own.
Yet before he could get to his feet to clap, someone else was clapping. His eyes narrowed on the figure at the same time Sakura's did. Noticing the gentle nods that passed between them, he realized they must have some sort of understanding. And now, instead of pride, his heart was filled with another emotion.
Jealousy.
When the crowd finally broke the silence and began clapping enthusiastically, Syaoran found himself leaving the stands and bolting towards the tent. He was just bursting through the curtain when Sakura stepped inside.
Immediately she was engulfed in the arms of her two friends, leaving Syaoran to watch from the corner. Though he desperately wanted to march up and shake her, demanding answers, he knew he couldn't mess this victory up for her. She would never forgive him.
He stood, watching her intently, enjoying the happiness that was on her face. It had been a long time since he had truly seen her happy. Whenever they were together, she always seemed so guarded. Which was why he was surprised when he heard his name.
Curiosity immediately taking him, he moved closer to the circle of friends, hiding behind a bulky fighter and straining his ears.
"-don't know if he was watching. He disappeared right after you left for the ring," said Meiling, her voice soft.
"I'm sure he was just going for a better seat," piped in Tomoyo quickly.
"Of course he didn't look for a seat, Tomoyo. He did the same thing I did to him; he left," said Sakura, her voice bitter, all traces of the happiness gone now. She added hastily, "But it doesn't matter. He'll find out soon enough I can fight."
Not wanting to be found, he stepped from behind the man. Try as he might, he couldn't keep the smile from his lips.
'Maybe she's trying to keep herself from caring, but at least she's finding it's harder than she thinks,' he thought, hope flowing through his body at the thought.
Hating that she was upset about his absence, he quietly approached her. Meiling and Tomoyo looked up before she did. Tomoyo's eyes were carefully blank while Meiling's were curious. When Sakura finally realized he was there, her eyes flashed with surprise before turning into a mild glare.
Tomoyo and Meiling shared a discreet glance before jumping up and excusing themselves. He caught Sakura glaring at their fleeting forms before refocusing on him.
Moving slowly, he approached the bench she was seated on. He didn't sit; he was too afraid he would scare her away.
"You did well," he said simply.
Her eyes didn't give away anything.
"In your match, I mean. You fought well," he said, stuttering slightly underneath her intense gaze.
This time she nodded curtly. "Thank you."
"I watched the whole thing."
She raised an eyebrow. "Good to know," she said, her voice tinted lightly with sarcasm. If Syaoran hadn't heard her earlier conversation, he would've been wounded. Instead, he moved to sit next to her, praying she wouldn't bolt for the door.
"Did Yue teach you?" he asked, eyeing her carefully. She looked as though she was ready to run.
She nodded, her expression hard for him to read.
"And that evil ball of fluff? Did he help?" he asked, his voice carrying the light joke softly.
To his amazement, she let out a quiet laugh and her eyes softened. "You never did like Kero, Syaoran."
"The stuffed animal never liked me!" he broke out, letting the familiarity of the argument take over. The second after he said it, he regretted it. He had spoken far too loudly-she would think he was angry. He longed to hit himself for scaring her away. Her laugh, a sweet trickling sound, broke through his thoughts. He looked up, even more amazed than before.
His eyes locked onto her deep emerald ones, welcomed by the warmth that was in them. Underneath it, he detected strong untrust. Pushing through this startling layer, he found an abundant emotion. Though it might take many people long to recognize it, he was used to searching for it. Since fourth grade, he had been searching for it. And here it was-the love he thought he'd never see again.
She blinked, causing the connection to break. Syaoran stifled the urge to shake his head, dizzy in a way only she could make him.
He realized slowly that she was standing.
Moments before he had been terrified that he would scare her off. Fear gripped him and he lunged out, grabbing her hand, enjoying the familiar tingles of happiness that strayed up his arm. Their hands seemed to recognize each other's.
Sakura stopped in her tracks, staring down at their interlocked hands with confusion. Using the moment of confusion, he pulled her closer to him. Though his hands ached for the familiarity of her waist, he didn't want her to feel caged in. Instead, he placed his free hand underneath her chin, tilting her head back until she was looking at him.
He noticed that she was avoiding his eyes. A sharp pain filled his heart, but he ignored it, enjoying the simple happiness touching her brought him.
He realized he should say something-anything-before the trance broke. He looked inside himself for a speech, something to convince her, but didn't find it. Instead his heart supplied the only thing that could be said at a moment like this.
"I love you, Sakura."
He watched as the words broke into her mind-saw the way her eyes widened with fear. He felt her body shaking as she pulled her hand from his. She turned on her heel and raced out the door.
Syaoran watched her go, ignoring the gaping men around him. Eriol appeared from behind him, clapping him on the back.
With a silent understanding between them, they left the tent.
****
Sakura didn't know where she was going. She found herself running through the crowds, ignoring the looks. She realized, faintly, she was always ignoring someone's looks.
'Why does he always do this to me?' she asked herself, her mind's voice heavy with bitterness. 'Why must I keep letting him in? I'm just giving him a chance to hurt me.'
'He's not hurting you,' answered part of her brain. She scowled, resenting this voice-the voice that always appeared when she didn't want it to. Still, it went on.
'You're hurting yourself.'
The words made her stop dead in her tracks. A man walking through the crowd just barely managed to sidestep her, avoiding collision. He cast her a deadly scowl before passing her. She hardly noticed-she was too busy trying to deny the truth in the statement.
'He said he loved me-he'd only do that to hurt me,' she reasoned. The voice didn't bother answering-it was too weak of an argument anyway. She knew the voice was never wrong. She was indeed the only one hurting herself.
But was she hurting herself by putting herself so close to him? Or was it because she was ignoring her heart?
She didn't want the answer.
Instead, she picked up her pace again, now passing through the crowds on her way to the tent. She pumped her legs harder than before, concentrating on the feeling of running.
The wind in her hair, the freedom of her heart, the surroundings passing by in a blur-they were her medicine. No matter what happened to her, she could run.
A realization shook her concentration. Though she had easily kept her guard up whilst fighting a man twice her size and weight, one touch of his could punch through her guard like a rock through glass.
She pushed it away, desperately clinging to the enjoyment running gave her. This time she succeeded in going uninterrupted.
When she finally reached the tent, her breath was coming hard. She stopped to regain her breath before she entered the tent.
Meiling was waiting for her, her eyes quickly scanning her friend's face. Sakura watched as her friend jumped up and pulled her down onto the cushions, easily knowing something was wrong. She didn't ask what had happened-she would wait to see if Sakura would tell her.
Sakura kept her mouth shut, letting herself relax against the soft cushions for a while. Meiling would be contented in finding out later.
They sat in friendly silence until Sakura realized someone was missing. Sitting bolt upright, she turned to Meiling.
"Where's Tomoyo?"
Meiling shifted her eyes to the door of the tent, obviously uncomfortable. Sakura's heartbeat quickened; something was wrong. She stifled the urge to shake the answer from her ruby-eyed friend.
"Meiling? Tell me where she is," she demanded.
But Meiling wouldn't answer. She mumbled something about telling her later and try as she might, Sakura could get no more from her.
Though her anxiety was heavy for her friend, her body was tired. She would be fighting in less than four hours; she needed her rest. She spared a glance at her friend, who had resumed her spot amongst the soft cushions. Meiling would be facing Syaoran; she needed every ounce of her strength.
Yue appeared in the entrance of the tent, walking with a silence only a moon guardian could carry. His voice was quiet and soothing, but full of seriousness.
"You two must sleep; your bodies need the rest. I will wake you in time for your matches," he said simply. His gaze lingered on Meiling as he continued. "You will be fighting your cousin. I believe you know the strategy you should use better than I do."
She nodded grimly, staring at the top of the tent instead of them. Yue accepted this answer and turned instead to Sakura. "You're fighting a man named Anker-he's little more than muscles," he said, his voice full of disgust.
Sakura nodded, watching as her guardian's eyes again swept over Meiling. For perhaps the millionth time, she wondered what Yue was thinking. This time, however, was no different. She received no answer and he left, presumably to stand guard outside.
After watching Meiling fall asleep, Sakura felt herself drifting out of consciousness. Soon she found herself in a heavy, dreamless sleep. She didn't even hear Tomoyo enter the tent.
**** [Bleh. I'd like to end it here, but I need to get a few more matches in.]
True to his word, Yue woke them in time to arrive at the matches. Meiling was told her match would be toward the end of the second seeds and Sakura instantly felt pity for her friend. Just one look at her friend told Sakura how nervous she was.
She soon was informed of Tomoyo's match-how she had easily beaten her first opponent. Sakura apologized so many times that Meiling finally had to threaten her just for the silence.
In all her anxiety for her friend, Tomoyo's absence was forgotten.
Time passed and Tomoyo took the ring. Sakura and Meiling watched as their friend approached it. She gave the crowd her usual charming smile and they instantly responded with approval, the women chatting about how sweet she seemed, the men going starry-eyed.
Sakura watched her friend flawlessly execute her moves, calm and gentle but leaving no room for her opponent to win. In no time, the man was flying over the side of the ring.
Sakura's fight came and went, with the same effect-the man tried his strength on her and she used her speed to counter it. In a time that seemed far too short to be true, Meiling was warming up, waiting to be called for her match.
This time she was called to enter from the opposite end of the field. Sakura and Tomoyo walked with her to the other side, never giving Syaoran a second glance as they left the tent.
Once she reached the door, a man was calling her cue. She ignored him, hugging Tomoyo first and Sakura second.
Sakura had to strain her ears to hear Meiling's whisper. "I won't steal this victory from you, Sakura."
She jumped back in surprise, speaking over the man's attempts to get their attention. "You must try your hardest, Meiling. He hurt you too."
Though Meiling's ruby eyes showed doubt, she nodded before finally heeding the man's yells. Turning briskly, she threw open the door and started down the pathway.
Sakura listened to the crowd's calls, happy her friend had won them over so easily, before grabbing Tomoyo's arm. Together, the two raced for the stadium seats, hoping to find a better seat.
****
Author's Note 2: I know, I know. I meant to put Meiling and Syaoran's match in this chapter, but it's late and if I'm going to get a chance to update this today, it must be now. Sorry guys! Don't worry, the next update should come sooner. This one was held off by the ending of summer and the beginning of school. . . not to mention I had to move all my files to this computer. But enough excuses. Tell me how you liked it.