Morning minna. Well actually it's Konichiwa. Everyone probably despises me right about now. I know sniff, I hate myself too. Poor Sakura, poor Syaoran. Poor everyone. What if he is dead??? I don't know what happens. (M: Liar.)
Well *sniff* everyone *sniff* read and *sniff* review. (M: Need a tissue?)
***
A steady beeping sound echoed off the walls of the small white room as the sun's bright rays seeped through the curtains. It's gentle heat felt like a blazing fire to the person who lay on the white bed. The room was warm and welcoming, but the figure on the bed felt nothing but emptiness.
'I don't want to wake up.' The sun continued to soak into the room as the persons face became more visible. 'If I don't wake up, then none of it will be real.'
The beeping became clearer as the patient opened her eyes ever so slightly. The entire room was white. The only thing that stood out was the vase of flowers near the window. Everything else was bleak.
The beeping sound was coming from a machine next to her. She looked over as it beeped again. It was monitoring her heart rate and blood pressure, recording her life.
So she was alive, so what?
Looking down at her hand she saw a thin tube that lead to a drip bag. It was filled with a clear liquid.
Her arm had another tube that was red. It lead to a bag full of blood, marked 'A'
She felt so weak. So tired. Her mind raced through the events that had taken place. She couldn't remember how she got here. She didn't even remember falling unconscious again. She could only remember those heartbreaking words that would haunt her for the rest of her life.
'He's gone'
How cruel could fate be? It had taken away her reason to live. Taken away the reason she woke up every day and fought for the people of the world. This was all a spiteful joke. A game. Fate was toying with her by taking away her little wolf.
"Sakura?" A gentle voice whispered from beside her. She turned her head slowly; cautious of the tiny tubes connected to her nose.
Sitting in the chair was Tomoyo. Her eyes were puffy from all the crying she'd done. Her face was pale, and it was obvious to see that she hadn't slept all of half an hour. Sakura tried to talk but her friend stopped her.
"Don't try and talk. You have to conserve your energy." Sakura just nodded and looked at her friend seriously.
She felt numb. She couldn't feel anything. Her body was so stiff. Why did they let her live? Why did they bring her back to this torturous place that mocked her?
Her thoughts were interrupted by more voices. All familiar, all holding concern and relief. Were they relieved that she was awake? Why? Didn't they realize that she had no purpose anymore? She didn't belong here anymore.
"Sakura, thank Kami-sama you're awake." It was Kero. He stood next to the bed in his human form. She looked at him gently. "I'll go get a doctor."
Sakura grabbed his arm, shaking her head slowly. She wanted him to stay; He might be the only one who could understand her loss. He'd lost Clow so long ago.
"How are you feeling?" Another voice asked in a whisper. Meilin. She stood next to Kero, accompanied by Fu and Jin.
Sakura closed her eyes and tried to explain what she felt without speaking. Her hands made a small motion to express that she was ok.
'How do you really feel Sakura?' A voice echoed in her mind and she lifted her head to see Eriol. He had tapped into her mind with magic and was speaking to her quietly.
'I feel like I' m being shredded into pieces.' She answered and tears formed in her beautiful emerald eyes.
"Sakura don't cry." Tomoyo came closer to her friend. "It's going to be ok."
Sakura shook her head a little too violently. Pain rushed through her head. No, everything wasn't going to be ok. The man of her dreams was dead. She couldn't go on knowing that she would be alone.
"Guys, I think we need to tell her what happened after she collapsed." Fu said quietly. The others looked at him.
"Are you sure?" Kero said. "I really think we should get a doctor."
Sakura shook her head again. She didn't want a doctor. She wanted answers. Now
'Tell me what happened, I deserve to know.' She hissed. She wasn't in the mood to be treated like a porcelain doll. Her gaze was focused on Eriol.
Eriol nodded and walked over to a spare chair. He pulled it close and started to tell her what happened.
"Sakura, right now you're in the intensive care unit. It's been three days since the accident."
He stopped. He thought back to how it all happened. How he'd manipulated the hospital staff to let them all be in the room.
"Sakura, you have to stay calm after I tell you this." He said slowly. How would she react?
She nodded slowly, unsure of what he was talking about. He took a deep breath and looked at her straight in the eyes.
"Sakura, Li-kun is alive."
#Flashback#
"It's impossible" Fu had cried out as he looked at what Yue held in his arms.
"It's not impossible. I'm seeing it with my own eyes. Yue, how?" Kero had said looking at his fellow guardian with shock and disbelief.
"It was difficult. Days ago I felt a powerful aura forming. I flew here yesterday, got here just in time." He looked down at the cargo in his arms. "The barrier was weaker to the other side. The moon at its brightest made my powers stronger."
Everyone stared at him for a moment before Meilin ran to him looking at the limp body in Yue's arms.
"Is he dead?" Her voice was less than a whisper and it took Yue a minute to comprehend what she said.
"No, he's alive but he doesn't have much time. The wounds are deep and he is unconscious." Everyone looked at the body. The boy with messy brown hair was seriously hurt. Cuts were scattered all over his arms and chest. His shirt was shredded, and his skin was starting to burn from the slight venom marks.
The great Syaoran Li laid deadly still in the guardian's arms. His body close to lifelessness. His breathing barely visible.
"We have to get moving. They'll both die in front of us if we don't get to that ambulance." Fu said. He'd never seen something to horrible. His best friend could die at any minute, and his newest friend along with him.
Both guardians moved towards the road, the others following. Their master's bodies were carried carefully, as they made their way closer to the festival area.
"Yue, how did you get to him in time?" Eriol asked. He was as perplexed as everyone else. It had been impossible for himself and Kero to get through. How could Yue get to him?
"The barrier the attacker used was to keep you and Keroberus away from the master. She did not intend on anyone else interrupting her. The barrier was much weaker to the north, and I found a suitable entrance. The blast was mere seconds away from him when I got him out."
"That explains how beaten up he is. You saved him from getting killed, but the pressure from the venom and the explosion still got him." Kero, Yue and Eriol were all walking in front. The others walking a little slower.
"He doesn't have much time."
#End of flashback#
Sakura's eyes went wide. There was a chance. He was alive. Yue, he'd saved him. He wasn't dead. He hadn't left her.
She tried to talk, but pain cut through her throat. She winced as she remembered. She wasn't supposed to talk. It felt so uncomfortable. She wanted to ask questions. Wanted to know if he was alright. She wanted to know what had happened.
"Sakura, are you ok? Do you want us to stop?" Tomoyo asked gently. Sakura shook her head slowly. Her eyes begging for them to continue.
It was Kero who continued the story.
"We got closer to the ambulance, me and Yue changed into human form. Yukito carried the gak-Li and I carried you. Both of you were very weak. When we got there, your heart stopped. Y-you almost died Sakura." He hid his pain well. They'd almost lost her.
"They brought you back and they checked on Li. He was unconscious and he's in a coma." He stopped talking and watched Sakura's eyes go wide. "They say that he can wake up any time he wants. He just has to want to."
"We weren't allowed to go in the ambulance with the two of you, but they told us that your heart stopped again, and it was harder to bring you back the second time. Both of you were sent into surgery and they did blood transfusions."
"They don't know how it happened. The burn shouldn't have caused you to flat line. They told us that it might have been lack of oxygen, but Eriol thinks it was magical." Meilin said, as Kero composed himself.
Sakura listened calmly. She'd almost died three times in one night. Syaoran was in a coma. He could wake up at any minute. He could be up right now or he could never wake up.
Her eyes scanned the room, urgently. Her friends had relief in theirs.
She was alive, and now she was fully conscious, not completely out of danger, but it was a much better sign.
Looking over to the calendar on the bedside, she noticed three days had passed. She'd been out for three days.
She looked away.
She was awake now and all that mattered was her little wolf.
Something suddenly caught her attention.
She wasn't the only patient in the room.
There was someone else across from her. Someone she hadn't noticed.
'Oh Kami-sama.' Her mind whispered.
She tried to get up as best she could. She needed to be sure, needed to make sure it was true. That it wasn't a figment of her imagination.
"Sakura, no! You have to rest." Tomoyo said, watching her friend's attempts.
She brushed her off, pulling the pads of the cardiac monitor off her chest and taking the clip off her finger.
The alarm sounded, signaling to the nurse's station that their patient had flat lined again.
Sakura ignored it, slowly moving herself to the side of the bed, swinging her feet over the edge.
The tube in her nose was connected to a small contraption at the bottom of the drip.
It was all connected to a long pole that could be pushed along.
She tried to stand up, immediately feeling dizzy, and sitting back down. She ignored the hands that tried to put her back to bed. She didn't want their help. This was something she had to do.
She got out of bed, shoving Kero and Eriol aside with the post as they tried to calm her down. She could barely walk, but she held onto the staff for support as she made it across the room. The others no longer fought her. She wasn't going to let them get in her way.
Doctors came crashing into the room, frantic, thinking that one of their famous patients had gone into cardiac arrest, closely followed by a nurse, pushing the large defibrillator (M: thing that goes 'Zap' and starts your heart again.) infront of them.
Sakura looked at the doctors, swaying on her feet as she did so.
Muttering, the nurse wheeled the defibrillator back out of the room.
Tomoyo and Meilin immediately moved to her side. Supporting her as she faltered slightly.
"I'm not going back to bed." She said, defiantly, taking another step towards he little wolf.
Much to her surprise, the doctor began to laugh.
"You think that's funny?" she asked, slightly outraged.
"They said you were going to be a handful," he replied, wiping a tear from his eye.
"I owe that young man $20," he says, pointing to Eriol.
Sakura shot Eriol a glare as he shrugged.
"You sure you wont go back to bed?" he asked, she turned to him and nodded.
"Ok." Everyone looked at him in surprise. This wasn't the reaction they were expecting. "But, you have to promise me that as soon as you get tired you'll let us put you back to bed."
Sakura nodded again, surprised that she had won so easily, yet knowing that once she was at his side, nothing would tear her away from Syaoran.
Tomoyo and Meilin began to help her cross the room. Making sure none of the boys saw her back or underwear. (Don't you just hate the hospital gowns? I always get the ones that have only one strap, so you have to go around making sure no one looks at you.)(M: yes they're absolutely terrible.)
The doctor turned off the alarm on the cardiac machine and left quietly, leaving the group of friends to their accord. He was sure that they'd alert him if something went wrong, and she'd been stable the past few days, so he wasn't too worried about the cardiac monitor.
Sakura was so close. Her two friends helped her closer to the patient's bed as she looked down at the still form. A respirator was helping him breath.
'Xiao Lang?' She whispered in her mind as she stroked his unruly hair with her free hand. (They always put everything on one arm, well that's what they do to me.)
He was so pale. His usual tan color was now a deathly white. He had little bandages over his cheeks and chin. One of his eyes was covered with a patch.
Tears fell down her cheeks. Her poor warrior. He wasn't supposed to look like this. He looked so helpless. Her Syaoran was strong and courageous.
'Please wake up. Don't leave me.' She pleaded as she sat down next to his bed in the chair Kero grabbed for her. Her free hand moved down to his. She intertwined their fingers and gently kissed his knuckles, careful of all the tubing.
The others looked on from the other side of the room. She had gone to him. She'd be at his side even if she was no better off.
'Please wake up.'
With that she laid her head in his lap and cried quietly.
***
Violent screams echoed through the chambers once again. Days of endless pleas and agonizing wail. A figure listened attentively to each sound, the darkness surrounding the entire room.
A sigh escaped the figures lips as she watched the flickering flames of the candles at the far side of the room.
"He'll never stop. Just like the rabbit." Nisha said softly. Her eyes no longer held that innocent silver. They where piercing and dark. Her wings were black like her soul and she wandered through the small dungeon. Her dungeon.
This room was a haven. It was small but comfortable. If you weren't the victim. Weapons hung from the walls, swords and daggers, chains and blade fans. Each told a story, each held a purpose.
The carpet a royal purple. Stained in blood. The aroma of death and pain filled the air and distant echo's of pleas for mercy could be heard.
The sweet smell of deadly poisons filled her sense of smell and she walked over to a large cabinet. Her greatest skill. The deadly art of drugs and venoms.
The present held so many possibilities in the form of torture and abuse. Humans created things to create pleasure. To form bliss. Would they ever know how much pain their creations had caused over the years? Did they ever think that maybe someone was using their makings to torment the lives of the ones who deserved it?
Nisha enjoyed her art. She took pleasure in making it flawless. Perfect. With elegance she'd drive men to the brink of insanity and bring them back. She had the power to look deep into their souls and bring out their greatest fears.
She was trained in these deadly arts, and she was good at what she did. She'd punished traitors, enemies and liars over centuries.
Her reputation was impressive. Almost as good as Elsu's. She was better though, in her eyes at least. Else was sick. You didn't torture just anyone for the fun of it. That was for reckless mortals to do. Creatures like them sought out those who had committed crimes against them, insulted their honor, and tried to dethrone their clan. Those were the reason you tortured someone. Not for petty pleasures.
Tonight though, tonight would mark something new. Something that just might change the course of fate itself. Pulling out bottle after bottle, Nisha finally came across a small chest. Her eyes glimmered in anticipation. She knew exactly what it was and it was going to rock their worlds.
***
"Sakura, I think you should get back into bed." Meilin said. It had been over an hour since Sakura had first sat by Xiao Lang's side. She hadn't moved from her spot. She didn't say a word the whole time, but everyone could tell she was speaking to him through her soul.
She'd held his hand, touched his face. Ran her fingers over his delicate wounds with a pained expression. It was heartbreaking the way she looked at him. Her eyes were pleading with him for something.
Sakura looked over to her friends and shook her head. She wasn't going to leave him. Meilin looked over at the others in a silent plea to help her out. They didn't know what they were going to do. It was obvious that she wasn't going to get back into bed. They couldn't force her, because the slightest movement caused her to wince in pain. If they dragged her back to bed she'd be worse off.
"Eriol? Why couldn't any of you feel his aura before?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura's gaze suddenly switched to the group.
"Well the barrier for one. It was still there when we were searching for him. It was blocking out some of his magic. Also he was very weak, making it very difficult for anyone to find him."
"Is that why Sakura couldn't feel him?" Fu looked over to the curious card mistress. Eriol nodded his head.
'That's why our bond was messed up. I knew you were there but I couldn't feel you.' She looked back at her gentle warrior and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Sakura, I really think you should be in bed. The nurse is going to come check on you soon and I doubt it's doing you any good." Tomoyo said forcefully. "Your father and brother are on their way. Li-Kun's mother and sisters are coming too."
They didn't expect the shock on her face. His mother would come. Li Yelen? How would she react to see her son this way? She'd probably order a private room and have him taken away from her.
"Oh, I see the cherry blossom is still up." A nurse in her mid thirties said as she looked at Sakura tenderly caressing the young warrior.
"She won't go back to bed." Meilin said softly. It was not time to get the card captor angry. She might be weak but she had a lot of spirit.
"Well, we came to remove the tubes from her nose and arms." She said with a pleasant smile. "So if she wants them out, she'll have to get back to bed."
The group left the room as the nurse guided Sakura back to her bed. This time Sakura did go. She wanted to get these things out of her.
"Now, when I take the tubes out, you'll have to go slowly. Don't talk for a few minutes and when you do, whisper. Your arm will heal fast and in about half an hour we'll bring you something to eat." Sakura nodded and watched as the nurse carefully took out the drip.
It was not too painful. Just a strange sensation of having something taken out of you. The tube that had the blood was a little more painful since the needle was just a bit bigger. She didn't even try to cry out.
She looked down at her other arm. It was bandaged up half way. She could move the bottom half but her shoulder was tightly placed.
"Ok, now this is going to hurt. Try not to make a sound because it will make it hurt more." She warned and Sakura nodded.
The nurse gently started to clean Sakura's throat. Sakura's entire body stiffened in agony as the nurse cleaned up the sensitive areas in her mouth She didn't put a lot of pressure into it but still it hurt. Pain rushed through her and it was so hard to stay still.
It was like a thousand knives were being driven through her.
She wanted to scream, yell and curse. Something held her back though. Something familiar was giving her strength.
Her eyes snapped open. Syaoran. His aura was around her. Protecting her. They hadn't lost the bond. Even in his unconscious state he would help her.
"There we're almost done. I'll just change the bandage on your arm and you can rest." Sakura looked over to Syaoran and then back at herself. She could go over to him without the tubes sticking out of her. It would be easier.
The nurse re-bandaged Sakura's arm. She was very gentle with her. Sakura was grateful for that. Other people might have treated her more violently.
"Now I would really appreciate it if you actually stayed in bed. You're still quite weak from your encounter, you need rest." She said sternly. "You were very lucky to get out of that alive. Your friend as well."
Sakura gave her a pleading look. She opened her mouth slowly and worded 'Please'
"No, you can go to your friend when you've had a rest. The doctor is going to come see you and you'll get me into a lot of trouble if he sees you're still up and about."
Sakura nodded and tucked herself under the covers. She'd have to do as she was told. Even if it did hurt her.
"Good, now I'm going to let you sleep. We'll bring you some food later and let your friends back in. Till then try to rest." She smiled and left the room.
Sakura sighed. She was right. She needed to rest. She would help Xiao Lang better if she was healthy. In this state she was useless to him.
Her eyes started to flutter as sleep found it's way to her.
***
(Scratches head sheepishly. Hehe I couldn't resist. It's Shakespears Sisters. Stay with me.)(M: *groans*).
The distant sound of birds could be heard as the waves crashed among the rocks. The wind blew grains of sand into various shapes and patterns.
If this world is wearing thin
And you're thinking of escape
I'll go anywhere with youThe sky was a mix of blues and light purples, and there wasn't a cloud insight. A young girl walked over a familiar bridge.
Just wrap me up in chains
But if you try to go alone
Don't think I'll understand
Her eyes gazing absently, as she ran her slender fingers over the railing. Her long auburn hair swayed gently in the soothing wind.
Stay with me
Stay with me
Her healing scars were covered by the thin fabric of her long sleeve shirt and baggy pants. Her sandals scraping the ground as she absentmindedly walked on.
In the silence of your room
In the darkness of your dream
You must only think of meThere can be no in-between
Her emerald eyes suddenly came into contact with a pair of auburn ones. The emptiness of her gaze changed into hope. She stopped walking and looked into the beautiful scenery.
When your pride is on the floor
I'll make you beg for more
Inhaling deeply she watched as the water splash alongside the sand and wash away the deep imprints of footprints and shells.
Stay with me
Stay with me
She felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist as she smelt the distinct mix of smells. Autumn with sandalwood, mixed with the strong sea air. She sighed contently as the young man placed his head on her shoulder
You'd better hope and pray
That you make it safe
Back to your own world
"You're here." She whispered. He smiled and kissed her neck savoring the taste.
"I said I'd never leave you.' His voice was soft but firm. She lifted her hand up to his cheek and caressed it gently.
"Will you come back with me?"
You'd better hope and pray
That you'll wake one day
In your own world
"I can't." He said sadly. She turned to face him. Her eyes full of tears as he ran a finger across her jaw line.
"Why not?"
Because when you sleep at night
They don't hear your criesIn your own world
"I'm not in the same place as you." He pulled her closer as she cried. Running his strong hands through her hair, making soothing noises to calm her down.
"You can't leave me again." She whispered in-between sobs.
"I promise, I'll come back." He tilted her head so she was facing him. "Sakura, have I ever broken a promise to you?" She shook her head slowly.
Only time will tell
If you can break the spell
Back in your own world
"Then I promise you that I will come back to you." He said firmly as he stared into her green orbs. "I could never leave you."
She graced him with a small smile as he tilted his head towards hers. Their lips brushed against each other and he sealed his promise with a passionate kiss.
Stay with me...
Stay with me...
"Ashiteru." She whispered as they continued their passionate embrace.
Stay, stay with me...
Stay, Stay, Stay, Stay, Stay…
"Ashiteru." He said. The kiss intensified until both were out of breath. She ran her hands through his hair and kissed him one last time before they both started to fade.
Stay with me...
And then everything went black.
***
Well it seems that I'm not that evil. You think I'd actually have Xiao Lang dead?(M: yes. Darn) It's not like he's up and about but he's not dead. What kind of sick freak do you people take me for? (M: *opens mouth*). No, don't answer that. (M:*closes mouth*) What could Nisha have in that chest? Well I know but no one else does. (M: yes I…)Not even Max. (M: …darn)
Yeah I know I made the last part a little sappy but I think I've tortured everyone a bit too much with the depression. So I decided to give you a bit of romance. You really should listen to that song while you read that part. It adds to the effects.
Well I have to give this to Max. Sigh my editor had school today, what a drag.
Ja Ne minna
Kang
PS: Don't forget to review.
