Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura- that much is obvious.
Summary: It is the story about a girl called Sakura who falls in love with a boy who saves her life (Syaoran). Unknown to her, Syaoran has a secret! By daylight he is the cold, handsome boy Syaoran, but by nightfall, immersed in the enchantment of moonlight he becomes the mysterious white wolf of the forest. Will Sakura learn of Syaoran's secret before all hope is lost?
DM: Mickey you're a star! *kisses*
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Chapter 3:
The winter wind howled as a pained- beast, its icy claws thrashing furiously through the rancid, narrow streets, breathing its harsh, rattling breath on the grimy windows of broken- down terraces; stained black from neglect and the accumulation of pollution.
One would hardly think it were broad daylight in the reputably beautiful city of Aurana for its interminable darkness and filth, but it was indeed the hidden side of Aurana; the shameful side, that of which the common folk dared not mention above whispers. They called it the 'Shadow District'.
The underground world known as the Shadow District was notoriously a world of crime and treachery; its soulless inhabitants lived in squalor and had learnt to fend for themselves by general deceit, illegal trade and in some cases, even murder in order to survive. "Eat or be eaten," as was the motto. At least according to Eem'lee Pikolor.
Eem'lee was a short man with a weak chin, a pointed, vulture- like nose and a thin layer of fuzzy, mud- coloured hair covering a balding head. To anyone from 'respectable' Auranan society unfortunate enough to stumble into the Shadow District, one would see a rather timid, insignificant little man who owned a smoky bar called "Shonky Stav's" in a seedy alleyway and one would almost pity him for his unfortunate placing in the forty- two years of his life. Almost.
Eem'lee had a surprisingly stealthy reputation amongst his 'shadow' peers; his tiny frame meant that he could slip unnoticed in and out of earshot of unsuspecting conversationalists and his fast talking had gotten him out of many a sticky situation- probably the only reason he was still alive.
If there was one thing Eem'lee Pikolor was good for…it was information.
That day, Eem'lee stood behind the bar counter laying rat poison down near the edges of the mouldy refrigerator when the door leading into the bar swung open on its rusty hinges. Hot blue neon lights from the street outside poured into the semi- darkness of the bar giving it an eerie luminescence amid the smell of stale alcohol, smoke and urine as a tall slender figure whose face was concealed in the shadow of his hooded cloak stepped into the room.
"What's the point of that?" asked the hooded- figure as he approached the counter, "the food here's a health hazard anyway."
"True," replied Eem'lee with a malicious grin to the figure, "seems like no matter what I try…rats get in anyway, if you get my drift."
"Speaking of a rat…" replied the figure.
In an instant, the hooded- figure had reached quickly across the counter in one movement and grabbed the surprised bartender tightly around the throat. Eem'lee squealed and his eyes bulged with recognition and fear.
"Sy- Syaoran!*cough*…eh-heh, what brings you into this neck of town?" Eem'lee half- choked, half- whispered.
He made to claw at Syaoran's fingers, struggling somewhat to free himself, but Syaoran kept his grip, relentless.
"You know perfectly well why I'm here you little slime ball- did you think I couldn't find you?" Syaoran growled. His amber eyes flashed dangerously beneath his hood.
"I- It was an honest mistake Syaoran, I assure yo- *ack!*"
Syaoran's hold around Eem'lee's throat had just tightened. Though he was only a thin boy, Syaoran was physically strong and easily a head and neck taller than Eem'lee. He was at an interrogational advantage.
"Okay- OKAY! Not a mistake!!" squeaked the frightened bartender, "What?!...do you want the money back?! I'll give it to you- please don't kill me!" He was starting to turn blue in the face.
It was then that Syaoran let go of Eem'lee's neck, in favour of shoving him roughly, face- down on the dusty bar counter. He held Eem'lee's arms firmly behind his back to keep him from struggling.
"And why shouldn't I kill you, Pikolor ?" Syaoran sneered, frighteningly calm.
He pressed the bartender's squishy red face harder against the cold counter surface. "You're nothing but a lying, stealing cheat, tell me, do you really deserve to live?"
"YES!! I- I…please, don't kill me!" Eem'lee spluttered. Tears of fear and self- pity had already begun to spill from his weak, squinted eyes.
Syaoran rolled his eyes impatiently and pulled Eem'lee upright from the counter by the collar of his sweat shirt.
"Blubbering idiot!!- You knew that was a fake map and yet you sold it to me! After I'd been on this wild goose- chase looking for it- I've been searching for it my WHOLE LIFE!!" Syaoran bellowed. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just cut your little throat right now!!"
In any other bar in Aurana, the shouting might have aroused the attention of the few customers sitting in the quiet, smoky room, but apparently the bartender at "Shonky Stav's" received death threats from angry visitors quite often, for none had stirred or come to his rescue.
Eem'lee finally broke free from Syaoran's grip and stepped shakily back against the wall behind the counter, just beyond his aggressor's reach.
Syaoran reached swiftly into his boot leg and drew a short, sharp pewter- blade. He held it firmly before him, eyes glinting murderously. Eem'lee let out an involuntary whimper.
"Give me…" Syaoran whispered maliciously, "one good reason…"
Sweat poured down Eem'lee's slimy, balding head. He wiped it with the back of a grubby, shaking hand.
Suddenly, his eyes widened with hopeful enthusiasm.
"I…h- have …information for you!" Eem'lee stammered; his stained, yellow teeth visible behind a nervous grin. "About Eriol!"
Syaoran's blade quivered momentarily at the mention of the name. His amber eyes narrowed with clear distrust.
"Why should I believe you?" He growled, "You've lied to me before…"
"I heard a traveller in this bar… talking about him… The most powerful of sorcerers in the world…that's your guy, right? He's been sighted…in the mountains." Eem'lee explained excitedly; having found a possible means of escaping death at the hands of Syaoran Li.
Syaoran's brow furrowed in deep thought. He stared silently down at the bar floor for a moment before he finally slipped his blade back into its holster in his boot leg and looked up at Eem'lee; who was still shaking uncontrollably.
"This information…" Syaoran said softly, "if it is the truth, I want it …and I will not only let you live but I will give you double the amount of cash I paid you last time for your sham map…I'd say that's more than a reasonable price, what about you?"
Eem'lee slumped with visible relief at having his life spared. He sighed and mouthed a "thankyou" to the heavens before Syaoran threw a bag of titanium- gold coins onto the bar counter. They clinked and spilled out onto the surface in front of Eem'lee who gaped greedily at them as they shone magnificently in the relatively dim light of the bar.
"Start talking." Syaoran muttered.
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Sakura hummed a cheerful tune that bright morning as she strung fairy- lights across the snow- scattered canopy of a tree in Jasm'ynn Town Square. She smiled as she adjusted a crystal bauble, admiring the way it illuminated as the warm morning light filtered through it and dispersed glowing fragmented rainbows across the palm of her hand.
From her vantage point at the top of a tall ladder she could see a myriad of townspeople jovially making preparations in the Square beneath her. There were people setting up tent stalls, hanging brightly coloured paper lanterns from twine stretched across the square, preparing trays of raw meat, fruit and vegetables for their roasting later in the day, and it appeared as though a third of the band had arrived early and were already tuning their instruments on the make- shift stage near the centre of the Square.
At present, three young children; two brothers and a sister it seemed, had appeared at the base of Sakura's ladder and were waving happily up at her. One of the brothers decided it would be fun to stick his tongue out.
Sakura laughed as the gesture earned a swift disapproving kick in the shin from his younger sister. Sakura grinned. She took hold of the nearest branch to her and gave it a playful shake, causing settled lumps of snow to fall with a humorous 'plop' onto the tops of the children's heads. They squealed with surprise and delight before running away in a fit of giggles.
Sakura chuckled and continued to string the fairy- lights on the tree.
At that moment, a group of chattering girls appeared in the Square, carrying what appeared to be a large painted banner. It was a group of Sakura's close school friends along with Tomoyo. They waved cheerfully when they spot Sakura and headed towards where she stood perched on her ladder.
"Good morning Sakura!" Tomoyo called happily
"Hi you guys!" Sakura sang, "Hey, what's that you're carrying?"
"It's the banner that's going over where the band plays- and you know who got to decorate it- again!" Chiharu giggled as the other girls exchanged knowing grins.
Sakura gushed in admiration of Tomoyo's banner handy- work. It was a dark blue banner with a large white swan painted in the centre of it. The magnificent creature's tail feathers were flecked with tiny gold and silver stars that seemed to shower down from the swan as it spread its wings in mid-flight. Tomoyo sure had talent!
"That's incredible Tomoyo!" cried Sakura in awe
"Naturally," agreed Naoko with a matter- of- fact nod. Tomoyo smiled warmly.
"Ohhhh today's gonna be so much FUN!" Sakura shrieked excitedly, causing her friends to giggle again.
Seeing Tomoyo's banner seemed to confirm the reason for her infinitely good mood today; she felt not even Touya could break her cheerfulness! It was a beautiful morning, the festival would be starting soon and everyone was happy! But best of all…
Sakura blushed and smiled inwardly. She was unaware that all of her friends were still watching her.
"Wow Sakura, you're so chipper today!" Rika laughed
"Of course she is, the Snow Flurry Festival is only her favourite holiday, right?" replied Naoko, who exchanged a knowing grin with Tomoyo
"Right!" Tomoyo agreed with a laugh
Chiharu, who had been quietly observing Sakura, who was still blushing at present as she strung-up the fairy lights, piped-in.
"You know guys…I don't think that's it." She said with an amused lob- sided grin.
"What's not?" Naoko and Rika chimed with looks of slight puzzlement.
"That's not why Sakura's happy…look at her," Chiharu said, still grinning as though she had a secret all of her own and was just itching to tell it.
Everyone stared up at Sakura who turned a brighter shade of crimson now that she was under sudden scrutiny. Tomoyo cupped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.
"That's the way I look when I'm thinking about Yamazaki….all red and happy!" Chiharu continued, beaming widely,
"If I didn't know better…I'd think Sakura…was in love!"
At this point, Sakura swayed violently and nearly fell off her ladder out of shock.
She made a grab for it just in time.
"HUH?!!" Sakura cried, "I'm not in love!"
Rika and Naoko blinked in utter bewilderment. Tomoyo grinned and Chiharu folded her arms, raising one eye- brow with suspicion.
"You're blushing." Chiharu stated flatly.
Sakura touched her hot cheeks, overwhelmed with embarrassment. She probably looked like a light bulb…
" Huh? No! N- Not blushing!" Sakura stammered, trying desperately in vain to think of an excuse, "I'm just hot from putting up all these lights, it's a lot of exercise going up and down these ladders y'know? Whoops! Hey- is that a tree I've forgotten to decorate? You know what, I'll just take me and my ladder over there and do this…"
Sakura dismounted her ladder in a single leap (and it's a pretty tall ladder! ^_^) , picked it up and hurried hastily out of the Square without a backward glance at the group who stood in stunned silence as she ran away.
"Weird." Rika and Naoko murmured in unison.
Sakura kept running until she was sure her friends could no longer see her. She stopped to catch her breath, still clutching the ladder as she leant against the side wall of the bakery at the opposite end of the Square. She slowed her breathing and rested a hand on her chest. She could feel her heart hammering away inside of it.
Why do I always blush like crazy when ever I think of…him?! Sakura thought angrily.
The teasing from Chiharu and others would be relentless now… and worse! If Touya ever found out about this, she'd never hear the end of it!
But the mere mention of him inside her mind just then, made her smile despite herself.
She closed her eyes contently as she remembered the last time she and Syaoran had met, how they had had a quiet lunch together in a tavern in Aurana, and the way he had so tenderly touched her face when she was crying…
She smiled even more brightly when she remembered that she had asked him to visit her in Jasm'ynn…
She took a pen from her cloak pocket and scribbled something happily onto the label of Syaoran's honey- jar. When he blinked uncertainly she laughed.
"This is my address in Jas'mynn," she explained, pointing to the text she had written on the label, "and this is when I want you to come by!"
Syaoran peered more closely at the label. "Next week? What's happening next week?"
"You'll see!" Sakura giggled. She then turned on heel and ran back to Tomoyo and the wagon.
Without his knowledge, Sakura had in fact invited Syaoran to the Snow Flurry Festival in Jasm'ynn, and though it had only been a week since she had last seen him she felt it must have been the longest week she had ever had in her entire life.
Now, the morning she'd been anxiously anticipating all week had come. She would finally be with Syaoran again…
The town clock chimed melodically from its tower at the top of Jasm'ynn Hall, interrupting Sakura's thoughts. It was 8 o'clock, exactly an hour before the festival commenced.
Sakura picked up the ladder and hastily made her way across Town Square, bound for home. She had a little bit of time left to change for the festival.
…..
Syaoran stood on the doorstep of the Kinomoto household, his heart throbbing so rapidly and so loudly in his ears that he wondered whether anyone else in the quiet street could hear it too.
The Kinomoto house was only a humble one, with a thatched roof and a small window with freshly- painted red wooden shutters that looked out onto a small, dormant vegetable patch at the front of the house. Nonetheless it had a distinctly..."loved" quality about it; a friendliness. Syaoran couldn't help but smile, though nervously.
And nervous he was!
He raised a hand to knock on the solid, oak front door. But promptly lowered it again.
Syaoran took a deep, calming breath, trying to slow his racing heart. He could feel his face burning already, his palms becoming sticky…
Again he attempted to raise his arm to knock on the door. Again he lowered it, uncertainty claiming him.
Damn it, Syaoran! He cursed under his breath, how hard can it be?!
Though the fact of the matter was…very hard. Sakura was only the kindest, gentlest (did I mention stunningly beautiful? ^_^) girl Syaoran had ever laid eyes on, at least for a very long time…
Syaoran took another deep breath.
Just as he raised his fist a third time, finally resolved to knock on the door, it flew open. Syaoran choked- back a gasp.
Sakura stood in the doorway smiling radiantly at him.
She wore a long velvet dress with long angelic sleeves; turquoise to match the colour of her eyes. The dress tapered elegantly in at the waist, hugging her smooth curves and was femininely low- cut so that her neck and delicate shoulders were exposed. There was something different about her hair too- it was woven with white ribbon into tiny braids around the sides of her head and accentuated with tiny pink satin cherry blossoms. She looked gorgeous.
"Syaoran! You came!" Sakura cried happily. She stepped forward, lifted herself up on tip- toe and planted a tiny kiss on his cheek.
Syaoran, who up until this point felt something like an over- heated teapot and may as well have been steaming at the ears, realised that he must have looked rather foolish gaping at her the way he was.
He cleared his throat (which seemed to have tightened considerably)
"H-how did you know I was at the door?" Syaoran squeaked. It was the best his constricted vocal cords could manage right now.
Sakura blushed shyly.
"I just…felt it." she replied sweetly.
"Uh…you look n-nice," Syaoran muttered, now staring at the floor in his usual manner, still beet- red in the face.
Suddenly he felt self- conscious.
"Are…we going somewhere, I mean…am I inappropriately dressed?" he asked.
Here was Sakura dressed, well, like that and here he was in just a plain white cotton tunic, brown leather riding pants and boots and his old dark- green travelling cloak; the very thing he had worn when he had paid 'Shonky Stav's' bar in the Shadow District a visit that same morning…
Syaoran panicked momentarily…maybe he should have taken a bath before he came to meet Sakura! ...He was probably carrying god knows how many rotten smells from that seedy district and…he stared in dismay at his travelling cloak, the only one he owned. It was frayed around the edges.
Sakura saw his discomfort and quickly tried to ease him. "No, you look great!" Sakura insisted. She blushed harder when she realised the truth in what she had just said.
"What I mean is…I just wanted to look nice for you."
Syaoran finally looked up at her and gave a tiny, shy smile.
Sakura brightened. "Well, if you're ready, we'll go!" she sang cheerfully.
When Syaoran nodded, Sakura took her hooded white, rabbit- fur lined cloak from behind the door and threw it around her bare shoulders. She shut the front door and put a small hand into the crook of Syaoran's elbow, leading him forward toward Jas'mynn Town Square.
…
The rhythmic, lively throb of bongo drums seemed to carry the very pulse of Jasm'ynn through the warm festive air, weaving amid the aromas of hot sizzling foods and roasting wines, through the colourful masses of jovial people gathered in the now crowded Town Square. Rows of tent stalls had been set-up, some of them selling various sweets and carnival snacks while others had games one could play for a silver coin in the hope of winning a prize. Near the edge of the Square by the stage where the band stood playing, an enormous bonfire blazed triumphantly. There was already a small queue waiting to be served by the man carving up a colossal spit- roast.
Syaoran watched all of this in awe. And terror.
Sakura clapped her hands together excitedly. "Isn't it great, Syaoran?!"
"Wh- what is this place?" Syaoran asked timidly. He stared nervously after a couple of sprightly young children as they ran happily past, almost as though they might be flesh- eating bacteria.
Sakura felt Syaoran's arm tense and looked up at him worriedly. "It's our annual winter Festival, it was a surprise" she said with a concerned frown, "Are… you alright, Syaoran?"
Syaoran swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah, um, sorry…I'm just…not used to this kind of stuff."
"You've never been to a festival before?!" Sakura asked incredulously.
She bit her lip when she saw the hurt in Syaoran's eyes. She'd almost forgotten about Syaoran's sad past; of losing his whole family…maybe, he'd really never had fun before.
"Well that's okay," Sakura said quickly with a nervous smile, "I'll make sure it's the best day you've ever had!"
Syaoran was about to protest when Sakura took him kindly by the hand and led him into the crowded, noisy Square.
The morning wore on and Sakura had done all she could to give Syaoran the 'best day he'd ever had'. She had dragged her reluctant, serious friend from one stall to the next, buying them candy- apples and roasted corn with her allowance, and insisting they play every single game in the whole Festival, from the hoop toss to the fishing game.
By the time Sakura and Syaoran had made their way to dunk tank, Sakura was relieved to see that Syaoran had finally relaxed and was even starting to smile a little.
"Syaoran, I insist you play this game." said Sakura in a humorously matter- of- fact tone as she pointed to the dunk- tank that stood in all its cylindrical glory at the far end of the Square. (You know, it's that weird game where you try and throw stuff at a target and when you hit it, some poor guy gets dropped into a water tank)
Syaoran raised one eye- brow and grinned at her. "Surprise, surprise. You've insisted we play only every single game we've walked past this morning!"
"Yeah, but this time I'm not gonna let you cop- out and watch me play- this time, you have to play!"
Syaoran rolled his eyes in mock- irritation as Sakura once again took his hand and led him toward the dunk- tank where a large crowd stood watching.
An enormously burly man with fists to match was standing at the edge of the pool looking extremely red and perplexed. The young man who sat (perfectly dry) on the collapsible platform beneath the target was teasing him. It was Chiharu's boyfriend Yamazaki.
"Hey, c'mon you can do better than that, big strong man like you!" Yamazaki crowed as the burly man shook with frustration and anger. It seemed that he had had quite a few turns at hitting the target but had failed each time to knock Yamazaki off his perch.
"C'mooooooon," Yamazaki crooned "I'm as dry as jerky!"
The crowd laughed appreciatively, which only seemed to frustrate the burly- man even more.
Just then a girl's voice piped- up from the crowd. It was Chiharu, accompanied by Rika, Naoko and Tomoyo.
"Give it a rest Takashi!!" she yelled impatiently "You do this every year! You're not gonna make any money by taunting your customers you know!"
Yamazaki immediately stopped grinning and pretended to look sorry. When his girlfriend called him by his last name- she meant business.
"Okay, okay!" Yamazaki sighed. He turned to the burly man again. "I'm sorry sir… how 'bout it? One more throw, I'll give it to ya for free." He threw a 'hey, I'm being nice' look at Chiharu at the last bit.
The crowd cheered encouragingly and the burly customer nodded. He took a deep breath, picked up one of the leather balls lying on the table set up by the pool and threw with all his might at the target. It missed the target by an inch and made a small dent in the wall, narrowly missing the top of Yamazaki's head.
Yamazaki roared with laughter as the sympathetic crowd issued a unified "awww."
"Haha! Well, you can't aim, but the next time I need my head knocked- off I'll let you know!" Yamazaki chortled.
"Yamazaki Takashi! I SWEAR!!" Chiharu shouted
Sakura and Syaoran watched with amused grins as the burly man stalked huffily away.
Just then Tomoyo spot them.
"Hi Sakura! Hi Syaoran!" She called cheerfully as she ran toward them. Rika and Naoko, likewise, ran over to meet them. Tomoyo was just introducing Syaoran to the rest of the group when Yamazaki called out from his platform near the target.
"Hey you, kid!" He yelled, pointing at Syaoran.
Syaoran stared at him confusedly. "Huh? ...you talking to me?"
"Yeah…you wanna go at this?" Yamazaki asked with a sly grin.
"No way Yamazaki!" Rika yelled "This is Sakura's new friend- you can't humiliate him like you do everyone else!"
"On the contrary." Came a voice.
Everyone spun around to find Chiharu standing with her arms crossed, glaring at the dunk- tank. "I think Yamazaki could do with a cooling off."
Everyone stared incredulously at Chiharu, save for Sakura and Tomoyo who simply giggled. They knew Chiharu wasn't really fighting with Yamazaki- she just wanted to teach him a lesson.
Syaoran glanced uncertainly at Sakura who chuckled and said "It's okay."
Yamazaki sat whistling and swinging his legs from the platform when he noticed Syaoran step up to the edge of the dunk pool.
"Hey, cool! You came!" Yamazaki cheered "Give it your best!"
Syaoran dropped a silver coin into the tin on the table and picked up a leather ball. Everyone watched in silence.
"You get three goes a game to knock me into the pool," explained Yamazaki arrogantly, "not that I worry …"
Everyone seemed to hold their breath as Syaoran threw the ball hard. It hit the target square in the bullseye and the platform supporting Yamazaki fell away from beneath him. He barely managed a "what the f-?" before his entire body became submerged in the icy water.
The small crowd surrounding the dunk- tank cheered and clapped. Sakura was blushing again, and Chiharu grinned with satisfaction.
Presently, Yamazaki's head resurfaced with a gasp and he swam over to the edge of the pool. Syaoran bent down and offered Yamazaki a hand- up which he accepted gratefully.
"Woah…I don't think I've seen anyone hit that target first time before…let alone at all in about three years!" Yamazaki said with an impressed grin beneath tendrils of sopping wet hair. "That's an amazing sense of accuracy you've got there."
Yamazaki extended a hand to Syaoran who shook it, grinning widely.
Just then Chiharu grabbed Yamazaki's ear, wearing a mock- stern expression. "You totally deserved that you know." She scolded.
Yamazaki pulled Chiharu close toward him with a coy grin. "Oh I did, did I?" He pressed his lips against hers in a long, sweet kiss. When Chiharu finally pulled- away she laughed.
"Ewww Yamazaki! You're making me wet!"
Everyone laughed except Sakura and Syaoran who had watched this interplay, exchanged fleeting glances with each other and blushed furiously. Tomoyo grinned at them.
"Sakura, wasn't there some place you and Syaoran had to be?" she asked innocently
Sakura blinked, blushed harder and nodded. "Um, we'll see you guys later, okay?"
She took Syaoran's hand again and began to pull him away from the others. They disappeared into the crowd.
Though it had been several hours since Sakura had needed to persuade Syaoran to take part in the Festival and thus didn't really need to be holding his hand anymore, it seemed to have escaped their notice that their fingers should still be intertwined this moment, as they strolled leisurely through a row of stalls.
Just as Sakura was about to buy a bag of honey- roasted cashews from one of the vendors, a familiar, drawling voice called out to her.
"Oi, squirt!"
Sakura whisked her head around, trying to find the source of the voice. When she found it she yelled in alarm.
"Touya?!!"
Save for her brother's face, Touya was wearing a large, ridiculous- looking pink parrot costume and a disgruntled expression, as he stood behind the counter of a shooting- gallery.
"Woah, Polly…I didn't know you were working in a stall!" Sakura exclaimed bewilderedly as she eyed her older brother once over.
"Yeah well, I need the money." Touya replied in a bored droll.
He then shot Syaoran an expression of the utmost loathing. Usually Touya wouldn't mean anything too serious by this; but he had just witnessed his baby sister strolling down the street hand- in- hand with some guy he'd never seen before- he was bound to be a little protective!
Syaoran, who didn't appreciate the cool reception merely glared back. (Haha sparks of rivalry will fly!)
"Hey…you up for a challenge, brat?" He asked Syaoran with narrowed eyes.
"Touya! Don't call him that!" said Sakura angrily. She turned to Syaoran who was still glaring at her brother and tugged the sleeve of his shirt gently. "Don't listen to him; he always gets like this around guys …"
Syaoran didn't budge. In fact, he grinned, almost wickedly.
"I accept your challenge." Syaoran stated with a smirk.
Sakura stared at him in disbelief. "What?!...Look, you don't have to prove anything…"
"But I do." Syaoran murmured as Touya handed him an air rifle, still looking daggers at him. Sakura merely gaped at him with a confused expression.
Touya folded his arms and grimaced. There was a nerve twitching at his temple. Who was this arrogant kid? And more importantly, what was he doing with his sister?!...well, at least he could be satisfied that the boy would lose this game, possibly walk away feeling dejected and miserable. Maybe that'd deflate his ego…
Syaoran aimed the rifle, squinting at the miniscule targets lined up against the wall through an even tinier aiming window on the gun. Any other person would have had great difficulty playing this game- Touya had designed it himself, and it wasn't an easy one to win.
Bang! Syaoran pulled the trigger, knocking down a target.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, Syaoran knocked over each target in single, clean shots.
When the last fell over, Touya cursed. No- one had ever received a perfect score before!
"Syaoran! That was amazing!!" Sakura cried as she flung her arms happily around his neck. Touya's scowl deepened.
Syaoran gently removed himself from Sakura's embrace and turned to face Touya at the counter.
"I'd like to claim my prize." Syaoran said evenly.
"What?!...Oh…I guess." Touya muttered.
Syaoran pointed to a large, soft pink teddy- bear with a pair of white wings, sitting on the highest shelf. Touya retrieved it for him grudgingly and Syaoran handed the bear to Sakura.
"Here, a gift." Syaoran said softly, giving her an affectionate tap on the nose with his finger.
Sakura blushed and smiled warmly.
Touya felt like wretching.
He watched as the two walked away from the stall and cursed under his breath again. He had just lost the ancient primordial battle between rivals.
By the late afternoon, a mellow wash of brilliant orange and magenta had been strewn artfully across the sky's canvas and the sun was a mere glowing semi- sphere sinking into the snow blanketed horizon. The crowds milling ever- cheerfully in the Town Square had thinned not the slightest, but the initial buzzing excitement of the day had given way to a gentler, softer happiness. A number of the gaming stalls had been closed as their owners now wanted to take part in the late festivities. Several full- bellied tiny children; no doubt exhausted from a day of running from stall to stall playing games slept quietly in the laps of their parents, their features glowing softly in the flickering firelight beneath the now lit- paper lanterns; luminescent orbs of colour suspended from above.
Sakura and Syaoran made their way silently through the crowded Square, which for one reason or another was gathered mostly around the bonfire, near the stage. Sakura was just about to pay for two cups of cold lychee juice at a stall when a hand landed on her shoulder. Sakura smiled brightly.
"Daddy!" Sakura cried happily. She reached up and gave Fugitaka an affectionate hug.
Her father chuckled. "I trust you've had a good day?"
Sakura grinned widely. Just as Fugitaka was about to ask whom Sakura's "friend" was, they were joined by Tomoyo and her mother Sonomi.
"Hello Sakura! Are you going to join in the Rumpus Jig?" Sonomi asked as she too gave Sakura a hug.
"Of course!" Sakura cried excitedly "Are they starting now?!"
"Right now." Sonomi replied with a smile.
"Oh Yay! Let's go Tomoyo, Syaoran!" Sakura exclaimed. She handed her teddy bear to Fugitaka and took both Tomoyo and Syaoran by the hands, pulling them toward the bonfire.
"Wh- what are we doing?" asked Syaoran, nervous once more. What ever a 'Rumpus Jig' was, it sounded dangerous…
Tomoyo laughed kindly. "Don't be so worried Syaoran! It's just this dance we…"
"What?! Dance?! N-No-way! That is one thing I don't do…!" Syaoran said panic- stricken. He began to pull himself away in the opposite direction when both girls grabbed his arms and pulled him determinedly back.
"It'll be fun!" Sakura laughed.
"Yeah, think of the new skill you'll have after this...you'll be a right rumpus jigger when we're through with you!" Tomoyo added happily.
The three reached the bonfire and joined the large group of people that had already formed a ring around it. Syaoran had been squeezed between Sakura and a rather matronly, elderly woman while Tomoyo had taken her place between two people at the opposite end of the ring. Everyone joined hands as the band began a lively, fast tune.
Syaoran grit his teeth apprehensively and the elderly woman looked at him.
"Geez sonny! You're shakin'! First timer eh?" she laughed a croaky but kind laugh and squeezed Syaoran's hand reassuringly. "Don't you worry, just follow my lead and you'll be fine! Have fun with it!"
Syaoran forced a nervous grin.
The circle around the bonfire began to move, joining hands as they moved in unison, steadily at first to match the beat of the music.
"Step together, step together step skip step kick…" the elderly woman instructed cheerfully as Syaoran tried his best to keep up; stumbling a little as he did, "Step together, step together step skip step kick…that's it, son!"
Syaoran grinned a little. He was really getting the hang of this!
The group continued on simultaneously, laughing and singing energetically as the music picked up tempo.
"Step together, step together step skip step kick…"everyone chanted, "Step together, step together step skip step kick"
Faster and faster they danced around the bonfire until it became almost impossible to keep up with the ridiculously rapid beat of the music and everyone was in fits of laughter as they clumsily trod on each other's toes and collided into their neighbours.
Sakura threw a glance at Syaoran as she continued to dance. He was grinning widely from ear to ear and laughing heartily as the friendly old woman beside him pretended to slap him around the head for stepping on her shoe. Actually laughing.
Sakura smiled lovingly as she watched him. She felt a warmth increase inside of her, spreading from the inside of her chest to the very tips of her fingers and toes, warming them as well. She had never been with anyone who made her feel…like this.
The music seemed to last an eternity and everyone had collapsed laughing into an exhausted heap when the song finally ended. The watching crowd and the band applauded, whooped and whistled appreciatively. Everyone began to pick themselves up with cheerful effort from the floor. The old woman who had danced beside Syaoran pulled him into a friendly embrace and walked back to her family chuckling.
At that moment, the band started to play another song, this time a slow number, a soft ballad. Most people who had been in the 'rumpus jig', particularly the older people and children left the bonfire area, leaving a number of couples (including Yamazaki and Chiharu) dancing in the firelight. Tomoyo gave Sakura a last hug and went to join her mother and Fugitaka again.
Syaoran watched the couples uncomfortably and had turned around to leave as well when a small hand found its way into his own. Syaoran looked down to find Sakura gazing intently at him. She drew him back toward the bonfire. He did not resist when Sakura placed both of his hands gently on her hips and her own around his shoulders.
For a time, Sakura and Syaoran swayed gently in –time with the music, drawn only to the depths of each others eyes.
At first Syaoran held Sakura lightly and impersonally, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. Before too long however, Sakura closed the space between them, tucking her head gently beneath his chin. Syaoran flinched initially, and then at last when he relaxed, his arms came up from Sakura's waist in favour of wrapping around her delicate shoulders.
And for a while, they became oblivious to their surroundings; to the other dancing couples, to the crowds of people that watched…they could no longer even hear the music, only the sound of the other's soft even breathing…
They were no longer really dancing; merely shuffling their feet slowly when Sakura finally pulled away from under Syaoran's chin and gazed serenely into his soft amber eyes. She could sense an uncanny power drawing her into them from their depths and she realised that she could become lost in them…but she was not afraid.
She slowly closed her eyes and gently reached for him.
Syaoran hesitated only for a moment; knowing in the deepest part of his mind that there was a reason…a reason he shouldn't…but gazing at Sakura's delicate lips that moment, he had forgotten what that was…
Syaoran leaned slowly toward Sakura, his arms drawing her slowly toward him.
He could feel her soft lips grazing his own when…
The band struck a loud chord, signalling the first beat of another lively song. People cheered and flooded once more into the dancing area.
Sakura and Syaoran started in surprise and gave short unnerved laughs. They had been so…distracted they hadn't even realised that the last song had ended long ago and another had already begun.
"Um…"Sakura began, feeling awkward.
"Uh…yeah…" Syaoran murmured, likewise.
"Hey…I didn't even notice when it got dark, did you?"
"No," Syaoran replied. True enough, the sky was an even black, dotted sporadically with the pinprick light of stars.
"Yeah and…the moon is out so I guess the night festivities are gonna start soon and…" Sakura trailed off.
Syaoran had stopped dead in his tracks. He dropped Sakura's arms and stared at her in horror.
"Syaoran…what's…wrong with you?" Sakura asked fearfully.
Syaoran stared wildly up at the darkened sky. When he found what he was looking for; dreading, he cursed.
"I…have to leave!!" Syaoran shouted wildly, panic- stricken.
Sakura blinked at him uncertainly. "What?...Syaoran…right now? Why?"
"I…" Syaoran spat angrily, impatiently, "I just have to!!"
Sakura was stung by the sharpness of his tone. It had that familiar icy edge to it, just like he had when they had first met…
"Oh…okay, but the night festivities haven't even started yet…"
"I'm sorry!" Syaoran said with cold finality. He turned around without a backward glance at Sakura and ran through the crowd.
Sakura tried to follow him, calling out to him, "But when will I…?"
It was too late. Syaoran had disappeared in the masses of people in the Square. "…See you again…"
Syaoran ran as he had never run before, weaving in and out of the still- crowded streets of Jas'mynn, brushing impatiently past the people and uttering brief apologies as he continued to run.
He had to reach the forest's edge, if any one of these people were to see him fail…
Syaoran dived head first into the Dark Forest's dense cover, concealed at last from watchful eyes. He heaved a sigh of relief and collapsed face- first into an exhausted heap on the snow- covered ground.
A fraction of a moment later, the moon reared its bald, white head above the tree line and sailed tranquilly to its high point, dripping its pearly beams onto the pale ground below. White liquid moon- light leached its way along the surface, illuminating grain by grain of the hard cold earth until it reached the grassy patch where Syaoran lay.
That was…too close for comfort thought Syaoran limply as the familiar jolt of moon light filtered into his blood stream and began to course magically through his body. He had been careless…but he would not let it happen again.
Syaoran, you fool he cursed mentally.
A final electrifying jolt sparked a familiar nerve in the back of his brain and Syaoran screamed in pain.
He felt as though his whole body were being turned inside- out.
……..
Sakura didn't feel much in the mood for the night festivities and it concerned Tomoyo and her father greatly. When they asked her what was wrong, she merely told them that she was tired and wanted to go home. Touya had offered to take her, but she simply shook her head, gathered her things and walked silently away from the Square, away from her friends and family and the festivities.
But Sakura did not walk home. She chose to wander out a little beyond the Jas'mynn town-ship and sit on a log jutting out of the icy ground.
She could see the Dark Forest's looming black outline in the distance.
Sakura looked down momentarily at the winged teddy bear she was clutching. Syaoran's gift. Today she had seen him laugh, felt warm, felt closer than she had felt to anyone else in her entire life….they had almost kissed…
Then she remembered how suddenly his tone had changed; how he had blatantly, coldly refused to stay and then run away from her…it felt like a sharp slap in the face.
Maybe…he really doesn't like me at all… thought Sakura as she stared back at the town-ship where fire works were now billowing noisily from the Square, sending hot sparks into the night sky.
Warm tears fell from Sakura's turquoise eyes as she watched each fire cracker explode in bursts of shattered coloured light, showering down upon the town below.
"Syaoran…" she whispered.
Sakura buried her face in the teddy- bear's furry front and sobbed freely into the night.
Only one being heard her crying that evening….a lone creature with fur as white as the purest snow. It watched the girl from a distance, concealed in shadow so that it's presence would not be known.
The moon glowed ever radiantly in its silent vigil of the night.
Tears fell from amber eyes.
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
DM: Here endeth another chapter! Are you all moved?? * Teehee*
How much do we really know about Syaoran? His seemingly mysterious past? And who is Eriol?
Will the love of Sakura and Syaoran be able to bloom with Syaoran's dark secret in the midst or is it doomed before it begins?
For more adventures of 'Wolf of the Snow' hit the "SUBMIT REVIEW" button now…. C'mon, you know you wanna ^_^