(A/N: Ahhhhhh! I keep trying to write the fantasy elements in here and all this mushy stuff keeps coming out. It's like the story has a mind of it's own. So I hope you like it anyways. But I can guarantee the mystery and magic will be seeping in soon, so enjoy!)
Disclaimer: Once again I own nothing, well except maybe the new characters I've thrown in.
I would of course like to send my love to my reviewers. I know, I know, two people say a few words and I'm jumping for joy. What can I say, I please easily. So thank you to
Dragonstar03
TheMysticWarrior
And now on with the show!!!!!
Crazy in Love
Tomoyo and Meilin were chatting by their lockers early next morning.
"So, did you hear anything from Li about his lab assignment with Sakura? Did anything happen?" Tomoyo questioned.
"I don't know." Meilin responded as she pulled her books from her locker to put them in her back pack. "He was all quiet and brooding from the moment he got back from her place. But let me tell you, I think those two have something going on. Li's never shown a real interest in girls, but yesterday in World History and in Acting I caught him sneaking glances at Sakura. When she wasn't looking, of course."
"How cute! Those two would be so adorable together," Tomoyo gushed.
"Well I know someone who would dispute that. Ben also happened to notice Li's behavior, and somehow I got the feeling he didn't approve."
"I love Ben and all, he's a great guy, but there's no real chemistry between him and Sakura. I just hope if Sakura goes for Li that Ben will let her go."
"Yeah, but even if it looked like Sakura was free, I don't think Li will act on his feelings. He's too restrained in my opinion." Meilin never felt shy to let her opinions be known.
"Then we'll just have to find a way to un-restrain him." Tomoyo stated, giggling.
"Unrestrain who?" A voice interrupted their reverie.
"Sakura!" They yelped.
"What are you doing here so early? The bell hasn't even rung yet." Tomoyo questioned to divert her friend's attention.
"Ugghhh, don't remind me," she groaned. "I had a nightmare and it woke me up. I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to come to school on time."
"What was your nightmare about?" Meilin asked.
"I don't remember all the details. I remember feeling like I was being watched everywhere I went, like invisible eyes were all around. Then it all went dark. There was screaming. People I love were yelling at me to save them but I couldn't find them. I then felt someone grab me. I screamed and woke up."
"Wow, that doesn't sound like a fun way to wake up," Meilin sympathized.
Sakura chuckled. "Yeah, you're telling me."
"Well since you are here already, you can fill us in on what happened with you and Li at your apartment yesterday." Tomoyo prompted.
Sakura had actually being dying to talk to them. Maybe they could explain his wacky behavior. "Li is one of the most..."
The bell chimed, cutting off whatever was about to come from her mouth.
"Oh well, I'll tell you later." She told them as they headed to Physical Science.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura walked into class to discover that Li was already seated at their table. Her heart thudded in her chest as she made her way toward the back. Neither acknowledged the other's presence as she took her seat.
Ms. Mizuki took role and then began to discuss the class's lab leading into the difference in each color of light.
Sure, sure, Sakura's mind thought, red is slow and steady, violet is sharp and hyper. The other *yawn* colors are in between and *yawn* It's kinda interesting…not really…must stay…awake. Sakura struggled but finally gave into the irresistible pull of sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In Sakura dreamland:
Sakura saw a girl almost identical to herself lying in a field of white flowers, gazing at the clear blue sky with streaks of clouds racing across the sky, chased by the wind. Shatiri. The word came to her. Is that her name? Sakura wondered, confused. Shatiri fiddled with the flowing cloth that draped her body, its green white shade highlighting her vibrant eyes. A basket lay next to her only partially filled with fruits and veggies of various natures.
"Oh it's just too lovely a day to work," Shatiri said to herself as she closed her eyes basking in the warm glow of the sun shining upon her. It's so pretty and peaceful, Sakura thought. I wish this place really existed.
Shatiri's face felt the cold absence of light as a figure blocked her from the sun. "Tali, you're blocking my light, and if you think I'm coming back already, I absolutely refuse." Shatiri stated thinking it was her friend Tali who had been sent to retrieve her. Instead of the light feminine reply she expected, she heard a rich baritone rumble, "I'm not Tali."
Shatiri's eyes flew open as she sat up, looking at the man standing above her…It was him. Who? I can't see his face. Why can't I see his face? Sakura thought. But Shatiri could see his face clearly, her heart began to flutter. (A/N: you know when you those dreams where you can't see the person's face but your dreamself doesn't seem to realize that? Yeah that's what this is. And I personally find them quite aggravating.)
Lowering her gaze she said, "I apologize…Lizon." It was Lizon, a man known throughout the town. He was mysterious and kept to himself sparking a natural curiosity in most of the townspeople, most that is. Her family was not of that group. They had expressly forbidden her to be anywhere near his presence, but never giving a reason why. But in reality this only drew her to him. Whenever they passed by in the street her eyes couldn't help but follow him.
"Hello Shatiri," Lizon whispered softly, sending chills up her spine. But she still refused to look at him.
"I have to go back," she mumbled as she pushed herself up off the ground. But she lost her footing. Hey she's clumsy like me, Sakura giggled. Shatiri covered her face expecting the pain of the fall. Instead sturdy arms caught her about the waist, steadying her. She could feel the heat seeping from his arms through her drape. Trying to keep her voice from shaking, "Please let go." There must have been a whole herd of butterflies flying in her stomach at this point. Herd? Do butterflies travel in herds? Or is it flocks? Droves? Pods? Maybe schools? Sakura's mind rambled. She could feel everything Shatiri was feeling, and it was making her mind spin.
Instead of releasing Shatiri, Lizon turned her around to face him asking," Why?"
"It's not proper. You know my family wouldn't approve. I've told you that many times."
"But do you approve?"
"…"
He pulled her closer.
"I have to go back," she weakly protested. "I can't be alone with you. Tanac would kill you if he ever found out."
Lizon's body tightened," Who's Tanac? Your betrothed?' he questioned.
A small giggle escaped from her lips. "He's my brother."
"Oh you mean the one who always glares at me at the temple whenever I pass you?"
"Yes."
"Shatiri, I don't care about the consent of your family. I only care about yours."
Shatiri didn't reply knowing that her response would betray her family's wishes, but she felt her resolve weakening. She didn't understand why but something about Lizon made it seem like she could survive without her family, as long as she was with him.
Lizon reached out and placing his hand along her cheek, he raised her face. Ohhhh, someone's about to get hooked up, Sakura's mind squealed. Whatever little resistance Shatiri had given melted away as she looked into his eyes. She saw his desire, his determination, and his love. Her heart skipped a beat. Lizon loved her! Her whole body shivered with delight as she felt him brush his thumb across her lower lip, then began to bow his head toward hers…
The image began to blur like when water gushes down a painting, all the colors dripping and swirling into a distorted blob. Hey what gives, the action was finally getting started. Hmph, my subconscious obviously hates me. *Mentally sticks out her tongue.* Wait, my subconscious is a part of me, so did I just stick my tongue out at myself. I'm so confused. My mind works in mysterious ways.
Sakura's ramblings were brought to a halt when the swirl of colors in her head began to form into a new image.
It was nighttime, rain was beating upon the earth, lightning flashed across the darkened sky, a web of electricity trapping the clouds. Thunder raged, a deafening sound. Two figures were running on a muddy path.
"He's getting closer!" one shouted. It was Shatiri.
"We're almost there," the second replied, Lizon. "Just hold on."
They continued frantically on, dashing through the abandoned streets of the town till a large structure came into view. They ran inside the shelter of the temple, barring the door behind them. The interior was barely lit by a few prayer candles in the shrine underneath a statue. Holding hands, Shatiri and Lizon approached it, kneeling before the image of a young girl.
"Iris!" they called out in unison. "We beg your help!" Their cries echoed.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOM!" (A/N: Cheesy I know but I'm not good at describing sound effects.)
The doors of the temple rattled and shuddered over something from outside. What's trying to get in? Is that what they are running from? Sakura wondered.
"Please," Shatiri cried.
The temple began to grow less dim, the statue emanating a glow so blinding that the two had to cover their eyes. When they removed their hands from their faces a beautiful young girl was standing before them. All around her was a whirlpool of color, every shade imaginable twisted and twirled around her slender frame. "Don't worry young lovers," she smiled. "Take my hands and you shall be free of him." Him?
The door of the temple again shook, buckling under the pressure. It collapsed just as the three figures faded into the darkness, disappearing.
And in the doorway stood….
"SA-KU-RA!" a voice rang in her ear.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura jumped to a start nearly knocking over the lab table, but Li steadied it. She heard laughter and looking around discovered she was in science class. Ms. Mizuki was the one who had awoken her.
"Glad for you to join the realm of reality, Sakura. Now if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you stayed awake. I'd like to think I'm not that boring."
Sakura sat down in her chair and tried to focus on class but her mind wavered. What was that dream, it was like something out of "Hercules" or "Xena," gods, temples, weird toga like clothes. Who were Shatiri and Lizon? Shatiri looked so much like me. And Lizon, something is so familiar about him, I wish I could have seen his face. This means something, I know it. I just wish I knew what it was.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"He did what!?!" Meilin squawked in shock. She, Tomoyo, and Sakura were in the girls bathroom during break discussing the odd behavior of Li Syaoran.
"Yeah, you're cousin is a complete lunatic." Sakura stated.
Meilin was actually more in shock over his flirtatious behavior than of his weird fixation with Sakura's necklace. "But the whole mental disorder thing aside, do you like him?' she inquired.
"Haven't you been listening to a word I said. Your cousin is crazy!" Sakura replied, evading the question.
"Yeah crazy in love." Tomoyo muttered. She and Meilin giggled as they saw their friend turn a very bright shade of cherry red.
"You are so not helping." She commented.
"Look, neither of us can explain why he thought your necklace would place you in danger," Tomoyo started glancing at Meilin for confirmation. "Maybe he has some damsel in distress complex and wants to save you so he made one up in his head. Who knows. But that doesn't matter. What does is that it sounds like the two of you are attracted to one another."
"Major attraction." Meilin piped up.
"What! To him? …Now you two have gone psycho as well, to think I would be attracted to someone like him. Ridiculous. Does anyone have an ounce of sanity they can lend to my friends?" Sakura asked to the empty bathroom.
Tomoyo and Meilin struggled to keep from laughing as their friend indignantly protested feelings for Li.
"Sure. Sure. Whatever you say Sakura," they placated as they steered her out of the bathroom.
As they left one of the stall doors opened to reveal a very pissed off Tara standing there. Guess the bathroom wasn't so empty after all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Whew, what a day." Meilin sighed as they were approaching their lockers.
"This day seemed to go on till eternity," Sakura agreed as she took her History book from her bag, replacing it with Physical Science. "I can't wait to go home."
"Me too."
"Acting was rather entertaining though."
"Did you see the expressions' on Li's and Ben's faces when Mr. Skourin to take on the personalities of a tea set! The stuffy British accents they used were hilarious. I didn't even know Li had it in him. Though I'm not sure why Mr. Skourin would think imitating inanimate objects would be a useful acting skill."
"I have no clue either."
"What about you Tomoyo?" Meilin asked.
"…"
"Tomoyo?" Sakura repeated. Hearing no response, both she and Meilin turned to find their friend silent before her locker with a leather notebook and note in hand. She looked at the two of them, back at the note, then back at them.
Almost at a whisper Tomoyo said, "Let's go to my house. I think we need to talk."
Although they were perplexed, Meilin and Sakura shut their lockers and followed their friend out to the parking lot.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N: Well there it is, Chapter….well whatever chapter this is. It may be a little while before I can add on to it, research papers are fun aren't they. Notice the sarcasm. But I will do the best I can. So while I'm toiling away on my paper please be so kind as to review, any comments or questions are welcome!)