Can someone claim sleep deprivation if meds keep them up at odd hours of the night cause that's what I feel like. My internal clock has gone off the charts. Anyhoo, here is the end to the cliffhanger. I hope you like the chapter it's a bit wacky.
Love to:
TheMysticWarrior: sorry couldn't help it. The chapter was getting soooooo long.
Sunel: Ahhh a partner in sickness. Well your wish has been granted, another chapter
Feathers1: You know I never realized that this was mysterious. Whoopsie. Forget that there's hidden info in here! Hehe.
Dragonstar03: are those the only words you know by any chance? Hehe.
Disclaimer:I don't own it, I just use it.
Contact with a Live Wire
"Can I cut in?" a voice like stone slapped Li and Sakura back to reality. They turn to see Ben standing, Dr. Peppers in hand, looking quite unsettled to say the least.
Li and Sakura jumped apart, noticing a crowd had gathered around them. Sakura noticed Tomoyo in the corner camera at the ready to catch a possibly dramatic moment. And the way things were looking, the night just might end with blood. If looks could kill, both Ben and Li would no longer be existing in this realm. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity until Ben finally glanced away, only to take Sakura's hand, pulling her toward him.
Li looked down at their clasped hands and turned around, leaving…and Sakura almost went after him. What has gotten into me? Ben is my date, he just told me he loves me, and I almost go chasing after Li. Why the hell would I do that? A little voice in her head chirped a reply. Me and him? Oh no! Uh-huh. No! Uh-huh. Shut up! But no matter how she felt toward Li, she knew she had to tell Ben she didn't love him in a romantic way. Okay, just let him down gently. Ben is an understanding guy…I hope.
Sakura opened her mouth when
"Hey you two!" Tomoyo shouted.
"Sorry to interrupt." Meilin chirped.
"But we need to borrow Sakura a moment." And before either Sakura or Ben could reply, Sakura found herself being dragged off to the girl's bathroom.
Once inside they released her.
"Guys, what did you do that for? I had something really important to tell Ben." Sakura questioned slightly frazzled over the quick changes that kept happening that night.
"Well, we figured now would be a good time to have a little pow-wow about your guy situation, especially with that near fight. Too bad neither of them took a swing. I had my camera going and everything. It would have made a wonderful action soap opera. Young girl in between two hot guys who…"
"Tomoyo snap out of it." Meilin ordered. "Focus, we have a mission."
Tomoyo shook the stars from her eyes. They then turned on Sakura asking, "So, Sakura, do you mind filling us in on what was going on there between you and Li. It got just a bit steamy there; people around you even stopped dancing just to watch, quite a show."
"You're kidding right," her voice squeaked.
Tomoyo whipped out the camera and showed playback.
Sakura blushed at the sight, remembering the feel of Li's body against her back. She then groaned seeing the near conflict. "What am I going to do? Ben told me he loves me and..." she broke off.
"And?" Tomoyo prompted.
"I don't feel the same way," Sakura confessed.
"Cause of my cousin?"
"No Meilin! I…" They give her the sideways glance. "Well…I don't know. Maybe." They cheered. "But what am I going to do about Ben. I mean he just saw the girl he just told he loves with her ass in some other guy's lap about to kiss."
"Li almost kissed you!?!?" Meilin squawked, thinking Damn my cousin doesn't seem to waste any time, whoda thought.
"So not helping!"
"Sorry," she amended.
"You have to tell him." Tomoyo pronounced.
"I was about to when you dragged me in here. I'm just so confused." Sakura looked off in the distance.
"About what?" Tomoyo asked.
"Where do I begin? There's Ben's unrequited love, the whole Li thing, the weird letter about the end of the world, funky dreams, and then this crazy night…"
"Okay, okay we get the point." Meilin stated, slightly worried about the blue tint in Sakura's face as she was about to run out of breath.
"Mostly I am confused about Li." Sakura admitted, speaking slowly. "I've only known him a few weeks, but something is so familiar about him, like I've met him before. And when he touches me," she shivered at the thought, "It's like being in contact with a live wire, sparks everywhere."
"Awwwwwwww, how adorable!" Tomoyo squealed grabbing hands with Meilin.
"Has Sakura found her one?" Meilin teased as she as Tomoyo jumped up and down.
"Oh please, gag me." A bitter voice cut through their reverie.
The girls spun around to see Tara emerging from a stall. (She seems to have a thing for hanging out in bathroom stalls, doesn't she?)
"With pleasure." Meilin icily replied. "Do you prefer a sock or a bandana? I personally don't care as long as it shuts you up."
Tara glared at her then turned on Sakura, "Let's get one thing straight. The only one who will be having any contact with Li is me. He is mine."
"Ummm Tara darling, do you have alshymers(A/N: sorry can't find correct spelling)?" Meilin asked like a nurse questioning her forgetful patient.
"What the hell are you blabbering about?"
"You mean you don't remember when you went up to Li earlier this evening and asked him to dance? What was his reply again?" Meilin innocently asked.
"Oh that's right," Tomoyo said joining in. "He said, 'I don't dance.'"
"Funny he didn't seem to have a problem dancing with Sakura." Meilin smiled as Tara's face flushed with rage.
"You little bitch." Tara hissed at Sakura. What? I didn't say anything. "This is your last warning. Stay away from Li. He belongs to me." And with that she stormed out.
"That girl needs to lighten up." Meilin proclaimed.
"Maybe a Prozac would help." Tomoyo suggested.
"Try about 50." Sakura joined in, all of them laughing as they left. What an interesting night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Whew! The night is finally over, Sakura thought as she stared at the ceiling of Meilin's living room. She, Tomoyo, and Meilin were sprawled about the many couches. Meilin and Tomoyo had chatted themselves to sleep awhile ago leaving Sakura alone to her thoughts.
All in all the evening didn't end too badly. Too badly, her mind chuckled. The night was crazy. Plain and simple. But at least there was no bodily damage.
A little after the Ben and Li incident the dance had concluded. So through a very awkward limo ride, Sakura tried to think of ways to break the news to Ben but never had the chance. He was the first to be dropped off and he kissed her cheek goodbye and dashed out the door before she could even mutter a word. And to top things off, Li ignored her in the limo and then at Meilin's, refusing to meet her gaze. Oh well, she thought, the whole dance thing must have been a fluke. Her heart ached at the thought. It had been too real to her to just be a random occurrence. Or so she hoped as she rolled over and shut her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In Sakura dreamland:
Sakura found herself standing in lush garden lit by the moon and the imposing palace that loomed above. She looked down to find herself wearing the peach gown from the dream the night before. Sophia? Sakura's mind questioned.
Sophia wandered through the blossoming orchard feeling the warm breeze tease her hair and rustle her dress. After the accident on the dance floor, Sophia had thought it best to stay away from the ballroom for a while. Besides, there was only one she wanted to dance with, and he had vanished.
She looked up at the night sky twinkling with stars, like a dark cloth sprayed with fairy dust.
"Lovely night isn't it."
Sophia turned around to find the man she had just been thinking about. Ah, Wolf guy. Nice mask, Sakura's mind giggled.
"Yes." She replied a little startled, but pleased. "The sky is so beautiful this time of year, no clouds.
"You never introduced yourself." The Wolf started.
"Neither did you." She shot back. Hmmm, I'm sensing tension.
"Then would you grace me with that information."
"I cannot oblige," she teased. "You wouldn't want me to break the rules, now would you?" Sophia pouted. She's flirting! Did girls back in that era even know how to flirt?
"Okay," he growled." Play by the rules. At least tell me your first name."
"I am Sophia."
"…"
"And you would be?" She questioned as he remained silent.
"Oh, but that would be breaking the rules. You wouldn't want me to do that. I could get in trouble with the etiquette police."
Sophia was not sure whether to laugh or do the unladylike action of slapping him. I vote for the abuse.
"I meant your first name." Sophia grumbled.
"Oh, touchy." He laughed then obligingly replied, "My name is Leonce."
There was another silence. They knew what they wanted next. Is it dirty? Sakura's mind questioned. Why do they seem so nervous? Their desires were to see each others faces. Sakura nearly collapsed, mentally of course.
Wordlessly, as they looked at each other, they untied their masks. Grrrr! He's standing in the shadow of a tree. Why can't I ever see the guys in my dreams? Life is punishing me!
"HOW ADORABLE!" Rang through the garden.
Sophia looked behind her to find Marianne and Theresa a distance away, spying. 'Oh, the nerve of them. Really!" she thought.
She turned back to apologize for her friends, but Leonce was nowhere to be found. Her mask was gone, but in its place was his, the heat still radiating from it. Would she ever meet him again?
A gust blew through the garden. The image blurred and faded into darkness. Sakura heard yelling and jeering. She blinked and found herself standing in front of a platform, a mob of a crowd surrounding. Sophia stood next to her dead still, staring at the people on the platform. She was dressed rather plainly, her hair pulled into a simple bun; her stoic attire matching her expression. All except her eyes, which were swimming with tears. What is going on? These people have gone bonkers, as the crowd yelled an assortment of insults pushing each other trying to get a better view.
What the heck is that thing? Sakura's mind questioned at the contraption in front of her. I've seen it before somewhere. It hit her. It's a guillotine. She gulped. She noticed Sophia begin to tremble as a brown haired man was brought forward. Leonce! Sakura couldn't see his face but see knew it was him.
Oh god they are going to kill him! And the crowd is cheering for it! Her stomach lurched at the scene in front of her.
Sophia's strength began to crumble as the executioner knelt Leonce in front of the machine designed for death. Instinctively she brought her hand to her swelling stomach protectively. Swelling stomach? Sakura thought. She's pregnant! And noticing the band on her left hand, she's married…to Leonce. They're gonna kill her husband! Right in front of her!
Noooooooo! Sakura screamed as she pushed through the crowd, trying to reach the platform in time. She heard the release of the rope, reaching the top of the stairs in time to see the blade come down.
THUD
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura awoke with a start, tears streaming down her face. They killed him. How could they? She seemed to have forgotten that it was a dream. To her it was as real as any memory. She could still hear the roaring of the crowd in her ears. And feel the oppressive heat of the people surrounding her. And most of all, the smell of blood. That sickly sweet smell, it was everywhere. Uh-oh.
Sakura jumped up running to the bathroom, making it in time to throw up. Ugh. She then felt someone hold back her hair.
When she was done, a cup of water came into her field of vision. "Thanks." She said, rinsing out her mouth before taking a sip. Then she looked up to see who had aided her, finding amber eyes staring back. Li?
"You alright?"
She could only nod in response.
"Come with me." And then he started to leave. Huh? Where are we going?
Sakura found herself being led to the kitchen.
"Sit."
She did as ordered, placing her self on a stool by the counter watching Li pull out a ginger ale and some saltine crackers.
"That's okay." Sakura mumbled shakily. "I'm alright now. It was just a dream."
Li came over all the same placing the comfort foods on the counter in front of her. He asked, "A dream made you sick? Must have been pretty bad."
He's talking to me! Her heart began to race. "Yeah, I saw someone get killed. It was like out of a history book or something. But everything was so vibrant and real. And there was this woman and they killed her…" Sakura trailed off as a tear rolled down her cheek, quickly followed by a flood.
"Shhhh. It's okay." Then Li wrapped his arms protectively about her, stroking her back soothingly. Good thing for flannel pajamas or he would not have been successful at calming her down (a shock from skin to skin contact.)
"I don't even know why it's affecting me this much," Sakura mumbled into his chest. His heart's pounding. Is he nervous?
"Maybe it was because there was a guillotine." Li stiffened. "It was so barbaric. Wait, didn't they use that during the French revolution?"
For a while he didn't reply. She's already had that dream. Time's running out. But I guess there is no harm in telling her, she hasn't made the connection yet. "Yes, they used it as the 'humane' way to kill. The French Revolution started out organized with a purpose, and the murders were mostly organized. People were killed for the cause. But then it began to fall apart. Chaos took over, fear and panic seeped into the hearts of the people. It was known as the Reign of Terror. A sort of madness took over, and almost anyone became a target. There was so much blood shed as people killed neighbors, friends, even family fearing they were 'the enemy." Sakura shuddered and Li held her tighter.
Li stood there thinking. She's starting to remember but at least not everything. But eventually she will. I need to get that star away from her soon. But willingly, a voice in his head said. If you take it now she'll only chase after it. It could still end the same way. Find a way to convince her. Then gather them all and destroy the bastard. Li couldn't wait till that day of reckoning. He could be with her when that day came. A warm feeling filled his body. He felt Sakura stir in his arms; she had fallen asleep, standing up no less.
Li picked her up gently, cradling her in his arms as he carried her back to the living room. He settled her gently on the sofa placing the covers over her sleeping form. He reached out a hand, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. One day Sakura he thought. His lips brushed across her forehead causing her to stir. And with that Li left. (A/N: and the mushy moments keep on flowing.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Monday following the dance, Sakura found herself wandering the halls of school early. Another weird dream had kept her from sleeping well. She turned the corner and saw that Meilin and Tomoyo were already at their lockers.
They saw her, at first surprised but then a knowing look passed both their faces. "Another dream?" Tomoyo asked already knowing the answer. Sakura just nodded.
"So have you had the chance to talk to Ben?" Meilin questioned.
"No, I don't want to do it over the phone, but…"
Squeak-squeak
"Odd, I thought I just heard something squeaking." All three scratched their heads, but hearing no more of the sound she continued, "Anyways, Ben has been..."
Squeak-Squeak-Squeak.
"There it is again." Meilin said.
"It sounded like it came from the direction of your locker." Tomoyo said pointing to Sakura's locker.
Ever so slowly the three crept toward her locker; placing her ear against the door Sakura could hear something moving inside. *gulp* A ghost? An old gym sock with a life of its own? A science experiment gone bad? Sakura's mind panicked with the possibilities.
Sakura twirled the numbers on her lock, and then taking a deep breath flung open the door. And inside was……………….
……………….
……………….(wonder what it is?)
……………….
……………….(you'll never guess!)
……………….
……………….(I'm mean aren't I?)
……………….
……………….(keep scrolling)
……………….
……………….(almost there)
A golden teddy bear hamster running on its wheel!
All three fell to the floor in shock. Then jumped back up squealing over the adorable furball running around its cage.
"Oooooooooh, it's so cute and fluffy." Sakura cooed.
The hamster hearing the girls stopped running and approached the cage walls, blinking his black beady eyes, nose twitching with excitement. Then he began to climb the cage walls until he reached the top where he let go and plopped to the ground. The girls shrieked. But then saw he shook himself off and began to repeat the action.
"Well I'll be…. The thing is suicidal." Meilin said struggling not to laugh. "Is he yours?"
"No. I have no idea where he came from or why he's in my locker." Sakura admitted. I wonder who put him here. Our lockers must be pretty easy to break into. First a journal in Tomoyo's locker and now a hamster cage in mine. What's next? A whole circus squished into Meilin's?
"So do you like him?
Sakura found herself with Ben standing next to her. "I remembered how you said you like hamsters and always wanted one."
"That's sweet. But why did you put one in my locker?" She was having a hard time figuring this all out.
"I wanted to thank for the dance, I had a wonderful time." Sakura's mouth dropped on his response. Hello I nearly kissed another guy that night!
"Well thank you but I can't accept this. It's too much."
"Please. I heard you guys gushing over him, keep him."
"Thanks, but right now I think I need to talk to you about something important. You see, about the other night…"
"Oh, Sakura look at the time. I gotta run. See you later." Ben gave a kiss on her cheek and ran down the hall, leaving a stuttering Sakura.
Tomoyo patted Sakura on the back, "I think telling him is not going to be easy." Really, ya think! Sarcasm dripping from her mental words.
"So what are you going to do with the suicidal ball of fluff?" Meilin asked.
"Keep him I guess. At least it will make Toya grumpy; he's not big on cute things. I'll need to think of a name." Sakura said.
"Fluffy"
"Crazy"
"Cheeky" Meilin prompted noticing the creature stuff its cheeks full of food.
"How about Kero?" Sakura suggested.
"How did that name come to mind?" Tomoyo asked.
"Not sure. Maybe I heard it on TV or something."
And with that, the adorable hamster donned the name Kero. His favorite hobbies included: eating, sleeping, trying to escape, and hording mass amounts of food. How cute!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The days flew by and Sakura never managed to be alone with Ben for more than a second and the stress was getting to her. She knew the longer it took the chances of him getting hurt increased. But he was avoiding her, without seeming like it of course.
"I can't take much more of this." Sakura wailed to her friends as they headed to their lockers for the end of the day.
"I didn't think the guy could run that fast." Meilin giggled at Ben's last exit. He had actually run from Sakura!
"I finally got to the 'I don't' part, but at this rate it will take weeks to just tell him I don't feel the same way toward him." She sighed placing her head on the cool metal door of the locker.
Tomoyo's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Look, another letter." Sure enough in her hands was another note.
Getting their things they all went to the parking lot. But instead of going to someone's house they decided to go to the beach to read it. It was a nice day, cool but calm. Their sweaters would keep them warm.
Once there, they got a blanket out of the car and walked out on the sand. Laying it out they sat, waiting for Tomoyo to read what the letter contained. Sakura looked out at the cold gray color of the ocean and shivered. It looked ominous, like a shadow of metal that could swallow them up easily.
"Okay here goes:
Tomoyo,
I decided to wait for a little while before writing this to give time to adjust to the idea of being a guardian. Would it be safe to assume that Sakura and Meilin are there with you?*gasp* Trust your judgment, it will lead you to two of the other guardians as well. The last though, will reveal itself in time. For now you need to focus on obtaining the crystals.
Each of you will have a crystal, each one representing the different colors in the spectrum of light and each corresponds with a specific element of our world. But the stars have to be activated for you to gain that power.
The first is the Crimson Star, whose red hue has power over the element of fire.
The second is the Tangerine Star, its orange color rules over earth.
The third is yellow, the Citrine Star carrying sway over the air element.
The fourth is the blue Sapphire Star who controls the water of this world.
The fifth is the Emerald Star, the green shade holding power over lightning.
The sixth and last is the Amethyst Star who holds power over the spirit.
This lifetime will be different then the ones before it, the place to find the stars has changed. An incident from the last lifetime is the source of this. Only when the element strikes will they be revealed to you. Be on your guard for Loki may try an attack to test your strength. You must work on your journal. I'll be in touch. Stay safe.
Your guide
The girls were silent staring out at the ocean. So, I can control water with this little crystal? Well, when it's activated, supposedly. Sakura still wondered if they were being strung along. But her dreams were beginning to make her question. Were they actually memories of other lifetimes and not just dreams? They were so vivid and detailed. And I was never very good with history, yet I dreamt about the French Revolution, even the Palace of Versailles. She had done some research, the ballroom she had dreamed of and the garden, looked exactly like the photos on the Net. Things are getting freaky.
They knew they needed to talk, and they would. But it would be for later. Right now they just needed to think. By themselves.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So there it is, all done and nicely printed and packaged. So now you can tell what you think. What can I say, I crave opinions, they are my life force. So if you want me to stay alive to continue this you know what to do. Don't care what you say, I love reading them. So use the button down there please.