Ahhhhhhh! Look at how long this chapter is! It is ginormous. I am not sure how I feel about how it turned out, but its got important info so here it is.
I enjoyed the reviews immensely. I always get all happy and bouncy reading them, which of course can cause problems like my chair rolling away or me falling off the chair. But that's my life. Always an adventure. Thank you:
MusicalMooky: You wrote a review for each chapter, even the prologue! So happy. Thank you for the detailed reviews. You smart cookie.\
Starsakura: how many greats was that again?
Watery: will do so, or at least I hope I keep writing.
CoolCat10988: No worries. I am too lazy to kill myself.
Dragonstar03: you spoke more! So proud.
Sunel: would I not be considered a dudette considering my gender. hehe
TheMysticWarrior Aww, that's sooooo sweet. And I have no clue how I'm still writin cause I got major writer's block. It's a mystery.
Disclaimer: I do not own it.
Hamster Stir-fry
(A/N: I realize the whole dream thing is slightly odd. You may wonder why Sakura's perspective changes from watching in the dream to experiencing what the character is experiencing. I did this because that is how my dreams are, half the time I'm experiencing, the other half it's like I'm watching a movie or something. I thought I'd go for realism, hehe.)
A few nights later in Sakura dreamland:
Sakura could see a young girl about the age of six playing on the banks of a river, her cotton dress flapping in the summer breeze. Her vibrant green eyes twinkled as she picked up random wildflowers growing around her bare feet. A town of straw hovels could be seen a few miles away. A modest little town of England, her home, but not her original one. She had been separated from her family during the Second Great War and was now living in an orphanage during a break in the constant fighting that plagued her country.
The girl was skipping and twirling, imagining her dream prince coming to take her away to her family when a gravelly voice said, "Well lookee what we have here lads, our own little dancing princess to welcome us."
She turned and saw five men trudging along the banks toward her. Bandits! They were a common appearance in this area. She opened her mouth to scream a warning, but the man who spoke roughly clasped a hand over her mouth silencing her cries. The other four men circled her and her captor, sickly grinning. Oh you bastards, get away from her! Sakura thought but knowing nothing she did or said could change the past.
As one began to reach for her dress, the frightened girl bit on the hand of the man holding her. He yelped releasing her for a moment. But a moment was all she needed as she ducked between the other men running for her life. She could hear their yells of protest as they drew closer. She began to scream, "BANDITS! THERE ARE BANDITS! HELP! BAN-" Her cries were cut off as one of them tackled her to the floor.
"Now you are going to be the first of this town to pay." He growled. He pulled out a knife, its sharp blade glittering in the midday sun. Don't you dare touch her! Sakura wanted to cry. The young girl let out a wail, her soul crying for the right to live as all went dark.
Sakura was in tears, her body shaking with the fear that had been overflowing in the young girl. When the tears stopped streaming, her vision appeared showing a change in location. Trying to shake off the last incident, she looked around. WOW, she thought craning her neck to see an enormous stone castle looming above her with pennants blazing in bold shades of green and gold. Many men could be seen standing on the parapets observing the town milling about below. One main road led from the gates surrounding the town to the gates of the castle, and on that dirt road were two soldiers in green and gold half dragging half carrying a girl of about twenty who seemed to be protesting her treatment quite vivaciously.
"Put me down you insolent oafs!" Her voice sharp enough to cut through the glass. The soldiers were wincing but neither loosened their holds nor stopped taking her toward the castle. "Release me this instant!" Someone is very unhappy to say the least, Sakura commented with a wry smile.
"Miss," one growled as the woman swung and shrieked, "We have orders to escort all maidens with brown hair and green eyes of your age to the castle of Lord Levant."
"You can tell Lord whoever that I politely decline his offer to visit." Politely? Sakura questioned. I'd say more sarcastically.
"It is not a request. It is an order." The other spat back. He and his partner would be more than thrilled when this search was called off so he wouldn't have to deal with anymore of these nitwit maidens.
They managed to drag her through the opened gates, past the courtyard, down many winding corridors and up several flights of stairs finally reaching two wood doors with the golden seal of a dragon encircling a sword and crown on its green surface. They pushed the heavy doors open revealing a massive chamber. Yikes you could probably fit several houses in here! A few windows along with several lit fires showed it to be the main hall of the castle. Several lower tables were littered with random people. The walls were covered in colorful tapestries to keep out the chill as well as brighten the atmosphere. But it was none of these that the men had forced the woman in here for. They marched her toward the elevated dais where a smaller raised table sat, at it were placed a few people surrounding a powerful looking man. Their conversation ended abruptly as the woman's shrieks cut through the din of the hall.
The woman gave a final wrench and managed to escape the guards grasp only to end up falling to the floor. But realizing that she was in front of nobles she stayed crouched in a kneeling position. 'I may be a peasant but I do know manners,' she thought keeping her eyes and face trained toward the ground.
"Your lordship," One of the guards called. "We have found another maiden fitting the description you asked for."
"Thank you." Lord Levant said, dismissing them but they only retired a few feet away. "What is your name?" he questioned the figure kneeling below him.
"Saryanne Kensington, your lordship." A small but strong voice emerged.
"Why did you not willingly come forth when this search was announced?"
"I had not known of it, your lordship. I was not spoken to in my town, so I never heard of important news. See?" She said bringing up her hand to reveal a tattoo of a star with a sword through it, the sign to fight off demons. "My town has shunned me."
"My lord, I do not think this is the one." A sandy haired man stated coming forward.
"Silence Sir Bartholomew. I will handle this. Why were you shunned?" Lord Levant asked stepping around the table toward Saryanne.
"There was an incident when I was a child, your lordship, but I do not remember it. It is said that I was being attacked by bandits and when the townspeople arrived hearing my cries they only found me huddled in a ball crying surrounded by five drowned men. No one could explain it except that I had been possessed by demons. So they tattooed me, kicked me out to a far hut where they drop off food every so often." Sakura was surprised at the lack of bitterness in the woman's voice, but this was the life Saryanne was used to. At least she wasn't starving or being attacked which was much better than others had it, or at least she thought so.
"Drowned you say?" Lord Levant seemed intrigued by that one detail. Saryanne merely nodded, waiting to be kicked at or scorned by those in the castle. She had found many in her lifetime that would take drastic measures to try to rid her of the 'demons,' another reason for her to stay in her little town, shunned but safe.
But no one did any of that and what the lord did next surprised her. "Look up," Lord Levant commanded. Saryanne had not realized that he had moved so close to her and the lack of distance made her wonder why a lord would get near a peasant. She found herself unable to comply with the request. Saryanne was in for a bigger shock as she felt a hand slip under her chin, tilting her face to look right into his eyes.
Instant recognition.
'Lizon? He's real, not just from my dreams?' Wait she dreams of Lizon too? The two stayed like that, the lord bent over, the girl kneeling looking up. The court began to murmur at the scene before them in wonder until…
"You're here!" rang through the hall. Saryanne felt herself knocked over by someone who pulled her into a hug. "Shatiri." The woman whispered. Saryanne, mouth agape turned to the woman holding her realizing who it was. "T-Tali?" She stuttered. 'They were real! They are real. They...' and with that Saryanne blacked out.
When she came to, she found herself in a small bedroom lit by a single candle. There were no windows so she could not even guess what time it was. Saryanne then realized the clothes she had on were not her own. She was wearing a simple cotton sleeping shift and laying a chair away was not her own wool rags but a beautiful dress of midnight blue velvet. Getting up, she fingered the rich fabric, feeling the weight of it in her hands, dazzled by the sparkling silver threads that twinkled in the bodice and sleeves. Cotton and wool had been the fabrics of her life, but this…well this was not for her. This was the dress of a lady not a peasant.
But what was she to do? She couldn't just wander the halls dressed as she was, and she definitely did not want to sit here in this unknown place. So making a decision she slipped the dress on over her head, the weight of the material forming a barrier against the outside the world.
She opened the door, peeking into the hallway. Finding no one she stepped out and began to search the empty corridors. 'What is going on here? Where are Tali and Lizon? Lizon.' Saryanne blushed at his name. For all of these years she had thought him to be a figment of her imagination, her prince charming who would love and protect her. She had involved him in fantasies of adventure and romance, and it had been okay because he was imaginary. But now he wasn't and that confused her.
"…but does she know what her memories mean?" Saryanne stopped at the words of male's voice a few doors down. It was calm with a hint of hidden humor laced in it.
"From the sound of it she does not. She may have recognized myself and Lady Tarice from the first life, but she does not even realize what the death of those bandits mean. They were killed by water…her power." Another male voice replied. "Lord Levant,' she realized. 'But what does he mean by my power?'
Saryanne edged closer to the doorway looking in to see two men and two women sitting at a small table in deep discussion.
"I think we should go speak to her immediately to discover what she knows," A fiery female suggested.
"Lady Melissa, you know very well that she is asleep at this very moment. The poor girl fainted from the shock. She must be exhausted, especially after how those guards treated her." Saryanne recognized her as Tali, the friend from her dreams.
"Lady Tarice, my guards brought her unharmed to us. We should be thankful considering how violently she protested coming." Lord Levant retorted.
"It took three years, but we are nearly assembled." Lady Melissa commented with a small smile.
"We need to find her star, and soon," the other man spoke, "Rumors are flying of how the family feuds in the southern lands are heating, war may break and if it does it could spread to all of England. The chaos is growing."
"You are correct Lord Edward, we are running out of time. Lady Tarice, please fetch our guest." Lord Levant ordered.
As Lady Tarice made the move to leave, Saryanne stepped in the doorway saying "I'm sorry my lords and ladies, there is no need." She bowed her head since she felt she could not kneel in such a dress.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura awoke from her slumber, rubbing her eyes groggily trying to remember what she was had just seen in her mind. Are these memories from other lifetimes? And if so, who are the people? They seem to reoccur as well, but I can't figure out who they are. It's like their presences are blocked. But I feel I should know them. (A/N: I know Sakura's being dense but hey its in her character)
Sakura shook the thoughts from her head. It was obvious the answers were not going to magically drop from the sky. My brain is too slow for all this junk, she grumpily thought as she got dressed. Before leaving her room she took a last glimpse in the mirror noticing the solemn expression her face wore, so uncharacteristic. But with a reasonable cause, she had finally managed to plan a day together with Ben so she could tell him how she truly felt. She sighed closing the door hoping he accepted her answer. His friendship meant a lot to her; she prayed that today was not the day she would lose it.
She loved him, she really did. But she was not in love with him and that was unfair. How could she hold on to him? He was a good guy who deserved someone to love him back in the same way. She just hoped he could see it that way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura and Ben sat in a booth on the Ferris Wheel overlooking the ocean below, it's blue green depths shimmering in the midday sun. Okay Sakura told herself, now is the perfect time to tell him since he cannot run away like the last times.
Ben reached out to take hold of her hand but Sakura pulled back saying, "Ben we need to talk."
He opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him a wave of her hand. She couldn't let him weasel out of it this time. "Ben, you have to know how much you mean to me. Your friendship means the world to me and I am thankful for every moment I have shared with you. But it is not fair to you for me to continue letting you believe a falsehood. I love you, I truly do; but I am not in love with you. You deserve much more than I could ever give, returning your love in the way you wish. I hope this will not change our friendship, but I will understand if it does."
Sakura noticed the water in Ben's blue eyes, feeling her heart break for the pain she was putting her friend through. He deserves more she told herself. But that did little to make her feel better for her action.
They just sat in silence; the only sounds to be heard were the waves pounding into the sand and the people milling about the park. This amusement park had always held good memories for her and him, and now she was tainting them.
After a few moments she heard a faint whisper filled with restrained anger, "Is it because of him?"
"Him who?" Sakura questioned not understanding.
"Li. Are you with Li?"
Sakura nearly fell out of her seat. Where is this coming from? "No, Li and I are not together. Why would you think that?" She questioned, a slight blush coming to her face.
"I've seen the way he looks at you. So I thought that the reason you don't want to be with me is because you want to be with him." He stated watching her carefully seeing what her eyes might betray.
Sakura knew she wanted Li. After what had happened between them she could not deny it. But she knew that didn't have anything to do with Ben. Actually that is not completely true. Without Li I probably would have kept going out with Ben but I eventually would have realized what was missing between us. The spark is missing. With Ben I am comfortable, with Li it's like standing at the edge of a precipice. I'm on edge, everything heightened. But the uncertainty is what shows we are alive and vulnerable. It's right. "Ben it's not Li at all. There is something missing between us and Li being here or not being here wouldn't change that."
"Do you like him Sakura?"
She froze. "I-I-I don't know." She couldn't lie to him, but she also couldn't tell him the truth, not after she had just rejected him. Sakura saw something flash behind his eyes, like the swish of a shark in the water. But in an instant it was gone leaving behind the hurt understanding of her friend.
"Can we still be friends?" He asked. Sakura let out a sigh of relief, "Hell yeah!" She had been terrified that she would lose him completely, but he was going to stay in her life. They both reached out to hold each other, as if transitioning back from their little romance to their sturdy friendship. It's going to be alright. She thought happily.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
That night:
An image appeared in her mind like a snapshot falling into place. A crystal blue lake surrounded by massive oaks and weeping willows. The sky was filled with puffy cotton clouds contrasting against the brilliant sky. Sakura's vision flew over the land zooming over hills and valleys and towns till it finally reached the castle from the dream before once again in the presence of Saryanne.
It had been several months since when Sakura had last seen this time period. Lord Levant and the others had then begun to tell her of the myth, their roles as the Guardians, that her dreams were really memories from the past. They had made her feel welcomed, they even gave her a place to stay, a title. Lady Tarice had even made her a wardrobe. It was more than any girl like her could have hoped for.
Saryanne awoke with a start her breathing fast. She scrambled out of bed, quickly throwing over a brocade robe to cover her night shift. She scurried down the hall to the war room. Battle had broken out not too far away and she knew that the men would be there planning how they should set up defenses as a precautionary measure.
She rapped lightly on the door waiting to be allowed to come in. When hearing an 'enter' she pushed the door open to find Lord Levant, Lord Edward, and several of the guards seated at a round table, maps scattered upon its length.
Saryanne nearly lost her reason for coming under the gaze of the lord of the castle. She couldn't help but notice his interest in her attire, or rather the lack of it. She could feel her face aflame. Hehe, I certainly can sympathize. Sakura giggled.
Saryanne and Lord Levant were brought back to reality by the voice of Bartholomew, the gentlemen who had protested her being a Guardian months earlier. "Lady Saryanne, why have you come at such a late hour? Are you not resting well?"
Saryanne flinched at her title, she still was not used to be referred to a as lady. But remembering what brought her here, "My lord, I have remembered. I know where to find the Sapphire Star. It lies not too far from here. A few days journey to the south. I could easily travel there and be back within a week."
"You cannot go unescorted, a lady never travels alone," Sir Bartholomew said. He had been very kind to her since that first day, always there to lend a hand or a smile. Saryanne really appreciated his considerate treatment. "I could-" He began.
But Lord Levant cut him off icily, "There is no need for I shall accompany her."
The whole room went silent. Sakura couldn't help but notice that Lord Edward was smirking while Bartholomew definitely was not. The flabbergasted man protested, "But my lord, how can you leave at a time like this?"
"The castle is not under any attack. The fighting does not involve us. Saryanne needs an escort who knows the lay of the land and one who can protect her from all kinds of dangers. Having grown up here I know this area and being a Guardian I can offer more protection than an average soldier." The lord coolly replied. And with that the matter was settled. Saryanne was speaking her thanks but it was drowned out by the sound of pounding.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sakura was awakened by the sound of hammering on her bedroom door. What the hell? she thought as she groggily pulled her covers off.
She opened the door to find an aggravated looking Toya with a wastebasket in hand. A curt "Is… this…Yours?" escaped his lips. Again I ask what the hell? It's his wastebasket.
He titled the wastebasket over to reveal its contents. Inside the plastic lining was a golden hamster clambering unsuccessfully up the sides looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Kero! Her mind gasped. The little devil escaped.
"Oh, that is mine." She conceded and taking the container from his hand she took it to the cage where she dumped the wriggling creature. She returned the wastebasket to her brother then shutting the door before his grumbling protests could begin. She crawled back into bed letting sleep consume her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Back in dreamland:
Sakura found herself on a windy trail seeing a horse with two riders. The terrain seemed familiar to her. Duh! She mentally whapped herself. It was from that dream of the lake. And she could see Levant and Saryanne astride the brown mare ambling along the path.
"I am terribly sorry my lord about the horse." Saryanne apologized seemingly frazzled.
"It's alright, though you must stop with the whole 'my lord' routine; you are a lady now and have no need to use that title. We are equals." Levant said soothingly. "Horses can get skittish and you simply lost control of yours. I have to admit I did find your hysterics rather amusing," He chuckled as she blushed at the memory of her horse troubles. In one morning she had managed to fall off it three times, get her dress caught in the tack, and then was unable to hold onto the reins and it ran off, probably back to the castle. Now she was seated in front of Levant , his arm wrapped around her waist gently. Her heart had not stopped pounding from the simple touch, the heat that radiated from him flowed through her dress to her skin. She didn't know what to do.
Over the months she had fallen in love with him. But in her mind it could never work. She was still a commoner no matter what title she was given. 'Besides he has Lady Tatra.' Saryanne thought with a hint of bitterness. A young woman had arrived at court recently clearly there to stake the lord of the manor as her husband. Rumors were flying that the two nobles would be announcing an engagement at any moment. So Saryanne wisely tried to maintain a proper distance but Sakura thought it was looking rather unsuccessful as the woman practically melted into Levant's arms. No self restraint unlike myself. The woman of iron will, Sakura teased.
Days passed without much trouble. They had managed to evade most other travelers, especially any rogue bands of soldiers searching for an extra way to make money, usually through robbery. War made the lands dangerous, but she felt safe under Levant's protection.
That night they were camped under the hanging branches of a weeping willow. "We are getting close," Saryanne spoke. "The lake was surrounded by these trees and they have started to appear recently along the road." She took a seat on one of the lifted roots of the tree warming her hands on the fire. She was surprised to find Levant sitting opposite on another root. Their eyes connected. The air was still as the two traveled deeper into each other's eyes.
CRACK!
In the silence a snapping twig could be heard, its simple sound amplified by the empty air. Levant stood up sword drawn watching through the branches of the tree. They both saw a shadow shift in the flickering firelight. "Stay here," he whispered before going off into the darkness. Saryanne tried to see what was occurring but the darkness was too thick; she was chilled by the haunting echo of metal against metal. There was a battle but she had no way of discovering who was attacking who. And she wasn't going to.
Saryanne felt a sharp blade press into her back, as she inhaled sharply to scream a hand clamped over her mouth. "Not a word or this blade will pierce your heart. Understand?" A voice behind asked. She nodded her compliance. "Get up and walk. A client of ours would like to meet with you."
The voice and blade directed her toward a horse the opposite direction of the battle. When her captor lowered the sword to be able to hoist her onto the horse, she stamped her foot on his insole and took pleasure in hearing his wind knocked out of him when she elbowed him sharply in the ribs. And with that she took flight, but could hear his thundering footsteps behind her. The moon lit her path but not very clearly. Saryanne stumbled, tripping on a rock. When she had regained her balance she saw her attacker standing in her path sword drawn.
"Come with me now peacefully or I will find a way to restrain you." He demanded.
Before Saryanne could reply, Levant's cold voice interrupted. "Get away from her," his icy tone trembled with rage.
The attacker instead of responding lunged at Levant. The two fought under the pale moon exchanging blow for blow. By the end, Levant was victorious bloody sword in hand. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"I am alright, but what about you? Are you injured?" He didn't even have to respond for Saryanne could see the blood on his right sleeve. She quickly set to work on bandaging it when they reached their camp. Sitting him down on a root while boiling water over the still burning fire.
"I-I.." She could not finish the sentence, or start it really as she hoped that the light was too faint to see her blush.
"What?" he asked.
"I need you to… to..take off…your shirt." Saryanne finally managed to request. She averted her eyes as Levant complied. Woohoo baby! Someone's been working out! Wonder if they had gym's in the Middle Ages. Sakura couldn't help but notice the little smile on Levant's face as he watched a flustered Saryanne set to work. Why the little bastard! He's bleeding like crazy yet he smiles like a little boy 'cause she swooned at his bare chest. Men, what weirdoes.
Saryanne managed to clean and bandage the gash on Levant's arm without any mishaps. She was wrapping around the last of the material she had scrounged from their gear when she felt his hand brush her cheek. Her face shot up searching his eyes, not realizing how close they were until he whispered, "Thank you Saryanne." She froze unable to think as he leaned closer to her when she felt a flash go through her.
She jumped to her feet letting the injured Levant fall to the ground. Hehe, looks like the kiss is a no go. Wonder why though? She obviously digs him.
"It's here!" Saryanne exclaimed taking his hand in hers and running. The girl has gone crazy, plain and simple, Sakura commented watching the odd scene taking place. Oh, that's why. In her view now was the lake. I guess they hadn't realized it was that close to them.
The two stopped running when they reached the edge of the lake, its dark depths highlighted by the moon hanging above. "What do I do now?" Saryanne questioned Levant.
"Close your eyes." She complied. "Now try and listen to what you feel. Where is the energy the strongest, let it lead you."
"What it I bump into something because my eyes are closed?"
"Don't worry; I'll keep you from getting hurt. Just follow the feeling," Levant said, wrapping a hand around her waist the other grasping her hand. Awww, they look so cute. Where's a camera when you need one. It's a mental Kodak moment.
"Here," she said suddenly. And she turned to face a little off shoot of the lake. The area around them began to hum with energy until there was a bursting effect, and a small blue crystal shot up from the water bathing them in its glow. Both smiled in triumph as the crystal traveled to Saryanne. In the joy of the moment she turned and embraced Levant who twirled about in a circle. They were closer to their goal. There was hope. There was
SAAAAAAKUUUURAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sakura realized it was her brother. She scrambled out of bed, running at full speed to his room. She threw open the door. "What's wrong? What's going on?"
She was surprised to see Toya standing with a wriggling object hanging from his hand. He was holding a protesting Kero by the scruff of his neck. She looked at his flailing limbs as he cutely tried to escape her brother's grasp and giggled.
"Not funny monster." Toya growled. "If I find this rat creature of yours in my room again, he will be shish kabobed or maybe stirred fried. So unless you want a cooked rodent for a pet I suggest you find a way to keep him in his cage."
Rolling her eyes she took Kero from him who was glad to be free from the yelling human. "Who would have thought big and terrible Toya would be so upset over an itty bitty hamster. Guess he's not much of a man." Sakura teased as her brother glared death eyes at her unable to think of a suitable response.
Back in her room she glanced at the clock and groaned. It was too late to go back to sleep, might as well get ready for school. She placed Kero back in his cage checking to make sure the lock on the door was secure. Her thoughts wander to her dreams as she packed her book bag. I wonder how that life ended. I wish I could have kept going to find out.
Little did she know that not too far away, a certain brown eyed guy was finding out exactly what else happened in dreams of his own.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Levant paced around his chambers frustrated with recent events. Saryanne had been avoiding him, and he could not figure out why. After their trip to retrieve the Sapphire Star they had been growing closer. It was to be expected. 'We are meant to be together' he thought. He smiled remembering how certain he had felt the moment she had first stepped into the hall, well actually dragged into the hall. But he had known then and there that he had found the women he had been searching for.
'And now she is running from me.' He had to get to the bottom of this.
Tap-tap, a slight knock was heard at the door. Levant smiled as he opened it revealing a very unsettled looking Saryanne.
Entering, "You sent for me my lord."
Levant frowned at the sudden switch in titles. Now he knew for sure that something was not right. "I will get straight to the point. You have been avoiding me and I want to know why."
Silence.
Levant closed the distance between them looking into her green eyes, pleading, "Please tell me."
Under his gaze she broke. "I did not wish to cause you any scandal."
He did not understand what she meant. "How could you so that?"
She seemed reluctant to speak but did so, unable to refuse him, "You have to choose a wife soon. And being how you and Lady Tatra are so close, she will be chosen. I did not want for rumors to be spread that you were unfaithful because you spent to much time in the presence of another woman."
"That is ridiculous." At his harsh words she looked away, cowering. "No I do not mean you. I mean the idea that I would marry a wench of a woman such as Lady Tatra. Who would give you such ideas?"
"Bartholomew spoke of her being a perfect match for someone of your station." There seemed to be something more she wished to say but lacked the courage to do so. But Levant picked up on what she hinted at.
"And you mean to say that you would not be a good match." Saryanne looked up at Levant in shock as he chuckled. Grabbing her around the waist he whispered, "You couldn't be further form the truth." And with that he kissed her.
Li blushed slightly seeing the people who resembled himself and Sakura, wanting to know how it would be if he did the same action as Levant. His mind traveled back to the night of the dance remembering the feel of her body against his. Just the mere memory flooded his body with warmth. Dangerous emotions were bubbling inside him, and if he didn't find a way to control them…I will fail my mission.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Li dashed into Physical Science breathing heavily.
"Nice of you to join us Li." Ms. Mizuki. "Slept in?'
He merely nodded.
"Good dreams keeping you away from school perhaps?" His head shot up, a faint tinge appearing on his cheeks. Could she know? He thought. "Maybe you should have less interesting ones so you can join us on time. Please take your seat."
Li walked to his and Sakura's table unable to meet her eye and trying hard to not even look in her direction, especially after those dreams. Li's dreamland had recently been filled with memories of that little moment at the Winter Formal and then holding her later that night. Not to mention new memories. Funny, he thought sarcastically, how they all seem to be of romantic moments. He was losing control and he knew it. He was like a bomb waiting to go off at any moment. Li clenched his fingers to keep from reaching out trying to focus on that day's lesson.
"Combustion is a state of violent disturbance and excitement." I can relate. Everything inside of me is churning and pounding. She's so close and smells so good. Ah focus Li, focus! He reprimanded.
"It is a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light." Sakura's like the oxygen, I can't breathe without her but I go up in flames when I'm near her. Li tried to shut off theses kind of thoughts but they just kept flowing slowly eroding at his will.
"So if you haven't already guessed we are, simply put, going to burn things." A cheer went through the class, pyromaniacs to the core. First we are going to burn average objects that you could find just about anywhere, and then we will move on to chemical combustions. So the first things we are going to burn are…..Nuts!" The guys shifted around nervously until Ms. Mizuki pulled out a huge bin of walnuts and macadamia nuts. (A/N: I swear this happened in my bio class. The guys got all nervous. Hmmm wonder what was on their minds.) Then out came the Bunsen burners, terrifying metal contraptions that could singe an eyebrow in no time flat. With the flames lit and the nuts skewered they proceeded to roast them, someone even started to hum "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire." It was a pleasant atmosphere for all. Well all except for the cute couple in the back.
The air seemed to crackle with electricity as Sakura and Li moved around each other, both failing to try to ignore the presence of one another. They ended up bumping into each other and when Li turned to apologize he just froze staring. He reached out to touch her but stopped halfway not sure what to follow, his training or whatever was driving him to do this. Should I pull my hand back? I can't. Should I touch her? I definitely can't do that! But I want to. Li, my man, you are screwed. Screwed with a capital "S." We are talking the major leagues here. The most…
"Li you're on fire!" A voice pierced through his internal struggle.
"Huh?" he asked dazedly at the worried face of Sakura.
"Li, you're on FIRE!" She pointed to his half extended arm resting right by the Bunsen burner, his jacket sleeve catching flame.
"Shit." Li cursed as he flipped the jacket off swiftly, then patting out the flame.
"Are you alright?" Sakura asked, her eyes full of concern causing his heart to skip a beat.
He managed a croaky, "I'm okay," before Ms. Mizuki came over and sent him off to the nurse's office to make sure he was okay, despite Li's protests that he was fine. "Looks like you two will be here during free period to finish this up." Ms. Mizuki told Sakura who needless to say felt a little apprehension considering how the last out of class experiment turned out. But at least I'm available for free period this time.
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Sakura shifted nervously in her seat as she waited for Li to show up. And why wasn't she late? Simple, Meilin and Tomoyo wouldn't stop teasing her about how her 'ravishing looks' had stunned Li so that he couldn't even recognize that he was on fire. So to avoid any more torment, she quickly headed toward the science lab.
Li showed up promptly right after the bell for the start of free period rang. He and Sakura then began to set up the Bunsen burner and pulling out the appropriate chemicals while Ms. Mizuki supervised. At least nothing can happen while she's here. Sakura thought.
And if in answer to her thought, an announcement came over the PA system, "Would Ms. Mizuki please go to the main office. We have an urgent phone call for you."
"Okay, continue setting up but don't do anything till I get back," Ms. Mizuki instructed as she left the lab.
Sakura and Li just stood there a moment until finally Li broke the silence, "Ummm we still need some ammonia. It's uhhh in that bottle over there."
As Sakura was going to get retrieve some, he cleared his throat and said, "I need to talk to you about something." About what? The dance? Or when I got sick? Ahh, my heart is beating like crazy.
Sakura was bringing back a beaker of ammonia as Li finally got out what he wanted to say, "It's about the Sapphire Star." Sakura had not been expecting this and her surprise caused her to lose her balance making the beaker to fly from her hands. Li actually bent to catch her not the beaker realizing his mistake when its contents flew into the flame of the Bunsen burner causing a wave of fire to rush above their heads as they knelt on the floor. What they saw when they looked up was definitely not good.
"Shit!" Li cursed as Sakura asked, "How did it spread so quickly?"
"Someone must have spilt something earlier and not cleaned it up," Li guessed as he surveyed the wall of flames that cut off their side of the classroom from the door at the front. To make matters worse the fire extinguisher was by the door. Who ever the hell planned out the safety hazards in this room was a friggen' idiot. Li thought. Well there is nothing we can do except wait for help. He noticed Sakura beside him coughing from the billows of smoke rolling through the room; adding in the high pitched wail of the fire alarm and the whole scenario seemed pretty surreal. But he knew what he needed to do. He grabbed Sakura by the waist pulling her back down to the floor as close to the wall as they could, huddling together to avoid as much smoke as possible.
The flames edged nearer, the acrid smoke burning their eyes and throats. Sakura whimpered as a couple of explosions went off as the fire reached a few more containers of chemicals. Slowly their vision began to fade from view, blending into the black smoke. But through the flames Sakura could just barely make out a figure.
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Meilin knew something was wrong. Something just didn't feel right and the moment she heard the fire alarm go off, her heart gave a sickening lurch. Running as fast as she could, she headed toward the lab where her best friend and cousin should be. Shit, the smoke is coming from that direction.
When she opened the door of the lab, she was hit with a wave of sulfurous heat and smoke, nearly blinded by the flames. When her vision came back into focus she could just barely make out two forms huddled in the corner, Li and Sakura. Instinctively she grabbed the fire extinguisher spraying the white foam. But the flames merely ate them up. It's not working! And there is no one around coming to help. Meilin could feel the anger and panic welling up inside of her as she could think of nothing to do to help her friends.
"Goddammit!" She yelled.
Meilin then felt herself jerked up into the air, hovering s few feet above the ground, a red glow emanating from her body. The she felt something blow out of her, like a cork being shot out from a champagne bottle. In front of her hung the Crimson Star. She watched in shock as it began to sparkle as the flames were sucked up into the star! It was like an invisible force was pulling in the fire, shoving it into the shiny crystal. When every last spark was extinguished, the star faded back into a clear red that only shone in direct light.
Meilin was slowly lowered to the ground, the Crimson Star traveling till it landed in her hand. She closed her fingers around it and ran through the charred wrecks of the lab to Sakura and Li who were alive and conscious, barely. Sakura looked up at Meilin as Li tried to help her stand. She managed to croak, "What happened?" before collapsing in Li's arms.
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So there it is for ya. An extremely huge chapter. I am so excited for the upcoming chapters. Some S+S moments, Li's reasons are revealed, more stars, yadda yadda. Hope you are enjoying. And you can show it by using that lovely button down there. Lots of love!