Lchan: Hi and thanks!! Again. I'm sorry if the previous chapter didn't
satisfy your cravings for mush, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. This
chapter is made up of mush, drama, mush, and magic...and mush, too, by the
way.
Uhm...I actually dunno what's gonna happen next. I'm thinking this up as I go along. Don't stop reviewing. Comments, compliments, wha'evah...welcome-- so long as I won't get the idea that you're flaming me (meaning no "your fic @%$!@3!!" statements). Erm...ideas welcome too.
Caution: Sakura's lines are basically just made up of "I'M's" and "SORRIES" and "GOMENNASAI's" and "SYAORAN's". Pretty boring. More on mush.
Uhm...if you still feel like reading...be my guest.
IV-Melting Facades
"Watery! Return to your powers confined!! WATERY!!" Sakura slammed her wand down on the glowing card that formed beneath the beak.
Watery, frozen and defeated, extracted itself from Freeze's grasp and, with another magical performance of masses of swirling water, was locked once more under Sakura's authority.
Sakura weakly called Freeze back, too, as soon as Watery was confined. "Thanks..." she whispered, before the last streaks of white ice dissolved into a part of the Clow Cards Collection.
Syaoran dropped down into the pool's slush, having been freed from his frozen cage, which had left him hanging in midair as soon as it disappeared.
SPLASHHH!!!!
Water sprayed over Tomoyo and her thankfully waterproof camera. She stood shocked by the poolside, on the same spot where she'd tried to hand Syaoran his sword. She still held it, grip tight on the handle. She'd only barely managed to capture the action on tape, fear washing over her the whole time.
"Sa...Sakura...chan..." she whispered, amethyst eyes wide. "I...I'm sorry...I..." She didn't finish her sentence, ashamed at her uselessness. She dropped to her knees and reached over the water, grabbing Syaoran's soaked sleeve, which was floating near. She gathered her strength and tried to pull him to her.
Sakura, stunned and confused, once again burst into tears. "Syaoran-kun!!!" she screamed, dropping her wand as she ran towards the pool, where Tomoyo was desperately trying to pull Syaoran closer.
Almost without thinking, Sakura pushed her away and jumped into the water, her arms encircling Syaoran's torso as soon as she reached him. She hugged him close, tears streaking down her face.
"Syaoran-kun...Syaoran-kun, I'm so sorry...gomennasai...gomennasai..."
Tomoyo rose to her feet from where Sakura had shoved her. She started to cry too, sympathy, hurt, and fear overcoming her strong facade. Silently, a tear slid down her porcelain cheeks. She lifted her camera and pressed the record button, hiding the turmoil of emotions she felt from the world behind the lens.
* * *later* * *
Syaoran stirred and coughed out water, his eyes fluttering open. They were blank at first, then recognition settled in...and finally...emotions...
"Sakura..." he murmured, weakly, almost lapsing back into unconsciousness before all the memories came rushing back to him, snapping him awake.
Sakura's wide, frightened eyes looked into his. "Syaoran-kun!! Syaoran- kun..." then she bit her lip, fresh tears coursing down her face. "Syaoran, I'm so sorry!!!" She hugged him again, tighter this time.
Pain shot through his head, coursed through every part of him, and strained every muscle at the tightness of her squeeze. The last of the adrenaline faded away. His energy was drained and his strength used up.
His confused amber eyes pierced Sakura's emerald pools, searching for answers and information. She buried her head into his shoulder.
"It's over...it's all over..." Sakura cried, her tears cascading down her cheeks. "And I'm so sorry about the...about the...the last part, I...I'm sorry!!" she wailed, her arms tightening around his neck again. He let her without yelping, and refused to collapse again.
He had been lying on the pavement, every part of him soaked with water and burning with fever. He could still feel the intense cold of the Freeze Card's power, the wind steadily torturing him and making everything worse with its icy gusts.
He winced against her grip, unable to hide it any longer. He needed air. Oxygen. His breathing was labored. Everything felt so wrong. Another wave of coldness washed over him, chilling him to the core.
Sakura sensed his discomfort and immediately pulled away, scared that she had hurt him physically. "Oh, sorry," she murmured, almost sheepishly.
Syaoran tried to relax a little, tried to breathe more evenly, and even almost smiled, but he didn't have the energy. Normal breathing would mean less air, and he needed oxygen.
There was a short stretch of silence before Syaoran finally spoke through clenched teeth.
"That...that was cold..." he whispered, referring to his interlude with the Freeze Card.
"I...I know that, but...but there was no other way...I...you said..." Sakura broke off her whimpers and bit on her lip. "Syaoran-kun, gomennasai..." she disconsolately settled to whisper. She closed her eyes and wept, her wet auburn hair hiding her eyes, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean to...to...to finish it this way...I really can't be any sorrier than now, Syaoran..."
There was a whisper, hardly audible, incoherent, but with every syllable holding a special note, demanding attention. "Sakura...it's okay...don't cry...you *wince*...were really...brave..."
Sakura watched in horror as his green aura slowly faded. Her hand caressed his forehead again. There was a slight gasp. Fresh tears formed in her eyes.
"WHY CAN'T I DO ANYTHING RIGHT!?!?" she screamed into the night. Then she buried her face in her hands. "Why did I act so...stupid!? I could have used Freeze before we fell into the pool! I could have just used my head instead of relying on your good sense..."
She continued to ramble on about her "I could haves," endless tears slipping down her face. They just wouldn't stop.
"And I could have used my nonexistent common sense to predict its moves! I could have stayed calm and not panicked, I could have kept you from fighting while I had the chance, and...and...and I could have just...I could have prevented this mess..."
She broke down crying.
Syaoran was disappointed with himself. There he was in the past thinking he could be of some help, feeling all-heroic...and in the end...it all came down to him being a burden and making her cry... It sickened him.
"Please, Sakura...it wasn't your fault..."
* * *Tomoyo* * *
In her hands, Tomoyo became aware of Syaoran's sword. The blade was shiny, droplets of water making it glisten as the moonlight reflected on its surface.
As Syaoran's aura faded, there was a slight feeling in her hand that seemed to call her to look at it. So she looked. And as she did, the sword glowed.
Her other hand, which held the camera, raised the gadget to her eye. It was the first time she'd ever recorded herself, but it felt almost like she had her own magic that she couldn't resist the urge to save the memory.
Syaoran's magic, which had made the sword transform from ball-and-tassel into a fighting blade, was slowly wearing off. His energy wasn't sufficient enough to keep it that way.
Tomoyo raised her hand and held the glimmering sword in front of her. "Sugoi..." she breathed. And right before her curious, amethyst eyes, it transformed back into ball and tassel.
* * *Sakura 'n' Syaoran again* * *
Sakura's face blurred in front of Syaoran, this time worse than ever. He felt darkness start to settle down upon him again. Voices blended into one sound. Colors dissolved into the vast black void that would soon envelop him.
"Sakura..."
Sakura-chan, my bodyguards are here...
Gomennasai...Syaoran...
Sakura-chan...let's go...
Syaoran...hold on...
He dimly saw Sakura being held back by Tomoyo. She was crying. He couldn't see anything clearly, but he could feel her going farther. Her soothing aura was slowly moving away.
'No!' his mind screamed. "Sakura..." he called, in a sudden surge of panic that brought hints of adrenaline coursing through him again. His voice snapped Sakura back to attention.
"Syaoran!?"
Tomoyo's bodyguards were approaching.
She broke from Tomoyo's hold. Tomoyo whipped the camera back into action, lifting it to her eyes quickly. Her finger pressed hard on the record button.
"Sakura..." Syaoran breathed, resisting the rest that the black void offered. "Sakura..."
"What is it, Syaoran-kun?" she asked, softly, every syllable urging him to answer.
Syaoran didn't know how it came out. He didn't know where it came from. All he knew was that it caused Sakura's hand to tightly grip his own.
"Sakura...stay with me..."
* * * tbc
Lchan: Okay, that was short. I'm stalling. I know...it was boring, right? Right!? *bursts into tears* I know, I know!! But what I DON'T know is what's gonna happen next!!! Help!! Where should they take Syaoran? I'm planning...to Tomoyo's house. Tell me watcha think! What's gonna happen there!? Ideas, PLEASE!!! Predictions, opinions, more plot, anything!! Thankees!!!!
Uhm...I actually dunno what's gonna happen next. I'm thinking this up as I go along. Don't stop reviewing. Comments, compliments, wha'evah...welcome-- so long as I won't get the idea that you're flaming me (meaning no "your fic @%$!@3!!" statements). Erm...ideas welcome too.
Caution: Sakura's lines are basically just made up of "I'M's" and "SORRIES" and "GOMENNASAI's" and "SYAORAN's". Pretty boring. More on mush.
Uhm...if you still feel like reading...be my guest.
IV-Melting Facades
"Watery! Return to your powers confined!! WATERY!!" Sakura slammed her wand down on the glowing card that formed beneath the beak.
Watery, frozen and defeated, extracted itself from Freeze's grasp and, with another magical performance of masses of swirling water, was locked once more under Sakura's authority.
Sakura weakly called Freeze back, too, as soon as Watery was confined. "Thanks..." she whispered, before the last streaks of white ice dissolved into a part of the Clow Cards Collection.
Syaoran dropped down into the pool's slush, having been freed from his frozen cage, which had left him hanging in midair as soon as it disappeared.
SPLASHHH!!!!
Water sprayed over Tomoyo and her thankfully waterproof camera. She stood shocked by the poolside, on the same spot where she'd tried to hand Syaoran his sword. She still held it, grip tight on the handle. She'd only barely managed to capture the action on tape, fear washing over her the whole time.
"Sa...Sakura...chan..." she whispered, amethyst eyes wide. "I...I'm sorry...I..." She didn't finish her sentence, ashamed at her uselessness. She dropped to her knees and reached over the water, grabbing Syaoran's soaked sleeve, which was floating near. She gathered her strength and tried to pull him to her.
Sakura, stunned and confused, once again burst into tears. "Syaoran-kun!!!" she screamed, dropping her wand as she ran towards the pool, where Tomoyo was desperately trying to pull Syaoran closer.
Almost without thinking, Sakura pushed her away and jumped into the water, her arms encircling Syaoran's torso as soon as she reached him. She hugged him close, tears streaking down her face.
"Syaoran-kun...Syaoran-kun, I'm so sorry...gomennasai...gomennasai..."
Tomoyo rose to her feet from where Sakura had shoved her. She started to cry too, sympathy, hurt, and fear overcoming her strong facade. Silently, a tear slid down her porcelain cheeks. She lifted her camera and pressed the record button, hiding the turmoil of emotions she felt from the world behind the lens.
* * *later* * *
Syaoran stirred and coughed out water, his eyes fluttering open. They were blank at first, then recognition settled in...and finally...emotions...
"Sakura..." he murmured, weakly, almost lapsing back into unconsciousness before all the memories came rushing back to him, snapping him awake.
Sakura's wide, frightened eyes looked into his. "Syaoran-kun!! Syaoran- kun..." then she bit her lip, fresh tears coursing down her face. "Syaoran, I'm so sorry!!!" She hugged him again, tighter this time.
Pain shot through his head, coursed through every part of him, and strained every muscle at the tightness of her squeeze. The last of the adrenaline faded away. His energy was drained and his strength used up.
His confused amber eyes pierced Sakura's emerald pools, searching for answers and information. She buried her head into his shoulder.
"It's over...it's all over..." Sakura cried, her tears cascading down her cheeks. "And I'm so sorry about the...about the...the last part, I...I'm sorry!!" she wailed, her arms tightening around his neck again. He let her without yelping, and refused to collapse again.
He had been lying on the pavement, every part of him soaked with water and burning with fever. He could still feel the intense cold of the Freeze Card's power, the wind steadily torturing him and making everything worse with its icy gusts.
He winced against her grip, unable to hide it any longer. He needed air. Oxygen. His breathing was labored. Everything felt so wrong. Another wave of coldness washed over him, chilling him to the core.
Sakura sensed his discomfort and immediately pulled away, scared that she had hurt him physically. "Oh, sorry," she murmured, almost sheepishly.
Syaoran tried to relax a little, tried to breathe more evenly, and even almost smiled, but he didn't have the energy. Normal breathing would mean less air, and he needed oxygen.
There was a short stretch of silence before Syaoran finally spoke through clenched teeth.
"That...that was cold..." he whispered, referring to his interlude with the Freeze Card.
"I...I know that, but...but there was no other way...I...you said..." Sakura broke off her whimpers and bit on her lip. "Syaoran-kun, gomennasai..." she disconsolately settled to whisper. She closed her eyes and wept, her wet auburn hair hiding her eyes, her voice breaking. "I didn't mean to...to...to finish it this way...I really can't be any sorrier than now, Syaoran..."
There was a whisper, hardly audible, incoherent, but with every syllable holding a special note, demanding attention. "Sakura...it's okay...don't cry...you *wince*...were really...brave..."
Sakura watched in horror as his green aura slowly faded. Her hand caressed his forehead again. There was a slight gasp. Fresh tears formed in her eyes.
"WHY CAN'T I DO ANYTHING RIGHT!?!?" she screamed into the night. Then she buried her face in her hands. "Why did I act so...stupid!? I could have used Freeze before we fell into the pool! I could have just used my head instead of relying on your good sense..."
She continued to ramble on about her "I could haves," endless tears slipping down her face. They just wouldn't stop.
"And I could have used my nonexistent common sense to predict its moves! I could have stayed calm and not panicked, I could have kept you from fighting while I had the chance, and...and...and I could have just...I could have prevented this mess..."
She broke down crying.
Syaoran was disappointed with himself. There he was in the past thinking he could be of some help, feeling all-heroic...and in the end...it all came down to him being a burden and making her cry... It sickened him.
"Please, Sakura...it wasn't your fault..."
* * *Tomoyo* * *
In her hands, Tomoyo became aware of Syaoran's sword. The blade was shiny, droplets of water making it glisten as the moonlight reflected on its surface.
As Syaoran's aura faded, there was a slight feeling in her hand that seemed to call her to look at it. So she looked. And as she did, the sword glowed.
Her other hand, which held the camera, raised the gadget to her eye. It was the first time she'd ever recorded herself, but it felt almost like she had her own magic that she couldn't resist the urge to save the memory.
Syaoran's magic, which had made the sword transform from ball-and-tassel into a fighting blade, was slowly wearing off. His energy wasn't sufficient enough to keep it that way.
Tomoyo raised her hand and held the glimmering sword in front of her. "Sugoi..." she breathed. And right before her curious, amethyst eyes, it transformed back into ball and tassel.
* * *Sakura 'n' Syaoran again* * *
Sakura's face blurred in front of Syaoran, this time worse than ever. He felt darkness start to settle down upon him again. Voices blended into one sound. Colors dissolved into the vast black void that would soon envelop him.
"Sakura..."
Sakura-chan, my bodyguards are here...
Gomennasai...Syaoran...
Sakura-chan...let's go...
Syaoran...hold on...
He dimly saw Sakura being held back by Tomoyo. She was crying. He couldn't see anything clearly, but he could feel her going farther. Her soothing aura was slowly moving away.
'No!' his mind screamed. "Sakura..." he called, in a sudden surge of panic that brought hints of adrenaline coursing through him again. His voice snapped Sakura back to attention.
"Syaoran!?"
Tomoyo's bodyguards were approaching.
She broke from Tomoyo's hold. Tomoyo whipped the camera back into action, lifting it to her eyes quickly. Her finger pressed hard on the record button.
"Sakura..." Syaoran breathed, resisting the rest that the black void offered. "Sakura..."
"What is it, Syaoran-kun?" she asked, softly, every syllable urging him to answer.
Syaoran didn't know how it came out. He didn't know where it came from. All he knew was that it caused Sakura's hand to tightly grip his own.
"Sakura...stay with me..."
* * * tbc
Lchan: Okay, that was short. I'm stalling. I know...it was boring, right? Right!? *bursts into tears* I know, I know!! But what I DON'T know is what's gonna happen next!!! Help!! Where should they take Syaoran? I'm planning...to Tomoyo's house. Tell me watcha think! What's gonna happen there!? Ideas, PLEASE!!! Predictions, opinions, more plot, anything!! Thankees!!!!