YATTA! Reformatting worked! *twirls in happy dance* Anyway, I reposted all the rest of the chapters so they are, or will be, readable when they load correctly.

Sorry it took me so long to make them readable. But now I have beat the word processor into submission. *flexes muscles* Anyway, yadda on to disclaimer

Disclaimer: Blah blah I don't own CCS. Not that I matters really since I'm not trying to profit off of this story. *shrugs*

Chapter Five: Mysterious Lady

"Morning, Kaho. Did you sleep well?" Sakura smiled brightly at her former teacher as they met inside the public room in the small inn. It was bright and early and thankfully both Li and Sakura had managed to get back to sleep much quicker than either would have guessed, leaving everyone feeling quiet rested. LI was settling the bill with the innkeeper who was loudly sorry to see them go.

"I wish you could stay longer, lovelies. You pay so handsomely and give such a story to tell! Did you buy your fabrics yesterday? You have to send me a wedding notice so I can pin it to my wall of favourite customers, d'ye hear?"

She went on and on until everyone was almost at tears with laughter. Finally Kaho had come and Tomoyo and Sakura went to greet her while Li was left with the quite desolate innkeeper.

"I slept very well, Sakura. Though I had an interesting dream." She looked at the young princess with a steady gaze, thoroughly familiar to Sakura who sighed.

"It was a dreaming kind of night then." She smiled after a moment and turned to watch Li as he came towards them.

"Shall we leave, ladies, before we are hassled into staying yet another night?"

Tomoyo smiled and Sakura laughed, causing Li to shift uneasily, an action that didn't go unnoticed by either Tomoyo or the young teacher.

"Lead the way, Captain Li," the princess smiled as she picked up her baggage and followed him out the door. "I just wish we could have said goodbye to Naoko before we left."

Tomoyo nodded in agreement while Kaho smiled softly. "I'm sure you will see her again soon enough. She spent quite a lot of time talking about how much she had missed you over the past couple years and how glad she would be when you came back to see her again."

Sakura and Tomoyo smiled. The three women carried on a quiet conversation while Li walked a small way in front of them. He was trying hard not to allow his distrust of the woman get to him. More than anything he wanted to drag Sakura forcefully into level with him, so he could be near her and protect her if he needed to. But Tomoyo trusted the woman too and Li was quickly learning that Tomoyo was perceptive enough to catch anything to worry about in a person before it became a real problem. So instead he led the way wishing, for once, that Kero could be let out of Sakura's bag rather than hiding from the woman. He knew that without fail the Sun Guardian would protect his mistress.

Li sighed. It would be a long two days.
? ? ?

Four or more hours after sunset they finally broke camp. Kaho had brought enough bedding for her as well as some extra which she lent to Sakura and Tomoyo who found the night chillier than usual. Winter was setting in fast and the added bedding was a relief to their already chilled toes. Li started the fire and set out food for the women. Kaho smiled but refused her share, claiming she didn't want to be a burden on them when she had already brought her own food. Li nodded then went in search for a stream or creek.

Kaho smiled. "He is such a nice boy. Very strong and protective. However, I don't think he likes me much," she smiled. Sakura winced a little. "Li is very nice and kind, but he doesn't like strangers too much. I don't think he's very trusting of anybody unless he has good reason to."

"He trusts you pretty well, Sakura," Kaho observed.

The princess thought this over for a moment as she chewed on her bread. "I don't' know why really. He never seemed to like me when he first was assigned to protect me, but he did seem to trust me implicitly." She shrugged.

"Everyone trusts Sakura," Tomoyo giggled, "because she trusts everyone!"

Kaho laughed softly while Sakura rolled her eyes. "I don't trust EVERYbody."

"Yes you do," they answered in unison causing her to blush.

"Anyway," Sakura began tentatively, losing all trace of her former smile. "Kaho, I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"You knew didn't you? You knew what I would find."

Kaho looked at the young girl sitting in front of her for a moment. In the past years since she had last been at the castle the girl had grown both more beautiful and more mature. It showed in her face that some of the silliness she had possessed before had grown out of her and had let the natural intuitiveness shine through. Kaho remembered clearly the many times in Sakura's youth when she had surprised everyone frequently by making observations that seemed so beyond her. Most of the time she acted as if she noticed nothing around her that wasn't obvious, but then sometimes she could tell the most deep secret you kept just by looking at you long enough.

Sighing, Kaho nodded. "I knew. I had had a feeling for many years that there was something special about you but it wasn't until right before I left that I realized you were Destined to do something marvelous. Since I left, I have traveled much and learned much about the castle and its legends. It was on my travels that I realized what you were to become." She smiled softly. "What made you ask?"

"When you left, the last thing you said to me was 'When everything changes and you think that you will never be you again, remember everything will be all right'." Sakura grinned, sheepishly. "At the time I thought you were talking about puberty or something and was wondering why you were saying something like that so late in my developmental stage."

The girls laughed and continued to eat and talk for a few minutes until Sakura realized something. "Li still hasn't come back. I think I'll go look for him."

"If you don't find him right away come back rather than getting lost, okay?" Tomoyo pleaded.

"I will Tomoyo," she said before walking towards where Li had disappeared more than half an hour before.

"And when you get back I want to see the infamous Cards!" Kaho exclaimed.

"Okay!"

She walked away and the two girls watched her before looking at each other with a small smile. "You were always amazingly observant, Tomoyo. What do you think?"

"I think things are going to be really amusing from now on. Too bad you can't stay and see it all."

"Write down all of the juicy parts okay?"

"Done!"
? ? ?

After ten minutes of searching, Sakura found Li sitting alone at the bank of a small creek. He was staring at something in his hands and didn't notice her presence until she spoke.

"Li?"

He turned to look at her calmly. Inside his heart was racing uncontrollably and he felt as if he had lost years off his life but on the outside he was just curious. "Why are you out here, princess?"

"I was worried about you. Can I join you?"

"It's your country, you may sit on it."

She giggled. "Actually, it's dad's country, but I'd never thought of it like that." She grew quiet and looked at him for a moment as he stared out into the water, rubbing his hand over a small object in his hand. She wanted to ask him what it was but something in her told her not to. Instead she asked, "Why are you sitting out here all alone in the cold?"

"Just thinking."

She clutched her cloak around her and looked at him bemusedly. "You can't do that near the fire? You are going to catch cold out here!"

"I don't feel easy around that teacher. When I feel uneasy it's harder to think."

"Why don't you like Kaho?" Sakura asked what was on everyone else's mind.

"I can't say precisely. I just can't trust her." He glanced over her again. "Why do you like her so much?"

She shrugged. "I've known her for years. She taught me math and science as well as a few other things over the years. So I saw her every day. That and she and my brother were practically engaged for awhile."

Li looked at her startled. Was this the person who the prince couldn't marry because it was improper? But before he could ask she answered him.

"But then, she went to study in the far western side of the kingdom and broke things off before she left. Before she left she broke things off with him, saying she had a feeling that by the time they saw each other again things would be different. Judging by the way she reacted when I mentioned him they are on her part and he fell in love with someone else." She shrugged. "Of course things always do when she says they will."

"Is she psychic?" he asked curiously. He already sensed great Power in her and it would explain if she was.

"Not really, no. She just sometimes gets feelings. If you asked her about it she would tell you that sometimes she just knows that something will happen. She wont know how or sometimes what just that something will happen. I've never heard of a time when she wasn't right."

Li thought this over for a moment and then shrugged. A moment later, though, he gave himself whiplash as he turned to look at the princess when he heard what she said next.

"She knew about the Cards for instance. Well she knew something would happen and later found out that they were the Cards."

He looked at her amazedly then stood up quickly. Sakura looked at him in shock and stumbled to a standing position, quickly following him as he made his way back to camp. When they reached the fire, they found the two women sitting, talking comfortably with Keroberos, in full size, about something they immediately stopped discussing when they realized they had been joined by the other two. Li looked at the teacher a moment.

"How did you know?" he asked bluntly.

"A feeling, at first, then I just researched until I found the answers."

"Research? The Cards are a well kept secret for obvious reasons. For centuries my family guarded that secret. How could you find out about them so casually?"

"I had help. Now, I think it is time we all go to bed before it gets to late for us to get a good night's rest. Don't you agree?" She looked at him pointedly. It was obvious that she had good reason for keeping her affairs secret, but Li was dying to know what that reason was. However he just nodded curtly and began to bank the fire. The others shrugged their shoulders and went to bed. All except for Kero who fluttered around and ate as much food as he could find to make up for missing two meals earlier in the day. But finally, he too went to bed, glancing back at Li who was still awake, leaning against a tree and staring at where the three women lay close to each other. The look in his eyes was unreadable as were the very thoughts going through his head.
? ? ?

"Now how many Cards have you used so far?"

"Ten," Sakura replied with a smile. "Not much is it?"

Kaho smiled at her. She searched over the tired eyes of the princess, even though they sparkled with the same happiness that came with the girl's everyday attitude. "No, I don't think it is a small number at all, Sakura." The princess grinned back at her then glanced worriedly back at Li who was glowering at the teacher again. She sighed. There was no helping Li but at least for his sake perhaps it was a good thing that Kaho would only accompany them for the rest of the day. "Do you think we will make the town before dark, Kaho?"

"No, but we won't miss it by far. However, I think it best that we make camp outside the city."

"Why?" Tomoyo asked.

"It is a quiet town and any coming and goings at night are unduly noticed. Since you need to travel in secrecy, or so I gathered, it would be best if you arrived soon after morning than soon after night fall."

Tomoyo and Sakura nodded. "I wonder if Li knows," Tomoyo said.

"I'll ask him," the princess replied slowing her step and waiting for Li to catch up to her. She smiled at him and he looked at her with barely suppressed irritation. Wincing she asked tentatively, "Did you plan to stay at the village inn tonight, Li?"

"No, princess, the townspeople are too nosy," he answered curtly.

"Are you mad at me, Li?"

"For the last time, no I'm not. You've asked me that at least thirty times since we broke camp."

"Well you are frowning and keep glaring at us. It is a natural question to ask."

"Not so repetitively. Now, I need to think about things, why don't you go chatter with Daidouji and the teacher?" His voice was as cold as ice causing Sakura to flinch away from him but nod. He watched as she ran up ahead of him and sighed to himself. He really shouldn't have bitten her head off like that.

"Bad move, brat. She probably thinks you hate her again."

"I don't have to listen to a stuffed animal. Why don't you go pester your mistress? She's under contract to like you."

"Better than sticking around with a surly idiot," he retorted before flying to his mistress, surprising her.

Li didn't bother to reply. Instead he watched as the three girls chatted betwixt themselves over something that made them giggle constantly. The teacher seemed to be the same age rather than what must be at least seven or eight years older. Maybe she was trying to insinuate herself further into their trust, make her seem more like one of them. He wouldn't put it past her. She had already blatantly lied about the Cards, Li being one of the few who knew where every written source on the Cards was located.

If she lied about something so easily recognizable maybe she was with them, a spy sent to find out where they were and what they knew. It could be done easily enough with the amount of power she had.

As if in answer, a strange wind began to blow around them, chilling the wintry air even further. It wrapped around all of them, causing them to pull their cloaks to them and even further making the stays in the ladies' hair come undone. Li would have marveled at the beauty of the three women, each standing strong against the elements as their long and beautiful and different hair swirled around them.

But he couldn't shake off the feeling that this wind was staring at them, prying at each and every last one of their secrets. He quickened his pace, wanting to be by the princess, as if to protect her against the unblockable. When he reached her side he began to remember a conversation he had over heard the Guardian and Mistress having a few days prior.

"Windy is the messenger. With her, if you get good enough or have the need, you can send and receive information. Also if you are trying to fortune tell with the Cards and you see Windy it would indicate that someone has been told something."

"Why is Windy in specific the messenger?" she had asked curiously.

"It came from the phrase 'words carried on the wind'. Since the wind actually has the ability to send words further than usual and because it can travel so fast, faster than any human being, it has always been noted as a messenger of sorts."

Apparently the princess was also remembering this because she turned to Li with a worried look. "Li, I think someone is searching for us. This wind is too unnatural. It makes me afraid."

He was slightly surprised that she could sense the magic so readily when she was still just beginning to learn but set it aside. "I think you are right, princess. But there is nothing we can do at this point aside of perhaps walk faster and travel farther than they expect us to."

She nodded silently. She looked tired and, for once, grim but still determined.

"You don't need to worry, Sakura."

The pair looked at Kaho who stood, staring into the wind with a smile. Her eyes shone brightly, the way eyes did whenever their possessor was using Power. This wind was for her and was talking to her. Instantly Li was on guard.

"Why, Kaho? What is the wind telling you?"

"It is from my friend. The one who told me about the Cards," she said firmly, looking into Li's eyes. She was admitting her source fully and that she had lied but went on rather than wait for questions. "He wishes to know how long until we reach the village and that he wishes to meet with the new Mistress if you allow it, Sakura."

"Of cou-" Sakura broke off when Li interrupted her.

"No, princess, I don't think you will be safe."

"But Li, if he is Kaho's friend I know I'll be safe," she said, voice trembling.

The wind tugged harder at Li's cloak, letting him know that the wind heard as much as communicated and didn't like what he was saying.

"I know you trust everybody, princess, but as your body guard I beg you to reconsider. At the very least let me meet this fellow first and bring him to you. It will assure your safety."

She looked into his earnest eyes then nodded. Smiling vaguely she looked into the wind and whispered into it. Her words were taken by the wind to whence it came and no one really heard what she had said, no one but the person who was Powerful enough to control such magic.

Then the winds died down and it was bearable to walk again. The dark clouds that had blown in with the winds remained, though, hanging as a foreboding ceiling above the weary travelers. They began to walk down the beaten path once more but Li held onto Sakura's arm, assuring that she kept in pace with him.

"I think, as a precaution, you should test out a few more of those Cards, princess. Test them until you are too tired to. When you reach that point I'll carry you."

The look in his eyes told her that this was more of a command than a suggestion. But then, all of his requests and statements were that, commands and requirements. Originally she had thought that this young man was someone important, like Tomoyo, but she was beginning to realize that she was wrong. This was someone who commanded attention for a good reason, who gave orders for purpose.

As she stared at him Li began to get uncomfortable and almost looked away before she nodded slightly in assent. Without any unnecessary words she changed the Key and brought out the Cards.

"Which do you think I should try, Li?"

"Try your attack Cards, but the basic attack, since you've already used Watery and Firey."

"You mean Sword and Arrow? What about Shield?"

Kero spoke before Li could. "Shield is special. You do not need to know what it feels like or grow accustomed to it before you can use it effectively. You only need one thing to use Shield to its fullest."

"What is that?"

"Love, trust, empathy. You need to want to protect what you are shielding. The more you care about them, the more you hold them precious, the more Powerful Shield becomes, even to the point where nothing but Sword could cut it, and that is a gamble."

"Why don't I try Sword first then?" she pulled out the Card and threw it into the air, calling it by name. The swirls of Power and magic that usually came with a Card changing instead flowed tightly around the Wand until it pulled away and revealed a long sword with a wicked look to it. "Wow."

"Now, Sword relies on who you are as well. The stronger you are, the purer your soul and the more you concentrate on what you need the sharper it gets. Automatically you are granted ability with it when you hold it in your hand, but if you don't have heart or concentration it will not cut through water. But, I don't think you need to worry."

Kero flew away and picked up a stone from the side of the road. It was several times his size and both Li and Sakura were a bit amazed at his strength. He puttered his small wings until he was keeping steady in front of Sakura as she walked.

"Now stay still and tap the Sword against the rock. Not too hard, please, but do it hard enough that you can feel it."

Sakura shrugged then looked at the stone and narrowed her eyes a bit. Slowly she brought the Sword in front of her and slowly but firmly brought it down on the rock, careful to avoid Kero. For a moment it seemed like nothing had happened until Kero let it fall from his hands. In midair it neatly broke into two clean cut pieces and thudded to the ground.

Eyes wide, the princess looked at the stone then the Sword. "That is almost frightening, Kero. I don't think I like being able to destroy something so easily."

Li put a hand on her shoulder. "When it comes to something important it will not be so easy, princess."

She nodded softly, understanding what she meant, but nonetheless quickly reverted Sword into a Card and put it back into the deck. Next she drew out Arrow. It was easier and less frightening than Sword, psychologically. The only unusual element is that the arrows would duplicate while in flight. The longer they flew, the more arrows there would be.

"Clow decided that would be the best way to check his accuracy over distance. If the arrow flew a bit off course well there would be more there to make sure at least something hit the mark."

She shrugged, it made sense. When she was changing Arrow back into a Card, Tomoyo and Kaho waited still for the two to catch up to them. She looked at them curiously with weary eyes.

"Is there something the matter, Tomoyo? Kaho?"

"Actually, Sakura, we thought we should break for lunch. It is time now. Surely you must be hungry too."

In response her stomach growled loudly and she blushed. "I didn't realize until now, but I guess I am. Li, do you see anywhere ideal?'

He nodded and veered off the road to where a log had fallen and settled into the ground. Tiredly he pulled out an ofuda and called upon fire magic to a light a fire so that the weary travelers might find some warmth from the more and more frigid air. He sat quietly on the ground and began to pull out food.

Sakura watched him with an interested eye. He could create magic so quickly and easily. She had such a long process to go through before she could use hers. He looked up and caught her staring at him. Blushing a little she turned to Kaho and Tomoyo. "Tonight since we are setting up camp outside in this bitter weather, why don't I prepare a soup?"

"That would be perfect, Sakura," Tomoyo said with sincerity, more based on actual opinion than adoration.

Kaho merely smiled and Li shrugged his indifference. "For now though you should eat. And since we have a fire perhaps you should try Shadow. It is good for controlling others and capturing people."

She nodded and smiled vaguely. Quietly she nibbled on her food, not really that hungry but forcing herself to eat it all, lest she be yelled at by Li or the others. Everyone was so worried about her, doing all this for her and she felt so guilty. She'd never liked to rely too much on people's help, preferring instead to do it on her own. She was grateful for what everyone was doing but in some ways she just wished that everyone would leave and let her fend for herself. That way no one would get hurt, no one would suffer.

Little did she know that everyone was wishing that the princess could just go back to the life she had led up to so recently. The twinkle was beginning to fade from her eyes, replaced by weariness and anxiety. Neither could be removed and everyone hated it. She had been thrust into an impossible situation, having to use all of her strength to adapt to the very thing that caused her to flee for her life. They watched in silence as she pulled out yet another Card and called upon it. Kero quietly explained what Shadow did and how she could use it effectively in different ways. No one failed to see how she stumbled slightly.

But even when they continued their journey she still used the Cards, calling upon Wood, Maze and Shot before collapsing weakly into Li's ready arms. Still barely conscious she changed the Wand back into the Key and looped it around her neck. Then she was lost to the world. Solemnly Li picked her up gently and held her carefully, strongly against his chest, making sure that her cloak was wrapped around her well.

He hated himself for telling her to do this but he also knew that she had six more Cards brought out, six less to take away energy from her when she really needed it. So he held her to him, walking swiftly just ahead of the rest and let himself, for the first time in his life, revel in the nearness of someone and the way that her cold body made him seem warm all over.

(A/N: Warning! I posted a whole bunch of stuff all at once but it was all written beforehand. I'm still writing but since Christmas is coming and I told someone I'd write a story ALL for HER I can't devote as much to this one. So probably only just one more update before I go on hiatus for a week or two. Thanks everyone for reading! REVIEW! Review or I'll start talking to the characters .)