WOO! I kept a promise! Here is chapter twenty all nifty and new. Thank you for the reviews but this time there isn't much to really reply to so, short authors note. Except: YAY OVER A HUNDRED! I FEEL SPECIAL! You people are so lovely!

Anyway, enough gushing at how wonderful the people who review me are, more story right?

Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. This is obvious by my inability to keep most of my own deadlines. Imagine having to have a deadline for a manga where I had to write AND draw


Chapter Nineteen: Harsh Revelations

It was cold and getting colder. They would be leaving soon and Sakura wasn't entirely sure she really wanted to go. The past day and a half were wonderful being with her mother once more and her brother being close at hand. Yukito, who had been unable to come to dinner with them the night before due to fatigue, had risen wonderfully this morning and the two had spent hours talking together. He was informative in his duties as counselor and gave her ideas and reports from the various regions he had visited.
As she spoke with him however she realized what a strain flying everywhere was putting on his body and told him to take it easy for the time being. She preferred that he be alive and well and not suffering or ill because she told him to. Yue came out during this long argument and tried to persuade his mistress to allow him to return to the Li estates with her. She pointedly disagreed and at long last, both personalities gave way.
And now she was alone, but not unbearably so. Syaoran was visiting with Yamazaki and their friends. Since she had forbidden discussion of it the night before, he was now listening to all the info that they had gathered. He had forbidden her from leaving the palace again, afraid that she might be seen and had promised her that when he returned they would be leaving shortly after.
So she took that time to visit her father's grave once more. Tears still threatened to overwhelm her, but she knew that her father was now in a better place, far from the worries of the world and she wished him well. She would always miss him and probably always cry for him, but never as the lost child that she had been the day previous.
The sun was close to setting and it was time to return to the far warmer indoors. Sakura looked at the cold marble once more before turning to leave. However her exit was blocked by the approach of a figure she had never seen before. She stood still, waiting silently, as the stranger made his way to her and caught sight of his light hair, small smile and surprisingly brilliant cerulean blue eyes.
When he was within normal and polite speaking range she hailed him. "Good evening, sir."
The man paused, smiling politely and bowing before continuing in his path until he was standing next to her. "Good evening, my lady. I had not expect anyone else to be paying respects to the former king in such cold weather. I pray that you will return to warmth soon, as you looked quite chilled."
Sakura smiled. "I was just leaving. You speak so politely though, are you a member of the court?"
"Alas, I am not," he answered, looking at her with eyes that seemed to glow in the evening sun. There was something in his eyes that Sakura could not read, but didn't find the effort to try.
"That's good. I was afraid I was even further remiss in my duties and had forgot one of the courtiers. My mother would be shamed of me."
The man smiled at her, but looked a little confused. "Why is it such a deal to forget one person out of so many?"
Sakura blushed. It was perhaps not the best idea to speak honestly, but something in him compelled her to. Besides, the man was honouring her father and thus could not be his murderer.
"Because it is the duty of the Queen to know her people."
The man's beautiful blue eyes widened. "The Queen! Oh, gods," he muttered before quickly dropping to his knee to bow in respect. Perhaps it was her weariness or the amusing manner in which he bowed that caused Sakura to forget her usual embarrassment to have people react as such when hearing of her presence.
"I am glad you are here to honour my father," he said, when he finally rose again.
"He was a wonderful man. I am sorry I could not have known him while he was alive. I lived outside of the Capitol you see. But since I have business here I thought it would be appropriate to honour him while I was here."
She smiled at him. "I'm sure he would have been pleased to know you."
"As I am pleased to know that our new Queen is as beautiful and delightful as she is," he smiled, bowing once more.
Sakura blushed. "Thank you, sir. However, it is time I return to the palace. My...bodyguard will be looking for me soon if I stay out too much longer." She smiled at him once more before leaving on the trail to the palace.

Cerulean blue eyes followed the sight of the beautiful woman as she slowly retreated. He was awed by her. The Mirror had been unable to capture the raw vivacity that she held and the way her Powerful aura invited those to mingle with it and feel calm and joyous. He had had difficulty controlling his own so that it would not heed the silent pleas.
The Card Mistress was indeed as wonderful as he had always pictured she would be. He could not wait for the day she would be within his grasp. Smirking he looked towards the monument to the old king.
"I bet you love looking down from your reign of heaven and seeing your daughter so close to the one who murdered you. To know that perhaps the one person who could protect her is only a bodyguard to her."
At the mention of the said 'bodyguard' his eyes narrowed. He knew as this lovely girl did not, that the two were meant to be together, souls that were not complete until they were made one. He wondered just how long she would able to resist the Power that called her to love that Li brat and if he would get to her in time.

A pair of brown eyes, hidden behind wide rimmed glasses and surrounded by honey brown hair, twinkled in their knowledge. As the old king looked down at his murderer he revealed in the knowledge that the evil man assumed to know but hadn't any clue to at all.
The old king smiled because he knew his daughter would prevail and that she would do so with the Power given to her by love.

Syaoran returned to the palace tired and weary. They hadn't been able to gather much information and it was irritating as well as worrying. Whoever they were up against, he covered his tracks well. He had been expecting Sakura to be waiting for him in her room perhaps but when he went there she was no where to be found. Worried he began to search the large edifice in attempts to find her and was almost at his wit's end before he remembered something.
Carefully scouring his memory, Syaoran took the steps he had taken so long ago until he found himself outside of a room he had only entered once the day before hell had rained down on them. Standing outside the closed door he knew that she was inside and endeavoured to open the door silently, so that perhaps he could watch her candidly.
Sakura was looking away from the door as she danced through the room in a series of graceful movements. Before when he had come here she had shown of a series of beautiful gymnastics. Now the flips and tumbles were seeped with quick darts of a sword and graceful kicks. She was amazingly beautiful and every movement seemed to have been choreographed thousands of years before just so she could make them at this moment.
In a finale of movement she did a back flip into the air, twisting midway, bringing her sword in the motion allowing her to hit all spaces that an attacker might fill around her before landing gracefully on the ground. She stood for a moment, panting heavily before stilling and twirling around to face him at last.
"Syaoran! How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to fear for my life lest I ever irritate you enough for you to attack me," he grinned.
Laughing, she skipped over towards him. "I'm sorry I wasn't waiting for you like I was supposed to. I just haven't practiced in her for so long and I couldn't resist the temptation."
He nodded. "It's fine, Sakura. Training is never something I'm going to yell at you about. However, you should bathe and change quickly so we can get going."
She nodded and lead the way out of the room.

"You are waiting so impatiently for her to return," Xi Wang asked, startling Tomoyo from her reverie. "Though, I can't say I blame you. I have begun to understand why you cherish her so much."
Tomoyo smiled at him as he joined her at the window that looked out onto the drive before returning her gaze. "She is an amazing person and could live a hundred years before realizing it."
"Does the same apply for you, your grace?"
Tomoyo blushed at the implied compliment. "I've told you to call me something else."
"Not until you are content to call me by my first name so I may return the favour," he whispered, taking her hand up to press a kiss on it lightly.
Blushing harder, Tomoyo tried to think of words to say in such a situation but failed. Never before had she been at a loss for words but now she couldn't help it. And so she turned to the last resort: run away. Quickly making her excuses she raced from the room, nearly bumping into Zhi Ye, and fled down the hallway leaving both men somewhat surprised.
"I don't remember you ever having said anything before that caused someone to flee from you like that before, my friend."
"Especially since all I did was compliment her," Xi Wang sighed, raking his hand through his hair.
"You like her. Aren't you supposed to be hanging after someone else?" Zhi Ye asked.
"I figured you already had the Li girl in your sights. Are you telling me you don't like her as well?"
The other boy blushed and leaned against the doorframe. "She's nothing like I expected. I didn't know girls could be so candid or strong like that."
"I did," Xi Wang replied smiling. "Though she doesn't remember it, Meiling and I met years ago. She's exactly the same now as she was then personality wise. Well, excepting her obsession with her cousin. It shows you high favour that she seems to be considering your suit since you are being compared favourably against Li himself."
Zhi Ye blinked. "That is a compliment. However, I don't know if such things are wise. When we left did you ever imagine both of us falling in love? Much less falling in love at all?"
His companion shrugged. "Not really, but I don't mind. I'd been getting kind of lonely and bored. I think Tomoyo could fascinate me for years, she and her friends. I think I'm up for the challenge."
The two stood in silence for a minute before Rae grinned. "Well, one thing is for certain."
"What?"
"I can't go back until I've cleared my name from having been beaten by a girl."
"Ah, but my friend, even the great Li was beaten by a girl, fair and square too I bet."
"Then perhaps it's a sign that I should marry her immediately, keep her from training and then challenge her when I know she can't beat me." The two stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter knowing that he would probably not like her so much if she hadn't beaten him in the first place. But that was just how men were.

Kero and Suppi were flying around the dining room causing mayhem while everyone else talked over dinner excitedly about a number of topics. Sakura was pleased to be back in a setting that was now more familiar than her own home but something was still bugging her. Quietly, so as not to call attention to herself in the chaotic room, she slipped away from the table and out onto the balcony.
Everyone was all together, chatting merrily, bringing the only absence into that much further of a focus. Eriol had been gone for some time and even in the days right before his leave taking he had become more and more silent. That is until the very day he left. Sakura could still remember the haunting words brought more painfully into relief against the recent events.
They had been standing on that same footbridge that had over heard so many interesting conversations of late while the footmen gathered his bags on his trusted horse. His eyes were sad and far away looking as he smiled at her.
"You know so much about me now Sakura, more than I think anyone else on this earth does. And I hope that I have been able to help you, just as I'm leaving to see if I can find any more help for you now. But, I have one last thing to say which I've been putting off for some time."
"You sound so sad, Eriol. It can't be that bad can it?"
"I'm afraid it is," he paused to breathe deeply before looking her straight in the eye. "For all the fact that everyone here is ready to help you, try as we might it is not possible. Though we are ready to be at your side, we cannot. This is a battle for you alone and you alone can win it. I do not know what will happen but I know that it will not be easy and that for you it may be unbearable."
Sakura listened in shock, numbly listening to what she knew for certainty was fact from the tone of his voice. He sounded so lost and scared for her and that was never a tone she had expected to hear come from such a mischievous person.
"I hear you have been having dreams, dreams that cause you to wake up screaming. No, Li didn't tell me, Yelan informed me. I don't know what you dream about, nor do I think I want to know, but they are probably not just dreams, Sakura. I doubt Li wants you to hear that what you are dreaming will most likely come true but you do need to hear it.
"I'm sure you see yourself fighting alone, and that is what you will do. But don't worry too much, Sakura. As long as you, everything will definitely be all right."
"Sakura?"
The young queen turned around sharply, startled out of her thoughts by the worried voice. "Yes, Syaoran?"
"Why are you out here, Sakura? And you aren't wearing anything either!" he scolded, taking off his jacket and placing it over her bare shoulders.
"I had some thinking to do." She paused for a moment before asking, "Syaoran did I tell you about the man I met today while you were with Yamazaki?"
His amber eyes narrowed a little. "No, you didn't tell me anything of the sort. What kind of man were you meeting with?"
She giggled slightly at his display of jealousy. "I wasn't MEETING with anyone, Syaoran. I just talked to him briefly when I went to go visit my father's memorial again."
Hearing this, he calmed a little but still looked worried. "What about him makes it worth mentioning to me?"
"Nothing really that I can put my finger on. But remember how you told me everyone had an aura from the most Powerful person to the lowest of levels, like Zhi Ye." He nodded. "And, I was also taught that you can hide your aura completely but that only really Powerful people can do so and if I ever came across someone without an aura I should immediately get suspicious."
Syaoran nodded. "Did this man not have an aura?"
"No, but it still didn't feel normal. It seemed almost like his aura was trying to break free, as if it was being crowded in a space too small. I can't really describe it and it wasn't even something I paid that much attention to at the time. I just don't know," she sighed, shrugging, "for some reason it makes me nervous."
Syaoran stared at her for a moment. "That's not the only thing bothering you though is it?"
Sakura shook her head. "No, but I don't know if I'm ready to tell you about the other part yet."
Syaoran gently cupped her chin in his hand and pulled her chin up. "You are not meant to frown, Sakura. That's my job. I know we are having troubled times but let me help you a little. No one here likes to see you frown and look tired like this. Now, smile for me."
Her mouth slowly curved upwards. "Everyone here has already done so much for me. I don't want to burden you further. But, I will tell you eventually, Syaoran. For now, I just have some things to sort out."
He nodded and wrapped her in his arms for a long moment before leading her back into the dining room that still had not noticed their absence.

The next few days busied as everyone began to spend time not only trying to figure out who the evil man was but also organizing the fast approaching coronation. Tomoyo did fittings of everyone she could lay hands on so that she might make appropriate garb for the illustrious event. Sakura took the brunt of her ministrations though and was maid to stand on a stool for hours on end as Tomoyo tried out different patterns on her best friend.
The three suitors were thrilled that they were also being invited to the celebration since they had not expected to attend. They wrote home to their families and explained that they would be staying for awhile longer than expected. Determined to make themselves useful, Zhi Yue and Xi Wang helped Sakura with her correspondence and updating population information, the tedious tasks that no one really liked to do.
Even Suppi and Kero made themselves indispensable to the household by carrying missives throughout the large mansion from one room to another. Neither of them minded, surprisingly, and even found it as a new challenge to see who could deliver notes from farther away the quickest. This only involved a few minor mishaps with nothing particularly expensive, if particularly breakable.
As for Sakura, she felt lost. Syaoran tried his best to reassure her during the weeks that followed their brief visit to the castle but it was hard work. She was getting paler and paler as her nightmares became more and more often. Not that she let anyone know in an obvious manner that she was upset. She still managed to smile cheerfully at everyone and take on the full day's work as well as she ever had. Still, those that new her best could see the strain that was falling on her as she got more and more worried.
One day, a week and a half before the ceremony, she collapsed in the middle of her magic training. Her mastery was still not perfect but the Cards respecter her enough that when she fell, completely loosing consciousness, they immediately returned to their natural state and crowded around her in concern. Syaoran and the Elders immediately rushed to her but try as they might, she would not awaken to their proddings.
Eventually, Syaoran carefully took her in his arms and brought her to her room where he laid her down gently. Kero, having heard from the Elders after delivering a message of what had happened, burst into her room shortly after.
"Sakura! What's the matter with her?! What did you do you overgrown Chinese Li brat?!"
"I didn't do ANYTHING you stupid stuffed animal!" Syaoran growled in reply. "She overexerted herself while training with the Elders. It's nothing unusual, but now she won't wake up."
Kero worriedly fluttered over to where his mistress lay sleeping quietly. Her breathing seemed normal and her colour wasn't any paler than usual. "She's been training hard every day for a few weeks hasn't she? She should no better than to push herself this hard."
Syaoran agreed silently but wasn't about to let the stupid creature know it. "She'll be fine. I'm going to stay here until she wakes up. Then I'm going to give her proper hell for doing something stupid."
Kero nodded. "I'll tell the others about her. Then I'll be back to make sure you don't molest my mistress!"
"Get out of here you stupid stuffed animal!" Syaoran yelled, taking the Sun Guardian by his tail and throwing him out of the door and promptly locking it after him. Kero continued to yell at the closed door for a minute before giving up and leaving. Syaoran sighed in aggravation, raking his hand through his already unruly hair.
Glancing over at Sakura he saw that she was still as asleep as she had been. Walking over, he couldn't help but stare at how beautiful she looked when she slept. He'd never tell her how often he loved to just watch her sleep, nestled against him with complete trust and love. Asleep she looked like an angel or a forgotten princess, locked in a tower waiting for the love of her life to kiss her awake. His angel, his once princess now queen.
Gently, Syaoran lowered himself onto the bed beside her and brushed his fingers through the hair that had already grown a little. Maybe someday, years from then, he would get a chance to run his fingers through the rivers of honey brown silk she had had before, but for now this was more than perfect.
With a small sigh, he kicked off his shoes and climbed into the bed beside her, carefully arranging her in his arms. Silently he prayed to the gods that she would wake up soon or at least change from this worrisome sleep to a normal kind. Yawning, he stared at her, not even noticing as he himself drifted off.

"They've been in there for an awfully long time," Tomoyo whispered.
"You don't think they're...you know," Zhi Ye asked nervously. "Ow!" he grunted, rubbing his side where Meiling had just elbowed him. "What was that for?"
"Stop thinking so dirty."
"Quiet, you two! You'll wake them up," Xi Wang hushed. "You still have the key, Tomoyo?"
The raven haired girl nodded and made her way to the front of the group of mischief makers. Night had begun to fall some time ago and there was only a little daylight left as they executed their plans. The four, curious to see just what was going on behind locked doors for so long that Li wouldn't even ask for food. Tomoyo and Meiling had immediately decided to get to the bottom of this and went on a search for the spare key to Sakura's door. When the two boys had heard about this, they immediately asked to join in on the search.
"Ah, there we go," Tomoyo giggled as she heard a soft click in the door. "Quite a stubborn lock."
"Of course, Li probably glared at it into submission," Xi Wang joked.
"Doesn't want anyone getting at his girl, or him for that matter," Zhi Ye agreed.
Quietly they opened the door and peeked inside. After a moment it became obvious they didn't have to be so careful. The four stared for a minute before having mixed reactions. Tomoyo looked as if she were mentally searching for pen and ink while Meiling just grinned. Xi Wang suppressed a guffaw in appreciation and Zhi Ye just looked wide eyed at a side of Li Xiao Lang he had never thought to see.
For lying quietly on the bed, in plain view, were Sakura and Li. This might not have been so surprising if not for the fact that Li was positioned flat on his back with Sakura more than half on top of him, her skirts draped in a manner that suggested that she had been FULLY on top of him at some time or another. His arms were wrapped protectively around her and her head was nestled intimately against his neck.
After a moment, the quartet slowly left the room and locked the door behind them. Quickly they made their get away to a room far away from that to discuss loudly with everyone in the house what they had just seen.

*I am still racing across blood stained marble. all signs of joy wiped from the word around me. I'm too far away but I can hear fighting Swords are clashing against one another and I hear a cry of anguish. I run faster but I keep slipping on the horrible red liquid under my feet. No matter what I can't get there in time.
Finally I reach the steps, only to find what I was deathly afraid to see. I close my eyes in pain as I hear him laughing at me. I have to keep on fighting but it is so hard now. The pain is so fresh. Still, I raise my staff and stand against him defensively. He mocks me incessantly but I can't hear the words, my mind stuck on the bleeding figure behind me. I have to fight, I have to save my people, I have to save him before he dies, lying there helpless behind me.
I have to save Syaoran


Sakura sat up gasping for air and looking around her frantically. At last her eyes focused and she found herself in her room. The windows were darkened, confusing her because it had been day hadn't it? Why was she in bed in her room? At last she consciously noticed the soothing hand that rubbed her back comfortingly and looked over at it's source. Sitting up a little behind her, Sakura noticed Syaoran and immediately burst into tears.
"Syaoran! I don't want you to die! I keep seeing him try to kill you and I'm never in time to save you! Please, don't leave me!"
Syaoran held the small shaking figure tightly in his arms as she sobbed uncontrollably. At last he had a small idea of what she had been seeing but now he was left more in the dark as how to comfort her. She saw him die? Shaking his head in his mind, he refused to believe he would ever leave her behind. When she began to calm at last he pulled her away from him far enough that she could look into his eyes.
"Sakura, I'll never leave you. I promise! Never will I leave you to fight your battles alone. I'll always be here to protect you."
Sakura looked into his smoldering amber eyes as he vowed this to her and at last began to relax. Nodding she wiped her eyes and gave him a weak smile. "I'm sorry for crying on you."
"I'm perfectly fine with being cried on, I've told you this. Now, tomorrow I want you to tell me everything you've been dreaming. That way we can see if we can beat this dream of yours. Okay?"
She nodded childishly and leaned forward to wrap her arms around him again. "I love you, Syaoran."
"Me too. Now get back to sleep because tomorrow we are going to have a nice long talk about a lot of things."
Sakura nodded and yawned, finally settling off into sleep once more. Syaoran heard how her breathing began to even out and sighed. Despite his promises, he wasn't quite sure how he could keep them. He'd never leave her alone, but he was beginning to fear that the choice wasn't his to make. And that scared him deeply.

(A/N: I know it has a similar ending to last chapter but that was completely accidental. Just repetitive people. It's also a longer chap than usual so yay! Umm...I mark now that there will be only three or four chapters left ending with an epilogue so yay, really, almost done! I hope to have this finished by the end of February but..it's a short month and my time is not always my own. Anyway, hopefully I'll have the next chapter up in a couple days. Things are going to start getting even more interesting now. REVIEW! Ja!)