AN: I'm really sorry; I know that I'm late, again. I didn't even have time during my one weak break. But here it is… and sorry about the paragraphing for the previous chapter. When I typed it out, I did use paragraphing [I always do]. But when it came out on the site, I guess something went wrong. I was in a rush in uploading the chapter that I forgot to check but I've fixed that already.

By the way… did I ever say that Sakura and company still go to college? Well anyway… in case I haven't, they do. And they go to the same school.

Disclaimer: It doesn't belong to me.

Chapter 12: Fallen Victim

"The term is over, Sakura. Get your butt out of bed and get ready for school!" Meilin screamed into the sleepily-drunk-Sakura's ear.

"What?" Sakura scrambled up and jerked her head around confused. "School? Holy cow… I'm late!"

Meilin just sighed and sat back while Tomoyo laughed her camcorder in one hand. Eriol smiled, looking adoringly at his girlfriend while Syaoran lazily leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"I'm almost done!" Sakura shouted as clashing noises could be heard from behind the bathroom door. "Shit… Bloody hell! Damn it! Stupid blouse! Where is the freaking sleeve!" The company in the room just sighed at her antics, save for Syaoran. Finally the door opened, revealing a rather untidy Sakura. But she didn't seem the least bothered by her appearance and ransacked her drawer for her brush and some clips.

Grumbling, she stomped out of her room muttering stuff like "Stupid freaking blouse had to spoil my day."

The company in her room followed her, with Syaoran tagging behind. Just before closing her door, he picked up her forgotten-bag and carried it lightly on his shoulder.

After Sakura had moved into the Li's residence, Yelan made special arrangements for her to attend the same college as Syaoran, Meilin, Tomoyo and Eriol. Sakura didn't and couldn't object. And plus, their school was the best and the most expensive in the whole vicinity.

"Okay Sakura… stop lamenting about your bad-blouse-day and come up to class now." Tomoyo said gently.

Sakura stared at her shoes, looking more forlorn than ever. "I forgot to bring my bag. I'm so stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid me!"

"Here."

Sakura glanced up as her bag was handed over to her. She looked at her hero of the beginning of the first school day. "Oh my- Thank you Syaoran." Sakura smiled as she took her bag from him and slung it on her own shoulder.

Syaoran just nodded and took up him own bag. Together, the whole group walked down the aisle towards their class. But… at the end of the hallway, they were met with the school's 'populars'.

"A new bunch of people huh, Eddie?" A guy nudged the other guy who snickered. "Or is it they came before but they are too minor for us to notice them?"

The whole gang of stuck-up druggies laughed. "Yup… must be. But wait… look at their girls… Oh boy, that's something." All the guys in stared at Sakura, Meilin and Tomoyo.

On instinct, Eriol stepped up to protect Tomoyo while Syaoran… well… he stepped up to protect both Sakura and Meilin. More on Sakura's side though, Eriol and Tomoyo noticed.

"Ooo… a protective bunch of boyfriends. No wait… is there is one boy missing or are you single, missy?" A druggy sneered appreciatively at Meilin. Meilin was about to fight back when Sakura stepped out from behind Syaoran. "You better shut your mouth up or you'll find yourself mute the next time."

"Whoa… relax lady. Is she your mate, huh? The both of you lezzies or something?"

"I said SHUT UP!" Sakura hollered as she charged for the talkative druggy and slammed a fist into his stomach. "That's what you get for talking so much." She slammed another fist into his face. "And that's for talking about my friend."

As Sakura was about to deliver another blow to the guy's face. Syaoran held her back.

"Sakura… relax… don't blow your first day. We don't have to waste out time on druggies like them. Let's just go… He picked her stubborn body up and moved her away from the gang while Meilin and the others caught up.

In the background, they could hear the leader of the gang giving the talkative druggy a thrashing for humiliating their group.

"Way to go, Sakura!" Tomoyo cheered.

"You needn't have done that Sakura… I could have kicked some really bad ass then too!" Meilin laughed. Tomoyo joined along and soon Sakura was laughing like a maniac too.

"Crazy girls…" Syaoran and Eriol muttered at the same time and headed to class.

"You know what he said, he said: go, take, leave, return. Four simple words he told us to remember… wait what was it again?" a confused thug scratched his head.

"It was go, take, leave and return, dumb." His partner said.

"Oh right! This is the right place, then?" The thug stopped the vehicle and stared out of the window at the white-polished walls of the junior college."

"Right Destination: College!"

"Some one's got a problem… Some one's got a big problem!" Some school girls taunted. They wore their skirts obscenely short and carried their 'we're-the-best' attitude around the school the whole day. They always seemed to be around Sakura and gang and this called on some hot temper from the girl itself.

The whole reason for taunting Sakura was just because she refused to take gym lessons that day. Instead, she kept herself hidden somewhere in the school and gave the lame excuse of having a stomach-ache to the gym teacher. But… no… the 'bitchy' school girls had to catch her along the corridor while they were skipping gym themselves. But… lucky for them… they had some one to cover up for that… an alibi.

The gym teacher hadn't given her a scolding because it was her first day. He simply told her that he would watch out for her the next lesson. Sakura had grumbled and stormed out of the gym, highly pissed.

"Get out of the way, idiots!" Sakura screamed, and pushed the girls aside to get to her locker.

The real reason for Sakura skipping gym was because she couldn't and wouldn't stand the stares from practically all the guys in school. She wasn't like Tomoyo and Meilin who were used to it and well… the guys knew that Tomoyo and Meilin had the guys to protect them. The 'guys' being Syaoran and Eriol who were the tougher guys in school. But as for Sakura… they knew that she didn't have a boyfriend or relative to protect her.

"Psycho problem, that's what. Who skips gym? Besides you? Gym is the best class in the world!" The girls said in their proud voices, purposely talking loudly and gathering a crowd.

Sakura closed her locker door slowly and turned around with a mocking expression. "Oh... I know gym is the best class. Let's see you there tomorrow too. And don't worry… I'm no psycho. I'll take gym tomorrow and let's see if you turn up yourselves." With a roll of her eyes, she headed towards the exit to wait for Tomoyo and the others outside.

"See that she even makes it here tomorrow alive. She's just made me so mad that I could strip off my clothes here now!" the leader of the girls screamed. The crowd just laughed and some mocked and pointed at her. Soon… they dispersed and left a very angry bunch of girls. "She will pay!"

Sakura strolled out into the open air and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Those blasted girls. Like her first day wasn't bad enough due to her blouse and bag. Sighing, she rubbed her head tiredly and sat under a tree, waiting for her company to arrive.

She stretched herself and leaned against the tree. Closing her eyes, she looked so serenade compared to earlier.

Nearby, two thugs crept their way towards the unsuspecting beauty. As they were about to pounce on her and grab her, her eyes suddenly flew open on instinct.

"Who are you?" Sakura demanded, getting up into a fighting-pose.

"We're here to kidnap you, that's what," the thug answered as though it was the smartest thing he had said on earth.

"Oh really? Try harder then." Sakura gave a sadistic smile and kicked the thug square on his stomach. "You must really learn how to fight to kidnap people you know?" She said and gave him a punch in the nose. "Especially for people like me." She smiled with pride and knocked him out completely.

Suddenly, Meilin and Tomoyo were seen running towards Sakura. "Sakura! What is going on?"

"It's obvious that she's fighting," Meilin said. "Let's help!"

Sakura, totally oblivious to the gang's presence continued hitting the guy. "Who sent you here anyway? That person must be stupid enough to send you! Purr-lease! Learn to fight before attempting any of these dangerous stunts."

"I-I don-don't know! Really! Ask my boss!" The thug stammered, shaking uncontrollably, obviously scared out of his wits.

"Fine!" Sakura knocked the inexperience thug out before turning to look for the other thug only to find him beaten up into a bloody pulp. "What the-? Meilin!"

"What?" Meilin asked innocently. "Can't I help?"

"He was supposed to give us information. These guys were supposedly sent to kidnap me."

"Oh I see… well we'll just wait for them to regain consciousness," Meilin said coolly. "In the meantime… we should inform Syaoran and Eriol."

"Got it covered!" Tomoyo said, flipping shut her cell phone.

"Good… now we just wait."

"What the hell? What do you mean they were attacked?" Syaoran demanded.

Eriol just shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? Oh! I am a great and mighty psychic!" Eriol added with much sarcasm.

Syaoran growled and shouted, "Let's just go and find them now."

"Sakura! Wait! Where does that girl think she's going?" Meilin asked.

"To the toilet, she said," Tomoyo answered. "She also added: Please watch over those guys for me first. Thanks. And then she ran off."

Meilin stomped her foot. "I'm not her slave! How can she just ditch us here?"

"Who ditched you? Where's Sakura?" Syaoran suddenly appeared and asked, trying to hide his concern.

"Sakura. Toilet," Tomoyo answered Syaoran. "She just ran off."

"What the hell do you mean just ran off? After being attacked?" Syaoran shouted.

"Well… she said that these guys…" Tomoyo paused and pointed at the two slumped bodies, "were 'supposedly' out to kidnap her."

"And you let her run off? Do you have any idea that if that was sent by Shadow… they would have more backup?"

"Oh shit." Meilin's anger was seen in her eyes. "We got to help Sakura!" She ran off, after Syaoran, who had already headed to the toilets.

"Too late," Meilin sighed in defeat.

"They left something," Syaoran said grudgingly. The toilets were empty but there were signs of struggle around and a note slapped on the mirror. "Says: We've got her now."

"They're probably illiterate or something… can't write any longer notes."

"Go get Eriol. We need a plan…"

That's it. I'm really sorry for updating this late. My life's a mess, right now. And I try to find time to do things I like as much as possible. Exams just added the day before. I feel more stressed, though. Post-exam stress, I guess. Once again, sorry!

Also, thanks for those reviews. It really encouraged me. Thanks!