The girl opened her eyes with a start. She opened her dry cracked lips to speak, her voice hoarse from screaming the previous night.

"Where am I?"

Instead of answering her, Riyo just tapped the girl's ankle with her crystal. A turquoise light emanated from the crystal, healing the girl's wound. The girl felt a slight tingle in her ankle as she felt the crystal heal her ankle. Suddenly Riyo felt dizzy, her head spun painfully. She collapsed off the chair she was on and sank to her knees. Syaoran was there instantly supporting her. The girl looked at Riyo concerned.

"Are you alright Miss?"

"Idiot!" The young boy chastised her as he helped her regain composure. Riyo placed a hand over her chest.

"I had to Syaoran; her ankle might have been infected. It was already swollen badly enough." She said, giving him a lopsided grin.

"But the ointments would've cured it. I could have done it, not you. You're too weak to perform healings."

"Weak?" Riyo laughed hoarsely. "I obviously have not kicked your butt hard enough to burn in it your mind that I am anything but weak."

"Big talk." He said, smirking slightly. His cousin – she would be alright.

"You wanna bet?" She tried to stand up but she ended up falling back on the chair.

Syaoran flicked her nose lightly, making her stay put. She could never argue with him when he got into 'big brother' mode. Riyo smiled weakly at him. 'That's good old Li Syaoran for you.' She then saw that the girl was awake. Riyo smiled at her warmly.

"Good morning there sleepy head!" Riyo said with a bright smile on her face. The girl smiled back at her, eyes still droopy from sleep.

"Good morning Miss."

"What's your name?" she asked, desperately attempting to draw out some brightness or enthusiasm from the stranger.

"...Ki-Kinomoto Sakura." She said quietly, blushing. Her name seemed so... long.

"Nice to meet you Sakura; I'm Li Riyo, please just call me Riyo." Riyo then nudged Syaoran in the chest. "You're being rude."

"Li Syaoran." He said stiffly. Riyo pouted.

"As cold as usual. Honestly, you should be nicer to people Syaoran." Sakura cocked her head thoughtfully. Recognition flashed in her face as she looked at Syaoran's eyes.

"You're the one who saved me from the guards..." She bowed her head modestly. "Thank you, Li."

"It was nothing."

"But-" Syaoran cut Sakura off.

"It was nothing." He repeated, a final note in his voice.

"Why were you being chased anyway?" Riyo asked, seriousness creeping into the tone of her voice. Sakura's face darkened visibly.

"It... was my turn last night. My father had turned me in two days ago – 7 months after..." She trailed off, unable to continue. Her voice was filled with remorse. Riyo touched her shoulder comfortingly, regretting that she had asked in the first place.

"I'm so sorry Sakura. I didn't..."

"No," she said shaking her head. "It's alright. It's not my father's fault either. He's being controlled by the emperor like all those other unfortunate people who had given in."

"I know what it's like." Riyo told her, a glazed look in her eyes. "My younger brother also gave in. He nearly got me killed." Suddenly noises came from outside the house. A piercing scream filled the air making Sakura shiver in fright. Syaoran turn in a different direction, shifting uncomfortably and Riyo looked at the window. Guards went past the house but they didn't enter.

"Yet another one has fallen to their claws." Riyo said sadly. "It's alright though, at least we were able to save one." She said, smiling lopsidedly at Sakura.

Sakura looked down at her hands quietly. She was a stranger to these Li's yet they were so nice. Suddenly a thought came to her mind.

"Both of you are Li's... Are you two married?" Riyo doubled over in laughter while Syaoran just looked away, yet again.

"Me? Married to this block of ice? No way! We're just second cousins dearie." Sakura blushed in embarrassment.

"Oops, I'm sorry." She said.

"I take offense in that comment." Syaoran muttered indignantly.

"Oh, but you are a block of ice!" Riyo prodded, poking fun at her cousin.

"Not that..." He muttered, looking up to meet her eyes, and looking away once more. "About the thought that I could ever possibly be engaged, let alone married to someone like you..."

"HEY." Riyo protested, shaking her fist childishly. "Guys find me attractive too!"

Fortunately for Syaoran, a knock at the door saved him from having to make up a retort to throw in the direction of his cousin.

"Come in." Riyo said lazily, shooting Syaoran a Look. A young girl in yellow Chinese robes came in, bowing politely to them.

"Feimei." Syaoran said suddenly. Sakura then realized she must be a sister of his. Feimei instantly turned to Syaoran.

"Syaoran, she's here now. Lady Tomoyo is here." Syaoran instantly stood up; his eyes darted to the door.

"Does she know that I am here?" he asked.

"Yes, she does Syaoran." Feimei replied, a mischievous smile on her face. Riyo smothered her giggles as she saw the expression on his face turn from a cold one to a panicked one. Sakura merely looked from one Li to another, clearly confused. A voice suddenly rang throughout the house.

"LIIIIIII SYAORAAAAAAAAAN!"

At that moment Syaoran paled significantly. He quickly darted into the nearest closet in the room. "Don't tell her that I'm here." He warned them before shutting himself in. Sakura became even more confused.

"Who is Lady Tomoyo?" Sakura asked timidly. Riyo looked at her with a sad smile.

"She's Syaoran's fiancée." Riyo said, rolling her eyes. "The prat doesn't appreciate her, really."

Syaoran opened the door of the closet again and looked at each of them with warning glance.

"Don't tell her I'm in here." And with that, he shut the door once more.

Suddenly a dark violet-haired girl burst into the room holding a small sketchpad in one hand and a pencil in the other. "Where is he?" she asked Riyo. "I know he's here!" Sakura was about to reply when Riyo placed her hand over her mouth.

"Hush, don't say a thing." She whispered. The newcomer turned her attention to Sakura, her amethyst eyes gleaming with interest. Sakura's eyes widened in fear. 'Why is she looking at me like that?' The girl walked towards her and suddenly her eyes became like stars.

"KAWAII!"