Chapter Eleven

A battle for you!

The meeting went well the next day after the party. Yelan was much pleased by Syaoran's performance. Nevertheless, they managed to get the deal. Yelan reminded Sakura and Syaoran about the upcoming battle and the time, after the meeting and was looking forward.

Syaoran and Sakura were training a hand-on battle. With the sun still burning in the sky, nothing seems to have bothered them in the little battle they had. Sakura gave Syaoran swift punches, leg kicks, etc. which Syaoran blocked them without effect. They had been training for the whole afternoon.

"Come on, Syaoran-kun. Don't tell me you are afraid of me," Sakura told him, now punching him.

"You hope I was," Syaoran smirked as he grabbed her fists and tipped her over. Sakura fell down hard, and with Syaoran over her.

"Now we are back to our old position," Sakura smiled, blushing a little.

"Yes, we have," Syaoran replied, kissing her forehead before getting himself away from Sakura.

"Syaoran, can we take a break?" Sakura asked, sitting up and looking up at him with her puppy face.

"Fine, since we practiced the whole afternoon," Syaoran replied and sat down beside her. The breeze blow gently across the field and towards them.

"Syaoran," Sakura asked, "Are you sure about letting me taking the elders' test? From the way to explain about the tests, it sounds like it is a very important test."

"Sakura, you just have to focus on the test that's all. Don't worry too much," Syaoran reassured her. Not now. He didn't want Sakura to be distracted by the reason he wanted her to take the test. He didn't want her to get herself killed in the battle.

"Konbanwa," A voice greeted from behind, causing them to jump to their feet and spin around at the source of voice. Shi stood firmly at the spot and smiled brightly at them.

"Shi, can't you appear less scary than these? You almost scared the both of us to death. And how did you get in here?" Syaoran asked.

"I can appear anywhere I want you know, Syaoran," Shi replied, "How I get in here is a secret."

"Secret?" the both of them asked.

"A secret makes a woman woman," Shi replied, "but I'm here for something else." She looked from Syaoran to Sakura.

"Hoe?" Sakura let out a sound when she saw Shi looking at her.

"Sakura Kinomoto, I want to test your ability," Shi replied. Her brown eyes gave Sakura a sudden cold. She felt herself shivering. She could see her blue aura around her. It flows like a stream around her. But Sakura saw something else. Something that made her wondered.

Before Sakura could asked Shi any question, Shi had already vanished from Sakura's sight. Sakura looked around. Syaoran concentrated his aura to sense for Shi's. But it was out of no use. Shi had hid her aura to well from Syaoran. Plus there was other people's aura around causing the distraction. Sakura let her pink aura out. She knew Shi was a tough opponent. The aura that she let out was not to the full power.

"The key that holds the power of star, reveal your true form to me. I, Sakura, commend you. Release!" Sakura called upon her staff.

"Lightning!" Stroke of lightning flashed down.

"Shield!" Sakura released in time to avoid getting hurt. Syaoran dodged the attack in time to realize he was getting too far from Sakura. This spelled danger to Sakura.

"Sakura, be careful. Shi is a tricky person," Syaoran warned her.

"Too late, Syaoran," Shi replied as she moved swiftly from the back of Sakura.

"Jump!" Sakura jumped high and managed to escape narrowly from Shi's attack.

"Got you," Shi smiled, "Wind! Come to my aids!"

A gust of strong wind sent Sakura towards the tree, slamming hard on her back.

"Sakura!" Syaoran shouted as he ran towards her but was stopped by Shi who commend strike of lightning to stop his movement. Keroberous and Yue who sensed their master in trouble came running out and transformed into their original self.

"Sakura, are you alright?" Kero asked.

"Who are you?" Yue asked as he faced Shi.

"Keroberous and Yue, guardians of the clow cards. No, I mean Sakura cards now," Shi replied with a wicked smile.

"The guardians?" Syaoran asked. He was positive he saw the doll he saw that day and the guy named Yukito changing to the guardians in front of him. Now he understood why he senses the magical power from them.

"I'm fine, Kero-chan, Yue-san," Sakura replied as she struggled to stand up. Shi smiled. She knew Sakura will stand up and fight her again.

"But, Sakura," Keroberous was cut short by Sakura.

"I will be fine," Sakura told Keroberous. She looked at Shi. She didn't know why this lady was attacking her. "Who are you really?" Shi blinked at Sakura while the others sweatdropped. At a time like this, Sakura was actually asking who her opponent was?

"Sakura, I don't think this is the correct time to ask that," Kero replied. Shi giggled. How innocent can Sakura be? Sakura blushed.

"Clow mistress, my name is Shi Li. I'm the official examiner of the Li's family," Shi replied, holding her laughter.

"Official examiner?" Sakura asked.

"You don't really have to know that much, Sakura-san. All you need to know is to get ready for my next attack," Shi told her as she took a step forward. Sakura held her wand tighter and stared at her. She didn't know when Shi will strike her again or where she was going to attack her. Just then, a call made the five of them stopped all their movement, paralyzing them.

"Sakura, you have guest," Fujitaka shouted as he walked to the backyard where Sakura and the others were. Yue and Kero immediately went and hid themselves while Sakura watched as her father appeared from the door with a girl. That girl is none other than Mei!

"Mei?!" Syaoran shouted as he stared at her wide-eyed, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Can't I come here, Syaoran? I want to meet my opponent," Mei replied as she stared hard at Sakura before she spotted Shi, "So you met with Shi."

"Mei…" Shi replied coldly.

"But I don't think you are here too, to help Sakura to pass, are you? After all, you are just an unwanted wife," Mei laughed evilly at her. Shi looked away from Mei.

"Don't curse her, Mei," Syaoran snapped, "Rex isn't that kind of guy."

"He is," Shi replied, "I know he is having an affair with you." Shi looked angrily at Mei. Sakura and Syaoran looked at the two of them. Mei is a three-timer? First of all, Syaoran. Secondly, Zetsu. Thirdly, Rex? Why was she doing so?

"So what if he is having an affair with me? You can't stop him from doing so," Mei laughed.

"Why are you doing this?" Sakura asked.

"None of your business, Kinoyoto," Mei snapped.

"It's Kinomoto," Sakura replied, "Sakura Kinomoto."

"Whatever, b," Mei replied, "I'm here to only take you on."

"Oh no you don't," Another voice shouted. All of them looked over to find Zetsu standing there.

"Zetsu-kun!" Sakura shouted in surprised.

"Seems to me, every important person starts to appear, isn't it?" Shi replied, smiling at Mei, who stepped back.

"What are you doing here, Zetsu?" Mei asked.

"You will know after I finish you off," Zetsu smiled, "Syaoran, look after Sakura. I will take care of her." Syaoran nodded his head and walked over to Sakura. Sakura looked at Syaoran and back at Zetsu. She knew she didn't want Zetsu to fight with Mei for her. After all, Zetsu did love Mei.

"Why are you doing this for? What do you get from this?" Mei asked, in her battle-mode.

"Nothing," Zetsu replied, "But I want to help Sakura win the duel. I want her to be happy."

"Zetsu…" Mei whispered. Her heart felt as if a thousand needles had went through it. Her fist clinched tightly. Why was it so painful when Zetsu went against her? A feeling that she never had when Syaoran abandoned her.

"I'm not here to fight you, Zetsu," Mei replied, holding her feeling back, "So stand aside."

"What if I say no?" Zetsu asked.

"Zetsu-kun," Sakura started, "I will fight her."

"What?!" Both Syaoran and Zetsu shouted at the same time.

"I will fight you, Mei. This will teach you not to mess with people's love," Sakura replied.

"Oh, really?" Mei replied, "What is there for you to teach me, Miss spoilt-girl? You will never know what I've been going through."

"So what if I don't understand? I never want to understand a person like you," Sakura shouted as she released 'Sword' card. Mei glared at Sakura with her black eyes. She was going to defeat this girl at all cost and reclaimed Zetsu's love. Wait, did she just said Zetsu? Why him? Why not Syaoran?

"Guess you two are going to have a big fight before the real tournament," Shi sighed, "Rather unexpected."

"Shi, just take a rest. You need that," Sakura smiled, "The baby in you needs it."

"How did you…" Shi looked at her in surprised. She had hid this secret from everyone. How did Sakura, whom never met her before or talk to her, knew about it? Realized the surprise look on Shi's face, Sakura replied with a bright smile.

"Even though you tried to hide it, I can sense you use a strong magical barrier to protect him or her," Sakura replied. Shi's sight gentled. Sakura is indeed the chosen mistress to take over the clow cards. Clow Reed's chosen one.

"Sakura, be careful," Shi told her as she stepped back from them. Sakura turned to face Mei who looked at her carefully, in her battle-mode. Zetsu and Syaoran looked at them. At all cost, either one of them will have to lose.

Sakura made the first move as she dashed towards Mei who skipped back a few steps and went into a dash towards Sakura. Sakura plunged the sword towards Mei which Mei dodged it narrowly and gave Sakura a strong punch by the stomach. Sakura backed away from Mei and clinched her stomach in pain. Mei smirked; no one had ever been able to withstand the pain from that punch except for Shi who was the only known to be able to dodge that attack. Sakura's laughter made Mei's smile vanished from her face. Mei looked at Sakura who was standing there, clinching the sword even tighter. She was laughing, and Mei didn't know why. She felt danger in those laughters. Even Syaoran and Zetsu felt it too. Sakura took a step forward. Mei took a step backward. Sakura took another step forward and Mei took another step back.

"What are you afraid of? Don't tell me you are afraid of me," Sakura asked.

"What? I'm not afraid of you," Mei replied.

"You are not afraid of me. But you are afraid to be alone, aren't you? 'Because no one is at your side now," Sakura replied.

"I am not alone!" Mei shouted angrily. She was never alone, was she? It was only yesterday that Zetsu left her life and her life became a complete mess. She cried. Yes she did. Her tears were cried dried. Why of all people, Zetsu betray her for this little girl? She never understood. What is it that Sakura got that she didn't have? Zetsu was everything that kept her going all the while when Syaoran wasn't around.

"I hate you," Mei shouted unconsciously, "I hate you, Kinomoto. I hate you for taking him away from me. I hate you for taking my Zetsu away from me!" Sakura was shocked by Mei's shouting and so were Syaoran and Zetsu. Syaoran never knew Mei had feelings for Zetsu (Of course he didn't. After all he dislikes Zetsu.) and so did Zetsu. Shi looked at them and sighed. Things were turning out to less than expected but it will not go out of hand. She turned to her heel, and whispered into thin air, "It's about time to report to the elders about this. A twist in the situation." Before she vanished into the shadow, she whispered even softer, "Good luck, Sakura-chan."

"Mei…" Sakura didn't know what to say to Mei. She now likes Zetsu as a friend and nothing else. She loves Syaoran and no one else. Mei went into another quick dash and gave Sakura another double punch at the stomach plus a flying kick. Caught off-guard by Mei's attack, Sakura slammed hard to the ground.

"Say goodbye, Kinomoto," Mei shouted as she went for the final blow. Sakura closed her eyes. But nothing came. Slowly, gradually, Sakura opened her eyes to see Syaoran in front of her and Mei was a few meter away from them.

"It's enough, Mei," Syaoran shouted, "Are you trying to kill Sakura?"

"Get away from her, Syaoran," Mei warned as she took a step forward, "Or I will too beat you up."

"You wouldn't dare," Syaoran told her.

"You try me," Mei replied as she jumped high up for her special attack. (Special attack? I don't think so. It's just any common overhead attack.) Syaoran smiled as he easily dodged it and before Mei could even reflected, Syaoran had hit her unconscious. Sakura looked at Syaoran in shock. He was extremely good in dodging and attacking too. But when she trained with him, he never shows that much. So this is his full potential? Does it also mean that the elders are just as good as he is?

Syaoran carried Mei over to Zetsu who was still standing in his spot and passed her over to him.

"Take her home; she needs a lot of rest. I trust you that you can handle her," Syaoran smiled. Zetsu nodded his head, "And I trust you to look after Sakura."

"You bet I will," Syaoran smiled. Zetsu bowed and turned to leave with Mei in his arm. Fujitaka stood there in shock. Everything he just saw had to be a dream. Sakura got herself up.

"Sakura, you alright?" Syaoran asked as he went to her aid.

"Do I look like I am, Syaoran?" Sakura asked, making a you-know-why face.

"Goman, you say not to butt in," Syaoran told her.

"Yes I did," Sakura replied, "But I didn't say you can save me too."

"I can't let you get hurt," Syaoran told her.

"I am already hurt," Sakura replied.

"Oh, well," Syaoran's eye rolled.

"Sakura-san," Fujitaka called out. Sakura looked at her father. "You have a lot of explanation to do, Sakura-san. Tell me everything."

"This is going to be a long night isn't it, Syaoran?" Sakura sighed. Syaoran just smiled and helped her into the house.

"It is going to be a long night before the real test."

Finally… I spent more than 1 week on this chapter. Sorry. Kinda writing another story. But I'm still continuing this story. Don't worry. But you have to be patient. Cause I need to study too. Anyway, I'm countdown to the start of my exam. 5 more weeks. O.o I need to study them I guess. So I wouldn't be able to update that soon. Gomen. Hope you guys don't mind.

Anyway, I put Zetsu in this chapter. A little lemon for Mei. But I think I will put part of the story for Mei and Zetsu, so what do you guys think? And I hope you guys wouldn't mind about the action part. I think it's a little bit… I wouldn't say anymore.

Thank you for all your support. I really appreciate.

Lain in the wired, don't worry. They will be leaving the picture soon…

Kawaii star tenshi… I don't know how many times I must say this but… Mei isn't Meiling. And answering to kaideb, Meiling is married to Rei and has twin daughter. Currently she lives in USA.

Romactic-is-best, check out my profile. You will know where I live.

Loving you guys and signing off,

Kit, the weird girl.