Chapter twelve

Let the test began

"Sakura! Time to wake up!" Fujitaka shouted from downstairs. Sakura opened her eyes lazily. It was a tiresome night for her. She had to explain to her father from the beginning to the end which took her almost two whole hours to complete the whole story. Her father couldn't believe his ears when Sakura told him about her mother teaching her magic.

Flashback

"Nadeshiko knows magic?" Fujitaka repeated after Sakura when she told him about it.

"You have to understand, Oto-san," Sakura explained, "Oka-san really loves you, thus she didn't know how to explain to you," Fujitaka looked at his daughter. In his mind, he knew what Sakura said was true. Touya sat quietly by the side of Fujitaka. His eyes were staring hard at Syaoran the whole time. Syaoran ignored his angry look and continued to look at Sakura explaining.

"So you know too, Touya?" Fujitaka asked, snapping Touya out of his staring.

"Yes, Oto-san," Touya replied honestly, "I know about it too."

"So I was the only one who doesn't know," Fujitaka replied.

End of flashback

Sakura sat up at the side of the bed. Her father was very understanding. Even when he met Yue and Kero, he never seems to be afraid of them. He was in fact very grateful to them for taking care of Sakura. Sakura smiled as she walked across the room to brush her teeth. After she was done with her usual things, she went downstairs. Syaoran, Touya, Fujitaka and Yukito were in the kitchen having their breakfast. Syaoran looked up the moment he sensed Sakura's aura. Sakura smiled slightly at him as Syaoran got to his feet and moved over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Ohayo, Sakura," Syaoran greeted gently.

"Ohayo, Syaoran-kun," Sakura greeted back, "Ohayo, Oni-chan, Oto-san."

"Ohayo, Sakura-san!" Fujitaka smiled at his daughter, "Your favourite! Pancakes."

"Yes!" Sakura shouted as she jumped happily.

"Kaiju never change a bit. Be careful not to make a hole here!" Touya teased. Sakura blushed and gave Touya a deadly stare which Touya ignored and drank his coffee. Syaoran and Fujitaka giggled under their breath. Sakura settled down and ate her breakfast. Fujitaka was talking to Syaoran about the test she would be taking in less than an hour. Touya made Syaoran promised to take good care of Sakura since they were leaving at noon that day. Syaoran nodded his head non-stop and Sakura wondered if it would come off if Syaoran wasn't being careful. After she finished her breakfast and washed her plate, she went upstairs and got herself change. Syaoran continued to listen to the two other guys' lecturing.

Sakura wore her favourite pink sleeveless t-shirt and white jeans. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was nervous about the test. What if she can't make it? Will she not able to see Syaoran again? The thought made her heart stopped. She never wanted that to happen and it will not happen.

"Sakura, are you sure you don't want us to come along?" Kero asked as he flew towards her.

Sakura nodded her head, "Yes. I will be fine, Kero. Don't worry. Syaoran will help protect me."

Kero looked at Sakura with a worry look. He, being one of Sakura's most loyal guardians, was worried. He didn't want Sakura to get hurt.

Noticing Kero's worry look, Sakura laughed, "I will be fine, Kero-chan. So don't worry. Just look after the house while Oto-san, Oni-chan and Yukito go back okay? And the fridge is all your's."

"Really?!" Kero asked, his expression changed to an extremely happy one.

"Yep, all your's!" Sakura smiled. Kero yelled in happiness. Sakura smiled as she looked at Kero in his state of happiness.

"Sakura! We have to go!" Syaoran shouted from the stairs.

"Coming!" Sakura shouted back as she picked up her cards and went out of the room. Syaoran waited at the bottom of the stairs. Sakura walked quickly down the stairs.

"So my Oto-san and Oni-chan finished their lectures?" Sakura asked in a teasing tone.

"They have a lot of things to say if you asked me. Man, they almost killed me with that. Not even my mother is that long-winded," Syaoran exclaimed in annoy.

Sakura laughed heartily as she bid goodbye to her brother and father and Yukito and got into the car sent by Yelan. On the way, Sakura held Syaoran's hand tightly. Notice that she was getting very nervous, Syaoran told her some of his childhood. Some were stupid and funny which Sakura laughed again when she heard it. But none of these laughing released her nervousness that was building in her. When they finally got there, Sakura can't help but broke into cold sweat. She stared at the building in front of her. It wasn't the same place where Syaoran brought her to meet his mother. The enormous gate gave her the creep she never felt before.

"Don't worry Sakura. I know this place is creepy, but this is the place where the elders held the test," Syaoran assured her. Sakura nodded her head as they walked into the area. The gate closed behind them. There was no way they could turn back. The moist air around her made her fear grew for this place. Will there be ghost? Finally they reached the clearing. There they saw Shi standing there waiting for them.

"Konnichiwa, Sakura-sama, Syaoran-sama," Shi greeted politely, "I have been waiting."

"Syaoran-sama? Shi, just call me Syaoran is enough," Syaoran replied noticing her little change in her tone.

"I'm sorry I can't," Shi replied in apology, "I am supposed to greet you in respect."

"What is going on? Don't tell me you and Rex..." Before Syaoran could continued, Shi cut in.

"The helicopter is ready to take off, Syaoran-sama. So please take your place," Shi replied, "And Sakura-sama, please wait for a while, while I get Syaoran-sama to the helicopter."

"Ahm... Sure..." Sakura responded uneasily. Shi had changed completely from the one she knew yesterday. What had happen to her? She must have gone through something. Even Syaoran had noticed the change in her attitude. Sakura can't think of what had happen to Shi.

Shi led Syaoran towards the helicopter in silence. It was Syaoran who broke the silence.

"What really happen between you and Rex? What with the courteous?" Syaoran asked.

"I reported about the incidence yesterday and they blamed me for not stopping them," Shi replied, "I got so angry that I just started scolding them for being so stubborn and not willing to listen to me. Of course that didn't get me into this kind of situation."

"You scold the elders? Are you out of your mind?" Syaoran asked in total shock.

"I just didn't want Sakura to get hurt in the test since they chose the most difficult test," Shi replied.

"So what really happen that got you into this situation?" Syaoran asked. He had always treated Shi as one of his sisters. He had always respected her in all aspect.

"Rex came into the picture. And the two of us got heated up when I say how terrible Mei was towards Sakura. And he started scolding me. I got even angrier and scolded him back. In the end, we decided to divorce," Shi replied, "Which was good for me. After all he did cheat on me."

"Man, you are even creeper than Meiling," Syaoran replied.

"Thank you," Shi thanked him, "Here you go, and I will lead Sakura for the last time as part of the Li's. I will not let her get hurt."

Syaoran got into the helicopter, and shouted, "Take care of Sakura for now!" And the helicopter took off. Shi turned and walked back to Sakura who was looking at Shi the whole time as if she wanted to know what was going on.

"Sakura-sama," Shi started.

"Call me Sakura," Sakura told Shi in determine.

"You will be receiving the test in a moment," Shi continued as she ignored Sakura while snapping her fingers. A sudden earth shake made Sakura held her ground and shut her eyes close. When she reopened her eyes, she was shocked to see what was in front of her. In front of her was a whole stretch of green colour wall.

"Ahm... Shi-san... What's that?" Sakura asked Shi who looked at it in dismay.

"Nothing, a maze that is," Shi replied.

"A maze? That's my test?!" Sakura shouted in shocked.

"You have to get to the center of maze to find the next battlefield," Shi told her.

"WHAT?! You have to be kidding me," Sakura shouted.

"Let's go," Shi told Sakura as she led the way into the maze. Sakura immediately went after her. Following Shi closely, Sakura looked around her. She was afraid. She always gets lost in a maze. When they reached the cross-section, Shi turned around to face Sakura who was still in a state of confusion and fear.

"So turning left or turning right?" Shi asked.

"Huh?! Oh..." Sakura looked at both sides, "I think I will take left."

Shi sighed as they continued to move on. Never did she know that the wall behind her closed shut the path that she just took.

Mei's side

Mei opened her eyes slowly. The sun had made her wake up. Everything in front of her began to come slowly into sight. Where was she? She sat up and looked around her. She recognized her own room. When did she come home? Just then she saw a head lying at the side of her bed. She climbed slowly and softly towards the head. She looked over and was surprised by whose the head belong to.

"Zetsu..." Mei whispered.

It was Zetsu. He slept peacefully. Mei smiled slightly as she ran her fingers through his hair. She liked the feeling of his hair. Zetsu opened his eyes and looked up at Mei who stopped her action and looked into his eyes.

"Mei, you are awake," Zetsu smiled, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Mei replied.

"I'm glad," Zetsu told her, "I think I will get going then. It's morning already." Zetsu stood up and turned to leave. Out of the blue, Mei wrapped her hands around Zetsu. Taken back by her action, Zetsu stood still. It was like everything around him had stopped.

"Don't leave me alone, Zetsu. Please," Mei pleased as she held him tighter, "Please stay with me."

"Mei..." Zetsu was lost of words. He didn't know what to say to Mei.

"I can give up anything and everything," Mei continued, "I can give up my chance of marrying Syaoran. I just want you to stay with me. I love you!"

Zetsu turned around and looked at Mei. She said it.

"I love you too," Zetsu replied as he bent down to kiss her on the lips. Mei closed her eyes as she deepened the kiss between them. Zetsu wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her closer to him. When they pulled away from each other, both of them blushed deeply.

"Mei..." Zetsu started.

"Yeah?" Mei asked.

"Marry me?" Zetsu asked.

"Is this a propose?" Mei questioned.

"Yes," Zetsu smiled brightly. Mei smiled happily at him.

"Yes I will!" She replied as she hugged him again. Zetsu hugged her even tighter.

'Thank you, Kami-sama, Sakura-san. If not for you, I will not have been able to marry the woman I love. And good luck with your future.' Zetsu thought.

Sakura's side

"When are we reaching?" Sakura asked. They had been walking for the past few hours and they hadn't reached the middle.

"It's up to you," Shi replied as she looked at Sakura.

"Can we rest?" Sakura asked.

"Sure, we will rest for 10 minutes then," Shi replied. Sakura sat down and Shi leaned against the wall.

"Shi-san?" Sakura started.

"Yes, Sakura-sama?" Shi asked.

"What really happen?" Sakura asked.

"What is it about?" Shi asked. She knew what Sakura was going to ask.

"What happen between you and your husband? Or the elders?" Sakura asked.

"Nothing that you are concern Sakura-sama," Shi replied, "You just have to concentrate on the battle."

"Okay," Sakura replied sadly. She really wanted to know what happened to Shi but since Shi was not willing to tell her, she will not force her to.

"Let's go then," Sakura told Shi as she picked herself up and walked in front of Shi. Shi followed quietly behind her. She knew Sakura was going the right way. She knew what was going on in the maze. When the ending point came into sight, Sakura was almost jumping up and down in joy. She ran quickly towards it. Shi ran after her. Just then, a strange scent caught her as she immediately shouted to Sakura.

"Look out, Sakura!" Shi shouted. But it was too late. A giant spider had appeared in front of Sakura and was about to attack her!

Okay... another chapter completed. And I have another mental block. Although it isn't as worst as the one before...

Meilin Baby 13, sorry I only put in a little of Fujitaka's thoughts. "

Romanctic-is-best, I'm really sorry but I have to put the divorce thing for Shi. And no problem, I just live in South East Asia.

Crystalz Tearz, I will see if I can put Meiling in. But I don't think so. Sorry. And YES!!! Mei is going to give up Syaoran!!!

Fallen-spirit, I must say I'm really sorry. Kinda mistaken it as... Ahm... Sorry....

I'm working on the chapter. So don't worry. Countdown to my prelim: 4 weeks. LOL!

O.o By the way thanks Crystalz Tearz for worrying for my exam.

Signing off and loving you guys,

Kit, the weirdo.