Disclaimer: I don't own the name Ichiro Onosaka; I borrowed it from another CCS story and I forgot the title. Go me.

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Chapter Six: Moonlit Secrets

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Sakura's eyes fluttered open and she groaned. The pain in the back of her head was enormous and her neck was aching. She sat up and looked around, catching her reflection in a mirror and she looked away. Sakura was shocked; she didn't know it would look this bad. She raised one hand to her cheek, where there was a large, purple bruise and softly touched it. She winced, and lay back down, easing her head slightly.

She remembered what had happened last night, but her memory was foggy from the thrashing she took to the head. She remembered his chocolate brown eyes, a shout, and then pain. Suddenly, as if by magic, it flooded back in picture perfect detail. Syaoran had almost kissed her, and she had been taken away then beaten. She looked around for her captor and realized she was no longer in the small, cold room. With it's concrete walls and floors, little windows and a small stretcher as a bed. She was back in her borrowed room, with a serious looking Yelen sitting at a desk.

Yelen sat in a high backed and uncomfortable looking chair, her eyes perusing the desk's elegant carvings. Yelen looked up, realizing Sakura was awake and Yelen had barely contained anger written all over her face. She spoke, and Sakura felt tremors go through her, "I don't think you quite understand the magnitude of what you've done, Sakura."

Sakura felt shame trickle down her body; it felt like a piece of ice slowly being melted down her back. She looked away, refusing to look at the cold, dark chocolate eyes of Yelen. Yelen spoke again, the tone almost softer somehow, dangerously softer, "You may stay till the end of the week, and then you must leave. You shall not go near Syaoran, nor have any contact with him. You must learn the truth, he is above you. He will always be. He deserves better then you. You may roam the second floor and garden from 8am to 6pm. You shall come to dinner, but you must remain silent. If you break the rules, I'll have you escorted off my premises. Give me your word."

Sakura's head ached and she tried to look at Yelen, but the desk was in front of a window. The sun shone brightly, mocking her, mocking her stupid decision to ever think Syaoran would want her. Sakura spoke with a throaty voice, "I promise you."

She felt saddened that she had to promise Yelen not to go near Syaoran. But it was for the best, she shouldn't go near Syaoran, not after what happened last night. She had to keep to her place, no matter what the costs may be. Yelen clasped her hands on the desk, "He took a real shine to you. And I saw that elemental dance; I am not a stupid woman. Take the spell off him Sakura; it would never work between you two."

Sakura felt it best to keep her original comments to herself on whether or not Yelen was a stupid woman, "I haven't put a spell on him. I wouldn't know how, I know elemental magic, not spells of that nature."

Yelen snorted, "Sakura, I see you're being a little unhelpful; I apologize for what your captor did to you. I did not order it. That is the reason you can stay. Now, onto to other matters, I understand Xiao-Lang asked you to go to the ball with him?"

Sakura nodded, not believing a word about the beating, and leaned back, Yelen started up again, "That shall not go ahead. You will come to the ball, and you will be happy for Syaoran."

Sakura felt confused and voiced her confusion, Yelen's expression hardened, "You will just be happy for him. Do not ask questions. I have a nephew who does not have a partner to go with yet. You will recuperate for the morning, and then he shall meet you next to the Cherry Blossom. He will ask and you will say yes. Do I make myself clear?"

Sakura nodded again, not wanting to test the limits of Yelen Li. Yelen nodded and got out of the chair and walked quickly to the door, "I will inform Syaoran of your decision not to go with him. I am right in thinking that you didn't want to go because it would raise more then a few eyebrows?"

Sakura just rolled over, not wanting Yelen to see her tears of pain and anguish. It was a horrible, heart sinking feeling, one filled with honest pain. Sakura held in her tears as best she could until she heard the door creak. Once she had gotten the signal, she cried softly, letting the pillows muffle her cries of pain.

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Syaoran walked viciously through the halls, in a worse temper then usual. Meiling was too afraid to come near him and wasn't even thinking about that sparring match he had requested. He laughed bitterly to himself; she wasn't as stupid as she looked. He had cornered her last night and in the end had gotten the entire story out of her. Suffice to say, he wasn't happy.

Meiling said she had been watching him with Sakura and was saving him from certain social suicide. She followed them into the training room and had watched them fight and then she had seen him pin her, then she had flipped him. She had yelled his name, signalling to her guard that things had gotten out of hand with Sakura.  Yelen was the one who had put her onto the trail, she claimed, and his own mother was the one who had requested the beating.

Syaoran had also received a memo from Sakura this morning, saying she was going to go with someone else. It was cold, crisp, and in his mother's handwriting. Also, a letter laid open his desk from Eriol. He sighed; he had truly not wanted to deal with the crazed magician today. The letter was long enough; he had taken a shine to a servant girl by the name of Tomoyo apparently. And also the little fact he was coming to Saturday's ball and would be arriving that very day and he would be bringing Tomoyo, regardless.

Syaoran could feel the beginnings of a headache. It was Friday already; maybe he could use a bit of magic to send the carriage careening into a ditch. Yes, a ditch and Eriol colliding sounded very nice indeed. But knowing Eriol as Syaoran did, he'd find some way of reincarnating himself again, an eternal annoyance to Syaoran. And with all the thinking of Eriol, there was the immediate, tell tale throbbing of a headache.

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Sakura walked out into the garden, her usually sunny disposition about being there completely ruined. Interesting pictures of Meiling being burned by fire ran through her head as she went to meet the boy. She was a slight bit nervous, and was a little self conscious about the bruise. She had asked one of Syaoran's four sisters' to help with covering it, as they seemed to like her. They hadn't questioned it in the slightest, and for that she was grateful, and they did an excellent job with the makeup. But it also made her nervous; they seemed oblivious to it, as if it happened all the time.

She saw a figure standing under the cherry blossom tree and she hurried a little, hoping to have this over and done with as fast as possible. As she got closer she noticed the height of the figure, he was relatively tall. She felt relived and walked a little faster, close to a jog. He finally came fully into view and she a bit take aback. She had thought he would be a little uglier then usual. Sakura wasn't normally so hung up on looks, but, she had seen and almost tasted heaven with Syaoran. She wasn't going to lower herself to hell . . . even if Yelen believed her to be worth it.

His hair fluttered in the wind, an astonishing shade of brown. It was so dark it was almost black, but when it caught in the sunshine, brown flickered through it. His body was well sculpted, and his waist was thin. His back was long and elegant, from what she could see. Now, how to approach him? To late for grand entrances as he was turning around, his deep brown eyes catching her emerald eyes.

Now, Sakura had lived a good number of years, albeit as a tree, but she had seen things in four weeks that some people couldn't dream of. She prided herself on not being easily shocked, but this creature in front of her was shocking her to the core. She inwardly pouted; it wasn't fair that one boy could look so good. He flashed a grin, knocking her out of her reverie and he ambled over.

Sakura smiled, some hair escaping her loose bun and fluttering around her, in what she hoped was a nice way. What was drawing her so heavily to this boy?  No, she inwardly shook her head, she loved Syaoran. This was just a . . . a distraction. She'd go with this boy and then, hopefully, find time to slip back into her tree for a peaceful death.

He was close to her now, "Good day to you! You must be Sakura?"

Sakura nodded amiably, "That I am. And who might you be?"

He shifted his weight, "I'm Ichiro Onosaka, and I know this is a little forward Sakura, but will you come to the ball with me?"

Sakura inwardly cringed, yes, it was indeed a little forward, but on the outside, she lit up with a huge grin, "I'd love to Ichiro - may I call you that?"

He nodded, "I don't see why not Sakura, Japanese I presume?"

And the two engaged in a rather polite conversation, Sakura making the quickest getaway possible. Ichiro was forward, untactful after saying she had lovely legs straight after he had asked her wheather or not she was Japanese. Also, he was a little full of himself, no wonder no woman would go with him, he also happened to be two years her senior. Well, in real time, she was around four hundred and something his senior, but, as she was stuck in a seventeen's year olds body, it would do. She knew Syaoran was better then Ichiro. She missed him horribly.

Sakura didn't like getting into little complications about her forms. It just caused confusion and upset feelings, she steered clear of saying she was five hundred. A she entered the cool house, she shivered. Karella was just standing at the top of the stairs, staring.  Sakura felt Karella's eyes travel down Sakura's form, and looked away then back at Karella, only to see the suspicious girl was gone.

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"Why Xiao-Lang Li, how good it is to see you again!"

The deep, warm voice reverberated around Syaoran's study and Syaoran resisted the temptation to smash a case, take out a sword and ram it through the owner of the voice. It was not warm to Syaoran, it the source of all annoyance, a voice that had followed him all through childhood. He muttered a few choice curses under his breath and turned around, glaring heavily, "Hello Eriol."

The tall, dark blue haired man, three years Syaoran's senior, wore a stylish western suit and his usual silver wired glasses. His lips curved into a wide smile and his walk was a slight swagger, as if yelling 'yes, I am good at everything I do.' Oh god, how Syaoran hated that walk. Eriol plunked down in a comfortable looking leather chair and proceeded to make himself right at home.

A year had passed since Eriol had travelled from his home in London to Hong Kong, and he had a much worldlier look about him. As if because he was twenty now, he had seen everything and talked to everyone. Which, judging from the gossips in London, he almost had. Apparently he'd made a servant girl the talk of the town when he started going out with her.

Syaoran turned in his revolving chair to face Eriol, a slightly interested look upon his handsome face, "Who's this Tomoyo girl?"

"Why don't I just show you?" Eriol's voice sounded the happiest Syaoran had ever heard it, whoever she was, she was bloody special.

"Tomoyo," he yelled, "Tomoyo dear, follow my voice. There's someone I want you to meet."

Both men stood as a beauty entered the room; she had a soft, mysterious manner about her. She had long, dark purple hair, done up into a plait and she wore a dark blue qiapo. Syaoran nodded to her, as Eriol slipped an arm around her waist, "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, luv. His name is Syaoran Li. He's the heir to this big old house."

Tomoyo politely nodded back, responding with a friendly, "How do you do?"

Syaoran thought with a rueful smile, 'at least my sisters will like her.'

"Dear, I'm going to fully unpack, the lady of the household, Yelen, showed me our lovely room." Tomoyo's sweet voice drifted through his musings as she gave Eriol a peck on the cheek.

"I'll join you soon; I have a few matters to discuss with Syaoran here." Eriol responded to Tomoyo's voice, saddened by her leaving.

Syaoran leaned back in his chair, his bad mood ebbing away slightly. It would all go away if he didn't think about her. Eriol leaned forward onto his hands, adopting a serious pose, "Syaoran, we've been acquaintances for a very long time and not once have I seen you take an interest in a girl. But a little bird told me you took a real liking to a girl by the name of Sakura."

Syaoran felt as if a knife had been dragged through an already open wound, but he just glared harder in reply. Eriol sighed, "I'm giving you a bit of advice. I received frantic letters from Yelen, warning me of the dangers I was getting myself into by going out with Tomoyo. You must not listen to her; Yelen is terrified by the idea of society linking her with a marriage below class. Now excuse me, I've got to go help Tomoyo."

Syaoran barely registered the fact that Eriol had left the room. He and Sakura had connected in a way he'd never felt before, and he'd almost kissed her. What on earth had led him to do such a stupid thing? Was it . . . nay, it couldn't be love. It could never ever be love and even, he dared himself to think, if it was, she'd never love him back.

Sakura didn't deserve a horrid monster like him. She deserved someone witty, outgoing and non-complicated, but he missed her. He really, honestly missed her. He missed her sage bits of advice, her beautiful smile and her clumsiness. God, it was a raw wound now. He had to see her. Regardless of what would happen to him, he had to see Sakura.

But never once as Syaoran calculated his plan, did he ever take into account of what might happen to Sakura.

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Sakura lay awake, watching the Cherry Blossom sway in the moonlight out of the gigantic bay window. The soft shows turning everything silver and slightly haunting. Tomorrow was death day for her and she was so afraid. Sakura had been through a lot, she'd be in and out of that tree five times, each time taking more out of her then the last.

Her main concern was Syaoran; she'd kept a respectful distance but was finding it difficult. How could she keep away from the one she loved? It had been a sudden love, a passionate one. Yet, they had never showed more then friendly gestures but the chemistry was there. She got so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear the door creak, but she defiantly felt the redistribution of weight on her mattress.

She sat up, and looked to where the sudden change had come from and there was Syaoran. Moonlight dappled over his features, grave and tired though they looked, there was purposefulness as well. The two looked deep into each others eyes but did not move towards each other, both throwing nervous glances at the door. Apart from that, their eyes were firmly locked.

"Syaoran, what are you doing here?" she whispered, after a long minute of silence.

"I wanted to see you."

Sakura was struck dumb the simpleness in that statement, but all of the emotion packed behind it. She finally found her voice again, "This isn't the safest place to meet . . . what would your mother-"

Syaoran bought one finger up to her lips, and dryly chuckled, "My mother is the last person I want to hear about right now. I want you to meet me in the small rose garden, with the fountain. Dress lightly, it's warm outside."

And with that, he stood and was gone. And immediately, Sakura sprung into action, she dressed in a navy blue qiapo faster then she had ever done before and pulled on a pair of dark slippers. She swiftly moved through the halls, and out through the kitchen door. She moved into the gardens, the balmy April air hitting her skin and wrapping round it like a blanket. She was like a ghost as she darted and weaved, keeping as hidden as possible.

Sakura came to the garden, and there stood Syaoran, his hair illuminated by moonlight. She was struck by how handsome he looked and realized her feelings for Ichiro were child's play. She went to him and he wrapped his arms round her, but the two, strangely enough, were content with just that contact. They did not yearn for more, both wanting to savour the moment in peace when it came.

Eriol, however, had noticed the dark blue figure weaving through trees and had decided to go for a walk. Tomoyo offered to accompany him, wanting to see more of the grounds. He told her of the figure he'd seen as they walked along the covered walkways; the railings were wound with peonies. He wanted to show Tomoyo the rose garden he'd loved so much when he was little but darted behind a pole as he saw the scene unfold in front of him. He pulled Tomoyo into the shadows with him and hushed her, then pointed at the couple intertwined in each other's arms.

Tomoyo leaned back into Eriol's arms and sighed; he put his chin on the top of her head and gazed at the couple. So that was Sakura, she was a pretty thing from what he could see and Syaoran obviously liked her a lot from the way they were together. So, Syaoran had found the girl he finally wanted, after years of swearing off females for a reason unbeknownst to Eriol.

Eriol was glad to see it looked like the feeling was mutual.

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