Chapter Ten

Retriving her lists of Li's codes, Sakura punched in the vault combo and the panel slid open. She found a strong box containing miterons and credit disks. Bypasing the disks, which could leave a trail, she scooped up two handfuls of coins, dividing them between her pockets and herboots. As she closed the panel, she heard pounding on the hatch.

" Li! Are you there, old man? I need to leave a few things on board. Sakura? Are you there? " Eriol's voice boomed from outside.

Sakura froze. Oh Spirit no! Maybe he would go away if she didn't answer. A split second later, the hatch hummed to life and began liting. By the Spirit! Was there no one that had Li's codes? Damn him! He always managed to show up at the wrong times. Spurred to action, Sakura ran to her cabin and threw her backpack and weapons that she had scored into her cabin.

She stepped from her cabin just as Eriol entered, carrying the same two packages.

" Sakura! Didn't you hear me pounding on the hatch? "

She remained silent as he strode toward her.

" Locked you in, did he? Smart man. Where is he? Still out there, hunting down that worthless cur, Marak? "

Sakura glanced at her cabin door, realizing she needed to draw Eriol's attention away from the area.

"Hai, he's still out there. " she slid past him toward the cockpit, hoping he'd follow.

" Did you need to leave those packages for him? '

He started after her, a quizzical expression on his face.

" Actually pilgrim, these are for you. "

" Huh? For me? " Amazed, Sakura halted, her plight momentarily forgotten.

" Hai, for you.. And I'll be damned glad to get rid of this one piece of baggage. " Eriol paused, trying to balance the package that seemed to take on a life of it's own. Sakura heard scratching and hissing.

" By the Abyss. Here, take it. " he shoved the box toward her.

She undid the box and gasped.

" Kero! Oh, Kero! " she cried, snatching him against her. " You're alive! You're alive. "

He burrowed against her neck, chattering and chirping. Intense happiness blazed through Sakura and she felt like shouting for joy. Sudden tears blinded her and she sought Eriol through the blur. " How? "

He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. " Madison found him after you and Li left Calt. " he explained gruffly. " He was near death, but she nursed him back to health. I thought - uh, well - no one else could handle the little kaijuu, so I brought him back for you. "

Sakura thought she might burst from happiness.

" Arigato. " she whispered, starting to walk back toward her cabin to place Kero in the plexishield case. When she went to open her door she stopped remembering, and then she backed up, trying not to let Eriol see her anxiety.

Eriol cleared his throat again. " I didn't do it for you. That creature bit me three times, although he liked Madison pretty well - " he halted abruptly, his eyes narrowing, watching her. " What the - ? " he watched her walk away from her cabin again.

Sakura whipped around trying to hide her guilty face. Eriol looked at her then back at her panel to her cabin. He whipped out his phaser and took a step towards it.

" Wait! What are you doing? " she cried, stumbling up to him, half-blinded by Kero's fur.

Ignoring her, Eriol opened her panel.

She came to a dead halt.

He starred at her pack and Li's weapons which he recognised. Sakura stepped between him and her cabin.

" Put your phaser aay Eriol. Unless your afriad of my back pack. "

His glare froze her. He grabbed her wrist, clincking the miterons in her pockets. His expression turned even more thunderous and he plunged his hand into her tunic pocket. She struggled futily to break free, and Kero lunged at his arm, but Eriol evaded him.

" You little thief," he growled at Sakura. " Stealing Li blind as soon as he leaves the ship. "

" I had money when Li rescued me! "

Eriol patted the other side of her tunic. " Not two pocketfuls of miterons, I'll wager. Or weapons, either. I'll take those right now. "

He held out his hand. Sakura had no choice but to comply, especially when he had an activayed phaser in the other hand. Reluctantly, she bent down and pickd up the weapons and gave them to him. He didn't know about the knife in her boot, thank the Spirit.

" We'll get to the bottom of this, lady. We'll just wait here until Li gets back and checks his gold and his armory. "

Desperation flooded Sakura. She kicked Eriol's shin as hard as she could.

" You do that, shadower! I am not a thief! I only borrowed enough from Li to buy a place on a transport ship heading for Sonoma! I could have taken more, but I didn't! " she paused heaving for breath.

Staring incredulously, Eriol released her and rubbed his shin.

" Borrowed? I suppose you were going to pay it all back? "

Sakura stared at him.

" Look I just want to get to Sonoma. You know why, we've been through this all before. Can't you just understand? "

" Save it pilgrim. I know you're lying through your teeth, even if Li doesn't. "

" Let me go and I'll leave you and Li alone with your miserable greed. Won't you let me go? "

" I'll be happy to see you go, " Eriol muttered punching the panel control. " You and that damned lanrax of yours. "

Sakura was about to open her mouth to plead her case, but then she heard the hatch opening and Li calling out.

" Sakura? Where are you? "

Panic slammed through her. She had to try and escape. Oh Spirit, what to do. What to do! Tremours seized her arms and legs. Not that! She couldn't have a seizure now. She sucked in great gulps of air. Miraculously, the blackout never came. After a moment, the trembling stopped. She couldn't face Li.

Li entered the ship, carrying packages and towing Marak in the wheeled body harness. He saw Eriol in the corridor.

" Hiragizawa! What are you doing here? I thought you were headed toward Verante. "

He sneezed violently and rubbed his watering eyes.

" And I thought you wee heading for Star Base Intrepid, old man. " Eriol sauntered forward to study the unconcious prisoner. " So you got Marak. What did you do to him? "

" Injected him with a knockout drug, so I wouldn't have to listen to his foul mouth. " Li shifted the packages, not adding that he'd also wanted time to do a little shopping. It galled him that he couldn't banish thoughts of Sakura, even whuile planetside hunting a vicious criminal. But she needed something to wear, he rationalized. Then, when he passed the cursed vendor . . .

He sneezed again, swearing under his breath. He would have to take another allergy injection, as much as he hated it.

" Allegies acting up? " Eriol inquired.

Li resisted the urge to beath the knowing smirk on his partner's face. Once while in the throes of a drinking marathon with Eriol, he'd made the mistake of confiding that he had allergies. A confession Eriol liked to lord over him.

" Shut up Hiragizawa. Where's Sakura? "

Eriol jerked his head towards her quarters. " In there. Why do you ask? "

Li sneezed twice. " Because I need to unload something into a plexishield case - not that it's your concern. " he headed for Sakura's cabin. Eriol right behind him. At the panel, he turned and glared at his partner. " Don't you have anything better to do? You could put Marak in the brig. "

Eriol considered it. " Nah, plenty of time to do that, besides looks like he's going to be out of it for a while yet. "

Li almost decided to leave it till later, when Eriol was gone, before he unloaded his troublesome package.

" Why don't you just mind your own business and go on back to your ship? " he muttered, sounding the panel tone.

Eriol shook his head, an infuriating grin spliting his face. " I wouldn't miss this for

a thousand miterons. "

Li ignored him. " Sakura, are you in there? I have something for you. "

" Wait! I'm coming. " Sakura opened the panel, her face pale. " What is it? "

Li noted that and eyes her critically.

" Are you ok? You're pale. "

Her hand flew to her cheek and she seemed to grow even more pale.

" Umm, " she eyes Eriol. " I'm not feeling well, that's all. "

There was a chattering squeak and Sakura's eyes widened.

" What was that? " Li asked suspiciously.

Sakura blinked and shot Eriol a glance.

" Umm, I do - I don't know. " she stammered. She edged out and shut the panel behind her.

A sudden sneezing episode racked Li.

" I bought you something. You can open it in your cabin. "

Sakura appeared anxious. Peroberly Hiragizawa making her nervous. She always acted skittish around him. " It's too crowded in the cabin. " she hedged. " Couldn't we do this in the cockpit?"

Li found her behavior strange. He was starting to get very irratated.

" No! " he snapped, shoving the boxes at her. " Open the larger one now. "

She opened the bow and a silvery head poked out, two shiny eyes looked around. Li stood proudly, waiting Sakura's reaction.

" It's a lanrax. " she said blankly.

" It sure it. " Eriol agreed.

The female hissed at Sakura and scampered out of the box. It hung by it's back feet, then dropped to the floor and scurried to Li. It climbed his leg before he could react and settled against his chest. Nuzzling its cold nose against his neck, it chattered happily. A violent sneeze issued.

" Get off me! " he tried to pry the lanrax loose, but it dug it's claws into him. He finally peeled it off and held it away from himself by the scruff of its neck.

" Sakura take it. "

Hesitant, she reached out and took the spirited and hissing lanrax. It sank its teeth into her hand. " Ouch! " Sakura dropped the lanrax and grabbed her hand. " It bit me. "

The creature hightailed it back up Li's leg, to settle once again against his chest. Blazing hells. This wasn't going according to his plan. He prid it off once again.

" It's for you, Sakura. Take it, dammit! "

She stepped back shaking her head, auburn curls dancing. She had no appriciation whatsoever for his gift.

" It doesn't want Sakura. " Eriol pointed out. " It wants you, old man. "

" Why in the Abyss would it want me? I hate the damn things! "

" Let me see if I can guess. Dif you use gloves when you purchased the little critter? "

Glaring at his partner, Li shook his head. Eriol sighed in mock heaviness. " That explains it then. The lanrax picked up your scent andf bonded with you. "

A sick feeling settled in Li's gut. " That's crazy! I only held it for a moment, that's not enough time for it to pick up my scent. " A series of sneezes folowed. " Sakura is that plexishield case still in there? "

An apprehensive look crossed her face. " I'm not sure. "

" It has to be in there. I nevered removed it. " he opened the panel to her chamber.

Her backpack with all her stuff was in there along with Kero. Li would know the moment he saw it that she had tried to escape.

" No! You can't go in there! " she grabbed his arm and tried to pull him back.

" It's already occupied. "

" Occupied? " he pushed past her, his gaze shooting to the case. There was Kero. No, it couldn't be. He stepped closer and the creature hissed. It sure looked like Kero.

" How did he get here? "

" Eriol brought him. " Sakura explained still tugging on his arm, trying to kick her back pack under her bunk at the same tinme, where Li wouldn't see it. " Madison found him. "

Li met his partner's amused gaze. " Gee, thanks a lot. "

" Think nothing of it partner. "

" Could we please take this to the cockpit please? " Sakura pleaded, desperate.

" But what am I suppose to do with this thing? " Li demanded, holding up the lanrax.

" I have to put it in the case too. "

" I'd think twice about that if I were you. " Eriol put in. " If this is a female, you'll have lots of little lanraxes running around here in no time. "

Li groaned, then sneezed. Worse and worse. If he ever saw that vendor in Elysia again, he'd make sure to torch her stall.

" Well it'll have to stay in Sakura's lav until I can make another case then won't it. "

Sakura was getting desperate. She didn't want him to know about her escapade.

" No! " she cried, digging her nails into his arm.

The ungrateful wretch. Li glared at her, all vestiges of patience gone.

" What's the matter with you? You're not allergic to the cursed creatures. I say it's going to stay in your lav. Either that, or I'll euthanize the damn thing. "

Sakura paled further.

" You can't do that. " she whispered.

" I can and I will, if I can't find a way to un-bond with it. " he snapped, pushing past her toward the lav.

Her grip on his arm tightened. Oh, she just wanted him out of there! " Put it in with Kero then. "

Was it his imagination, or did she appear frightened? By the Spirit! Why had he ever delayed in dumping her at the star base? He whipped around and glared at her. " Not a chance in the 'verse lady. Two lanraxes are two too many. I - " he paused when he saw her back pack stuffed under her bed.

" Sakura, why is your back pack stuffed under the bunk? "

Her eyes widened.

" Umm, I - " she released his arm and stepped back, looking everywhere but at him.

Eriol leaned against the panel frame.

" Go on Sakura, tell him. "

Sakura turned to look at him startled. " I - "

Eriol smirked. " Perhaps I should help you. " he looked at Li. " Ask me who I saw in the

Elysian marketplace today. "

Li frowned looking at the back of Sakura stiffened back, to his smirking partner. What was going on?

" Who? " he asked slowly.

Eriol looked straight at Sakura, who had been pleading him not to say anything, and her mouth snapped shut. Li blinked.

" That's impossible. She couldn't get out, I change the codes on the hatch. "

Sakura cringed.

" Sakura? "

She turned around to meet his gaze. Oh well, she'd tried. Li studied her and didn't believe what he was reading. He shot Eriol a look.

Eriol just shrugged. Anger boiled up inside him and he gripped her shoulders and started to shake her.

" I told you to stay inside! Do you always go out of your way to deliberately disobey me?!! "

Sakura's eyes flew open wide at the anger in his eyes.

" Take it easy old man. " Eriol put in.

" Tell me what is going on Sakura. " he demanded.

Something inside Sakura snapped and her eyes rolled up - the beginnings of a seizure. Cold, lucid control returned to him. Li maneuvered her to the bunk and eased her down.

" Breathe Sakura. Stay with her Hiragizawa. I'll be right back. "

He dashed to the lab, ignoring the lanrax clinging to his leg, and filled a hypochamber with medication. Grabbing his medical monitor, he returned to find Sakura in the throes of a seizure, Eriol watching helplessly.

" Stars. " Eriol said, gladly yielding his place to Li. " Will she survive this? "

" She'll be fine. " This was one of the mildest one he'd seen her have. It looked like she had been taking the medication he'd given her.

He gave her enough time to come round, before he allowed his anger to resurface. He pulled her up against the end of the bunk, his face a feww millimeters from hers. " I want to know what's going on Sakura. I want the complete truth. If I don't get the truth and get it now - you'll find the brig a mild place in comparrison to the consequences. "

Her eyes huge, she looked over his shoulder at Eriol. A nagging suspicion enterd his mind and his head snapped around.

" Do you know anything about this Hiragizawa? "

Eriol shrugged nonchalantly. " Not much more than you do, old man. "

Although he didn't fully believe his partner, Li let it go, returning his attention back to Sakura.

" I'm waiting for an answer. "

She gulped.

" I decoded the hatch and went looking for transport. " she twisted her hands.

" For the love of - how did you decode the hatch? "

Her gaze shot up and she paled even more, if that was possible.

" I stood at the key pad and entered combinations until I hit the right one. "

Her tenacity amazed him. " Go on. "

" Well . . . then I went to the market place. Then made my way to the transport station."

She decoded the hatch? She left the ship against orders? She went to the Transport station? Angry tension began pounding through his body. He checked the strong urge to shake her again.

" So tell me, why didn't you leave on one of these transport ships? " he demanded.

She twisted her hands and looked down.

" I was two hundred miterons short. So I came back. "

" I don't believe this! " Li stated angrily. " I tell you something pilgrim, you don't know how much you owe me. I rescued you, treated your seizures, gave you food, and offered you transport to the nearest star base, even put up with that damn lanrax of yours, " he yelled. " And at every turn, you've defied me lady. I've been lenient, but no more. "

He grabbed her shoulder and picked her up and glarred into her huge frightened eyes.

" You owe me so much that you can never repay me. Back from where I come from, that means I own you now. I own you, body and soul! You're mine to do with as I command. And if you value your welfare, and that of your lanrax, you'll do whatever I tell you. As a matter of fact, I plan on working what you've cost me off your scrawny hide. You'll be very certain that I'm comfortable and happy at all times. My every wish will be your duty. I hope this is very clear to you because your life depends on it. Do you understand me? "

She stared at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. He dug his fingers mercilessly into her upper arms. " I said do you understand me? "

" Hai. "

Li released her and took a step back before he throttled her. By the Spirit, some strong Elysian liquor seemed good right now - no, make that necessary. Forget it, he needed a damn bottle.

" I'm going to my cabin. " he stormed past Eriol, who gave a mock salute.

" Get the hell off my ship Hiragizawa. "

He stormed down the corridor to his own room and poured himself a stiff drink. He needed to forget his own reprehensible past, as well as the waif who's managed to turn his whole life upside down.

To be Continued . ..