----- Sort of a Fairytale
----- Written by Iris (Rainbow) Dreamer
----- DISCLAIMER: Card Captor Sakura belongs solely to Clamp. However, the plot is mine and I would like to remain it that way. Thank you.
----- AUTHOR'S NOTE: Some good news. I will be officially attending University of Virginia at fall of 2004!! I have finally made my decision, and I'm damn proud of myself. Hehe. UVA is not an Ivy League, but hell, it's ranked 21 in the top schools in the US and the BEST (tied with Berkeley) university. LOL. Just had to add all those meaningless statistics for those who are like my dad where numbers matter more.
I know, I've taken forever to update. However, please understand that I've just graduated and my prom was just on the 12th. I've been having fun with my new found freedom. Hehe. I still have some college stuff to finish, like shots (!!) to do, choosing classes and all. Yep. So, my deepest apologies and have fun reading this chapter.
Iris dreamer.
----- BACKGROUND: Okay! Some background here. Syaoran and Sakura have not met before. Hm. No magic in here either (as some of you might know, I'm horrible at describing magic.............). What else? Oh, the characters may seem a bit out of character in the beginning (especially Sakura), but you'll see why as the story proceeds. Hm. I think that's about it. The rest you'll have to discover yourself! And if you know me, I love twists and turns, although this chapter should have less than ADOHE if you've read that. No, wait, actually now that I think about it, there is a lot of twists in this! LoL.
Oh, and mild (depends on your own definition here) cursing in this chapter. I don't know how many it would be mild for you guys, but deepest apologies for the vulgar language.
Iris Dreamer.
----- DEDICATION: To Avelyn Lauren, who's the greatest gal on earth. This story's to you girl, for putting up with my horrible writing skills! :)
----- SPECIAL THANKS: Oh my. I can't believe I forgot to give our special thanks before I updated. To those who have already reviewed, I can't ask for better readers. My deepest apologies that I could forget something as important as this, and now, here are the special thanks.
SulliMike23: I hope SS come out alive too! Sorry to keep you waiting. Happy reading.
YamiYumetenshi: Haha. Yes, this story has gone from a simple article in a magazine to guns and deception. I like the way you put it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Kawaii Neko: I still apologize for the swearing in my chapters as they cause a distress to you and some others. I'm glad the ones I did use however, did bring out the darker atmosphere as you said. Thanks.
Sally: Thanks.
Cherry Jade: There are many surprises to come with this twisted mind of mine. Thank you for everything.
Dark Blossem: Thank you for you trust in me that this story will be a good one. Thank you. I do hope it's a good one.
Cherry Princess Sakura: I'm glad you like all the unexpected twists. Thanks for putting up with my slow updates and me.
Anime Obsession Fantasy: Thank you for being honest. Truly.
Sweet Baby Gurl: Sorry for making you wait for an update. And thanks for understanding that sometimes when you write, you just keep on going. Dividing into chapters is really hard.
Hououza: I'm touched that you label my writing as "excellent." Thank you. The game Nightshade sounds really interesting by the way. :) I'm glad that you're also an Inuyasha fan. I'm apparently quite a big fan of them! And thank you for all the best wishes you've given me. That certainly helped pull me through.
Kit Taylor: I'm glad that it was interesting the whole way through. Thanks.
Sakura onto Hitomi: I know. The biggest problem to my story is that it's confusing. I'm trying my hardest to unwind everything and I hope I didn't further confuse anyone with this new chapter.
Ms. Pac man: Deepest apologies for my late update. I realize that it's been a long time and this chapter isn't anything exceptionally long, just the usual 28 or 29 pages. However, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Avelyn Lauren: Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me. It's been more to me than you know. I also want to say thank you for already reviewing chapter 12. That really touched me. I don't know what else to say. I just wanted you to know that I'm really, really grateful. It might not be a lot to you, but, omg, it means a whole lot to me. Thank you girl. :)
Cutekawaii: Sorry about the late update. Happy reading.
HanaTenshiHimeko: Haha. I want to take out pom-poms and cheer for Syaoran and Sakura too!
DaShyGurl: Apologies for the cliffhangers. I'm sure this one isn't that bad.
Iced Faerie: Haha, yes, Orlando Bloom should stay as Legolas forever! I'm really glad you liked the last chapter and how it brings your day up. That means more to me than you'll ever know. Thanks.
Cursed-Mind: I'm tempted to say "perverted mind," but that would be too mean of me and you've already said that. As for your question, I didn't plan on SS "fucking." Haha. To me, "fucking" might be a too vulgar to me, which is quite ironic, considering how much cursing I've used. But honestly, I haven't planned on it. Sorry if you were expecting it.
Itachi-Ai: Are all men bad? Certainly not. Are women worth saving? I believe that every soul is worth saving.
Dragonstar03: Thanks.
AquariusAngel5000: Thank you!
MisunderstO.oDPsychoPath: Thank you for you compliments! I'm extremely touched that you think that this is the best CCS fic ever! Thank you!
Fire Temptress: Thank you for reading and being by my side since my first fics. I'll remember to email you when I update.
Cyan Moon: Haha. I do put too much information sometimes. I hope everything will unwind soon; I'm working really hard on that. Yay! I'm glad you're an Inuyasha fan too! I can't wait to see the third and fourth movies! Tsubasa sounds really interesting.
Dancer5: I love how you pick out your favorite lines. I've mentioned that before, haven't I?
Amy: Thank you! And for all those reviews too!
Daz: Thank you for you ultimate support along the way. I don't think I could have made it without you.
Songs make me cry: I'm glad you like it and sorry for the late update.
Rika: Thanks.
Saku: You rock too! :)
Luna: Thank you.
Sakura: Thank you for supporting me!
Yakkiniku: I'm glad it "absolutely amazing" and "mind boggling." Happy reading!
SS43v3r: I'm sorry how confusing this all has been. Hopefully by the end of the story, you'll understand. If you still don't understand by the end of the story, which should end on chapter 13, then I'll email you and try to explain everything. Thank you for reading and reviewing chapter 12 already.
----- CHAPTER TWELVE: Soundless Screams
Sakura ambled into the room, a newspaper in her hands. She strutted to the middle of the room and when she noticed she had everyone's attention, she threw the morning's paper onto the table.
"Nice job there, Monoko." She flashed him a wicked grin.
Bret Monoko tipped his imaginary hat at her. "My thanks." He replied. "It gives some food for thought for the hungry peeps out there. After all, we got to feed those news suckers."
"Food for thought indeed." Sakura echoed.
"How are the cops taking this?" Cil asked, his black eyes dancing. "And our Mr. President?"
"Oh, he's giving the usual speech about how he's 'shocked at what has happened,' and that 'he is doing everything that he can to stop this serious act of terrorism'." Sakura quoted mocking. "Those news reporters just gobble up everything he says like he's some damn prophet or something. They don't know a hell of what's going on in that Mr. President's head."
That immediately started a fired conversation and there was at least ten mouths arguing now.
"Ah, fuck it." A gang member said. This time was a girl. Her stunning red hair clashed horribly with the blood red halter. "I'm going to the Rummy. Wildcat, you coming?"
Sakura looked up and shook her head. "Later."
The girl shrugged and walked out the room, headed for the Rummy where the gang's bar was placed. A few other guys walked out with her, the group placing bets on the next game of poker already.
Monoko picked up the paper from the table and glanced at it briefly. "Your father would like to see this." He mused out loud. "Save me a kiss later, Sweetie." He called to Sakura as he quickly walked out the door.
"Kiss the door bastard." Sakura yelled back, slamming the door behind him. Monoko just laughed.
An awkward silence drifted between the remaining people in the room: Cil and herself. There was no one else in the room to create noise with. Now with him alone, she didn't know what to say. Cil stretched from his seat in the roughed up couch, and stood up. He was taller than she remembered; he now towered her over a head's length. And his slivery hair had been, she noted sadly, cut short. She missed his long hair that he would braid into a long thin strand.
Cil noticed her eyes on him and turned to give her a wink. "I'm a hunk huh, Wildcat?"
Sakura grinned. "Try harder."
Cil returned the smile. "Heavens know I do."
"What the hell made you cut your hair?" Sakura demanded now that the ice was broken.
Cil shrugged. "Hell, stop picking on me already." He complained. "I was bored out of my mind and you weren't here to stop me. You always get to have the fun."
"Don't I?" She said dryly.
"Oh, you do. Trust me." He answered her seriously. His coal black eyes were glinting steel. She didn't know how to answer to that so she didn't.
"So, how's your little boy doing?" Cil asked lamely, trying to get the conversation going again.
"You mean Li?"
"Thought you were on a first name basis?" He teased.
Sakura laughed. "Boys are there are too easy to hook for." She informed him. "He should be in the cell right now. Last time I checked on him, he was still out from the drugs we gave him."
"And how are you holding up? Back into the world after years?"
"Weird." She admitted. "Everything's the way they are, but something's still a bit off center. I've been away from the game too long."
"Seems to me that you're doing just fine. I mean, you passed the test. Fujin will be off your back for a while, but Monoko should still be a little hazy on the edges. He's just a bit miffed that you're still accepted among the gang after being away for some time. From the way I see it, you've done exceptionally well. Many who act as spy in the outside world often come back with their purpose hazy or don't come back at all."
"The Wildcat's legend will never die." Sakura answered simply.
-----
Eriol splashed cold water quickly on his face. His hands slowly fell from his face and trailed to the sides of the sink. Bracing himself, he looked at himself in the mirror. Dark blue eyes bordering black looked back at him. Eyes that contained a sense of hopelessness. Eyes that contained confusion. Eyes that no longer knew that to do. Eriol shut his eyes tightly, refusing to see the tears slid down his cheeks.
Was it too late to save Sakura? He had thought that she had returned towards the reality for good this time. He smiled wryly. Perhaps all those letters filled with good news were just lies, like the medals she kept in her desk. She told everyone of her "two gold, one sliver, and two bronze at final competitions," but he knew better. On the day of his arrival at Tokyo University with Syaoran, he had accidentally bumped into her desk and a medal fell onto the floor with a crack. It was then Eriol noticed that the medals were fake, made with a simple gold covering. It was then Eriol truly started to suspect Sakura as being more than she pretended to be.
Her practices that spoke of danger and speed scared him. Sakura practiced in the dead of the night with no light on, yet her eyes shown dangerously.
Her night rendezvous with a tall, muscular man. He had seen her once accidentally when coming back from the police station after staying late to finish up a case. What she was doing with that man was too deep for him to fathom.
Eriol had always been the more cautious one in the group of friends and he always had a hunch, since he met Sakura. She acted differently, more mature in a sense than the normal five year olds, and that was saying something. Eriol was exceptionally more mature as a child, however he knew, that sense of intuition that Sakura was just............... different.
But he never imagined that the Sakura he knew, or the Sakura she pretended to be, was indeed the infamous Wildcat. He had tapped the system at the Headquarters for brief, precious seconds before it was immediately discovered and disconnected. He had heard a deep man say, "She is not Sakura. She is Yukio Fujin, my daughter. She is Wildcat and she will not be wavered."
That would explain her martial arts skills. That would explain the people she met at night. That would explain why she had gangs after her, wanting her dead. That would explain how she lasted so long after a strong dose of AXI-whatever drug. That would explain the weird actions as a child.
That would explain too much.
As they say, ignorance is bliss. But Eriol could not bring himself to ignore Sakura. He had seen a part of her that he liked; he wouldn't have chosen her as a friend otherwise. It didn't matter if she was the daughter of the notorious Fujin. It didn't matter is she was the renowned Wildcat for her cruelty and speed. To him, she was Sakura Kinomoto and she would always be that.
Tomoyo stood at the doorway of the bathroom, a smile lost from her face. Seeing Eriol so broken up broke her heart. In one night, he had lost two of his best friends; they all had. Quietly she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed her face into his back.
Eriol smiled lightly and relaxed into her warmth, acknowledging what she wanted to say and thankful of her not saying it out loud.
"Arigato Tomoyo."
He felt her smile into his back. Eriol reached down and loosened Tomoyo's hold. Turning around to face her, he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. He looked into her amethyst eyes and wiped the tears off her face with the pads of his thumb. She broke down into sobs, his touch unraveling her emotions completely. Eriol just tightened his hold around her, rubbing her back gently as his own sadness slid continuously to the cold tiled floor.
-----
Touya smashed the nearest thing: the mug he had prepared his morning coffee in. The news of Sakura being kidnapped. His Sakura. His little kaijuu. That was more than he could stand. He gritted his teeth angrily and didn't even bother the coffee that was sinking into the carpet or the pieces of ceramic that was cutting into his bare foot.
Why her out of the entire god damn people in the world? And what good was a fucking bodyguard who couldn't protect?
His thoughts wouldn't settle and the unanswered questions just made him feel even worse. The news reports that repeated the same thing over and over again with no answers were no comfort. The president's empty promises made him want to throw something at the television. However, instead, the phone rang.
"What the fuck do you want?" Touya demanded into the phone, not caring whom the hell it was.
"Well hello to you too." The caller replied sarcastically. "If you don't mind, Touya Kinomoto, I'd like to get your attention for a couple of god damn minutes. You can rant all you want after I'm done with you."
"Who the hell do you think,"
"Save it." She replied. "If you don't know who I am by now, then you're even more stupid than I realized. Go ahead and kill yourself and see if I care. I might not, but you know who will."
Touya let out a sigh. "Gomen Meiling."
She snorted inelegantly. "About time, Touya." Meiling answered. "So, from your reaction, you've seen the news."
"God damn it, Meiling. How can you be so calm?"
"I won't tell you implicitly what I have done, but I will tell you that I've added a few plates to my collection of shards and a punching bag totally in shreds." Meiling laughed dryly. "If that's called calm, then calm is what I am."
"And I'm assuming you know everything?"
"God knows that that was something not on my list of virtues, hon." Meiling said. "To tell you the truth, I called you over for a tea party in half an hour. You up for it?"
"Count me in, but I think I have to opt for plastic or paper cups."
"Then I'll buy some on my way back to the dorms then." She said. "Oh, and watch the shards on the ground. I do not want to see you limping around hunchbacked."
"Shut the smart comments, Meiling."
"Yeah, yeah, you know you love me." She said sarcastically before she hung up. Touya grunted and slammed his phone back into its cradle. His brown eyes bore holes into the television. Yeah, shoot the messenger, he thought to himself, smiling sadistisicaly.
The television screen went black and now glass shards companioned the ceramic ones on the red carpet. How ironic. Red. The color of blood. Too violent. Touya sighed and got up to grab his jacket. Staying in this room any longer would cause the house to collapse into ruins. Locking the door firmly behind him, Touya Kinomoto walked out of his house, not noticing a pair of eyes watching his every move until it was too late.
"What the fuck?" He roared as something soft hit him promptly on his head. Whipping around, he found himself staring into the eyes of none other than Meiling Li.
She was grinning smugly. "Don't like the cups?" Meiling walked over to him, bending over to pick up the paper cups. "I got the especially for you. Look, there are even your favorite teletubbies on them."
Touya growled and snatched the stack of cups from her hands and threw them down the street. It missed the nearest trashcan by a foot.
"Nice try big guy." Meiling said sarcastically. "Now go pick them up like a good boy."
"I'm not a dog, Meiling."
"And neither am I." She shot back hotly. Touya opened his mouth to retort something back but she raised her hand to stop him. "Shut it Touya. I'm in no mood to be patient and neither are you. If we continue this we might as well start launching punches."
Touya grunted in agreement. "Yeah, well," He started to apologize.
"Save it." Meiling said, walking towards the cups. "I'm in no mood to be humored. I find out that my best friend and cousin are kidnapped by God knows who; I wake up with my period in the middle of the night; I smashed my television and now I can't watch OC this afternoon, and I'm fucking hungry."
Touya felt a smile trying to sneak up onto his face. He looked at the blazing girl before him and he couldn't help but stare. Her eyes were shinning dangerously with fierce emotion that clearly showed how worry she was for her friends. If she weren't loyal, then he wouldn't know what loyalty was.
"How about we go get some coffee?" Touya found himself asking. "I ruined my cup this morning when it made contact with the floor."
Meiling studied him for a while before raising her right eyebrow slowly. She never really understood this weird specimen. But before she could actually make a decision, her belly grumbled loudly in protest. "Oh, what the hell. I need food."
Touya actually managed to crack a smile, and forget the bleak world for a few seconds.
-----
"You've slept long enough." Sakura grunted. "I was just about to leave."
Syaoran managed to give her a brief glare before his head fell against the pillow again, groaning loudly. "What the fuck have you done to me?" The dirty pillow his head was dead upon muffled his question.
"The AXI-0945 has a nice kick to it huh?"
"The AXI what?" Syaoran repeated before his voice trailed off. "Wait. Isn't that the damned drug that,"
"That Monoko used on me?" Sakura asked a bit to easily. She sat backwards on the car, her body pressed against the back of the chair as she examined her nails wearily. "Yeah, that's the same drug. It's really quite effective."
Syaoran turned to lie on his side, his eyes studying Sakura. "Why?" He croaked.
She looked up from her nails and Syaoran froze, locked with her intense glare. When had her eyes turned a dark black shade that glinted strangely? It was almost an identical copy of Fujin's. But then again, she was his daughter. Her having his eyes was nothing strange.
But the soft look that he knew existed there was gone. The lively twinkle she had when she teasingly mocked him ceased to exist.
The Sakura Kinomoto he knew was as if never existed. Yukio Fujin was the one who was standing in front of him right now. He was seeing the Wildcat.
Her harsh condemning laughter shattered his thoughts. "You really do live in a world full of illusions and fake dreams. Let me introduce you to reality, Li Xiao Lang. This," She waved her hand around the barren room around them, "is reality. How are you liking it so far?"
"Fuck you." Syaoran muttered, wincing as he tried to push his major headache back from his mind of thought.
Sakura laughed again, that harsh laughter that gyrated his ears like nails screeching down a blackboard. "Have fun growing up." She informed him as she got up and headed for the door.
"Sakura, wait." She paused, her hand on the handle already. Syaoran studied her back; the shadow that cast behind her seemed to so dark and lonely. Her back was arched in a stiff position and her stance was in a cautioned mode.
"I'll be waiting here." Was the only thing that came out of his mouth. Syaoran watched as she opened the door and locked it behind her, all without saying a single word.
"That was an interesting conversation the two of you had." Cil said as she came out from the shadows. "Quite touching. He really does care about you."
Sakura growled. "Cil, quit being such an ass. What does Fujin want now?"
"You know me too well, Yukio. Your father wants you in at the Front. It's about tonight's mission at the Lawn." He told her. "I'll go watch that little puppy of yours."
Sakura gave him a sweet smile and her middle finger as she walked off in the direction where Fujin wanted to see her. Yukio's eyes narrowed as he watched her go. Once she rounded the corner, he got out the pair of keys and slipped into the room where her little puppy was.
"Get the fuck out Bret Monoko. You're the last thing I want to see."
He laughed and seated himself in the middle of a table that creaked under his weight. "Such words hurt my heart to be mistaken as someone else." Syaoran turned and saw the stunningly handsome before him. This was the man that Fujin said yesterday that was "a childhood friend" of Sakura's. "I thought you had a nice, loving soul."
"I do, unlike you fucker." Syaoran growled, pushing himself to a sitting position. The drug still had its hooks on him and from the way he was feeling, it wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon.
"Such as loving one that you fall in love with a girl who's untouchable."
Syaoran glared at him, shielding his emotions inside.
"Oh, you don't have to try to hide your feelings." Cil said, his slivery blonde hair shinning under the dim light. "I know exactly how you're feeling."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Cil laughed. "Why do I? You haven't got it yet, haven't you? Do you even know who your Sakura Kinomoto is?"
"Haskin Fujin's daughter, and the Wildcat." Syaoran answered hesitantly, wondering where this conversation was leading.
"See? You don't know anything." Cil rolled his eyes. "I'm going to let you on on something. Think of why this whole underground organization was formed. Think of why we do things the way we do."
"You sound philosophical."
The blond snorted. "I don't have to sound like." He informed Syaoran arrogantly. His cobalt eyes flashed warningly and without another sound, flipped off the table and walked towards the door. "We'll see each other later, puppy." Cil said as he walked out door, the lock swinging shut in the process.
"What the," Syaoran started, lunging on his feet, meaning to race after the man, but his body heard none of his wishes. Instead, he ended up in a tangled bunch of limbs on the ground.
"Fuck." He wheezed out his last word and stared at the depressing shade of gray where the white paint had peeled off the concrete ceiling.
-----
"So, how have you been doing?" Touya asked lamely, trying to break the silence.
Meiling raised an eyebrow over her cup of coffee. "Are you trying to flirt with me?" She asked bluntly, giving him a sideways glance.
Touya sputtered into his cup, and immediately choked, leading onto several coughing hacks. Meiling handed him a napkin, which he promptly took, and kept on coughing. The Chinese girl just said there, her arms crossed and waited for him to finish.
"Don't scare me any more than necessary." He reprimanded.
"Well sorry for getting the wrong impression." She retorted slowly. "Your eyes were roaming all over me and the lady next to our table just gave me a wink and a thumbs up."
"She was?" Touya repeated loudly.
The pleasant middle-aged lady across from them lifted her head from her morning paper and offered the two a nice warm smile before going back to her paper.
"Nice going, Touya. That was smooth, real smooth." Meiling said, rolling her eyes. "Now she thinks there probably is something going on between us."
"But,"
"There's nothing going on between us." She pointed out clearly. Meiling suddenly grinned. "You know, it's awfully fun teasing you like this. When did you become so soft and blushable?"
Immediately Touya glared. "You wish I were."
She burst out laughing. "I've forgotten how fun it is to tease you, Touya." She grinned at him.
Touya finally relaxed and gave a smile of his own back. "Yeah. We haven't really talked since," His voiced trailed off and he blinked his eyes furiously, trying to blink away the water that suddenly came. "then." He croaked.
Meiling sobered as well. "Since we knew who Sakura was trying to hide." She whispered. "Never did I imagine Sakura to be the one she is."
Touya just nodded. The lump in his throat made it hard for him to swallow. "Let's get to this tea party of yours." He gave her a weak grin and offered a hand up. Meiling took a deep breath and accepted his help. The two walked out the café quietly, soundlessly, without a word.
Ignorance was indeed bliss.
-----
"What do we do now?" Eriol asked, looking at his friends around him. Touya, Meiling, and Tomoyo just stared back at him blankly.
"All I know is that we have to get our Sakura back." Sakura's older brother said firmly. "That's number one."
"Plus saving Syaoran as well." Meiling added, giving a slight glare to Touya.
"Of course." Tomoyo amended. "They're both our friends and equally important to each of us. However, I do think we need to concentrate on Sakura. We need to convince her that we need her and that we accept her the way she is. Don't you see that she's stuck between these two worlds?"
"Between the real world and some underground organization full of crap, I don't see much of a choice." The Chinese girl said bluntly, her arms crossed.
"Think of how she was raised, Meiling." Tomoyo said, a frown on her usually warm and friendly face. "She was brought up there and that's her reality. We can have no say of which one is better."
"Yes we can," Touya argued. "We're part of her family. I say we do have a voice in saying which one is better. I mean, you've seen what they've raised her to become: the notorious Wildcat who plunders and kills. And Fujin's her father. We can't just let her there!"
Silence drifted over them as all of them quietly studied Touya who burst out suddenly. His words made them think over again of how they never really understood Sakura. How she lied to them all these years. Hearing him say those words just made them sad, just made them think that chances of saving her was almost impossible.
"He's raised her to become the best." Eriol finally said softly. "Don't all parents want that? For their children to be great? And hasn't he done just that? Sakura's the best person they have there."
"But obviously in the wrong direction!" The older brother continued to rant. "Why couldn't he wish she'd become a great artist, a scientist, a doctor, or a teacher? Something normal. But an assassin? A thief? A future leader of revolt?"
"That's how Fujin was raised." Eriol answered. "He's simply doing what he thinks is best. Society's the one who puts on the label."
"So you're saying that it's right for them to do what they're doing now? Hurting innocent people, stealing, and creating unnecessary revolts?" He spat back.
"Did I say that?" He questioned mildly.
Touya stared at him, with his mouth opened. Then closed it slowly. "You know, I have to give you a point for that." He sighed. "Since when were you so good at talking?"
Eriol chuckled. "There's much you don't know."
"That Tomoyo does?" Meiling added, grinning as her eyes danced.
"Meiling!" Tomoyo complained. "Aren't we talking about Sakura and Syaoran here? Since when did we,"
"Since the moment Touya complimented me, my dear." Eriol filled in, smiling his famous grin of his. "But let's move on." He continued before anyone could say the wiser. "Obviously there is a part of Sakura who wants to be Sakura. We just need to strengthen those feelings more."
"Thank you for pointing that out, wise guy," Meiling said sarcastically. "But how?"
"One word: Syaoran." Eriol answered simply. The rest of them stared at their calm friend. It took a while to get their minds to register exactly what he said.
"Syaoran." Meiling echoed as she chuckled evilly.
"Ohohoho." Tomoyo added smiling. "I like this plan."
Touya raised his eyebrow. "Uh, I hate to burst your bubbles, but in case you've forgotten, Li's with Sakura right now."
"Duh!" Meiling replied rolling her eyes. "I thought we established the fact a long time ago that he was with her."
"But then how,"
"Easy." Tomoyo quipped. "I don't really have to explain this, do I Touya? I thought you'd understand."
"You guys are thinking a bit ahead of yourselves." Eriol cut in, smiling gently. Touya nodded firmly. "I don't think he's quite keen on the idea of Sakura and Syaoran, you know. Think of all of Touya's past conquests."
"Ah. No more explanation necessary." Meiling said, waving her hand. The other two nodded in agreement.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Touya burst.
Meiling blinked. Tomoyo blinked. Eriol blinked. The three shared a look and burst out laughing. Touya stood there, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. He tapped his right foot impatiently, waiting for them to finish laughing.
It was, thankfully, Tomoyo who stopped first for she was the most pleasant and the one who knew best how to handle the situation best.
"You see Touya," She started, with a kind patient smile that mother's gave their children, "Syaoran's the one who actually can change Sakura and get her back, because obviously, as you stated earlier, he's the one with her now. Now, you can't say you haven't noticed the way Sakura acts around him haven't you?"
She continued without even waiting for a response. "Of course you have." She answered for him. "She's much more open and natural and he kinds of relates to her in more of a friend way," Tomoyo paused, not even noticing the shocked look on Touya's face. "From a view of a fighter I suppose." The girl mused.
"They had fights and all, but seriously Sakura and Syaoran do get along quite well. It's very obvious that Syaoran does care about her, as a true friend does. I know that he's there for Sakura and him being there with her now eases the situation."
"Yeah, he's probably a prisoner. How's that going to help?"
Tomoyo gave him another gentle smile. "Of course it does. Most likely he's going to be put under Sakura's care since they know each other and all bad guys love doing that kind of psychological kind of test."
"And Syaoran will be there to talk to her." Meiling cut in, impatient at how slow Tomoyo took to explain. "He'll say something to trigger her and get her emotions running and just maybe, they'll both get the hell out of there and back to us where they belong." She finished, a smug smile on her face.
"Any more questions?" Tomoyo asked, her right eyebrow rose disapprovingly at her best friend.
"Uh,"
"We know the plan isn't the best, but I, being Syaoran's friend for ages, know that he will do everything that he can to bring Sakura back to us." Eriol said comfortably as he saw the confused look upon the older man's face.
Touya just stood there dumbly. The three best friends shared another look before glancing back at Sakura's older brother.
"WHAT THE HELL? THE GAKI BETTER NOT TOUCH MY LITTLE KAIJUU!" He yelled.
Birds fluttered from where they were perched on a tree near the room, giving evil glances at the offending window as they flew to a more peaceful environment.
-----
"Yukio, listen to me." Monoko demanded. "What you're thinking is just incredibly ridiculous."
Sakura glared at him. "What exactly is so 'ridiculous' about it?"
"It just is!" He argued. "Fujin, tell her."
The man smiled eerily. How the man was able to move upwards was a miracle and a monumental feat already. "It's quite an interesting proposal my sweet Wildcat has proposed."
Sakura shot Monoko a smug look.
"However, what was the whole plan again?" The leader asked. "I would very much like it to hear again, Yukio."
"I challenge a fight with Syaoran Li. If he wins, he can win back his freedom." She repeated.
"And if you lose?" His lips curled into an evil smile as his black eyes twinkled amusedly.
Sakura's eyes hardened and looked at her father in the face. "That's if I lose, father." She said, her voice low and fierce. "However, if I happen to lose, fire Monoko for being such a disgraceful instructor."
Fujin just continued to smile, waiting for her real answer.
"Also, you have my word that I'll completely under your control."
His face turned serious and his coal black eyes pierced her dark colored ones. "That you will once more be my daughter?" Fujin demanded. "I've had enough of your swaying loyalty and I can choose to kill you now if I so decided. What makes you so worthy?"
"For one, I am your daughter and I am of your blood. I am, and you know, your best out of all your men out there. I am your pride." She spoke clearly, her voice not wavering the least. She stood firmly and her stance showed that she meant what she said.
Fujin finally nodded. "You've gotten yourself a deal, Yukio Fujin." She stepped forward and they shook firmly. "When do you want this challenge to take place?"
"Daylight tomorrow at the practice room of the left wing. Only you, Monoko, and Cil are allowed there. Understood?"
Fujin smiled at his daughter. "Quite clearly. Hand combat?"
"Anything else would end too quickly." Sakura barred her teeth into a wolfish smile. "I'll see you around then." With that, she turned around and ambled out the door, as if nothing had even happened.
She didn't want to play this façade no longer.
-----
Syaoran stared at the peeling ceiling, thinking over the words Cil had told him while fingering the picture of Sakura in his mind over and over again. He couldn't wipe the feeling that she wanted out; that she wanted him to set her free.
He snapped his head up and quickly got to his feet. As expected, the door creaked open and a figure walked in.
"What the hell?" The intruder yelped in surprise as he was suddenly held at a headlock.
"What do you want?" Syaoran growled from behind. "Hm?" He tightened his grip.
"Boss wanted to tell me that Wildcat has a challenge for you at daylight tomorrow." The man squeaked. "You're in for a hand combat. If you win, you'll be ensured your release."
"What will happen if Sakura loses?"
"I don't know a Sakura, but if you're referring to Wildcat, I have no idea." He muttered. "It's not like you'll win anyway."
Syaoran tossed the man back against the wall and released him. "That's all you wanted to say right? Now go away."
The messenger fixed his collar haughtily and walked out the door. Syaoran rolled his eyes at the fake act and plopped onto the bed. What was Sakura thinking now? What was he supposed to do?
He buried his face into his hands and sighed loudly.
-----
"Up." A loud demanding voice called. Syaoran opened his eyes warily at the tall figure before him. "One would think that you'd be up all night." The tall shadow drawled.
"Just shut it." Syaoran barked, his voice rough and heavy; heavy as his heart. "You came to pick me up?"
Cil snorted. "After what I heard you did to little pipsqueak the other day, I decided to come visit you myself. Now enough with the chat, wolfie. Get your lazy ass out of bed and follow me."
Syaoran swung his feet to the ground. He could feel that his legs were tighter than usual, but he gritted his teeth and followed Cil out the door. Eyes were watching him as he walked through the shadows that lurked. The heavy atmosphere reminded him of his heavy heart, weighing his decisions.
It was either win or lose.
He stepped into the room, the tiled floor clicking softly under his shoe. In the middle of the room was her. Sakura Kinomoto.
She looked dazzling, strikingly beautiful as he first met her. She carried that sense of strength and courage around her. She was so amazingly attractive, yet some part of her made him fear her. The way the dim morning light shone upon her just made her seem untouchable, so unrealistic as in part of a dream.
"You," His tongue felt thick and his words were getting stuck in his mouth. Sakura raised her eyebrow. "You seem like you're ready." He blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"I didn't ask your opinion, Li." She replied tartly, her eyes narrowing.
His mind whirled. He had heard those words before. Where? Syaoran lifted his head and blinked when he saw Sakura's eyes flicker. He could swear he saw a flicker of green in the mist of all that darkness.
"But I'm much better." Syaoran grinned.
He had heard those words. It was the beginning of their first challenge of a fight. (Refer to chapter two).
Sakura frowned. "You're asking for a fight." She replied steadily, as she smoothly got into stance.
"And I accept your challenge." Syaoran relied as he got into position.
Fujin smirked on the side and leaned casually to the wall with his arms crossed as he watched for the first sign the fight would begin. Beside him, Monoko watched with a careful eye, suspicious of everything. Cil, however, remained at the door, his expression unseen with the shadow that hovered over it.
The fight began, as Fujin expected, with Sakura making the first move to attack. Her moves were correct and accurate, much to his pleasure. Her speed wasn't as fast as he expected, but they weren't bad and it was just the beginning of the game. Syaoran, however, was actually decent, he noted. But his level would never be a match for his Yukio.
Monoko glared, observing his student that he brutally trained for years. Her moves were as taught, but her attacks lacked the deadliness that it contained when she was out on a mission or when she was sparring with him. He scowled at Syaoran's attempts of defense. Clearly Wildcat was playing with him. Her muscles were not even exerting much energy. He saw no point for this silly, ridiculous battle.
Cil watched calmly as the challenge unraveled. The two seemed to be... dancing actually. Their moves showed detailed grace and elegance. His eyes flickered with brief amusement before it was shadowed with darkness. He would very much like to see what this Sakura Kinomoto had in mind.
Syaoran's eyes shined with determination and a feeling of great warmth. This feeling was just like their first spar. His whole body filled with a sense of happiness and a warm tingling sparks ran through him, wrapping his heart with the essence of joy. These were the times he felt happiest. These were the times he came in contact with the real Sakura Kinomoto. These were the times he could face the one who had captured his heart so.
And he smiled.
Sakura scowled, her eyebrows creased downwards as she flew past him when he dodged her attack. Rolling her eyes at the image of his dorky grin, she spun on her left heel and shot out her right leg in a perfect swing, coming in solid contact with Syaoran's stomach.
With a loud "oomph," he skidded across the floor and slowly came to a stop. She watched with wary eyes, as Syaoran stood up.
The dork was still smiling.
She growled in frustration and launched herself over, not waiting for him to get ready. She had quickened her attacks and had moved her power up a notch or two, Monoko noted.
"Game over." Fujin whispered, as Sakura seemed to disappear right before Syaoran's eyes, showing her true speed. He could see the flash of panic and awe in the eyes of the young man before him. He could see the pupils moving quickly, but not fast enough, to try to find where Sakura was.
Wildcat, true to her myth and her training, was too fast. In a blink of an eye, she was right before Syaoran, with only a hair's breath away. And before everyone else could do anything, they slumped to the floor.
"You bitch." Monoko hissed sharply as he yanked the thin needle from his neck. "You gave your word that you would bring no weapons in." He lunged forward, but his vision blurred and went hazy.
"I did." Sakura replied, grinning wolfishly. "But those belong to Syaoran Li. I just merely used the skills you've installed in me, Monoko. You should be proud of me."
Monoko laughed harshly. "You have exactly two minutes to run. Why aren't you?"
"Because I don't intend on running." Sakura said, her voice deadly quiet. "I'm fucking tired of all this shit you guys have been giving me. Today, I'm going to end it, and that's the way it's going to end."
"You are clever beyond your years Yukio Fujin," A deep voice said, "but the student shall never defeat the teacher."
"The needle was never meant to stop you father." She replied easily, turning around to face him. "It was only for Monoko because he talks and assumes too much easily."
"I'm honored." Fujin drawled. "And how will you dispose me and Cil?"
"I don't have to." His daughter answered casually. "It's already been taken care of."
A distinct metal click was heard and Fujin smiled. "Never would I have imagined that you, Cil, would betray me. It seemed beyond you." The notorious leader turned around slowly, not even worrying. "You've always been one only to listen to directions. It's impossible for you to think outside the box, Cil. Look at yourself: a tool for the underground. Without me, you're nothing. So what are you going to do? Shoot me?"
Cil chuckled. "You always thought you carried the whip huh?" The blond shook his head. "Let me tell you something, Fujin. No one respects you here. We're all wishing you'd be dead. I'd be doing a great favor for society. How much money do you think the government would give me for getting your head on a platter?"
"Flattered to think I'm worth that much Cil." Fujin replied. His lips were curved into an amused grin. "However, I'm quite certain of the loyalty of those underneath me. You know I get rid of those who disobey me."
Cil's eyes widened before he fell to the ground. The metal needle glinted under the beginning rays of the morning. "Bastard." Cil wheezed as his left hand shot up to his temple and removed the offending needle.
"And you should know how I get rid of those who have broken the law." Syaoran calmly stated, picking up the gun from the floor where Cil had dropped it and pointed it directly to Fujin.
Fujin laughed. "Go ahead and kill me. It's not like I have anything else worth living for on this fucking planet. So go ahead and kill me."
Syaoran eye's hardened. He used his left hand to steady his right hand and aimed.
"Give me the gun."
Her voice was so quiet that he barely heard her, but he did. And he couldn't believe what she had just told him to do. Turning his head back to look at her and dropping his guard for the slightest moment, was a bad idea. Fujin lunged forward to grab the gun.
"What's the hurry father?" Sakura asked, her voice sickeningly sweet. Her hands held the gun that was once in Syaoran's hand. Syaoran lay painfully on the ground, having his feet swept underneath him by Sakura.
"I thought we should have a, you know, a father-daughter talk." She smiled, her red lips curled up into a sinister smile.
"By all means, go ahead. You have my attention."
"Do I?" Wildcat smiled. She spun around and fired a bullet. Loyal Monoko fell to the ground with a dead thump. "Now I do."
Fujin nodded. "Ah, now you do."
Syaoran studied this man warily. He could see that he was less certain of himself, but this man was never to be underestimated. This notorious leader held great power and asserted him over a hundred followers. Fujin Haskin was not one to be laughed at. Even with only himself standing, he would fight to the end.
"I thought so." Sakura sighed. "You really are nothing without your followers. They do all the dirty work and you get all the credit. You feed them shit and they treat it as gold. Wouldn't you like to meet the day they turn against you? Or rather, the day your best so called 'creation' turned her back on you?"
Fujin laughed. "I would like to see you turn yourself against me Wildcat. You are no one. They see right through you, as if you're not there. The only emotions that you're capable of are hate and more hate. That's all you have installed in you. What are you going to do after you kill me? Enter society? Don't make me laugh. You don't fit there; you don't belong. When people see you, they see the dreaded murder that has blood on her hands that will never wash off. You think you can live there, in a place constructed of fantasy and illusions?"
Sakura's hand moved the slightest inch.
"Don't listen to him, Sakura! Think of Tomoyo! And Eriol, and Meiling! Your family who's out there waiting for you. Everyone's waiting for you, to come back." Syaoran yelled.
"What would he know?" Fujin countered, walking slowly to his greatest creation. "You guys just met. He's toying with your emotions. He's a fucking cop, Yukio. He's the Li Clan leader. He has so much more to choose than you. Why would he choose you? You're nobody but just a murderer who will never have her hands clean."
"That's not true!"
The leader laughed. "You lie. I can see it in your eyes, Li Syaoran. You don't even know her. How would you even know what would be true?"
Sakura winced, but she still kept her gun trained upon her target.
"You're being weak Sakura. Showing your emotions and letting them get in control of you. Don't you see? He's using it against you." Her father intoned. "Listen to me. I'm your father."
"Sakura! Is that who you want to be for the rest of your life? A murderer? You can wash away the blood. You can. Just give yourself a chance." Syaoran pleaded He focused his amber eyes on her wavering black ones. "Please Sakura."
Fujin sighed. "Yukio, give me the gun." He said, walking closer to the girl who looked so utterly lost. "It'll be all over then."
"Don't move." Sakura's voice came out as a plea. Her voice soft and trembling.
Syaoran stared at her. Never before had he seen Sakura break down like this. He had never seen her so vulnerable and torn.
She was torn between two worlds. Both that welcomed her and both where she belonged.
He watched silently as Fujin talked to her, pleaded her, and persuaded her. He could see the walls around Sakura breaking down and her guard was barely even up. Her eyes were losing that twinkle of green, swallowed by the pit- less black. He didn't want to see her go.
He didn't.
That was the last thing he wanted.
He was looking at her, but he wasn't seeing her. His thoughts had pulled him under to where he knew her.
Her sarcastic remarks that were all cleverly put. Her smirks that were the closest to a smile he'd ever draw out of her, made him gape like an idiot every time at how incredibly sexy she'd look when she did that. He fell in love with the playful twinkle of her eye. He adored the spark of determination and the fluid motions of her attacks when she fought. He smiled when she saw her teaching little children and the soft glow she possessed when around them. She tried to keep her emotions in check, but he knew she cared about her friends and family.
He knew then he couldn't live without her.
Sakura lowered her right hand slowly and Fujin smiled as she walked closer to him.
He couldn't bear watching her go, and step out of his life forever.
"I love you." Syaoran whispered, his eyes trained to Sakura's back.
She stopped walking and turned around, her eyes wide with disbelief. As he looked at her, he could feel wet tears pooling at the side of his eyes.
"Don't leave me behind." His words came out barely audible.
Sakura tilted her head slightly to the left and gave Syaoran a sad smile. "Thank you." She replied softly and turned back around. To Haskin Fujin. To her father, who smiled victoriously and so smugly.
Syaoran heard his heart shatter into pieces.
He heard a gun shot ring out once, and only once. One dark figure fell down and everything was over.
She had killed him. The one who had started everything, and now, everything was over.
Sakura turned around and smiled a wobbly smile at Syaoran. "Thank you." She told him again. "I'll be leaving now." With that, Sakura dropped the gun in her hands and walked out the door of the room after giving a nod to Cil who had managed to get back to his feet.
She opened the door and walked out.
And Syaoran let her.
Her eyes were a sparkling shade of pure emerald.
-----
So, how was it? Not my greatest chapter I'm sure. Been so busy these days I can't even think right. I'm a jumble of mixed emotions. A huge part of me doesn't want to leave and go to the States to attend UVA. I'm leaving my childhood behind and everyone that's been so important behind and literally going to a place on the other side of the planet. (I live somewhere in Asia.)
But anyhow, on a happier note, one more chapter and this story will be at an end. The last chapter will be a short epilogue. I just want to say thank you for reading and supporting me along the way, even though I take forever updating and what I write isn't what you'd call great or anything. But thank you for reading. It means more than I can say in words.
Thank you.
Iris dreamer
----- Written by Iris (Rainbow) Dreamer
----- DISCLAIMER: Card Captor Sakura belongs solely to Clamp. However, the plot is mine and I would like to remain it that way. Thank you.
----- AUTHOR'S NOTE: Some good news. I will be officially attending University of Virginia at fall of 2004!! I have finally made my decision, and I'm damn proud of myself. Hehe. UVA is not an Ivy League, but hell, it's ranked 21 in the top schools in the US and the BEST (tied with Berkeley) university. LOL. Just had to add all those meaningless statistics for those who are like my dad where numbers matter more.
I know, I've taken forever to update. However, please understand that I've just graduated and my prom was just on the 12th. I've been having fun with my new found freedom. Hehe. I still have some college stuff to finish, like shots (!!) to do, choosing classes and all. Yep. So, my deepest apologies and have fun reading this chapter.
Iris dreamer.
----- BACKGROUND: Okay! Some background here. Syaoran and Sakura have not met before. Hm. No magic in here either (as some of you might know, I'm horrible at describing magic.............). What else? Oh, the characters may seem a bit out of character in the beginning (especially Sakura), but you'll see why as the story proceeds. Hm. I think that's about it. The rest you'll have to discover yourself! And if you know me, I love twists and turns, although this chapter should have less than ADOHE if you've read that. No, wait, actually now that I think about it, there is a lot of twists in this! LoL.
Oh, and mild (depends on your own definition here) cursing in this chapter. I don't know how many it would be mild for you guys, but deepest apologies for the vulgar language.
Iris Dreamer.
----- DEDICATION: To Avelyn Lauren, who's the greatest gal on earth. This story's to you girl, for putting up with my horrible writing skills! :)
----- SPECIAL THANKS: Oh my. I can't believe I forgot to give our special thanks before I updated. To those who have already reviewed, I can't ask for better readers. My deepest apologies that I could forget something as important as this, and now, here are the special thanks.
SulliMike23: I hope SS come out alive too! Sorry to keep you waiting. Happy reading.
YamiYumetenshi: Haha. Yes, this story has gone from a simple article in a magazine to guns and deception. I like the way you put it. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Kawaii Neko: I still apologize for the swearing in my chapters as they cause a distress to you and some others. I'm glad the ones I did use however, did bring out the darker atmosphere as you said. Thanks.
Sally: Thanks.
Cherry Jade: There are many surprises to come with this twisted mind of mine. Thank you for everything.
Dark Blossem: Thank you for you trust in me that this story will be a good one. Thank you. I do hope it's a good one.
Cherry Princess Sakura: I'm glad you like all the unexpected twists. Thanks for putting up with my slow updates and me.
Anime Obsession Fantasy: Thank you for being honest. Truly.
Sweet Baby Gurl: Sorry for making you wait for an update. And thanks for understanding that sometimes when you write, you just keep on going. Dividing into chapters is really hard.
Hououza: I'm touched that you label my writing as "excellent." Thank you. The game Nightshade sounds really interesting by the way. :) I'm glad that you're also an Inuyasha fan. I'm apparently quite a big fan of them! And thank you for all the best wishes you've given me. That certainly helped pull me through.
Kit Taylor: I'm glad that it was interesting the whole way through. Thanks.
Sakura onto Hitomi: I know. The biggest problem to my story is that it's confusing. I'm trying my hardest to unwind everything and I hope I didn't further confuse anyone with this new chapter.
Ms. Pac man: Deepest apologies for my late update. I realize that it's been a long time and this chapter isn't anything exceptionally long, just the usual 28 or 29 pages. However, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Avelyn Lauren: Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me. It's been more to me than you know. I also want to say thank you for already reviewing chapter 12. That really touched me. I don't know what else to say. I just wanted you to know that I'm really, really grateful. It might not be a lot to you, but, omg, it means a whole lot to me. Thank you girl. :)
Cutekawaii: Sorry about the late update. Happy reading.
HanaTenshiHimeko: Haha. I want to take out pom-poms and cheer for Syaoran and Sakura too!
DaShyGurl: Apologies for the cliffhangers. I'm sure this one isn't that bad.
Iced Faerie: Haha, yes, Orlando Bloom should stay as Legolas forever! I'm really glad you liked the last chapter and how it brings your day up. That means more to me than you'll ever know. Thanks.
Cursed-Mind: I'm tempted to say "perverted mind," but that would be too mean of me and you've already said that. As for your question, I didn't plan on SS "fucking." Haha. To me, "fucking" might be a too vulgar to me, which is quite ironic, considering how much cursing I've used. But honestly, I haven't planned on it. Sorry if you were expecting it.
Itachi-Ai: Are all men bad? Certainly not. Are women worth saving? I believe that every soul is worth saving.
Dragonstar03: Thanks.
AquariusAngel5000: Thank you!
MisunderstO.oDPsychoPath: Thank you for you compliments! I'm extremely touched that you think that this is the best CCS fic ever! Thank you!
Fire Temptress: Thank you for reading and being by my side since my first fics. I'll remember to email you when I update.
Cyan Moon: Haha. I do put too much information sometimes. I hope everything will unwind soon; I'm working really hard on that. Yay! I'm glad you're an Inuyasha fan too! I can't wait to see the third and fourth movies! Tsubasa sounds really interesting.
Dancer5: I love how you pick out your favorite lines. I've mentioned that before, haven't I?
Amy: Thank you! And for all those reviews too!
Daz: Thank you for you ultimate support along the way. I don't think I could have made it without you.
Songs make me cry: I'm glad you like it and sorry for the late update.
Rika: Thanks.
Saku: You rock too! :)
Luna: Thank you.
Sakura: Thank you for supporting me!
Yakkiniku: I'm glad it "absolutely amazing" and "mind boggling." Happy reading!
SS43v3r: I'm sorry how confusing this all has been. Hopefully by the end of the story, you'll understand. If you still don't understand by the end of the story, which should end on chapter 13, then I'll email you and try to explain everything. Thank you for reading and reviewing chapter 12 already.
----- CHAPTER TWELVE: Soundless Screams
Sakura ambled into the room, a newspaper in her hands. She strutted to the middle of the room and when she noticed she had everyone's attention, she threw the morning's paper onto the table.
"Nice job there, Monoko." She flashed him a wicked grin.
Bret Monoko tipped his imaginary hat at her. "My thanks." He replied. "It gives some food for thought for the hungry peeps out there. After all, we got to feed those news suckers."
"Food for thought indeed." Sakura echoed.
"How are the cops taking this?" Cil asked, his black eyes dancing. "And our Mr. President?"
"Oh, he's giving the usual speech about how he's 'shocked at what has happened,' and that 'he is doing everything that he can to stop this serious act of terrorism'." Sakura quoted mocking. "Those news reporters just gobble up everything he says like he's some damn prophet or something. They don't know a hell of what's going on in that Mr. President's head."
That immediately started a fired conversation and there was at least ten mouths arguing now.
"Ah, fuck it." A gang member said. This time was a girl. Her stunning red hair clashed horribly with the blood red halter. "I'm going to the Rummy. Wildcat, you coming?"
Sakura looked up and shook her head. "Later."
The girl shrugged and walked out the room, headed for the Rummy where the gang's bar was placed. A few other guys walked out with her, the group placing bets on the next game of poker already.
Monoko picked up the paper from the table and glanced at it briefly. "Your father would like to see this." He mused out loud. "Save me a kiss later, Sweetie." He called to Sakura as he quickly walked out the door.
"Kiss the door bastard." Sakura yelled back, slamming the door behind him. Monoko just laughed.
An awkward silence drifted between the remaining people in the room: Cil and herself. There was no one else in the room to create noise with. Now with him alone, she didn't know what to say. Cil stretched from his seat in the roughed up couch, and stood up. He was taller than she remembered; he now towered her over a head's length. And his slivery hair had been, she noted sadly, cut short. She missed his long hair that he would braid into a long thin strand.
Cil noticed her eyes on him and turned to give her a wink. "I'm a hunk huh, Wildcat?"
Sakura grinned. "Try harder."
Cil returned the smile. "Heavens know I do."
"What the hell made you cut your hair?" Sakura demanded now that the ice was broken.
Cil shrugged. "Hell, stop picking on me already." He complained. "I was bored out of my mind and you weren't here to stop me. You always get to have the fun."
"Don't I?" She said dryly.
"Oh, you do. Trust me." He answered her seriously. His coal black eyes were glinting steel. She didn't know how to answer to that so she didn't.
"So, how's your little boy doing?" Cil asked lamely, trying to get the conversation going again.
"You mean Li?"
"Thought you were on a first name basis?" He teased.
Sakura laughed. "Boys are there are too easy to hook for." She informed him. "He should be in the cell right now. Last time I checked on him, he was still out from the drugs we gave him."
"And how are you holding up? Back into the world after years?"
"Weird." She admitted. "Everything's the way they are, but something's still a bit off center. I've been away from the game too long."
"Seems to me that you're doing just fine. I mean, you passed the test. Fujin will be off your back for a while, but Monoko should still be a little hazy on the edges. He's just a bit miffed that you're still accepted among the gang after being away for some time. From the way I see it, you've done exceptionally well. Many who act as spy in the outside world often come back with their purpose hazy or don't come back at all."
"The Wildcat's legend will never die." Sakura answered simply.
-----
Eriol splashed cold water quickly on his face. His hands slowly fell from his face and trailed to the sides of the sink. Bracing himself, he looked at himself in the mirror. Dark blue eyes bordering black looked back at him. Eyes that contained a sense of hopelessness. Eyes that contained confusion. Eyes that no longer knew that to do. Eriol shut his eyes tightly, refusing to see the tears slid down his cheeks.
Was it too late to save Sakura? He had thought that she had returned towards the reality for good this time. He smiled wryly. Perhaps all those letters filled with good news were just lies, like the medals she kept in her desk. She told everyone of her "two gold, one sliver, and two bronze at final competitions," but he knew better. On the day of his arrival at Tokyo University with Syaoran, he had accidentally bumped into her desk and a medal fell onto the floor with a crack. It was then Eriol noticed that the medals were fake, made with a simple gold covering. It was then Eriol truly started to suspect Sakura as being more than she pretended to be.
Her practices that spoke of danger and speed scared him. Sakura practiced in the dead of the night with no light on, yet her eyes shown dangerously.
Her night rendezvous with a tall, muscular man. He had seen her once accidentally when coming back from the police station after staying late to finish up a case. What she was doing with that man was too deep for him to fathom.
Eriol had always been the more cautious one in the group of friends and he always had a hunch, since he met Sakura. She acted differently, more mature in a sense than the normal five year olds, and that was saying something. Eriol was exceptionally more mature as a child, however he knew, that sense of intuition that Sakura was just............... different.
But he never imagined that the Sakura he knew, or the Sakura she pretended to be, was indeed the infamous Wildcat. He had tapped the system at the Headquarters for brief, precious seconds before it was immediately discovered and disconnected. He had heard a deep man say, "She is not Sakura. She is Yukio Fujin, my daughter. She is Wildcat and she will not be wavered."
That would explain her martial arts skills. That would explain the people she met at night. That would explain why she had gangs after her, wanting her dead. That would explain how she lasted so long after a strong dose of AXI-whatever drug. That would explain the weird actions as a child.
That would explain too much.
As they say, ignorance is bliss. But Eriol could not bring himself to ignore Sakura. He had seen a part of her that he liked; he wouldn't have chosen her as a friend otherwise. It didn't matter if she was the daughter of the notorious Fujin. It didn't matter is she was the renowned Wildcat for her cruelty and speed. To him, she was Sakura Kinomoto and she would always be that.
Tomoyo stood at the doorway of the bathroom, a smile lost from her face. Seeing Eriol so broken up broke her heart. In one night, he had lost two of his best friends; they all had. Quietly she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. She pressed her face into his back.
Eriol smiled lightly and relaxed into her warmth, acknowledging what she wanted to say and thankful of her not saying it out loud.
"Arigato Tomoyo."
He felt her smile into his back. Eriol reached down and loosened Tomoyo's hold. Turning around to face her, he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. He looked into her amethyst eyes and wiped the tears off her face with the pads of his thumb. She broke down into sobs, his touch unraveling her emotions completely. Eriol just tightened his hold around her, rubbing her back gently as his own sadness slid continuously to the cold tiled floor.
-----
Touya smashed the nearest thing: the mug he had prepared his morning coffee in. The news of Sakura being kidnapped. His Sakura. His little kaijuu. That was more than he could stand. He gritted his teeth angrily and didn't even bother the coffee that was sinking into the carpet or the pieces of ceramic that was cutting into his bare foot.
Why her out of the entire god damn people in the world? And what good was a fucking bodyguard who couldn't protect?
His thoughts wouldn't settle and the unanswered questions just made him feel even worse. The news reports that repeated the same thing over and over again with no answers were no comfort. The president's empty promises made him want to throw something at the television. However, instead, the phone rang.
"What the fuck do you want?" Touya demanded into the phone, not caring whom the hell it was.
"Well hello to you too." The caller replied sarcastically. "If you don't mind, Touya Kinomoto, I'd like to get your attention for a couple of god damn minutes. You can rant all you want after I'm done with you."
"Who the hell do you think,"
"Save it." She replied. "If you don't know who I am by now, then you're even more stupid than I realized. Go ahead and kill yourself and see if I care. I might not, but you know who will."
Touya let out a sigh. "Gomen Meiling."
She snorted inelegantly. "About time, Touya." Meiling answered. "So, from your reaction, you've seen the news."
"God damn it, Meiling. How can you be so calm?"
"I won't tell you implicitly what I have done, but I will tell you that I've added a few plates to my collection of shards and a punching bag totally in shreds." Meiling laughed dryly. "If that's called calm, then calm is what I am."
"And I'm assuming you know everything?"
"God knows that that was something not on my list of virtues, hon." Meiling said. "To tell you the truth, I called you over for a tea party in half an hour. You up for it?"
"Count me in, but I think I have to opt for plastic or paper cups."
"Then I'll buy some on my way back to the dorms then." She said. "Oh, and watch the shards on the ground. I do not want to see you limping around hunchbacked."
"Shut the smart comments, Meiling."
"Yeah, yeah, you know you love me." She said sarcastically before she hung up. Touya grunted and slammed his phone back into its cradle. His brown eyes bore holes into the television. Yeah, shoot the messenger, he thought to himself, smiling sadistisicaly.
The television screen went black and now glass shards companioned the ceramic ones on the red carpet. How ironic. Red. The color of blood. Too violent. Touya sighed and got up to grab his jacket. Staying in this room any longer would cause the house to collapse into ruins. Locking the door firmly behind him, Touya Kinomoto walked out of his house, not noticing a pair of eyes watching his every move until it was too late.
"What the fuck?" He roared as something soft hit him promptly on his head. Whipping around, he found himself staring into the eyes of none other than Meiling Li.
She was grinning smugly. "Don't like the cups?" Meiling walked over to him, bending over to pick up the paper cups. "I got the especially for you. Look, there are even your favorite teletubbies on them."
Touya growled and snatched the stack of cups from her hands and threw them down the street. It missed the nearest trashcan by a foot.
"Nice try big guy." Meiling said sarcastically. "Now go pick them up like a good boy."
"I'm not a dog, Meiling."
"And neither am I." She shot back hotly. Touya opened his mouth to retort something back but she raised her hand to stop him. "Shut it Touya. I'm in no mood to be patient and neither are you. If we continue this we might as well start launching punches."
Touya grunted in agreement. "Yeah, well," He started to apologize.
"Save it." Meiling said, walking towards the cups. "I'm in no mood to be humored. I find out that my best friend and cousin are kidnapped by God knows who; I wake up with my period in the middle of the night; I smashed my television and now I can't watch OC this afternoon, and I'm fucking hungry."
Touya felt a smile trying to sneak up onto his face. He looked at the blazing girl before him and he couldn't help but stare. Her eyes were shinning dangerously with fierce emotion that clearly showed how worry she was for her friends. If she weren't loyal, then he wouldn't know what loyalty was.
"How about we go get some coffee?" Touya found himself asking. "I ruined my cup this morning when it made contact with the floor."
Meiling studied him for a while before raising her right eyebrow slowly. She never really understood this weird specimen. But before she could actually make a decision, her belly grumbled loudly in protest. "Oh, what the hell. I need food."
Touya actually managed to crack a smile, and forget the bleak world for a few seconds.
-----
"You've slept long enough." Sakura grunted. "I was just about to leave."
Syaoran managed to give her a brief glare before his head fell against the pillow again, groaning loudly. "What the fuck have you done to me?" The dirty pillow his head was dead upon muffled his question.
"The AXI-0945 has a nice kick to it huh?"
"The AXI what?" Syaoran repeated before his voice trailed off. "Wait. Isn't that the damned drug that,"
"That Monoko used on me?" Sakura asked a bit to easily. She sat backwards on the car, her body pressed against the back of the chair as she examined her nails wearily. "Yeah, that's the same drug. It's really quite effective."
Syaoran turned to lie on his side, his eyes studying Sakura. "Why?" He croaked.
She looked up from her nails and Syaoran froze, locked with her intense glare. When had her eyes turned a dark black shade that glinted strangely? It was almost an identical copy of Fujin's. But then again, she was his daughter. Her having his eyes was nothing strange.
But the soft look that he knew existed there was gone. The lively twinkle she had when she teasingly mocked him ceased to exist.
The Sakura Kinomoto he knew was as if never existed. Yukio Fujin was the one who was standing in front of him right now. He was seeing the Wildcat.
Her harsh condemning laughter shattered his thoughts. "You really do live in a world full of illusions and fake dreams. Let me introduce you to reality, Li Xiao Lang. This," She waved her hand around the barren room around them, "is reality. How are you liking it so far?"
"Fuck you." Syaoran muttered, wincing as he tried to push his major headache back from his mind of thought.
Sakura laughed again, that harsh laughter that gyrated his ears like nails screeching down a blackboard. "Have fun growing up." She informed him as she got up and headed for the door.
"Sakura, wait." She paused, her hand on the handle already. Syaoran studied her back; the shadow that cast behind her seemed to so dark and lonely. Her back was arched in a stiff position and her stance was in a cautioned mode.
"I'll be waiting here." Was the only thing that came out of his mouth. Syaoran watched as she opened the door and locked it behind her, all without saying a single word.
"That was an interesting conversation the two of you had." Cil said as she came out from the shadows. "Quite touching. He really does care about you."
Sakura growled. "Cil, quit being such an ass. What does Fujin want now?"
"You know me too well, Yukio. Your father wants you in at the Front. It's about tonight's mission at the Lawn." He told her. "I'll go watch that little puppy of yours."
Sakura gave him a sweet smile and her middle finger as she walked off in the direction where Fujin wanted to see her. Yukio's eyes narrowed as he watched her go. Once she rounded the corner, he got out the pair of keys and slipped into the room where her little puppy was.
"Get the fuck out Bret Monoko. You're the last thing I want to see."
He laughed and seated himself in the middle of a table that creaked under his weight. "Such words hurt my heart to be mistaken as someone else." Syaoran turned and saw the stunningly handsome before him. This was the man that Fujin said yesterday that was "a childhood friend" of Sakura's. "I thought you had a nice, loving soul."
"I do, unlike you fucker." Syaoran growled, pushing himself to a sitting position. The drug still had its hooks on him and from the way he was feeling, it wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon.
"Such as loving one that you fall in love with a girl who's untouchable."
Syaoran glared at him, shielding his emotions inside.
"Oh, you don't have to try to hide your feelings." Cil said, his slivery blonde hair shinning under the dim light. "I know exactly how you're feeling."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Cil laughed. "Why do I? You haven't got it yet, haven't you? Do you even know who your Sakura Kinomoto is?"
"Haskin Fujin's daughter, and the Wildcat." Syaoran answered hesitantly, wondering where this conversation was leading.
"See? You don't know anything." Cil rolled his eyes. "I'm going to let you on on something. Think of why this whole underground organization was formed. Think of why we do things the way we do."
"You sound philosophical."
The blond snorted. "I don't have to sound like." He informed Syaoran arrogantly. His cobalt eyes flashed warningly and without another sound, flipped off the table and walked towards the door. "We'll see each other later, puppy." Cil said as he walked out door, the lock swinging shut in the process.
"What the," Syaoran started, lunging on his feet, meaning to race after the man, but his body heard none of his wishes. Instead, he ended up in a tangled bunch of limbs on the ground.
"Fuck." He wheezed out his last word and stared at the depressing shade of gray where the white paint had peeled off the concrete ceiling.
-----
"So, how have you been doing?" Touya asked lamely, trying to break the silence.
Meiling raised an eyebrow over her cup of coffee. "Are you trying to flirt with me?" She asked bluntly, giving him a sideways glance.
Touya sputtered into his cup, and immediately choked, leading onto several coughing hacks. Meiling handed him a napkin, which he promptly took, and kept on coughing. The Chinese girl just said there, her arms crossed and waited for him to finish.
"Don't scare me any more than necessary." He reprimanded.
"Well sorry for getting the wrong impression." She retorted slowly. "Your eyes were roaming all over me and the lady next to our table just gave me a wink and a thumbs up."
"She was?" Touya repeated loudly.
The pleasant middle-aged lady across from them lifted her head from her morning paper and offered the two a nice warm smile before going back to her paper.
"Nice going, Touya. That was smooth, real smooth." Meiling said, rolling her eyes. "Now she thinks there probably is something going on between us."
"But,"
"There's nothing going on between us." She pointed out clearly. Meiling suddenly grinned. "You know, it's awfully fun teasing you like this. When did you become so soft and blushable?"
Immediately Touya glared. "You wish I were."
She burst out laughing. "I've forgotten how fun it is to tease you, Touya." She grinned at him.
Touya finally relaxed and gave a smile of his own back. "Yeah. We haven't really talked since," His voiced trailed off and he blinked his eyes furiously, trying to blink away the water that suddenly came. "then." He croaked.
Meiling sobered as well. "Since we knew who Sakura was trying to hide." She whispered. "Never did I imagine Sakura to be the one she is."
Touya just nodded. The lump in his throat made it hard for him to swallow. "Let's get to this tea party of yours." He gave her a weak grin and offered a hand up. Meiling took a deep breath and accepted his help. The two walked out the café quietly, soundlessly, without a word.
Ignorance was indeed bliss.
-----
"What do we do now?" Eriol asked, looking at his friends around him. Touya, Meiling, and Tomoyo just stared back at him blankly.
"All I know is that we have to get our Sakura back." Sakura's older brother said firmly. "That's number one."
"Plus saving Syaoran as well." Meiling added, giving a slight glare to Touya.
"Of course." Tomoyo amended. "They're both our friends and equally important to each of us. However, I do think we need to concentrate on Sakura. We need to convince her that we need her and that we accept her the way she is. Don't you see that she's stuck between these two worlds?"
"Between the real world and some underground organization full of crap, I don't see much of a choice." The Chinese girl said bluntly, her arms crossed.
"Think of how she was raised, Meiling." Tomoyo said, a frown on her usually warm and friendly face. "She was brought up there and that's her reality. We can have no say of which one is better."
"Yes we can," Touya argued. "We're part of her family. I say we do have a voice in saying which one is better. I mean, you've seen what they've raised her to become: the notorious Wildcat who plunders and kills. And Fujin's her father. We can't just let her there!"
Silence drifted over them as all of them quietly studied Touya who burst out suddenly. His words made them think over again of how they never really understood Sakura. How she lied to them all these years. Hearing him say those words just made them sad, just made them think that chances of saving her was almost impossible.
"He's raised her to become the best." Eriol finally said softly. "Don't all parents want that? For their children to be great? And hasn't he done just that? Sakura's the best person they have there."
"But obviously in the wrong direction!" The older brother continued to rant. "Why couldn't he wish she'd become a great artist, a scientist, a doctor, or a teacher? Something normal. But an assassin? A thief? A future leader of revolt?"
"That's how Fujin was raised." Eriol answered. "He's simply doing what he thinks is best. Society's the one who puts on the label."
"So you're saying that it's right for them to do what they're doing now? Hurting innocent people, stealing, and creating unnecessary revolts?" He spat back.
"Did I say that?" He questioned mildly.
Touya stared at him, with his mouth opened. Then closed it slowly. "You know, I have to give you a point for that." He sighed. "Since when were you so good at talking?"
Eriol chuckled. "There's much you don't know."
"That Tomoyo does?" Meiling added, grinning as her eyes danced.
"Meiling!" Tomoyo complained. "Aren't we talking about Sakura and Syaoran here? Since when did we,"
"Since the moment Touya complimented me, my dear." Eriol filled in, smiling his famous grin of his. "But let's move on." He continued before anyone could say the wiser. "Obviously there is a part of Sakura who wants to be Sakura. We just need to strengthen those feelings more."
"Thank you for pointing that out, wise guy," Meiling said sarcastically. "But how?"
"One word: Syaoran." Eriol answered simply. The rest of them stared at their calm friend. It took a while to get their minds to register exactly what he said.
"Syaoran." Meiling echoed as she chuckled evilly.
"Ohohoho." Tomoyo added smiling. "I like this plan."
Touya raised his eyebrow. "Uh, I hate to burst your bubbles, but in case you've forgotten, Li's with Sakura right now."
"Duh!" Meiling replied rolling her eyes. "I thought we established the fact a long time ago that he was with her."
"But then how,"
"Easy." Tomoyo quipped. "I don't really have to explain this, do I Touya? I thought you'd understand."
"You guys are thinking a bit ahead of yourselves." Eriol cut in, smiling gently. Touya nodded firmly. "I don't think he's quite keen on the idea of Sakura and Syaoran, you know. Think of all of Touya's past conquests."
"Ah. No more explanation necessary." Meiling said, waving her hand. The other two nodded in agreement.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Touya burst.
Meiling blinked. Tomoyo blinked. Eriol blinked. The three shared a look and burst out laughing. Touya stood there, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. He tapped his right foot impatiently, waiting for them to finish laughing.
It was, thankfully, Tomoyo who stopped first for she was the most pleasant and the one who knew best how to handle the situation best.
"You see Touya," She started, with a kind patient smile that mother's gave their children, "Syaoran's the one who actually can change Sakura and get her back, because obviously, as you stated earlier, he's the one with her now. Now, you can't say you haven't noticed the way Sakura acts around him haven't you?"
She continued without even waiting for a response. "Of course you have." She answered for him. "She's much more open and natural and he kinds of relates to her in more of a friend way," Tomoyo paused, not even noticing the shocked look on Touya's face. "From a view of a fighter I suppose." The girl mused.
"They had fights and all, but seriously Sakura and Syaoran do get along quite well. It's very obvious that Syaoran does care about her, as a true friend does. I know that he's there for Sakura and him being there with her now eases the situation."
"Yeah, he's probably a prisoner. How's that going to help?"
Tomoyo gave him another gentle smile. "Of course it does. Most likely he's going to be put under Sakura's care since they know each other and all bad guys love doing that kind of psychological kind of test."
"And Syaoran will be there to talk to her." Meiling cut in, impatient at how slow Tomoyo took to explain. "He'll say something to trigger her and get her emotions running and just maybe, they'll both get the hell out of there and back to us where they belong." She finished, a smug smile on her face.
"Any more questions?" Tomoyo asked, her right eyebrow rose disapprovingly at her best friend.
"Uh,"
"We know the plan isn't the best, but I, being Syaoran's friend for ages, know that he will do everything that he can to bring Sakura back to us." Eriol said comfortably as he saw the confused look upon the older man's face.
Touya just stood there dumbly. The three best friends shared another look before glancing back at Sakura's older brother.
"WHAT THE HELL? THE GAKI BETTER NOT TOUCH MY LITTLE KAIJUU!" He yelled.
Birds fluttered from where they were perched on a tree near the room, giving evil glances at the offending window as they flew to a more peaceful environment.
-----
"Yukio, listen to me." Monoko demanded. "What you're thinking is just incredibly ridiculous."
Sakura glared at him. "What exactly is so 'ridiculous' about it?"
"It just is!" He argued. "Fujin, tell her."
The man smiled eerily. How the man was able to move upwards was a miracle and a monumental feat already. "It's quite an interesting proposal my sweet Wildcat has proposed."
Sakura shot Monoko a smug look.
"However, what was the whole plan again?" The leader asked. "I would very much like it to hear again, Yukio."
"I challenge a fight with Syaoran Li. If he wins, he can win back his freedom." She repeated.
"And if you lose?" His lips curled into an evil smile as his black eyes twinkled amusedly.
Sakura's eyes hardened and looked at her father in the face. "That's if I lose, father." She said, her voice low and fierce. "However, if I happen to lose, fire Monoko for being such a disgraceful instructor."
Fujin just continued to smile, waiting for her real answer.
"Also, you have my word that I'll completely under your control."
His face turned serious and his coal black eyes pierced her dark colored ones. "That you will once more be my daughter?" Fujin demanded. "I've had enough of your swaying loyalty and I can choose to kill you now if I so decided. What makes you so worthy?"
"For one, I am your daughter and I am of your blood. I am, and you know, your best out of all your men out there. I am your pride." She spoke clearly, her voice not wavering the least. She stood firmly and her stance showed that she meant what she said.
Fujin finally nodded. "You've gotten yourself a deal, Yukio Fujin." She stepped forward and they shook firmly. "When do you want this challenge to take place?"
"Daylight tomorrow at the practice room of the left wing. Only you, Monoko, and Cil are allowed there. Understood?"
Fujin smiled at his daughter. "Quite clearly. Hand combat?"
"Anything else would end too quickly." Sakura barred her teeth into a wolfish smile. "I'll see you around then." With that, she turned around and ambled out the door, as if nothing had even happened.
She didn't want to play this façade no longer.
-----
Syaoran stared at the peeling ceiling, thinking over the words Cil had told him while fingering the picture of Sakura in his mind over and over again. He couldn't wipe the feeling that she wanted out; that she wanted him to set her free.
He snapped his head up and quickly got to his feet. As expected, the door creaked open and a figure walked in.
"What the hell?" The intruder yelped in surprise as he was suddenly held at a headlock.
"What do you want?" Syaoran growled from behind. "Hm?" He tightened his grip.
"Boss wanted to tell me that Wildcat has a challenge for you at daylight tomorrow." The man squeaked. "You're in for a hand combat. If you win, you'll be ensured your release."
"What will happen if Sakura loses?"
"I don't know a Sakura, but if you're referring to Wildcat, I have no idea." He muttered. "It's not like you'll win anyway."
Syaoran tossed the man back against the wall and released him. "That's all you wanted to say right? Now go away."
The messenger fixed his collar haughtily and walked out the door. Syaoran rolled his eyes at the fake act and plopped onto the bed. What was Sakura thinking now? What was he supposed to do?
He buried his face into his hands and sighed loudly.
-----
"Up." A loud demanding voice called. Syaoran opened his eyes warily at the tall figure before him. "One would think that you'd be up all night." The tall shadow drawled.
"Just shut it." Syaoran barked, his voice rough and heavy; heavy as his heart. "You came to pick me up?"
Cil snorted. "After what I heard you did to little pipsqueak the other day, I decided to come visit you myself. Now enough with the chat, wolfie. Get your lazy ass out of bed and follow me."
Syaoran swung his feet to the ground. He could feel that his legs were tighter than usual, but he gritted his teeth and followed Cil out the door. Eyes were watching him as he walked through the shadows that lurked. The heavy atmosphere reminded him of his heavy heart, weighing his decisions.
It was either win or lose.
He stepped into the room, the tiled floor clicking softly under his shoe. In the middle of the room was her. Sakura Kinomoto.
She looked dazzling, strikingly beautiful as he first met her. She carried that sense of strength and courage around her. She was so amazingly attractive, yet some part of her made him fear her. The way the dim morning light shone upon her just made her seem untouchable, so unrealistic as in part of a dream.
"You," His tongue felt thick and his words were getting stuck in his mouth. Sakura raised her eyebrow. "You seem like you're ready." He blurted the first thing that came to mind.
"I didn't ask your opinion, Li." She replied tartly, her eyes narrowing.
His mind whirled. He had heard those words before. Where? Syaoran lifted his head and blinked when he saw Sakura's eyes flicker. He could swear he saw a flicker of green in the mist of all that darkness.
"But I'm much better." Syaoran grinned.
He had heard those words. It was the beginning of their first challenge of a fight. (Refer to chapter two).
Sakura frowned. "You're asking for a fight." She replied steadily, as she smoothly got into stance.
"And I accept your challenge." Syaoran relied as he got into position.
Fujin smirked on the side and leaned casually to the wall with his arms crossed as he watched for the first sign the fight would begin. Beside him, Monoko watched with a careful eye, suspicious of everything. Cil, however, remained at the door, his expression unseen with the shadow that hovered over it.
The fight began, as Fujin expected, with Sakura making the first move to attack. Her moves were correct and accurate, much to his pleasure. Her speed wasn't as fast as he expected, but they weren't bad and it was just the beginning of the game. Syaoran, however, was actually decent, he noted. But his level would never be a match for his Yukio.
Monoko glared, observing his student that he brutally trained for years. Her moves were as taught, but her attacks lacked the deadliness that it contained when she was out on a mission or when she was sparring with him. He scowled at Syaoran's attempts of defense. Clearly Wildcat was playing with him. Her muscles were not even exerting much energy. He saw no point for this silly, ridiculous battle.
Cil watched calmly as the challenge unraveled. The two seemed to be... dancing actually. Their moves showed detailed grace and elegance. His eyes flickered with brief amusement before it was shadowed with darkness. He would very much like to see what this Sakura Kinomoto had in mind.
Syaoran's eyes shined with determination and a feeling of great warmth. This feeling was just like their first spar. His whole body filled with a sense of happiness and a warm tingling sparks ran through him, wrapping his heart with the essence of joy. These were the times he felt happiest. These were the times he came in contact with the real Sakura Kinomoto. These were the times he could face the one who had captured his heart so.
And he smiled.
Sakura scowled, her eyebrows creased downwards as she flew past him when he dodged her attack. Rolling her eyes at the image of his dorky grin, she spun on her left heel and shot out her right leg in a perfect swing, coming in solid contact with Syaoran's stomach.
With a loud "oomph," he skidded across the floor and slowly came to a stop. She watched with wary eyes, as Syaoran stood up.
The dork was still smiling.
She growled in frustration and launched herself over, not waiting for him to get ready. She had quickened her attacks and had moved her power up a notch or two, Monoko noted.
"Game over." Fujin whispered, as Sakura seemed to disappear right before Syaoran's eyes, showing her true speed. He could see the flash of panic and awe in the eyes of the young man before him. He could see the pupils moving quickly, but not fast enough, to try to find where Sakura was.
Wildcat, true to her myth and her training, was too fast. In a blink of an eye, she was right before Syaoran, with only a hair's breath away. And before everyone else could do anything, they slumped to the floor.
"You bitch." Monoko hissed sharply as he yanked the thin needle from his neck. "You gave your word that you would bring no weapons in." He lunged forward, but his vision blurred and went hazy.
"I did." Sakura replied, grinning wolfishly. "But those belong to Syaoran Li. I just merely used the skills you've installed in me, Monoko. You should be proud of me."
Monoko laughed harshly. "You have exactly two minutes to run. Why aren't you?"
"Because I don't intend on running." Sakura said, her voice deadly quiet. "I'm fucking tired of all this shit you guys have been giving me. Today, I'm going to end it, and that's the way it's going to end."
"You are clever beyond your years Yukio Fujin," A deep voice said, "but the student shall never defeat the teacher."
"The needle was never meant to stop you father." She replied easily, turning around to face him. "It was only for Monoko because he talks and assumes too much easily."
"I'm honored." Fujin drawled. "And how will you dispose me and Cil?"
"I don't have to." His daughter answered casually. "It's already been taken care of."
A distinct metal click was heard and Fujin smiled. "Never would I have imagined that you, Cil, would betray me. It seemed beyond you." The notorious leader turned around slowly, not even worrying. "You've always been one only to listen to directions. It's impossible for you to think outside the box, Cil. Look at yourself: a tool for the underground. Without me, you're nothing. So what are you going to do? Shoot me?"
Cil chuckled. "You always thought you carried the whip huh?" The blond shook his head. "Let me tell you something, Fujin. No one respects you here. We're all wishing you'd be dead. I'd be doing a great favor for society. How much money do you think the government would give me for getting your head on a platter?"
"Flattered to think I'm worth that much Cil." Fujin replied. His lips were curved into an amused grin. "However, I'm quite certain of the loyalty of those underneath me. You know I get rid of those who disobey me."
Cil's eyes widened before he fell to the ground. The metal needle glinted under the beginning rays of the morning. "Bastard." Cil wheezed as his left hand shot up to his temple and removed the offending needle.
"And you should know how I get rid of those who have broken the law." Syaoran calmly stated, picking up the gun from the floor where Cil had dropped it and pointed it directly to Fujin.
Fujin laughed. "Go ahead and kill me. It's not like I have anything else worth living for on this fucking planet. So go ahead and kill me."
Syaoran eye's hardened. He used his left hand to steady his right hand and aimed.
"Give me the gun."
Her voice was so quiet that he barely heard her, but he did. And he couldn't believe what she had just told him to do. Turning his head back to look at her and dropping his guard for the slightest moment, was a bad idea. Fujin lunged forward to grab the gun.
"What's the hurry father?" Sakura asked, her voice sickeningly sweet. Her hands held the gun that was once in Syaoran's hand. Syaoran lay painfully on the ground, having his feet swept underneath him by Sakura.
"I thought we should have a, you know, a father-daughter talk." She smiled, her red lips curled up into a sinister smile.
"By all means, go ahead. You have my attention."
"Do I?" Wildcat smiled. She spun around and fired a bullet. Loyal Monoko fell to the ground with a dead thump. "Now I do."
Fujin nodded. "Ah, now you do."
Syaoran studied this man warily. He could see that he was less certain of himself, but this man was never to be underestimated. This notorious leader held great power and asserted him over a hundred followers. Fujin Haskin was not one to be laughed at. Even with only himself standing, he would fight to the end.
"I thought so." Sakura sighed. "You really are nothing without your followers. They do all the dirty work and you get all the credit. You feed them shit and they treat it as gold. Wouldn't you like to meet the day they turn against you? Or rather, the day your best so called 'creation' turned her back on you?"
Fujin laughed. "I would like to see you turn yourself against me Wildcat. You are no one. They see right through you, as if you're not there. The only emotions that you're capable of are hate and more hate. That's all you have installed in you. What are you going to do after you kill me? Enter society? Don't make me laugh. You don't fit there; you don't belong. When people see you, they see the dreaded murder that has blood on her hands that will never wash off. You think you can live there, in a place constructed of fantasy and illusions?"
Sakura's hand moved the slightest inch.
"Don't listen to him, Sakura! Think of Tomoyo! And Eriol, and Meiling! Your family who's out there waiting for you. Everyone's waiting for you, to come back." Syaoran yelled.
"What would he know?" Fujin countered, walking slowly to his greatest creation. "You guys just met. He's toying with your emotions. He's a fucking cop, Yukio. He's the Li Clan leader. He has so much more to choose than you. Why would he choose you? You're nobody but just a murderer who will never have her hands clean."
"That's not true!"
The leader laughed. "You lie. I can see it in your eyes, Li Syaoran. You don't even know her. How would you even know what would be true?"
Sakura winced, but she still kept her gun trained upon her target.
"You're being weak Sakura. Showing your emotions and letting them get in control of you. Don't you see? He's using it against you." Her father intoned. "Listen to me. I'm your father."
"Sakura! Is that who you want to be for the rest of your life? A murderer? You can wash away the blood. You can. Just give yourself a chance." Syaoran pleaded He focused his amber eyes on her wavering black ones. "Please Sakura."
Fujin sighed. "Yukio, give me the gun." He said, walking closer to the girl who looked so utterly lost. "It'll be all over then."
"Don't move." Sakura's voice came out as a plea. Her voice soft and trembling.
Syaoran stared at her. Never before had he seen Sakura break down like this. He had never seen her so vulnerable and torn.
She was torn between two worlds. Both that welcomed her and both where she belonged.
He watched silently as Fujin talked to her, pleaded her, and persuaded her. He could see the walls around Sakura breaking down and her guard was barely even up. Her eyes were losing that twinkle of green, swallowed by the pit- less black. He didn't want to see her go.
He didn't.
That was the last thing he wanted.
He was looking at her, but he wasn't seeing her. His thoughts had pulled him under to where he knew her.
Her sarcastic remarks that were all cleverly put. Her smirks that were the closest to a smile he'd ever draw out of her, made him gape like an idiot every time at how incredibly sexy she'd look when she did that. He fell in love with the playful twinkle of her eye. He adored the spark of determination and the fluid motions of her attacks when she fought. He smiled when she saw her teaching little children and the soft glow she possessed when around them. She tried to keep her emotions in check, but he knew she cared about her friends and family.
He knew then he couldn't live without her.
Sakura lowered her right hand slowly and Fujin smiled as she walked closer to him.
He couldn't bear watching her go, and step out of his life forever.
"I love you." Syaoran whispered, his eyes trained to Sakura's back.
She stopped walking and turned around, her eyes wide with disbelief. As he looked at her, he could feel wet tears pooling at the side of his eyes.
"Don't leave me behind." His words came out barely audible.
Sakura tilted her head slightly to the left and gave Syaoran a sad smile. "Thank you." She replied softly and turned back around. To Haskin Fujin. To her father, who smiled victoriously and so smugly.
Syaoran heard his heart shatter into pieces.
He heard a gun shot ring out once, and only once. One dark figure fell down and everything was over.
She had killed him. The one who had started everything, and now, everything was over.
Sakura turned around and smiled a wobbly smile at Syaoran. "Thank you." She told him again. "I'll be leaving now." With that, Sakura dropped the gun in her hands and walked out the door of the room after giving a nod to Cil who had managed to get back to his feet.
She opened the door and walked out.
And Syaoran let her.
Her eyes were a sparkling shade of pure emerald.
-----
So, how was it? Not my greatest chapter I'm sure. Been so busy these days I can't even think right. I'm a jumble of mixed emotions. A huge part of me doesn't want to leave and go to the States to attend UVA. I'm leaving my childhood behind and everyone that's been so important behind and literally going to a place on the other side of the planet. (I live somewhere in Asia.)
But anyhow, on a happier note, one more chapter and this story will be at an end. The last chapter will be a short epilogue. I just want to say thank you for reading and supporting me along the way, even though I take forever updating and what I write isn't what you'd call great or anything. But thank you for reading. It means more than I can say in words.
Thank you.
Iris dreamer