CHAPTER 22

A few days passed after Madison was cured. She was still weak but was gaining strength quickly. Sakura recommended staying in bed for a few days just until she felt like she could at least walk to the bathroom by herself. Li then recommended that Sakura, Meilien and himself should go back to school since they've missed a few days. Meilien volunteered to stay with Madison but Madison wouldn't have any of it.

"Go to school and get my homework that I'm going to miss." Madison said confessedly. Meilien finally gave in and that morning the trio headed off to school. Li and Sakura fell behind Meilien wanting a little private time for them. Li wrapped his fingers around Sakura's fingers. Sakura blushed slightly. She glanced over at Li who was staring at her.

"I love you." Li said. Sakura blushed even more. She stopped and looked into his brown sparkling pools.

"I love you to Li." Sakura wasn't surprised that the words felt odd coming out of her mouth. It's been a while since she said that to anymore. But she knew that the words fit. That she truly meant them and always will.

"I want to spend forever with you Sakura. I can't imagine waking up one morning and knowing that I wont see your face." Li said now holding both of Sakura's hands. Sakura smiled and kissed Li on the lips.

"I never want to think about a time without you." Sakura said. Li smiled and went to kiss Sakura.

"Come on lovebirds, if you keep that mushy stuff up any longer your going to make Manhattan puke." Both Sakura and Li glanced and Meilien who was smiling ear to ear. The couple along with Meilien then finished their walk to school for another day of classes.

Eli enrolled into the same school that Sakura was attending. He was pretty sure that Sakura wouldn't recognize him since they haven't seen each other for about 10 years. He made sure that he had some classes with Sakura so he could keep an eye on her. The agency wouldn't be happy if anything happened to her. He also had to make sure that Natashia didn't discover what he was doing. He was positive that she would have him killed if his plan was revealed. He thanked the secretary for his schedule and then walked to his first class. Luckily enough, Sakura was in that class with him. He watched as Sakura walked in and sat in the seat beside him. Behind her was that boy. He search for his file last night and saw that his name was Li and that he was actually a pretty good kid. Sakura caught herself a good guy. The teacher then asked Eli to introduce himself, which he did. But he made sure to watch Sakura just incase some memory should pop into her head. None did. Class then continued with its normal things. Worksheets then homework, all the stuff that Eli could wiz by without a problem. He made sure to glance over and watch Sakura when he was done with his worksheet. He was surprised to notice that she to was done.

The school bell rang signalizing it was now lunch. Li and Sakura walked into the lunchroom together and sat with Meilien.

"I called Meilien during my study hall to make sure everything was alright. She yelled at me for calling and told me to get my ass into gear and start doing homework. So I figure everything's good." Meilien said laughing. Sakura and Li also laughed. Madison was indeed getting a lot better.

"Did you want a coffee Sakura?" Li asked standing up. Sakura thought for a moment then nodded.

"Yeah actually I do." Sakura said. She turned and started digging in her messenger bag for her money. She turned to hand Li the crumpled bills but he was already gone.

"He's paying for you. All the ups of having a boyfriend." Meilien said smiling. Sakura blushed and Meilien laughed louder. By then Li returned with Sakura's coffee and a few things of cream.

"I still need to learn how you take your coffee so then I'll just do it for you." Li said handing Sakura her coffee. Sakura smiled and took the cup with both hands.

"Cream and sugar. Thanks Li." Sakura said taking a cautious sip. Sakura then sighed as she felt the substance warming her insides. Li looked at her and smiled.

"Good huh?" Sakura only nodded her response and took another sip. The bell then rang again signaling that lunch was now over. Li quickly kissed Sakura good-bye and went on his way to his class while Meilien and Sakura walked to their next class.

Madison sat in her bed flipping through the channels on the TV. Nothing was ever on during the day, only soaps and talk shows, all the things that bored her. Madison finally stopped on a station and stared at it for a while. Yawning she lay down and snuggled in her blankets tight. She looked at the clock and the last thought she had was that Sakura, Li and Meilien would be home in an hour.

The final bell rang and people piled out of the school, school was over for the day. Li waited for Sakura at her locker. When Sakura walked up to him, he kissed her lightly and smiled.

"I have to stay a few minutes extra to help a teacher with something. You and Meilien go ahead and start walking home, I'll catch up." Sakura kissed Li again and then hugged him tightly.

"Ok, see you at home then." Li kissed her good-bye and then walked away. Meilien then joined Sakura and the two walked out the door and started home.

"So you and Li are pretty serious then huh?" Meilien said surprising Sakura. Sakura smiled slightly and looked at Meilien.

"Yeah I guess we are. I mean its weird. I don't think I've ever had anyone like Li care about me as much as he does." Sakura said looking at Meilien. Meilien stopped and looked at Sakura.

"He'll treat you good Sakura. He won't do anything ever to hurt you and he'll treat you like that only girl in the whole world. I would take Madison's advice if I were you, hold on you him." Meilien said smiling. Sakura nodded and started walking.

"I'm not planning on losing him anytime soon." Sakura said. The two turned a corner and started walking through an alley. Meilien was about to say something when they heard a laugh coming out of the shadows.

"My dear Sakura, in love. Isn't it romantic boys?" Sakura narrowed her eyes. She should have known.

"Why don't you give it up. You lose I won. I know it's hard to deal with it but learn to bitch." Sakura yelled. The women smiled and the lifted her hands and snapped her fingers. The last thing Meilien saw were men attacking them.

Li started walking down the sidewalk hoping he could catch up to Sakura while they were still in the park. He loved walking through the park with her when the cherry blossoms would start to fall. He got into t he middle of the park and saw someone running towards him. After a few moments the person fell to the ground. Li ran up to them and noticed that it was Meilien. She was cut up and kind of bloody.

"What happened to you Meilien? Where's Sakura?" Li asked quickly helping his cousin up to her feet. He heard a sob escape her lips and knew she was crying.

"They took her Li." Was all Meilien could get out. Li looked at her confusingly. He let Meilien fall onto his shoulder and with Li's help they walked to a bench.

"They who?" Li asked very confused. He took a tissue from his book bag and started wiping the blood away from Meilien's mouth.

"Sakura's mom!" Meilien said before busting into tears again. The tissue slowly fell out of Li's hand. His nightmare just became reality.

Thank you guys ever so much for reading my story. I appreciate all the reviews I've gotten along with the complements I've received. I'm glad you like my story. I know I left this one as a cliffhanger. If you wish to see what happens though you are going to have to read my next story that will be coming soon. So thank you once again and keep an eye out for my next story.

Love lots,

PoolsOfEmeraldEyes