Disclaimer: I don't own ccs!! What does it take to sink into your thick skulls?
Kero: Don't mind Kura, she had 4 Mt. Dews, 2 pixy sticks, and 6 packs of those sugars for coffee.
Kura: cracks up you guys can't take a joke, can you? You guys don't have thick skulls!
Kero: whispers Kura does.
Kura: I heard that Kero! Shoves Kero into a jar Well, how'd you all like chappy 2? I have some bad news. Somebody's gonna visit Saku in this chappy. You can probably guess who it is from the last chapter, cuz I told ya. To a lighter subject, Onegai review. I don't care if your review is only one word, just review. It makes authors happy! And I'm one sad author.
Kero: mmph mph mmph mph mmph mphmph mph mmph mph mmph mph mmph mph mmph mph mmph mph
Kura: What's that Kero? Puts lid on vase this chapter is dedicated to Adriana, my first reviewer! I was soooooooooooooo happy that I got a review that I instantly started working on this chapter! So here it goes...
Chapter 3: Kenji stops by, Syaoran opens his mouth, and they spar! (Not necessarily in that order)
A week had passed since Syaoran had moved in with the two women, and all was going smoothly. They didn't see much of each other at all until around 3 or so, but that was all right. Sakura had been following Yue's advice, but so far, no Kenji, and she was glad about that.
Syaoran was embarrassed. He'd just realized a couple of days ago that he knew absolutely nothing about Kinomoto Sakura. He decided that he couldn't ask Sakura herself, so, using the smarts that his 26 years had given him, he asked Meilin after Sakura went to work.
"Meilin."
"Hai?" she asked, taking her eyes off the cereal box she had been reading.
"I just realized that I know nothing about Kinomoto-san...can you give me some information?"
Meilin just smirked, and Syaoran felt as if he had just walked right into a trap. "Sure! Okay, Sakura was born on April first, and she's 21 years old."
Twenty-one! Syaoran couldn't believe it.
"She's always been pretty happy go lucky, but, from what I can understand, she lost some of that a few years ago. I don't want to divulge the whole story, but Sakura fell in love with a guy that her friends and family didn't like—at all. She chose him over them, and they completely lost contact, except for Yukito. They got engaged, and a couple of months after that, Sakura finally realized that her friends had been right. He'd been cheating on her. So she moved in with Yukito. She refuses to call her friends or family. I don't that she can handle their 'I told you so's even after 3 years. I can't really get into detail, but I think that's basically what you wanted."
Syaoran just nodded and went off to work.
"Okay, okay, that's better. But next time, aim a little bit higher." Instructed Sakura as she went past her younger students. "Great kick, Megumi! I see that you're really improving!"
Sakura casually glanced at her watch. 'Shimatta! It's almost 12!'
"Okay, everyone, your parents will be here soon, go get changed."
Sakura watched as her students left with their parents, and as her older students came in and go ready.
Sakura was just about to start when the bell on her door jingled. Sakura looked up and saw Li standing there, duffel bag in hand. A good bit of the class gasped—they'd all recognized him from somewhere. Sakura just smiled and went up to him.
"Konnichiwa, Li-san. Come here to show us amateurs how it's done?"
"Something like that." He said simply.
Sakura laughed, grabbed his arm, and dragged him to where she had been standing.
"Minna, Li-san is going to be your second sensei for today. If you behave and show him what you got, maybe he'll decide to show up again. So as my guest and your sensei..." she left off purposefully.
In response, all the students bowed and spoke "Konnichiwa, Li-sensei. Arigatou for coming."
Li bowed in response and replied, "Doutashimashite." (sp)
Syaoran told Sakura that he had the rest of the day off, and that he could stay as long as she. Sakura told him that that was perfectly fine, and they set about instructing the students.
What Syaoran had failed to mention was that he had had a strange feeling that something was going to happen, and that it wasn't good.
Each time the students took note of Syaoran, they all gasped and responded the way the first class had. Syaoran had to admire their discipline.
It was Sakura's last class for the day, and the seniors were ahead of schedule. Sakura didn't feel like messing up her plans, so she told the class that they were free to do, as they liked as long as it was legal and stayed inside the building. That was when Syaoran had remembered the comment Sakura had made about her students respecting him more then the teacher. Syaoran was anxious to see how good she was, and wanted to show them that women were surely capable fighters. Meilin certainly was. He made his proposal aloud so Sakura wouldn't be able to say no—he knew she wouldn't want them to think her afraid. And that was how their not so little sparring match came about.
(Note: I know nothing about karate, nothing! So just pretend that the simple moves I'll describe are really, really coolios moves, k?)
Sakura, having been told how impatient Syaoran could be, took a defensive position, ready to block any move Syaoran might decide to make. The students watched in awe as Syaoran lunged towards their sensei and how she blocked it. Syaoran threw various punches and kicks for some period of time, but never landed one. Sakura switched to the offensive, and that was when the match really started. It seemed that the two were equally matched, and with each movement, the students respected their teacher a little bit more.
The match had been going on for some time, when finally, Sakura made a risky and unexpected move, and Syaoran collapsed on the ground, soon followed by Sakura. The couple sat there for a little while to catch their breath, but eventually they stood up, bowed, and shook hands.
"I haven't had a battle like that since...I don't think I've ever had a battle like that." Complemented Syaoran.
Sakura blushed, smiled, and said, "Me neither."
The students were just about to rush up and congratulate their sensei, when the bell rang once again. Standing in front of the door was a man with long black hair tied at his neck, ice blue eyes, different from Yue's only by the fact that they held a potential for evil, tan skin, muscular body, and a height that was about average.
The students looked at their sensei to see if she knew the stranger, and were amazed when they saw her usually happy and glittering emerald orbs turn ice cold. Obviously their teacher hated this man, and because of that, it was unanimously decided that they did too.
(Note: Gomen if I made it seem like the students hate Sakura. The women and some men already respected her, but a number have a 'thing' for her, and like to be macho guys...they're kinda stuck in the 19th century train of thought.)
"I must agree with Li, Sakura-koi. You are excellent. Could you do that when we were engaged, or did you learn it after?" he looked at Li and bowed his head mockingly. "Why, hello, Li. Long time no see, huh?"
The students gasped. Kinomoto-sensei had been engaged!?
"That's Kinomoto-san to you, you ass. Now why don't you leave now before I call the police?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Sakura. You shouldn't swear in front of the children."
Sakura laughed hollowly. "The only child in this room is you. Do you want me to call your baby-sitter?"
"Sakura-koi, how can you insult me? I thought you loved me."
"Key word 'loved', as in not any more. As in I realized I was a stupid naïve 17 year old for loving you, and how that's in the past and I never wish to see your face again." Then she looked at Syaoran curiously, who was glaring at Kenji with all his might. "How do you the baka?"
Syaoran replied in a disgusted tone. "The Wantabe clan is my clan's rival." He looked at Sakura. "You didn't know that if you had married him, you'd be the clan's mistress?"
Sakura shook her head. "Hell, didn't even know there was a clan. But hey, that just makes me even gladder that I broke it off with him. I'm guessing that the Wantabe clan isn't all that good, huh?" Syaoran agreed with a nod of his head, and Sakura continued. "But don't worry, Li-san, his clan's just jealous...they're probably just a bunch of wanna bes!" Sakura smiled and Syaoran smirked, while Kenji got pissed.
"Well, I have an appointment with my company, I'll see you later, my love." And with that, he left.
Sakura hurriedly shooed her students out the door, and then she, Kero, and Syaoran returned to red up.
"I'd be careful about Wantabe, Sakura. His family does have magic. They're not all that powerful, but we suspect they're up to something to change that. They may or may not have succeeded. Just be careful."
Sakura was quiet for a while, just sort of staring into space. Seeing her ex-fiancé's face after so long had brought some bad memories. Again came the feeling of being used and easily discarded. She felt like that 18-year-old girl again. She felt alone and unloved, cold, sad...afraid. She didn't want to feel that way, but he really had hurt her. She would never admit it aloud, but he had changed her prospective on life, and for the worse.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to face Syaoran. He asked if she was all right and if she promised to be careful, and Sakura answered yes on both questions. It was then that she realized that she wasn't as alone as she had thought.
'Li's here, sort of, and I don't think that he'd let anything bad happen to me. Then there's Meilin, Yuki, Yue, Kero, and the Cards. Wantabe may have hurt me and basically deserted me, but I have plenty of people who care, and I could have more if I desired to.'
Rejuvenated by that thought, Sakura asked Syaoran if he'd like to get something to eat. He replied that he would, and Sakura suggested a quaint Italian restaurant. Syaoran agreed that that sounded great and, after locking up, and shooing Kero back to the apartment, they headed out.
The late lunch was delicious. Sakura ordered chicken alfredo and a salad, while Syaoran ordered spaghetti and meatballs and a salad. Both had the best wine the place had to offer.
Sakura had done most of the talking, but neither cared. Sakura didn't want to get asked any questions about her past, and Syaoran was content to just watch the woman in front of him talk and eat. He nodded and replied every so often, of course.
'She's been shaken up by the incident.' He noticed. 'Wantabe hurt her more than she lets on. And she deserves a lot of credit. She's not crying or anything, just smiling with that beautiful smi—I didn't almost just say that!'
Thankful that Sakura had finished her meal, Syaoran paid the bill, and Sakura and Syaoran drove back to the house in separate cars.
When they got home, they saw a note on the fridge. It said that Meilin had decided to stay at a friend's house for the night. She'd be back the next day, after work. As a last note, she added that there was some tuna noodle casserole in the refrigerator.
Sakura looked up from the note. Syaoran wasn't there with her. She went into the living room (Note: Do u know why it's called the living room? I do!), and found Syaoran looking at a couple of cassettes. They were Tomoyo's cassettes, and Sakura had not yet been able to watch them.
Syaoran looked up from what he was doing. "What are these?"
Sakura blushed. They contained very embarrassing shots. "Nandemonai!" she exclaimed.
Syaoran narrowed his eyes. "Well," he said smoothly, "If they're nothing, they it doesn't matter if I watch them."
Sakura sighed in defeat. He was older, and no matter what she came back with, she knew he'd find some way to outsmart her.
"I'll get the popcorn."
Syaoran popped the movie in the VCR pushed play, and sat down on the comfy couch. He watched as a younger version of Sakura came into view. It looked like she was at some sort of airport. He watched as Sakura blushed when she noticed she was being filmed. Syaoran hardly noticed when Sakura sat down next to him.
One after another, Syaoran watched the videos, looking closely at how those in the film acted, and how the videos were directed. He was amazed with Sakura's determination, but one thought covered everything else that he might've processed: Kinomoto knew Hiiragizawa's gang!
Syaoran started to turn to ask her what had happened, but when he did, he noticed the silent tears that were falling like a storm from her eyes. Syaoran was amazed with himself, but he cared. Determined to find a cure for this illness, he plastered his usual emotionless face on, ejected the cassette, turned the appliances off, and headed off to bed. He sat there for some time, contemplating everything. Soon, he heard Sakura enter her room. He gave her a few minutes, and when he was sure she was asleep, he picked up his cell.
"Moshi moshi, Li Meilin desu!"
"She knows Hiiragizawa's gang, Meilin." He said frankly.
Silence was on the other line.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
Syaoran took the cell from his ear as Meilin started rambling on and on about how she had to get them all back together and since how Sakura couldn't, and Tomoyo's gang didn't know Sakura wasn't with Kenji any longer, they couldn't make up, Meilin would make it so they had to. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Meilin said goodnight, and at that moment, lightning struck, and it was soon followed by thunder.
Syaoran stripped down to his boxers and slipped under the covers. He had just started drifting off to sleep when crying and talking roused him.
Kinomoto.
He exited his room and went into Sakura's, where he found the woman huddle in a ball on her bed.
"How could you...next time take a shower...go back to your whore." She whispered in her restless sleep. "Tomoyo-chan, gomen, gomen, gomen, you were right. Don't be mad onii-chan, please." Sakura started sobbing.
Something hit Syaoran in his ice-cold heart, and the ice started to crack. She was barely a woman when she was hurt so badly...giving up finding a cure that night; he crawled under Sakura's covers and wrapped his arms around her thin frame. He whispered comforting words to her, and it didn't matter if she heard or not.
Soon, Sakura's breathing again became rhythmic, and that, along with the warmth she emitted, Syaoran fell asleep.
Somewhere in Hong Kong, in a beautiful white mansion, a beautiful woman paced. She had long black hair styled in some sort of ponytail. She wore a white Chinese robe, and she didn't look her 52 years. Worry and fear were etched into her beautifully pale face. They had it. She didn't want to admit it, but she was sure they had the Star of Virtue. The woman laughed dryly. The gem wasn't being used for virtuous things, despite its name. How could it be; the Wantabe Clan was using it.
"Yelan, would you stop pacing! You're making me nervous!" exclaimed a boy of 22 with pale skin and blue hair and eyes. He was dressed in an odd-looking navy blue robe, and he held a large staff in his hands.
Yelan sighed. "Gomen nasai, Eriol-sama, but I've never been so nervous before!"
Eriol nodded in understanding. "I know, Yelan, but we have to keep their heads. There's good news, however. I just finished translating this one part of the scroll. Apparently, they can't activate its true power, no matter how hard they should try. Only someone with the magic of the stars can do so."
Yelan collapsed informally on a nearby chair. "So they can't use it's true power, but they can still use plenty enough power to destroy our clan. And where are we going to find someone with the magic of the stars? I didn't know there was such a thing."
Eriol nodded grimly. "There is. I just wonder if she's alive."
Yelan was curious to what he meant, but didn't ask due to the pain evident in his expression.
"Well, let's find out." She said.
Kenji growled as he entered his room. He had never been so furious in his life. It wasn't as if he'd expected getting Sakura back would be easy. He'd actually expected the exact opposite. But eventually, the charm that had won her over the first time was bound to do so again. But Li...
'He knows every damn trick in my book. He'll tell her everything he knows, and getting her back will be near impossible. Son of a bitch! I need those Cards! They'll make us unstoppable. And having the Card Mistress as the mistress of the clan...the power!'
In his anger, he punched the wall, and his knuckles started to bleed. Kenji let out a long stream of curses for quite some time, and then he suddenly stopped. An evil smirk appeared on his face.
"Why am I worried? In two days' time, the Li's and their clan will be no more! And then Sakura and her Cards will be mine."
Sakura awoke with a start, gasping. Instantly, Syaoran was awake.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong is that you're in my bed! What the hell is up with that?" she was still breathing heavily.
"You were crying last night, Kinomoto. I meant to leave after you went back to sleep, but I guess I was tired. What's really wrong?"
Sakura's face scrunched up in concentration, trying to remember her dream. It all came back to her in a wave.
She turned to Syaoran. "Sometimes I have prophetic dreams, and they always seem to come true. I know the dream I just had was prophetic, but it was more than that. It was almost as if I had astral projected out from my body and into Wantabe's room."
Syaoran scowled. "What were you doing in his room?"
Sakura looked at him quizzically. "I was there because that's were he was. But that's not the point! Syaoran, he wants to destroy your clan and everybody in it...tomorrow! And I saw some sort of pink stone with a star on it...I don't know what that was. Anyways, we have to warn them or something!"
Syaoran nodded and leapt from the bed. Sakura blushed as she noticed his bare chest. She was thankful that he was heading out the door and couldn't see. As soon as the door closed, she was horrified.
'I just blushed because I looked at Li's chest?'
Kura: So, is Sakura starting to break her own vow, or is she sick, like me? Aaaaaachoooooooooooooo!
Reader(s): Salut!
Kura: Merci. Yeah, I got done with this chapter pretty fast, but don't expect the next one to come anywhere near this soon. I was only diligently writing for 2 reasons: Adriana and I'm procrastinating. I have a report due Monday and a really really really really really really hard test on the same day(i don't wanna study). Well I hope you liked this chapter! Tell me if you think it's too short, because I can try to write longer chapters. That would mean that it would take longer to update, but if that doesn't matter to you...
Kura-chan
