'Morning,' Sakura said as Touya and Kaho came in.
'You're early,' Touya said blankly.
'Mhmm,' Sakura said putting the French toast on a plate. 'Wow,' Kero said as he and Suppi came. 'Stayed the night did you?' Sakura asked Suppi. He blushed a hot red.
'And I'm betting that either Tsuki went over to Eriol's or Nakuru stayed here,' Sakura said smiling.
'First one,' Suppi said sitting down tiredly.
'How are you feeling?' Sakura asked.
'Aren't we supposed to ask you that?' Kero asked.
'I'm perfectly fine,' Sakura insisted.
'Are you going to go to school?' Touya asked.
'Yes,' Sakura said sitting down with them, 'why wouldn't I?'
'I just thought you might like to stay in for today,' Touya said.
'You wouldn't be trying to keep me away from Yue would you?' Sakura asked silkily.
'He's dangerous,' Touya protested.
'I can look after myself,' Sakura pointedly out calmly.
'You weren't doing that on Saturday,' Touya said.
'Yue would never hurt me,' Sakura said pleasantly.
'How would you know?' Kero demanded.
'How do you know he'll hurt me? From what you said he rescued me. If you can't trust my decision then that's your problem,' Sakura shrugged.
She finished off her meal and stood up. 'Now I need to go to school,' she said grabbing her bag. The others stared after her in shock. 'She's grown up,' Kaho said proudly.
'It's not such a good thing if she's gonna get killed,' Kero growled.
'Whether or not she gets hurt, it's her decision now. She's been fighting rival magicians for over a year now and winning each time. Why should this time be any different? It's her faith that's kept her going. If we start doubting her now she may get killed,' Kaho said quietly.
Kero and Touya nodded reluctantly. 'Thank god Nakuru and I never had to go through this with Eriol,' Suppi said with relief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura waited at the sakura tree patiently. She smiled as the breeze caressed her cheeks. It was a good day, she decided. A feeling made her turn around. She saw Yue walking with his head down. She smiled.
'Yue!!' she called running to catch up with him. He looked up with surprised grey eyes. 'Sakura,' he said stunned that he hadn't noticed her aura.
Sakura smiled as she came face to face with him. Yue's eyes went cool. Sakura's smile faltered under his cold stare. 'Yes?' he asked coldly. Sakura looked down uncertainly.
'I...um...just...just wanted to say...um,' Yue waited for her to finish.
'Sakura,' an angry voice said. Sakura turned around and saw Syaoron staring at Yue with anger. Tomoyo was looking at Sakura concernedly. 'What?' she asked.
'Get away from him. You know what Kero and Touya said,' Syaoron snapped. Yue laughed coldly. 'So Kero thinks I'm a bad influence on his mistress. Perhaps he is right,' Yue said smiling faintly. When Sakura turned back he was already walking away.
'You should keep away from him,' Syaoron said walking up to Sakura with Tomoyo. He wasn't prepared for the way Sakura turned to him with anger and frustration.
'Why can't any of you understand? He wouldn't hurt me!! Why does he have to be evil just because we don't know him? Kero might know him but he hasn't seen Yue for centuries. What makes Kero think he knows Yue? Why can't anyone trust me to know what I'm doing?' she snapped angrily.
She whirled around and stalked off after Yue in the direction of the school leaving Syaoron and Tomoyo staring after her with hurt and shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She wasn't proud of the way she had snapped but then again, this whole situation with Yue was just so ridiculous. No one had given her any good reason to treat him as an enemy yet they expected her to stay away from him as if he was the embodiment of evil.
'We have got quite a temper, haven't we?' a coolly amused voice said. Sakura looked up to see Akuma sitting on the tree above her. She smiled at Sakura's surprise and jumped down lightly.
'Friends no more?' she asked walking over to stand in front of Sakura. 'What do you want?' Sakura snapped not backing down.
'I just wanted to see my rival,' she said smiling.
'Rival for what?' Sakura asked feeling confused.
'Rival for the Cards and Yue of course, what else,' she said smiling whimsically. Sakura blinked.
'Yue? Why?' she asked.
'You don't know,' Akuma said looking stunned. Then she began to laugh, 'this is just precious. You seriously don't know?'
Sakura frowned. 'Of course I don't. Do you think I would be asking if I knew,' she snapped. The woman laughed again and stepped back. 'Well if you don't know, all the more advantages to me,' she said. Before Sakura could say anything she disappeared.
Sakura frowned and began walking. ~What is up with that woman and Yue~ she thought. They were just so mysterious. She entered the school and walked to her classroom quickly.
'Are you all right?' Kaho asked as Sakura came in. Sakura nodded absently and sat down in her class. Kaho walked over to her.
'What's wrong Sakura?' Kaho asked sitting down in the seat next to Sakura. She looked up with a frown. 'That woman, Akuma, met me on the way to school,' she said flatly. Kaho's eyes opened wide.
'What? Why?' she asked. Sakura shrugged.
'She said she wanted to see her rival,' Sakura said.
'Rival? For what?' Kaho asked intensely.
'She told me rival for the Cards and...' Sakura hesitated.
'And?' Kaho prompted.
'And for Yue,' Sakura finished.
'Yue?' Kaho said.
'Yes,' a voice answered from the doorway.
'Hoooeeee,' Sakura yelped as she saw Yue. He stared at her as if she was mad. 'I came to thank Sakura for inviting me on Saturday. It was very interesting,' Yue said.
'Your welcome,' Sakura said dazed. Then she snapped out of it when Yue turned to go. 'Wait a minute,' she said running over to Yue. As he turned she tripped on the leg of a chair. She went flying.
Yue dashed forward and caught her. He straightened her up. Sakura blushed. 'I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing me just now and on Saturday,' Sakura said looking down.
Yue used his two fingers to make her look up. 'I'll forget the debt if you tell me why you were talking about me just now,' he said looking into her eyes. Sakura squirmed.
'All right, fine,' she muttered when Yue wouldn't let go.
'I met Akuma on the way to school. She told me I was her rival for the Cards and you,' Sakura muttered. Yue leaned against a desk and folded his arm. 'So Akuma came to see you,' he repeated. Sakura nodded.
'Do you know why she would consider me her rival? I mean the Cards I can understand but you...' Sakura trailed off. Yue smiled.
'Yes I do know what she means,' he said. Sakura looked at him expectantly. 'Well what does she mean?' Sakura said when he didn't answer. 'You'll find out,' Yue said calmly. Sakura glared at him.
Yue laughed and leaned over to cup her cheek. 'Don't worry little one. It doesn't concern you...yet,' he said stroking her cheek. Sakura bit her lips and nodded. She was willing to trust Yue for now.
He leaned back and walked out of the class. 'That was very interesting,' Kaho said coming over to Sakura. She frowned and nodded. She didn't like it one bit. But she would trust Yue.
There was no other chance to talk as other students came in. Sakura ignored the concerned and hurt looks Tomoyo and Syaoron threw her.
'Class we have two new students. Eriol Hiiragazawa and Li Meiling. They are both from England,' Kaho introduced.
Eriol and Meiling stepped forward. 'My name is Eriol Hiiragazawa. I used to go to primary school with Sakura, Tomoyo and Syaoron.'
'My name is Li Meiling. Li Syaoron is my cousin. And I used to go to school with them too,' she said smiling.
'Eriol sit behind Sakura and Meiling beside him,' Kaho directed.
Eriol and Meiling sat down and pulled out their work. Eriol frowned. There was something going on between Sakura and Tomoyo and Syaoron. He would find out later, he promised himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
//Lunch//
'What's going on?' Eriol asked. Tomoyo looked up with surprise. 'What do you mean?' she asked.
'I mean what's going on with Sakura,' Eriol said dryly.
'Oh, that,' Tomoyo looked down.
'Yes that,' Eriol said sternly.
'This morning we sort of made her angry,' Tomoyo said.
'How,' Eriol asked.
'She was talking to Yue and we stopped her,' Tomoyo said.
'Well, this is interesting,' Eriol said.
'What's interesting?' Syaoron asked.
'Don't worry your little brain about it my cute little descendant,' Eriol said with a grin.
Syaoron growled and glared at Eriol. Eriol laughed and stood up. 'Where're you going?' Meiling asked.
'To see Sakura,' he said.
'I'll come with you,' Meiling said scrambling to stand up. Eriol smiled and helped her up. 'Why not,' he said lightly. Holding hands they walked up to the classroom where Sakura was doing her assignment.
'Sakura,' Eriol said when they sat down beside her.
'Yes,' she said not looking up.
'You know that they are only worried about you,' Eriol began.
'Mmhmm,' Sakura muttered.
'So please try to understand. They find it hard to let your childhood go,' Eriol said.
'Of course they do,' Sakura murmured.
'So please try to respect their wishes. And are you listening?' Eriol asked. 'Of course I am,' Sakura said.
'Then repeat what I just said,' Eriol demanded. Now Sakura looked up. 'Sakura, you know they are only worried about you. So please try to understand. They find it hard to let your childhood go. So please try to respect their wishes. And are you listening. Then repeat what I just said,' Sakura rattled off rapidly looking back down.
Meiling laughed. 'She's got you now Eriol,' she teased. Eriol rolled his eyes. 'Yes she does,' he muttered.
'So could you try to be more...' Eriol searched for the word.
'Tactful?' Sakura suggested. Eriol nodded relieved that Sakura understood. 'Sure as long as they understand that I can handle things on my own,' Sakura said candidly. Eriol groaned with frustration.
'Sakura stop being so difficult,' an amused voice said. Sakura turned around and stared at Yue. 'Yue, this doesn't involve you,' she said pleasantly. Yue smiled faintly. 'Of course it does since Kero believes that I will corrupt your innocent soul,' he said coolly amused.
Sakura rolled her eyes. 'I have the greatest respects for Kero, however I am the mistress,' she said amiably. Yue stared at her then shook his head. 'Now I know why Akuma likes you,' he said.
'Thank you...I think,' Sakura said looking unsure.
'Try to be more understanding,' he said. Sakura snorted.
'Now even my supposed enemy is advising me to listen to my guardians,' Sakura said huffily. 'And he'd be right,' Kaho said. Yue nodded his greetings. Sakura scowled and nodded. 'All right, I'll be the perfect angel,' she said smiling angelically to prove her point.
Yue ruffled her hair and walked away. 'That was very interesting,' Eriol said standing up. 'I love being around Sakura, it's so fun,' Meiling said sitting down in her place as the bell rang. Sakura poked her tongue out.
Tomoyo and Syaoron looked very confused when they saw how happy Sakura looked. 'I'm sorry for being so touchy this morning,' Sakura said. Tomoyo smiled. 'I'm sorry for being so protective,' Tomoyo said.
Sakura hid her hurt. Tomoyo hadn't said anything about Yue. But that was the best she was going to get. She smiled back and didn't let the thought worry her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Where's Sakura?' Syaoron asked Tomoyo.
'She stayed behind to help Kaho,' Tomoyo answered as they rounded a corner.
'Goody, some fun,' a voice said behind them. Syaoron and Tomoy turned and saw Akuma standing in front of them with a wide smile. Syaoron grasped his sword. 'Not this time Little Wolf,' she said snapping her fingers. The sword disappeared and reappeared in her hands. She dropped it carelessly on the ground.
'Since the little tenshi is off limits to me, I guess I'll have to play with you,' she remarked walking closer. She stopped a couple of feet away and held up a hand.
A red ball formed in her hands. She held her hand up higher. The ball glowed and flew up high. It stopped when it was a couple of meters high. It paused then dropped down to Syaoron and Tomoyo. It hit Syaoron in the chest and sent him flying. Akuma released another ball of energy toward Tomoyo.
'Shield Card. Release and dispel!!' The ball was deflected by an invisible shield.
Tomoyo and Syaoron looked up and saw Sakura standing with her wand. 'No one hurts my friends,' she told Akuma. The dark haired woman smiled and threw a ball of energy at Sakura. She back flipped and landed on her feet. 'Shot Card release and dispel,' she called.
The Card took on its physical form and began to attack Akuma. Akuma waved a hand and deflected two of its shots. One went to the Shot and brought it down. The second one went to Sakura.
Before it could hit however she was pushed out of the way. She looked up from the ground and saw Yue leaning against a wall. He was holding up a hand. He put it down and pushed off the wall. He stretched his wings halfway and folded them again.
'Akuma I thought you promised not to harm Sakura. And yet here you are attacking her and what was it I heard about you talking to her this morning?' Yue asked.
Akuma laughed mockingly. 'I never said I would stay away from her, I only said I wouldn't harm her. As for now, she did attack me first.' Then she tiled her head. 'Why so protective?' she asked.
'She is my mistress,' Yue said walking over to Sakura.
'Don't you mean she could have been your mistress? After all you did abandon Clow,' Akuma mocked watching Yue help Sakura stand up.
'Nonetheless,' Yue said letting go of Sakura.
'You can't even admit to yourself can you?' Akuma asked with malicious pleasure. Yue stare back impassively. She laughed once more and stepped back. 'Well that was a lot more interesting and informative than I thought it would be,' she said disappearing. Yue turned his back on her and turned to Sakura.
'Are you all right?' he asked gently. She rotated her shoulders and nodded. 'Perfect,' she said smiling to reassure him.
'Are you positive?' Tomoyo asked.
'I should be asking you that. Are you two okay?' she asked Syaoron and Tomoyo. They both nodded. Then they turned to Yue. 'I guess we were wrong about you,' Syaoron began. He was stopped by Yue's laugh.
'You weren't wrong about me at all. Those stories you've heard about me from Kero are very much the truth. I'm just not out to corrupt or kill Sakura, quite the opposite in fact.'
Sakura smiled at the nonplussed expression on her friends' faces. 'I told you he wouldn't hurt me,' she said with a smirk. Yue stroked her cheek and stepped back. He changed back into Akari Yue. 'Come home with us,' Sakura suggested with a smile.
'I don't think your family is ready to face me yet,' Yue said shaking his head. Sakura made a moue of disappointment. Then she smiled again. 'Oh well, I'll see you tomorrow,' she said brightly. Yue nodded and left.
'Let's not tell anyone about this okay,' Sakura begged Tomoyo and Syaoron. They looked at each other then nodded reluctantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'What happened to you?' Touya asked looking at her clothes.
'I fell over,' Sakura said going up stairs.
'Normally I would believe her but I get the feeling that isn't quite the truth,' he said to Kero.
'I guess she'll tell us when she's ready,' Kero said shrugging.
'You're early,' Touya said blankly.
'Mhmm,' Sakura said putting the French toast on a plate. 'Wow,' Kero said as he and Suppi came. 'Stayed the night did you?' Sakura asked Suppi. He blushed a hot red.
'And I'm betting that either Tsuki went over to Eriol's or Nakuru stayed here,' Sakura said smiling.
'First one,' Suppi said sitting down tiredly.
'How are you feeling?' Sakura asked.
'Aren't we supposed to ask you that?' Kero asked.
'I'm perfectly fine,' Sakura insisted.
'Are you going to go to school?' Touya asked.
'Yes,' Sakura said sitting down with them, 'why wouldn't I?'
'I just thought you might like to stay in for today,' Touya said.
'You wouldn't be trying to keep me away from Yue would you?' Sakura asked silkily.
'He's dangerous,' Touya protested.
'I can look after myself,' Sakura pointedly out calmly.
'You weren't doing that on Saturday,' Touya said.
'Yue would never hurt me,' Sakura said pleasantly.
'How would you know?' Kero demanded.
'How do you know he'll hurt me? From what you said he rescued me. If you can't trust my decision then that's your problem,' Sakura shrugged.
She finished off her meal and stood up. 'Now I need to go to school,' she said grabbing her bag. The others stared after her in shock. 'She's grown up,' Kaho said proudly.
'It's not such a good thing if she's gonna get killed,' Kero growled.
'Whether or not she gets hurt, it's her decision now. She's been fighting rival magicians for over a year now and winning each time. Why should this time be any different? It's her faith that's kept her going. If we start doubting her now she may get killed,' Kaho said quietly.
Kero and Touya nodded reluctantly. 'Thank god Nakuru and I never had to go through this with Eriol,' Suppi said with relief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sakura waited at the sakura tree patiently. She smiled as the breeze caressed her cheeks. It was a good day, she decided. A feeling made her turn around. She saw Yue walking with his head down. She smiled.
'Yue!!' she called running to catch up with him. He looked up with surprised grey eyes. 'Sakura,' he said stunned that he hadn't noticed her aura.
Sakura smiled as she came face to face with him. Yue's eyes went cool. Sakura's smile faltered under his cold stare. 'Yes?' he asked coldly. Sakura looked down uncertainly.
'I...um...just...just wanted to say...um,' Yue waited for her to finish.
'Sakura,' an angry voice said. Sakura turned around and saw Syaoron staring at Yue with anger. Tomoyo was looking at Sakura concernedly. 'What?' she asked.
'Get away from him. You know what Kero and Touya said,' Syaoron snapped. Yue laughed coldly. 'So Kero thinks I'm a bad influence on his mistress. Perhaps he is right,' Yue said smiling faintly. When Sakura turned back he was already walking away.
'You should keep away from him,' Syaoron said walking up to Sakura with Tomoyo. He wasn't prepared for the way Sakura turned to him with anger and frustration.
'Why can't any of you understand? He wouldn't hurt me!! Why does he have to be evil just because we don't know him? Kero might know him but he hasn't seen Yue for centuries. What makes Kero think he knows Yue? Why can't anyone trust me to know what I'm doing?' she snapped angrily.
She whirled around and stalked off after Yue in the direction of the school leaving Syaoron and Tomoyo staring after her with hurt and shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She wasn't proud of the way she had snapped but then again, this whole situation with Yue was just so ridiculous. No one had given her any good reason to treat him as an enemy yet they expected her to stay away from him as if he was the embodiment of evil.
'We have got quite a temper, haven't we?' a coolly amused voice said. Sakura looked up to see Akuma sitting on the tree above her. She smiled at Sakura's surprise and jumped down lightly.
'Friends no more?' she asked walking over to stand in front of Sakura. 'What do you want?' Sakura snapped not backing down.
'I just wanted to see my rival,' she said smiling.
'Rival for what?' Sakura asked feeling confused.
'Rival for the Cards and Yue of course, what else,' she said smiling whimsically. Sakura blinked.
'Yue? Why?' she asked.
'You don't know,' Akuma said looking stunned. Then she began to laugh, 'this is just precious. You seriously don't know?'
Sakura frowned. 'Of course I don't. Do you think I would be asking if I knew,' she snapped. The woman laughed again and stepped back. 'Well if you don't know, all the more advantages to me,' she said. Before Sakura could say anything she disappeared.
Sakura frowned and began walking. ~What is up with that woman and Yue~ she thought. They were just so mysterious. She entered the school and walked to her classroom quickly.
'Are you all right?' Kaho asked as Sakura came in. Sakura nodded absently and sat down in her class. Kaho walked over to her.
'What's wrong Sakura?' Kaho asked sitting down in the seat next to Sakura. She looked up with a frown. 'That woman, Akuma, met me on the way to school,' she said flatly. Kaho's eyes opened wide.
'What? Why?' she asked. Sakura shrugged.
'She said she wanted to see her rival,' Sakura said.
'Rival? For what?' Kaho asked intensely.
'She told me rival for the Cards and...' Sakura hesitated.
'And?' Kaho prompted.
'And for Yue,' Sakura finished.
'Yue?' Kaho said.
'Yes,' a voice answered from the doorway.
'Hoooeeee,' Sakura yelped as she saw Yue. He stared at her as if she was mad. 'I came to thank Sakura for inviting me on Saturday. It was very interesting,' Yue said.
'Your welcome,' Sakura said dazed. Then she snapped out of it when Yue turned to go. 'Wait a minute,' she said running over to Yue. As he turned she tripped on the leg of a chair. She went flying.
Yue dashed forward and caught her. He straightened her up. Sakura blushed. 'I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing me just now and on Saturday,' Sakura said looking down.
Yue used his two fingers to make her look up. 'I'll forget the debt if you tell me why you were talking about me just now,' he said looking into her eyes. Sakura squirmed.
'All right, fine,' she muttered when Yue wouldn't let go.
'I met Akuma on the way to school. She told me I was her rival for the Cards and you,' Sakura muttered. Yue leaned against a desk and folded his arm. 'So Akuma came to see you,' he repeated. Sakura nodded.
'Do you know why she would consider me her rival? I mean the Cards I can understand but you...' Sakura trailed off. Yue smiled.
'Yes I do know what she means,' he said. Sakura looked at him expectantly. 'Well what does she mean?' Sakura said when he didn't answer. 'You'll find out,' Yue said calmly. Sakura glared at him.
Yue laughed and leaned over to cup her cheek. 'Don't worry little one. It doesn't concern you...yet,' he said stroking her cheek. Sakura bit her lips and nodded. She was willing to trust Yue for now.
He leaned back and walked out of the class. 'That was very interesting,' Kaho said coming over to Sakura. She frowned and nodded. She didn't like it one bit. But she would trust Yue.
There was no other chance to talk as other students came in. Sakura ignored the concerned and hurt looks Tomoyo and Syaoron threw her.
'Class we have two new students. Eriol Hiiragazawa and Li Meiling. They are both from England,' Kaho introduced.
Eriol and Meiling stepped forward. 'My name is Eriol Hiiragazawa. I used to go to primary school with Sakura, Tomoyo and Syaoron.'
'My name is Li Meiling. Li Syaoron is my cousin. And I used to go to school with them too,' she said smiling.
'Eriol sit behind Sakura and Meiling beside him,' Kaho directed.
Eriol and Meiling sat down and pulled out their work. Eriol frowned. There was something going on between Sakura and Tomoyo and Syaoron. He would find out later, he promised himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
//Lunch//
'What's going on?' Eriol asked. Tomoyo looked up with surprise. 'What do you mean?' she asked.
'I mean what's going on with Sakura,' Eriol said dryly.
'Oh, that,' Tomoyo looked down.
'Yes that,' Eriol said sternly.
'This morning we sort of made her angry,' Tomoyo said.
'How,' Eriol asked.
'She was talking to Yue and we stopped her,' Tomoyo said.
'Well, this is interesting,' Eriol said.
'What's interesting?' Syaoron asked.
'Don't worry your little brain about it my cute little descendant,' Eriol said with a grin.
Syaoron growled and glared at Eriol. Eriol laughed and stood up. 'Where're you going?' Meiling asked.
'To see Sakura,' he said.
'I'll come with you,' Meiling said scrambling to stand up. Eriol smiled and helped her up. 'Why not,' he said lightly. Holding hands they walked up to the classroom where Sakura was doing her assignment.
'Sakura,' Eriol said when they sat down beside her.
'Yes,' she said not looking up.
'You know that they are only worried about you,' Eriol began.
'Mmhmm,' Sakura muttered.
'So please try to understand. They find it hard to let your childhood go,' Eriol said.
'Of course they do,' Sakura murmured.
'So please try to respect their wishes. And are you listening?' Eriol asked. 'Of course I am,' Sakura said.
'Then repeat what I just said,' Eriol demanded. Now Sakura looked up. 'Sakura, you know they are only worried about you. So please try to understand. They find it hard to let your childhood go. So please try to respect their wishes. And are you listening. Then repeat what I just said,' Sakura rattled off rapidly looking back down.
Meiling laughed. 'She's got you now Eriol,' she teased. Eriol rolled his eyes. 'Yes she does,' he muttered.
'So could you try to be more...' Eriol searched for the word.
'Tactful?' Sakura suggested. Eriol nodded relieved that Sakura understood. 'Sure as long as they understand that I can handle things on my own,' Sakura said candidly. Eriol groaned with frustration.
'Sakura stop being so difficult,' an amused voice said. Sakura turned around and stared at Yue. 'Yue, this doesn't involve you,' she said pleasantly. Yue smiled faintly. 'Of course it does since Kero believes that I will corrupt your innocent soul,' he said coolly amused.
Sakura rolled her eyes. 'I have the greatest respects for Kero, however I am the mistress,' she said amiably. Yue stared at her then shook his head. 'Now I know why Akuma likes you,' he said.
'Thank you...I think,' Sakura said looking unsure.
'Try to be more understanding,' he said. Sakura snorted.
'Now even my supposed enemy is advising me to listen to my guardians,' Sakura said huffily. 'And he'd be right,' Kaho said. Yue nodded his greetings. Sakura scowled and nodded. 'All right, I'll be the perfect angel,' she said smiling angelically to prove her point.
Yue ruffled her hair and walked away. 'That was very interesting,' Eriol said standing up. 'I love being around Sakura, it's so fun,' Meiling said sitting down in her place as the bell rang. Sakura poked her tongue out.
Tomoyo and Syaoron looked very confused when they saw how happy Sakura looked. 'I'm sorry for being so touchy this morning,' Sakura said. Tomoyo smiled. 'I'm sorry for being so protective,' Tomoyo said.
Sakura hid her hurt. Tomoyo hadn't said anything about Yue. But that was the best she was going to get. She smiled back and didn't let the thought worry her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Where's Sakura?' Syaoron asked Tomoyo.
'She stayed behind to help Kaho,' Tomoyo answered as they rounded a corner.
'Goody, some fun,' a voice said behind them. Syaoron and Tomoy turned and saw Akuma standing in front of them with a wide smile. Syaoron grasped his sword. 'Not this time Little Wolf,' she said snapping her fingers. The sword disappeared and reappeared in her hands. She dropped it carelessly on the ground.
'Since the little tenshi is off limits to me, I guess I'll have to play with you,' she remarked walking closer. She stopped a couple of feet away and held up a hand.
A red ball formed in her hands. She held her hand up higher. The ball glowed and flew up high. It stopped when it was a couple of meters high. It paused then dropped down to Syaoron and Tomoyo. It hit Syaoron in the chest and sent him flying. Akuma released another ball of energy toward Tomoyo.
'Shield Card. Release and dispel!!' The ball was deflected by an invisible shield.
Tomoyo and Syaoron looked up and saw Sakura standing with her wand. 'No one hurts my friends,' she told Akuma. The dark haired woman smiled and threw a ball of energy at Sakura. She back flipped and landed on her feet. 'Shot Card release and dispel,' she called.
The Card took on its physical form and began to attack Akuma. Akuma waved a hand and deflected two of its shots. One went to the Shot and brought it down. The second one went to Sakura.
Before it could hit however she was pushed out of the way. She looked up from the ground and saw Yue leaning against a wall. He was holding up a hand. He put it down and pushed off the wall. He stretched his wings halfway and folded them again.
'Akuma I thought you promised not to harm Sakura. And yet here you are attacking her and what was it I heard about you talking to her this morning?' Yue asked.
Akuma laughed mockingly. 'I never said I would stay away from her, I only said I wouldn't harm her. As for now, she did attack me first.' Then she tiled her head. 'Why so protective?' she asked.
'She is my mistress,' Yue said walking over to Sakura.
'Don't you mean she could have been your mistress? After all you did abandon Clow,' Akuma mocked watching Yue help Sakura stand up.
'Nonetheless,' Yue said letting go of Sakura.
'You can't even admit to yourself can you?' Akuma asked with malicious pleasure. Yue stare back impassively. She laughed once more and stepped back. 'Well that was a lot more interesting and informative than I thought it would be,' she said disappearing. Yue turned his back on her and turned to Sakura.
'Are you all right?' he asked gently. She rotated her shoulders and nodded. 'Perfect,' she said smiling to reassure him.
'Are you positive?' Tomoyo asked.
'I should be asking you that. Are you two okay?' she asked Syaoron and Tomoyo. They both nodded. Then they turned to Yue. 'I guess we were wrong about you,' Syaoron began. He was stopped by Yue's laugh.
'You weren't wrong about me at all. Those stories you've heard about me from Kero are very much the truth. I'm just not out to corrupt or kill Sakura, quite the opposite in fact.'
Sakura smiled at the nonplussed expression on her friends' faces. 'I told you he wouldn't hurt me,' she said with a smirk. Yue stroked her cheek and stepped back. He changed back into Akari Yue. 'Come home with us,' Sakura suggested with a smile.
'I don't think your family is ready to face me yet,' Yue said shaking his head. Sakura made a moue of disappointment. Then she smiled again. 'Oh well, I'll see you tomorrow,' she said brightly. Yue nodded and left.
'Let's not tell anyone about this okay,' Sakura begged Tomoyo and Syaoron. They looked at each other then nodded reluctantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'What happened to you?' Touya asked looking at her clothes.
'I fell over,' Sakura said going up stairs.
'Normally I would believe her but I get the feeling that isn't quite the truth,' he said to Kero.
'I guess she'll tell us when she's ready,' Kero said shrugging.