Author's note: Thank you to my reviewers. It lifts my spirits and helps me write faster. Plus all the constructive criticism has been a huge help.
The house was quiet as Sakura tip toed downstairs. There was a thick fog outside the windows, almost begging to be let in. A chill went up Sakura's foot as she stepped on the tiled floor. It was early in the morning, a time when only the people who wanted to race ahead of traffic were up.
'I should have put on my socks', Sakura thoughts as she made her way to the kitchen. It had become customary for the past week for Sakura to be up around the time when her father and Syaoran woke from their slumber. She had even tried to make breakfast for them, yet her old habits were hard to break. Fujitaka believe that Sakura's morning chances were mainly due to Syaoran, but he never spoke a word. It was somewhat enjoyable to watch Sakura try and flatter the obviously confused Syaoran, who seem to still be recovering from whatever ordeal that put him here.
Fujitaka would leave the house about 20 minutes before Sakura and Syaoran would go to school. It really was not necessary for him to go to his work so early, yet he felt that in a way, it was. Sakura seemed to confused over her own feelings and, with a little bit of luck, she would figure them out.
Sakura poked her head in the living room which Syaoran had turned into a temporary bedroom. The couch had been turned into a bed covered with sheets along with a matching pillow, the coffee table into a bedside table with various books and a toothbrush scattered on it. He had refused to go into Touya's room, for some odd reason, and thus would end up cleaning the living room twice a day; once in the morning when he woke up and once in the evening before he went to bed. Fujitaka tried to reason with Syaoran, telling him that he was their guest, but he would merely shake his head and responded with a polite let down ("You have already done so much, Kinomoto-san. I don't want to be more of a bother then I already am.)
Syaoran would normally mutter this phrase, leaving Fujitaka to scratch his head in wonder. Sakura smiled at this thought; if anything, she could always count on Syaoran to be polite to grown ups in his own way. In the time she was alone with him in the mornings, Syaoran would become very quiet and jumpy. He always kept his head low and when Sakura actually saw his face, normally before they went out the door, it was usually flushed a bright pink. She had refused to let herself to jump to any conclusions, yet this made her mood considerably happier and Sakura would go to school with a grin plastered on her face.
School had become somewhat of a soap opera over the past week. Syaoran was still the main subject of the flying notes (Sakura was mentioned quiet a few times also, but they managed to escape her attention.) Eriol had mysteriously disappeared since the first day Syaoran came to class. There was no explanation for his absence and this cause a slight worry with Sakura and her friends. If Syaoran had any ideas about Eriol's behavior, he kept it to himself. All of these coincidences had not gone unnoticed by the class, and rumors had been circulating all over. ("Li was talking with Eriol, remember? Maybe Eriol ran away from him!", "Have you heard that Li is staying at Sakura-chan's house?", "I bet Li-san sent Eriol on a mission for Sakura-chan, and now Eriol might be lost in the wilderness.")
It was Tomoyo who got the most enjoyment out of the week. She kept her camera with her at all times and caught many significant looks between Syaoran and Sakura. Tomoyo had cut a small hole for the lens of the camera in the side of her book bag and made a few more adjustments, so in the end, the camera was well hidden, and her subjects did not have the slightest idea of the machine's whereabouts. When Tomoyo went home and watched the films, she would squeal with delight. By the end of the week, it was Tomoyo who knew the most about Syaoran and Sakura's feelings, and the subject of the 'One' more then anyone else.
Sakura walked into the class, followed by Syaoran. She quickly went over to Tomoyo, who was adjusting her book bag to a certain position.
"What are you doing that for, Tomoyo-chan?" she asked, pointing her finger to the bag.
Tomoyo stopped what she was doing and looked up. "No reason really. When Eriol comes back, you'll find out."
"Does that mean you know where he is?"
Tomoyo shook her head. "I haven't the slightest idea. It's really weird, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is." she sighed. Eriol had never been gone this long with an explanation. " I hope he is ok,"
"Hey, Sakura-chan." A voice called. Sakura turned around and came face to face with Hiyoshi. She glanced over to Syaoran, who let out a big yawn, unconcerned with the tall boy.
"Today is the day that you were going to take me to the try-outs." Hiyoshi said.Sakura nodded. "What time should I meet you after school?"
Sakura thought. "I don't really know. I have to go home and drop my stuff off, but then I'm free."
"Should I walk home with you then?"
"Yes. That would work out. Hey Syaoran," Syaoran looked up at the sound of his name. "Are you coming with us to the play try-outs, or are you going to stay at home?"
Syaoran's brow twitched at the word 'us', but he resumed his poker mask quickly. "Yes, I said I would, so I am." he looked at Hiyoshi when he said this.
Hiyoshi glared at him and swelled his chest up. "It might bore you. I'm sure Sakura-chan wouldn't want that."
Syaoran shrugged, ignoring the venom in Hiyoshi's words. "I have my own reasons for going. I haven't been to a play in a while. Plus you never know what's going to happen," he walked past Hiyoshi to his seat in the back, "I might just get the lead."
Sakura rolled her eyes. This had been going on all week between the two of them. It never reached as far as insults; they were both too subborn to stoop toso low.Syaoran seemed not to really care about who Hiyoshi was, while Hiyoshi seemed determined to hate Syaoran for as long as possible. Syaoran acted with Hiyoshi the same way he did with adults; with a calm and very bored sounding voice.
The teacher came in a few seconds later. Veins popped out in his bald, shinny head as he shouted for the class to become silent. His dead monotone voice took over and the class sank into their seats.
Sakura looked behind her. Syaoran quickly averted his brown eyes and stared at the chalkboard. He did not turn his head around until Sakura faced forward again.
She shivered. The room's windows were cracked open slightly, allowing a cold air to come in and blow its icy breath down the backs of the students. She reached down to her jacket which was on the floor, then stopped, remembering something.
'Where is he?' Sakura thought. 'Come on, where are you?'
Sakura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She searched around in her body for the green aura.
The aura had become quite active over the past week, much to a point where it could not be ignored. Sakura had wondered why this was, but could come up with no logical answer. 'Then again, is it logical to have a part of someone else inside of you?' she asked herself.
The aura now always stayed just outside of her thoughts, or roaming through her. It only took a thought to summon the aura to her own. It came instantly, and Sakura 'touched' it, probing it for what she wanted. The aura responded with a series of warm waves that washed over her. She stopped shivering as her body warmed up. 'Ahh,...thank you' she thought.
Sakura loved this about the aura that resided in her. Whenever she was cold, all she had to do was touch the aura and she would be warmed up within seconds. This was about the only thing it did do, otherwise it was generally useless. But this technique was wonderful at night time when Sakura was about to get under her bed sheets, which were normally chilly and therefore uncomfortable.
Night time was also one of the few times in the day Sakura could play with the strange aura. It never gave her any answers, which annoyed her to no end, but it always was playful and responded by giving her warmth and (very rarely) emotions. Sakura had no idea why she was these receiving emotions, but she tried her hardest to recognize them. So far the aura sent her emotions which she identified as happiness, guilt, and calmness.
Sakura was ripped out of her thoughts as the teacher slammed the desk with an old book, his dark eyes glaring at her. "huh? Wha-"
"Pay attention, Kinomoto!" the teacher snapped. He pushed his glasses to the top of his large nose in aggravation. "Now then, can someone tell me what battle was fought here?"
Sakura bowed her head, hiding her blush, as kids around her snickered. The teacher's eyes flashed around the room and drove the class into silence again.
After school
"Man, am I glad it's over." Sakura sighed as she picked up her textbooks.
"You shouldn't have drifted out like that this morning," Syaoran said, holding out Sakura's jacket for her, "What if they made you stay after?"
Sakura shook her head and turned her back to him as she slipped her arms into her jacket. "They wouldn't do that. Not even the teachers want to stay after the bell today. The weekend is tomorrow and some of them are helping with the school play." She turned around to face him, stopping.
Sakura looked into Syaoran's eyes, trying to decipher them. They sparkled full of intelligence and wit, yet deep within them lay pools of hidden emotion. His eyes flicked away from her's, and he mumbled a soft, "What are you doing?"
Syaoran's face seemed much redder all of the sudden, Sakura noticed. She brushed her hand under his hair and felt his forehead. Syaoran tensed up under her palm and he backed away from her.
"Are you o.k.? You seemed kind of warm." Sakura said. "And your face is flushed."
Syaoran's mouth opened and closed once, then his poker mask came on. "I'm f-fine." He quickly maneuvered around her and headed out the door. "I'll be right back," he squeaked, before turning on his heel out the door at a run.
Sakura looked past him. "What was that about?" she asked to the empty desks and walls.
"I may have an idea." Tomoyo said, appearing behind her. Sakura jumped at the sight of her friend.
"I thought I was alone..." she muttered under her breath and eyed Tomoyo, who took her camera out of its hiding place.
"Has that been there the whole time?" Sakura asked.
Tomoyo looked up, bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically. "Yup."
Sakura felt her mouth go dry. "Have you been tapping me?" Nod.
"All day?" Nod, nod.
"Even just now, when I was talking with Syaoran?" Nod, nod, nod.
Sakura felt a blush creeping up on her cheeks. "Tomoyo! You should have told me! How long have you been filming me?" she hissed.
The corners of Tomoyo's mouth lifted up into a grin, her whole face brightening. "All week." Sakura's eyes must have given away what she was thinking for Tomoyo put her hands up in defense. "Hey, don't blame it all on me! I'm doing this for Eriol and yourself as well as for me."
"What! What does Eriol have to do with any of this?" Sakura asked, her voice rising.
"A lot, actually. He's much more observant then we give him credit." Tomoyo replied. "He's the one who told me to bring my camera and film you this week."
"He's been gone for the past week! How did he know you should bring your camera?"
At this Tomoyo only grinned, which made Sakura more angrier. How could her friend be going behind her back all week? She looked Tomoyo straight in the eye, almost daring her to defy her stare.
"Tomoyo, what else are you hiding from me? What do you and Eriol know?"
Tomoyo did not back down and met Sakura's challenge straight on, grinning. "I think I know who your 'One' is."
Whatever Sakura was expecting, this was not it. Her eyes widened and she felt as though her breath had been knocked out of her. The emptiness of the room and the silence became noticeable as Sakura stumbled backwards into a chair to sit down, breaking her contact with Tomoyo's eyes.
Sakura could feel the aura swimming around inside of her, giving out its gentle warm waves. It was so familiar by now, yet it was such a mystery. No matter how hard she tried, Sakura could never break down the only barrier the aura had, the knowledge of who it belonged to. With that knowledge, Sakura did not know what would happen.
"What...how...who?" Sakura's voice whispered. Tomoyo knelt next to her and took her hand, covering it with her own.
"Sakura, by now you should know I would never do anything to hurt you," she said. Tomoyo's voice was calm and even, there was no trace of resentment toward Sakura's outbreaks, nor shame for what she had hidden. "But you must understand, I am not sure you who your 'One' might be. I don't want to hurt you."
"Why do you think that would happen?" Sakura asked, suddenly curious about Tomoyo's mood change. Tomoyo bowed her head.
"I know the way you feel about Syaoran," she said, keeping her head low. "Everyone knows. It is no secret anymore."
Sakura chest fell, her breath escaping her lungs. She bit her lip, refusing to say anything for fear of her words. She would sort out her own thoughts and feelings later, after she knew what Tomoyo knew.
Tomoyo continued, not looking up at Sakura's face. "You love him, Sakura. It's insane, since you're so young, but your emotions go deep. Whenever you look at him, there is a fire in your eyes. You love him with such an intensity I doubt if you will ever rid him from your mind,"
Sakura's feelings rose to the surface and before she could stop herself, she interrupted Tomoyo with a bit more emotion then she would have normally shown. "What are you saying, Tomoyo? That I'm a fool for liking Syaoran so much- "
"You're no fool." Tomoyo's sharp words cut through. She snapped her head up and looked in Sakura's eyes with a flash of anger. "Don't ever say that again!" Her eyes softened, and she took another breath. "You are too pure. Because you are so pure, you're emotions are also pure. The love you have for Syaoran is so deep, so real-"
"I don't understand."
"What if the one person you love today, is not who you are meant to be with?"
Bam! There it was. The question that had been lying in her subconscious, biding its time until Sakura would call for it, was slammed headfirst into the front of her thoughts. Only it was not Sakura who called for it; it was Tomoyo, dear sweet, carefree Tomoyo, who decided to bring forth the question Sakura had been too scared to ask herself.
Sakura felt as though a weigh had been dropped on top of her. Her friend's words bit at her, tearing her.
'She's right. I know she is. All this time, this whole week, I've been wondering,...no hoping, that it was true. Ever since I learned of the One, I've been hoping that it was Syaoran,' Sakura thought, 'What if it is not Syaoran? What will I do? Who could it be? Who is inside of me?'
"Tomoyo," Sakura called, her voice slightly shaky from the shock. "Tell me now. Who is it?"
The conversation that had started out with a friendly joking, had turned deadly serious. There was no amusement in either of their voices, both were battling with their own thoughts.
"Tell me now." Sakura said again.
Tomoyo did not cower. She held herself tall and, against every fiber in her body, shook her head. "No." she said.
Sakura felt her mouth go dry again. "Why?" she said simply, almost hoping that Tomoyo would break into a joke and tell her the truth. "I have a right to know."
Tomoyo nodded her head slowly. "You do. But it is not my right to tell you."
Sakura averted her eyes from Tomoyo. It was cruel and she knew it, but anger had gripped her for the first time this week. Tomoyo knew something about who her fated one is, and she would not tell her. How could she keep that information to herself? Even if it was just a suspicion, did Sakura not have the right to know? She did. The aura was something personal, something scared, something that belonged to her.
The aura inside of her belonged to her now. She was bonded with someone who was inside of her. He, whoever he was, was her's. How could Tomoyo not know that? How could Tomoyo keep a part of Sakura away from her?
Sakura looked at Tomoyo and instantly felt a pang of regret and guilt. Tomoyo was crying; not tears, for Tomoyo never cried tears, but her eyes had a glassy look to them. Her round face was a still as ever, but her eyes tore at Sakura. Why, she thought, why was Tomoyo keeping secrets from her?
'She doesn't want to see me hurt' Sakura suddenly realized 'Tomoyo loves me, and she doesn't want me to be hurt. That's why; that's why she is keeping it from me!' Another pang of guilt emerged from her stomach as she put the pieces together. 'It's not that she doesn't want to tell me, it's that she can't see me in pain.'
Sakura looked at Tomoyo's petite form. Tomoyo's round face, puffy red lips, and those glassy eyes. The glassy eyes that told Sakura of her friend's inner battle, her inner arguments, and her promises.
'She can't bear it if I get hurt.' Sakura thought. 'I understand now. She doesn't want to give me false hope; If I make her tell me, I'll be hurting her. Tomoyo can barely keeping this knowledge from me, that's why she told me, but she will not dare hurt me, that's why she won't tell me who it is.'
Sakura nodded her head slowly. "Thank you." she said and saw Tomoyo's surprise, then smile.
"For what?" Tomoyo asked, still smiling, yet confused at Sakura's sudden change in attitude.
"For caring." Sakura said simply, and they both left it at that and walked out the door, together.
At the try-outs
Syaoran cranked his head back to look at the ceiling.
The new high school building was impressive. It had a large auditorium which could have easily seated a few hundred of people in there. There were red plush seats, all new, and large red curtains huge before the stage. The stage itself was behind a small pit, which Syaoran guess was used for the band. Its edge rose sharply up three feet from the lip of the pit and then twenty feet back. Behind the stage were only three rooms, the large two were for changing, and the third one was for the extra props.
All around the room there was activity. Girls and boys lined up to one side of the room, waiting to be let into the third room, where the director and head drama teacher were. They all had a nervous air around them, some were fanning themselves with the packet they were given. There was a hushed silence all around, expect in the seats. There sat some more drama teachers, who were interviewing the teens that made it past the director. They would get the final vote, then post all the results a in a few days.
The whole process seemed very pointless and boring to Syaoran. Then again, he was only here because because of Sakura (he grudgingly admitted this to himself after he caught himself staring at her for a second time in half an hour.) The line would move a inch every ten minutes. Many of the kids that were far from the stage sat themselves in the isle seats and a few of the daring ones spoke in whispers.
"Wow, I never thought that there would be this many people", Sakura's voice broke through Syaoran's thoughts. "I wonder how many schools were allowed to participate in this."
"Well, there are the four middle schools, then the two high schools, and then the drama camps, right?" Hiyoshi asked, ticking off his fingers. He looked to Sakura, who nodded.
"Wait, don't forget the city clubs." Tomoyo noted as she scribbled her homework in a journal. "That would make well over two thousand five hundredpeople who could try-out for this play."
Syaoran looked side to side. Sakura and Hiyoshi sat to his left, while Tomoyo sat in front of them. She had bent her legs over the back of the chair so she could face them easily. There were a few other kids from Sakura's class, but they sat on the floor, ready to get up at a moments notice if the line moved another inch.
"So anyways, what are you going to do over the weekend, Sakura?" Hiyoshi asked.
Syaoran whipped his glare in Hiyoshi's direction and was about so say something when someone put their hand on his shoulder. He looked at Tomoyo, who was shaking her head slightly. Syaoran frowned, his eyes still glaring, but he got the message Tomoyo was sending. 'Don't overreact.'
Sakura looked up, trying to remember. "I'm not sure. Probably stay home. There is not that much going on anyways, since we won't know if any of us are in the play or not. Maybe we'll take a trip into the city for a whole day, right Syaoran?"
Syaoran nodded, keeping his head low. He was sure that he felt Tomoyo's eyes on him, watching him, warning him. He hated when Daidouji was right; he was just about to lash out. But what he hated more was when Daidouji knew she was right.
"What's there to do downtown?" Hiyoshi asked.
"Lot's of things! There is the huge shopping mall, the bookstore, the park. There is also a small zoo in the park, but that's for little kids. Then there is the roller coasters ten minutes away on the train." answered Sakura, smiling. "Plus, this weekend, there is supposed to be a convention of some sort."
Hiyoshi smiled (a fake smile, Syaoran thought). "That sounds cool. I miss the city."
"Is Kyoto very different from here?" Sakura asked.
"Yea. I lived in a small apartment in one of the main buildings downtown. It only had five rooms."
"Yikes! That small?"
"Yup. Bathroom, kitchen, two bedrooms, and one large room which connected everything. The large room had a table built into the floor so it could be put away when we weren't eating. We also had our TV, computer, and a couch in there." Hiyoshi said.
Syaoran noticed how Sakura would widen her eyes at some of Hiyoshi's descriptions of his old home. He hated it and glared even more at the tall boy.
"Hey, Sakura, can you help me find the bathroom," Tomoyo cut in. She looked around the room and smiled weakly, "I keep forgetting. It's such a large school."
Sakura nodded and got up from her seat and scooted in-between the rows. Syaoran looked at Tomoyo with a questioning glance. Tomoyo returned his with a conniving grin, then made her face blank when Sakura hopped over the last seat and walked with Tomoyo up the aisle. She looked at Syaoran one more time, and he caught the sparkle in her eyes. 'I'm doing this for you,' it said.
"Huh. I thought Tomoyo-san knew where the bathroom was," Hiyoshi thought aloud. "That's odd."
'She does, you fool' Syaoran thought. 'She wanted to get Sakura away from you.' He looked back up the way Sakura had led Tomoyo. 'I may need to thank her...'
A few minutes later, Syaoran saw Hiyoshi twist his body around out of the corner of his eye. Sakura and Daidouji must be back, Syaoran thought as he twisted his torso around also. A door opened and Sakura walked in, followed by Tomoyo.
Syaoran flicked his eyes back to Hiyoshi. 'Wait a minute,' he thought.
Before he had any time to dwell on this, Sakura called for him. "I think we can move up now. The line has shortened."
He stood up from his chair, somewhat sore, but alright. Syaoran walked over to Sakura (before Hiyoshi was able to) and stood next to her. Hiyoshi narrowed his eyes at Syaoran, but did not move any closer. He instead moved back a little bit, closer to where the rest of Sakura's class was.
"What are you going to try-out for, Syaoran?" Sakura asked, her emerald eyes looking into his.
Syaoran had no idea. To him, it made no difference what he tried out for. His only reason for coming was standing right next to him, and his mind seemed to have gone on a temporary vacation.
Sakura's eyebrows rose. "You have no idea? What did you come here for then, to cheer me on?" she said jokingly.
Damn. Sakura had become much more observant then he remembered. "What good parts are there?" he asked, avoiding her questions.
Sakura looked down at the play sheet in her hands. "Well, there is the hero, who is the main character of the story, but kinda dull. The villain, who is much more intelligent then the hero, but weak. Then there are the most interesting characters, who the hero meets on his travels."
"Which one are you trying out for?"
Sakura pointed to a name in the book. "The maid?" Syaoran asked. "Why the maid?"
She smiled, showing how her teeth rested on her lower lip. "Because she is funny. The hero helps her to marry the one man she loves, though he does so through gambling and card tricks. It's a small part, but she gets the most lines out of all the secondary characters."
They stood in silence after that, waiting for the line to move up. It was not an awkward silence, Syaoran thought, since they both seemed comfortable. For the first time since he got here, Syaoran did not mind the long line. Sakura would occasionally lean on him and lay her head down on his shoulder. Whether she did this on accident, or on purpose, Syaoran did not know.
At long last, they reached the door to the third room. Sakura became very quiet as nervousness made her choke on her words. Syaoran then did something he had never done before. He reached down and grabbed her hand.
Sakura instantly looked into his eyes, questioning. She did not move her hand away from his, and he just held it. Truth to tell, Syaoran had no idea why he did it. He just wanted to, so he did. It had been a need forming for the past few days and Syaoran was at last able to quench it. After a minute of holding her hand, the realization of what he had done caught up to him and Syaoran began to worry.
'What the heck I am doing?' he thought. His body became very stiff and he wondered what was going on in Sakura's head. 'I should not be doing this,' he looked down at their hands,' I should walk away.'
Blood pounded in his ears and Syaoran felt his breath come short. 'Why? Why am I doing this? I am supposed to be strong. I am a leader.' He looked at Sakura's face; her eyes were staring at the door to the third room. 'Am I being disrespectful? How can she have this power? Over me! Damn. What should I do now?'
The aura inside of him swam around in his aura. It speed up, and warmth emitted from it. The pink aura went to his thoughts and pushed on them, causing Syaoran to notice it. 'What are you doing?' he thought to the aura. It ignored him and continued to dig into his mind, into his memories. 'Hey! Get out of there.'
The aura had never acted like this before. Syaoran let go of Sakura's hand, and concentrated on the aura. It dug through his mind, pulling up different memories. No, not memories. Feelings. Emotions. The aura then swam through out of his mind, and through his body. Warmth no longer emitted from it.
"Everyone get out of here!" someone's voice shouted above the whispers. Syaoran's shook himself from the pink aura and look to see who was yelling.
Hiyoshi stood on top of a chair, waving his arms wildly. "Get out! Get out!" He shouted. People gave him mixed looks and some started heading for the exit.
Sakura ran up to him. "Hiyoshi-san! What are you doing?"
Hiyoshi's eyes looked at her and Syaoran saw fear. His green eyes showed fear. His green eyes were looking at Sakura.
Hiyoshi jumped down from the chair and pushed Sakura to the side. "Stay here," he said, and ran towards Syaoran.
BOOOOM! A large chunk of the ceil broke and smashed onto the stage, sending bits of concrete and dust all over. The dust formed a huge cloud over the room and covered everything.
The people in the room looked at one another for one second then panic broke out. They scampered to the exits and ran out, screaming. Just then, two figures fell from the hole in the ceiling, falling headfirst.
Syaoran could not see who they were because of the dust, so he ran towards Sakura, who was coughing but unharmed. "Where's Hiyoshi?" she asked.
"I don't know, the dust covered him." Syaoran responded. "I'll go find Tomoyo." Before she could stop him, Syaoran stumbled away, trying not to step on any more chunks of stone. The sounds of screaming people filled the room, as more got out quickly, afraid the rest of the ceiling would fall on top on them.
Syaoran jumped over the edge of the stage and found Tomoyo, who had fallen into the pit in the commotion. "I'm alright." she coughed. "How are the others?"
" They're fine, don't move. Just stay in there."
Syaoran looked around the room. The dust settled and Syaoran saw Hiyoshi at the wall. He held his hand to his forehead, blood was dripping through his fingers. Syaoran jumped over to him, not caring that he was showing his magical powers.
Syaoran looked at Hiyoshi; his face was cut up, blood was dripping from somewhere on his forehead, and he looked small and weak. Hiyoshi's green eyes looked at Syaoran, without surprise, without any reaction. Syaoran saw all this, and felt no sympathy.
Without saying a word, Syaoran closed his eyes, and concentrated on Hiyoshi's aura. Syaoran gathered his aura and released it, sending it to assault and pound on Hiyoshi's aura. Hiyoshi stood no chance. Within seconds, his defenses were broken and Hiyoshi fell to his knees.
Syaoran felt a surge of magical power being uncovered as Hiyoshi rolled onto his side at Syaoran's feet. 'I knew it', Syaoran thought and he picked up Hiyoshi by his collar and dragged him to the edge of the stage. Hiyoshi's green eyes flicked open and closed. Sakura came over to them and looked down on Hiyoshi, her eyes wide to the new discovery.
"You knew." Syaoran spat. Hiyoshi's eyes rolled back into his head for a second then came back. "You knew what was going to happen."
Hiyoshi nodded slowly, his eyes out of focus.
"You saw the future, didn't you!" Syaoran said, his fists curling from anger. "You could have gotten these people out a lot earlier!" he shouted.
Sakura put a hand on Syaoran's chest, who was ready to strike the boy on the floor. Syaoran stopped and lowered his hands. He watched her kneel down next to Hiyoshi, tear a piece of cloth from her jacket and pushed it under Hiyoshi's blood stained fingers. "Just hold it there," she said.
Hiyoshi nodded his head once, then passed out. Sakura got up and went next to Syaoran.
"Hiyoshi is a magician, isn't he," she said. It was not a question."How did you find out?"
Before he could answer, the two figures that fell from the ceiling earlier stood up in the center of the stage. One of them helped the other brush off the dust and concrete that stuck to their clothes. They then stumbled over the debris and kicked the stones out of their way, slowly making their way to where Syaoran and the others were.
Syaoran stepped in front of Sakura, who raised her eyebrows at him, but said nothing. "Get your cards ready..." Syaoran whispered, not turning his head. He bent his legs at an angle so that he could kick easily, at the same time raising his arms so they protected his torso and face.
"Right"
The two figures stumbled around a bit more, coughing. 'What are they doing?' Syaoran thought. If this was a true master of any art, magical or martial, then they would not be taking so long. 'It might be a trick,' a voice inside his head warned, 'they might be pretending. Be on guard,'
"Well, this is certainly one way to get sunshine into a dark room!" one of the figures said in a cheerful voice before going into a fit of coughing.
The moment the words hit Syaoran's ears, he recognized the voice, and let down his guard in utter surprise.
"ERIOL!"
Author's note: Please review. Constructive criticism is always welcomed (and always needed), flames not.