Leane opened her eyes with a start when she heard a knocking against the library door. No one else was home but her, and Sakura would never knock before coming into her house. Slowly Leane got up from her perch near the window and walked towards the door. Behind it, she could feel a powerful aura emanating, yet she sensed no danger from it. Leane was very curious as she brushed against the aura and felt a shock of familiarity. She knew this person…yet she couldn't put a name or face to it. Cautiously Leane opened the door, all her senses and reflexes on high alert. Yet still all her preparation did nothing to still the shock of the person standing before her.
"Hello, Leane." Clow smiled kindly, noting the look of sadness that entered her eyes at his arrival. "It's been a long time"
"Not long enough." growled Leane, overcoming her shock. "She is too young"
"Come now Leane," chided Clow gently. "You knew this would come. You have feared it since the day you accepted her into your family. You even thought of making her the Clan Leader! Even though you knew she has another destiny to fulfill. This is not her world anymore"
"Who are you to decide such a thing!" shouted Leane, exploding all her frustrations at once. "Why should she have to leave everything that she has known because of you? It is not fair"
"Stop being such a child," scolded another voice, though with no gentle tone. "You should be thankful you had her as long as you did." The owner of the voice stepped from behind Clow and walked into the Library near Leane. "If our world had not been in a war, Sakura never would have had to leave it and her parents would still be alive. You may have treated her like one, but she is not your blood child." Nakuru spoke softly, yet her words resounded like a slap in the face. Her cold tone bit into Leane, shattering all her thoughts of this being a dream. "Sakura's place is no longer here. It is time for her to assume her rightful place and fulfill her destiny. You have no power to try and deny her this birth right"
"And you have no right to shove this on her against her will! She should not have to if she doesn't want to"
Nakuru opened her mouth but Clow cut in, tired of their useless squabbling. "IF Sakura does not wish to come with us to her birth place and all the responsibility that comes with it, she will remain here." Nakuru opened her mouth to object while Leane smiled smugly. "But before she makes her decision she will know the extent of both sides. The good," he paused and stared hard at both women. "And the bad"
Neither Leane nor Nakuru spoke after this and Clow nodded his head satisfactorily before making himself comfy in a big red cushy chair. "Now," he said as he magicked, a cup of tea, "Let's all calm down and get comfortable as we wait for Sakura to arrive. I have a feeling we will need our strength for such a discussion." Clow's smile was a secretive one, one that reassured neither Nakuru nor Leane. Yet both grudgingly sat down on the sofa, leaving the last chair free for Sakura.
This is it, Leane thought dazedly. The day I have been dreading. Although they are giving her a choice, I know what way she'll choose. Sakura always does her duty. Still even with that though her mind reared in rejection. That doesn't mean I won't try to dissuade her though. Then she settled down and started to think of how to get her daughter to stay with her.
Sakura was now officially confused. For the longest time she had walked through these woods, and yet still there was no sign of her house. She knew there was no possible way she could have run that deep in such a short period of time. It was like the trees didn't want to let her leave. Not only that but her memory, something that never failed, didn't remember ever passing through here. She couldn't remember one distinguishable landmark that would point her in the right direction. This added unto the fact that she had the feeling of someone watching her as well, was really pushing Sakura's limits. Sakura was so frustrated that she didn't even notice when the unseen eyes disappeared. She was so focused on finding her way out; she hadn't even noticed the magical force being emitted from a near-by tree.
"This is ridiculous," she grumbled under her breath, nearly tripping over a root. "All my life I have practiced to hone my senses into remembering everything, no matter what my emotional state is. And now, when I need them, they all disappear! "How typical…Ouch!" Sakura fell face first into a bush. "Ow…." she whined, sitting up on the now flattened shrubbery. Today just wasn't Sakura's day. First the royal pervert, then her superficial Mom, now the stupid trees! Was everyone against her? All her current thoughts and complaints vanished, as her magical senses screamed to life. A spell had just been lifted off her, but when was it put on? Now that she really focused, she could still feel the eddies around her, though they were quickly dissipating. Sakura frowned. No one had been able to put a spell on her before. Ever. Her mom tried to do it once, just to make her stay in the chair; instead she had caught it and flipped it back at her. Unintentionally of course, for she was too young to understand what she as doing. IT was instinct although she never heard of any other kid who had it.
Quickly she scanned around the forest, looking for both physical and magical tracks. Whoever they were who cast that had to be pretty powerful and physically close to her. Otherwise she would have sensed it. After a few more minutes she gave up. She couldn't locate a single discernable track anywhere. These guys were good.
With that thought Sakura stood up and started to move again, except now with all her senses on full alert. No longer did she try to find her way back, she just felt for it, which, for some odd reason, wasn't that hard to do. 'Something's going on' she thought eyes narrowing in concentration 'and I'm gonna find out what it is.' She continued to stalk off into the forest, knowing it was the way back to her house, and the answers, yet not knowing ho she knew. She didn't think about it. Tonight had a prophetic feeling about it. Fate was working tonight, so Sakura decided it was better to go with the flow then try to avoid her destined fate.
Silence coated the library with a tension that none of Leane's or Nakuru's threats could match. The tension and extreme thought were pronounced loudly by the ticking of the great grandfather clock. 'How muh longer must we wait?' Nakuru whined to herself. 'geez, being nice gets people no where'
'Stop being so whiny.' came Clow's admonishing tone inside her head. Because of who and what they are, there is only a slight mental barrier between them, making it extremely easy to 'mind-talk' with each other. 'Leane and Sakura both have a right for the decision to be made. Remember, we are HER guardians and servants. Not the other way around'
'Yeah, yeah.' replied Nakuru with an air of indifference. Suddenly her face took on a more serious look. 'Do you think she'll be anything like she was before?' she sounded anxious, as if she didn't dare wish to hope.
'Some.' replied Clow carefully choosing his words. 'Her soul is the same, so her basic moral values will not alter. But the way she acts and thinks is probably different. Those things are altered by those around you. Now that she has grown up here I think she may have a slightly different personality.' Clow suddenly chuckled, aloud and mentally, 'Just look at her partner'
Nakuru snorted 'Stupid arrogant little gaki.' Her eyes grew wide with a though, 'oh no! what if she's just as annoying and stupid! The worlds will be doomed then'
'Stop exaggerating Nakuru.' chuckled Clow again. 'He is not that bad. Besides, you didn't like him the last time either'
'Yeah but now he is even more arrogant, not to mention cold-hearted. I never did understand how the Mistress'
'Shh….she's coming. Plus Leane is giving us funny looks. We'll talk about this later'
'Alright, alright, no need to be mean about it'
Clow just shook his head before turning to face Leane "Sakura has finally made itout of the woods. She'll be with us shortly. I think she already knows something is going on tonight." Clow had a proud smile on his face. "She always was good at sensing the atmosphere around her"
Nakuru just smiled teasingly at her brother's fond memories. Although she acted a lot more aloof and indifferent about their Mistress, both knew she was just as loyal and proud as her brother. Since the time Sakura (or her first self) made her, Nakuru had always had a special bond with her. While Clow was very wise and kind, he wasn't very fun. Nakuru and her Mistress were always the best buddies when it came to just having fun. The pranks they used to pull on the old royal families were always hilarious and expertly excueted. Nakuru had to hold back the laughter and tears and these memories. That had been in a happier time, before the Mistress had had to go to battle and send her and Clow on their own secret journey.
Pulling herself out of her thoughts Nakuru straightened up. She had to focus on the present now. She is about to meet her re-incarnation of her Mistress after all and she had high hopes for this one. Maybe Sakura will be the one to break the cycle…
The sound of a door opening and shutting was heard, then soft footfalls as someone padded across the carpeted floor. All the occupants of the room froze, unconsciously holding their breath. This was it.
Slowly the door opened to reveal…
Lol yes! Another chapter completed! Sorry that they are so short, but I really don't have enough time to write long ones. Im doing thise in my spare time, so plz hang in there with me. I know I promised a new chapter every week, but I didn't really count on getting a full time job so soon. But at least im not all that far off the mark. Ill try to rotate my stories so that every week I get a new chapter out, but that probably means this story will get a new chapter every 2 weeks. Ill try to work faster but no promises. Lol hope you enjoyed the chapter! And remember to review!