Author Note: I can't get the formatting from Word onto the site properly, I haven't noticed it until now but I'm missing a lot of page breaks that indicate scene change, oh well, hope it adds to the thinking effect. In this chapter you will see my sad attempt at making an action/fluff scene. Enjoy! )
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to MoRnIngLoRias her reviews are probably the only reason this chapter is even being put up. As well as everyone else who reviewed, finally I feel like my talentless writing is meaning something.
"A Fallen Star"
Walking gingerly towards the gate he lay his hand on the copper plating and slid his hand slowly down the Japanese characters as he read them aloud.
"Kinomoto Residence"
Those words rang endlessly inside his head, ringing of familiarity, dread, fear and most confusing of all:
Love
His thoughts wandered to where he had yet to explore, torturing his mind for a piece of memory that would tell him what-or more importantly why-this name meant so much to him.
Suddenly from the corner of his left eye, he found movement but was just uninterested at what she had to say.
Or so he thought..
She was still shaking, either from the encounter at her house or the cold-soaked state of her pale skin. She stared at him as his hand slowly retreated from the nameplate and back into his right side back pocket.
He was still staring at her, with a slight hint of aggravation. Really, what would she have to tell me now that she couldn't tell me back there?
When suddenly the next words she spoke brought his world crashing down.
"Her name was Sakura" she spoke, clearly as though the rain wasn't there as clearly as the rain had never been there.
"Sakura" He whispered silently
Sakura…
Sakura
Sakura
The light behind his eyes burst and he was blinded by the light as pain coursed through every possible cell in his body, shivering he felt the need to lie down.
When he was suddenly brought here, he could tell this place from a million of others. It was his home, although to him it didn't feel like home. There was a circular platform raised above him and the figure that stood before him held a wooden bamboo sword much like the one he held himself.
"Ready?" she said enthusiastically, sword held at an offensive stance. No longer was his vision blurred by the mysterious translucent mist that had shielded him from what he saw, the being he saw before him was divine, there were no other explanations for her beauty. Smiling and giggling as she held her stance defiantly staring at him with determination.
"You bet" and without warning he swung his wood sword down with a powerful force.
Only to have it blocked and be pulled back just in time to cover his weak lower left side, she struck at it with gusto. Swinging backwards in a menacing arc he dealt a blow swift enough that he though not even his trainer could defend against, but she did an expert back flip just before the attack could land and she landed gracefully on her feet, not even breaking a sweat.
"We aren't playing by the rules are we?" She said, he barely caught the mischievous tone in her voice and the glint in her eyes he knew that it would lead to this. Both sword wielders pacing back they swiftly changed their stance and the real contest had begun.
"Element Water!" he called drawing a thin ward with Chinese calligraphy
"Water! Release"
The resounding impact of both forces flooded the battleground and left the floor wet and frictionless as both users leapt to their right in perfect sync, only to draw out the battle by sending another volley.
"Wind!" They cried in equal unison
Again the stalemate continued as the entire ring had been filled with a powerful gust that caused the brown soaked sand to lift creating a sandstorm.
With an extra ounce of magic he strengthened his blow and the resulting gust had knocked her off balance just enough time for him to reach for his sword. He leapt into the air with his sword drawn for a downward strike eyeing her beautiful locks of hair from above swaying as she fought to regain her balance when he brought down the wooden weapon..
SMACK!
Swords caught in a deadlock, their faces close enough to feel the other's breath they fought for dominance.
"You didn't think I'd go down that easily did you" She smirked pridefully. "You know you've already lost this fight"
He was about to reply when he felt soft skin press against his lips, and he was instantaneously brought to heaven and back by the delicate feeling that coursed through his body.
Cut short when she gave him a hard shove and he tumbled towards the ground losing grip as his weapon flew across the sandy earth.
He could feel the eyes of the spectators around him; he knew he had lost and that there would be rumors spreading throughout the clan. It didn't matter, it was worth it.
"Okay you got me" He sighed in defeat
"You don't think I'll let you off that easy do you" He looked up at the mischievous gaze and was too late before he felt her fingers traveling purposefully over his chest sides causing him to erupt in laughter as his nerves screamed with life. He pulled his holy-torturer towards him and held her in his arms, breathing deep the scent of cherry blossoms and strawberries.
"I love you" and he pulled his lips to hers
"I love you too"
Suddenly he could see the flashes of images like he had previously but clear focused on the bright angel in each and every one of them. Every single happy moment he had seemed to have her entwined within them, swirling as they reassembled themselves into his mind. His first meeting her, the card captures, the transformations, the attack by the Void and the subsequent confessions that preluded the few short years they spent together. Her smiles in the morning and the shine in her eye that caught and held just the right amount of sunlight, so that she could share that light with everyone else.
These memories, memories of her, memories of Sakura. They continued to fill in every gap of his being with emotions he would have thought could never be forgotten. So now they would not be neglected, he could feel the magical tension surrounding him dissolve as the memories flooded in multitudes of bright colors now strengthening his resolve.
I've got to find her. I have to find Sakura
He suddenly felt his body shifting upright in the sudden darkness and could feel now that he was standing, the water of the soaked training ground spreading over his body, inundating every last fiber of his clothes. Tomoyo was no longer there, but he would prefer she wouldn't be for what he was about to do.
What drove him to do what was next, nobody would know. It was as if the wind drove his legs together in determination as his arm reached over the low gate and unlocked it from the inner gate side.
Creaking slowly, the gate swung open on its hinges and opened to reveal the inner garden, soaked but still gleaming its beautiful array of flowering plants. He walked cautiously up the stone steps being swept clean of dirt by the harsh wind just to have it renewed by the nearby flowerbeds. He strode slowly towards the door narrowly avoiding the bicycle that had toppled over the grey steps of this home, this beacon of energies that called to him even during the darkest of nights, this sanctuary as it felt that held so much promises to the answers he seeked. He mustered up his courage in the dark shadow of the porch and raised his rain-soaked arm to the pale door and gathered his fingers together to knock on the door, when it suddenly opened.
Touya stood gazing downwards into the rain; his bike had fallen despite his best efforts to secure it to the porch light. The rain blew harshly but to his surprise none of the flowers had given in to its surprising might.
He stood there eyeing the porch and him. He knew he would be here, and now he was soaked and drenched in the mysterious storm, seeing his eyes filled with confusion, anger, sadness and most of all determination.
"Come in" That was it, no insults no glaring contests no wise tricks.
He stepped carefully into the house, and was careful not to ruin his new surroundings with the accumulated water. He somehow felt that he should preserve it, protect the house and everything within it with his own life. Funny, such selflessness for an inanimate object.
But it wasn't just an inanimate object, the house surged with still-flowing energies re-awakening his sense and giving him strength he even thought he could feel the energies wrapping them around him and drying him off.
But there was nobody there and the tall dark haired man just walked into the room to his left, the living room as he recalled was a fair-sized room with a low coffee table and corner- lime green couch. The light-colored rug felt comforting under his feet although it had looked dingy and discouragingly dirty since the last time he saw it.
All these memories flooded into his mind from such motions as walking through it's halls gripping the rug fibers with the curl of his toes even sitting down on it's smooth surface reminded him of her, reminding him of Sakura.
"I guess you figured it out" Touya looked up from his beverage which now lay still on the coffee table. Black coffee it didn't look like he slept that much anyways.
"Kaijuu would always mess up things like that, you know. Of course you remember don't you?" His tone solid but his eyes quivering with unshed tears.
"What happened to her? I need to know where she is so I can talk to her" He said in his least-demanding voice. Looking down at his shirt to realize it had dried, as if it had never touched rainwater before.
"That's her you know" His response shocking him, but giving him hope, hope was all he needed. "Her magic and her presence is still everywhere, doing all the things she used to do"
"I need to know where she is, Kinomoto-kun" Letting just a little demand slip into his voice this time.
"You still don't get it do you? I guess she did have a lot of power then didn't she?" He spoke reaching out for the beverage on the table only to realize it was filled to the top.
"She keeps doing things like this, just yesterday I could feel her stepping on my foot" He took a deep sip from his mug. Placing it down again as it slowly filled to the rim.
"She was always clumsy, but she was my sister" His voice beginning to quiver
"This is hopeless! Utterly hopeless. Won't anyone in this town help me find her or do I have to do it myself?" He couldn't take it anymore he had to find answers and sitting here talking to her brother wasn't helping and watching the mug simmer as it refilled and reheated wouldn't help either.
He stood upwards and could feel his body filling with warmth; he felt that this house did not want him to leave. But stubbornly he walked across the room and placed his hand on the door catching a glimpse of a photo sitting on the drawer-side. A photo of Sakura, beaming happily at the polished pane of glass but lying to himself to think she was really smiling at him. They would never put just anything on that drawer it was always reserved for a special reason, one he could wished he could provide to his tortured mind.
Beside it was the photo of her mother.
Touya stood at the hallway staring at the empty space where the boy had left just moments ago. Not bothering to bring a jacket or something to shield him from the rain. He was determined, and as much as he hated to admit it.
He would've made a good Brother-in-law
The long dark rain had seemed to lighten now, but that was the least of anybody's concerns. Another cold chill had come through and the leaves were beginning to grow weary of the torment. They had begun to show signs of an early mid-August autumn, but the sun had remained captive to the clouds as they showed no sign of letting up.
Tomoyo stood under the shelter of a shaded tree, though shade was none of her concern in the dark days that had passed yet still the dying leaves provided some relief from the light tears that fell from the sky.
She stood at the cement steps of the apartment building eyeing her watch and pacing steadily as even her, with no magical ability felt that she should be here. She'd wait until he showed himself from the confines of his apartment where he hid himself for days, not even sure this day would be any different but she waited.
He awoke late again, not unusual for his past days highly out of routine. He had not bothered to leave his room unless for are necessities, he didn't seek any help but would sit quietly on his bed with his sword, the Sakura sword as he began to call it lying still on his lap, waiting for her to reach out to him again.
Today would be no different, nor would the morning headaches that made him curse his mind show signs of freeing him. So routinely he sat up ad reached to bottom drawer for his oils, groggy from the recent nights he received little sleep from he opened the bottom drawer and felt the rugged surface under the tired pads of his fingers.
"Master Syaoran" A voice sounded from the other side of his door in Cantonese.
"What is it? Come in" responding in kind.
The door opened slowly and creaked on its hinges as the hall light shone into the dark room, for once in many days he could once again see the green that permeated his room.
How he hated it, his sheets his bed his flooring, everything green that he could want but none of the green beauty he actually needed.
"You have guests, they say they have something to discuss with you, will you be joining them?" He asked politely, Syaoran recalled how many times he had told him to speak casually but his unchanging ways was what brought him a sense of trust.
"Let them in, I'll be out in a minute" He said transforming the sword back into it's pendant form and slipping it under his shirt just before he took one last glimpse at it's pink center.
"Yes Master Syaoran" as Wei slowly closed the door but not before "Please Wei just Syaoran is fine"
"Yes Master" and the door shut with a soft click
Letting out a slight chuckle he stood to his feet and watched the slow rain beginning to pick up where it had left off. Changing into some casual wear his white-shirt with a green striped neckline and his carefully straightened blue jeans he slid out the door and closed it behind him.
"Trust me this is the last place I want to be right now" Touya sat comfortably on the couch carefully eyeing the violet eyed girl sitting nervously at his side. At least here he wouldn't have to worry about the feeling of her presence anymore.
"I just think we shouldn't try to interfere with her plan" She said pleadingly with her voice, she really wanted to get out now that she spent so much time jus getting in.
"Kaijuu could never form a plan, she lived in the moment, you of all people would know that" He said with tone of cheeriness returning.
When Li Syaoran walked into the room, the world fell silent as he eyed his two visitors. He stood there observing the two one who had returned the gaze and the other reflexively looking to the floor.
"Tomoyo told me everything that happened" He spoke with confidence to his words "frankly, we think you should stop it"
"Where is she?"
"She didn't want you to be in pain for the rest of your life Li-kun" Tomoyo drawing attention to herself for the first time with her sudden outburst.
"Tell me where she is, can't you see important this is to me" He voiced with a growing anger.
"You think we're doing this to hurt you, we're doing this to help you" The tall dark-haired man said his voice remaining strangely calm.
"How many times do I have to say this, tell me where she is now!"
He deserves to know the truth a small voice whispered in the back of her mind, filling her heart with a sense of familiarity.
"She's…she's at the park" She said defeated. Earning a thankful look from Syaoran and a surprised look from Touya.
"He deserves to go find her" She voiced as Syaoran leapt at the door and ran out into the cloudy light of Tomoeda.
He ran with all his energy and all his magic being pulled to it's limits as he his feet ached with the impact of the ground each time, the shortest point between two points was a straight line and he avoided traffic and used his magic-induced leap to clear low-houses, narrowly dodging a truck that braked at the last minute earning curses from the driver. He ignored these nuisances as he ran ever quickly towards the park, the park where so much of his memories were made, promises to be kept, loves to be found.
The slow wind carried upon it more rain, rain that had seemed it would haunt the city sky limits forever with leaves dancing across his face and hard rain drops cutting through his skin with their brisk chill he passed the blue penguin slide that held so many memories and darted towards the more wooded area closer to the shrine where he could feel her energies filling the park grounds.
When he came across the clearing, he could feel the radiant energies in this place surrounded by falling cherry blossom petals; no doubt the energies had kept them alive. But what horrified him was sitting unmoving in between the two trees. Pale colors being danced upon by bright pink and white, the soil showing signs that she had been there waiting for a long time. The words written across the face were unmistakable and he broke down and sobbed.
In Loving Memory of Kinomoto Sakura
We will never forget you