Beyond the Unknown

Chapter 14: A lonely night

Thank you all very much.

FlowerLover, Fantasy Kat, mysterygal02, kurisutaru, ffgirl-07, spike-563259, MunChixD, AnimeObsessionFantasy, CherryFreakyFunk, may, sweet cherryblossoms88

last chapter...

"Evan. It's me, Jade."

"Jade… your call is very late."

"I know. I got sidetracked. Tell me what the plan is. I believe you expect me to finish the mission tonight."

She could feel Evan's smile across the phone. "I am pleased your loyalties are where they're supposed to be…… About tonight, there is a special gathering the Li's have every 50 years to celebrate the agency. At this gathering, you will kill Syaoran. A boat will be waiting for you a distant down from the place. It is stationed near the Li property, but not in it, because of the high security. Understand?"

"Understand."

"Good."

Tonight… she would kill him.

"Where's everyone?" Syaoran asked.

Sakura listlessly opened her eyes from her position on the grass and watched as Syaoran made his way towards Connor.

He didn't notice her sleeping against the grass. The day had gotten dark and shadows had occupied.

"Not sure." Connor said, getting out of the water. "Mei Lin's probably off with Anthony. Kay and James are at it no doubt. And I don't know where the rest went. How about you? Where'd you go?"

"I was at Akina's." Syaoran informed him.

Sakura didn't fail to notice the grin that played on Connor's face. "Hey, how is she? I haven't seen her in ages."

"We'll see her later. She's coming to the gathering."

"Cool." Connor nodded. "Is she still as gorgeous as before?"

"Yeah. She is." Syaoran breathed. "Come on. Let's go find everyone."

Sakura got up as everyone left. Her clothes had dried by the sun's hot rays and now she slipped them easily over her form.

Not knowing where she was headed, she started walking across the hill in bare feet, feeling the wind through her hair and the cool grass beneath her feet.

She felt like a ghost as she drifted.

She was alone again.

Mei Lin stirred as a soft music flooded her ears.

"Hello?" Anthony groggily answered. He rubbed the sleep off his face and pressed the cool surface of the cell against his ear. "Yeah. Okay…"

"What's up?" Mei Lin asked, after Anthony hung up.

"Syaoran called. It's time to go to the gathering."

"Okay." Mei Lin said. She looked around for her shirt and slipped it on when she found it.

She twisted her hair into a bun, before she started to get up.

"Wait…" Anthony said.

"Hmm…" Mei Lin murmured, as she turned around.

She only noticed the mischievous grin a second too late, as he tackled her to the grass.

Then he dropped light kisses against her cheek, until he placed one on her lips.

"Okay…" He murmured… "that's what I wanted to do."

Mei Lin almost melted, as his big beautiful eyes stared down at her. The darkness only made him look even more intense and mysterious.

She smiled, brushing her hand gently against his face. "I love you."

"And I love you." He said. His breath tickling her delicate face.

"Now…" he got up, pulling her tiny form with him. "Let's go.." He whispered into her ear. "Before that cousin of yours.. kills me for keeping you."

Mei Lin giggled, as she followed him up.

"Hey Jade."

Sakura pushed back the bushes and stepped to where everyone was waiting by the car.

"Hey Mina. Did everyone arrive?"

Mina shook her head. "Kay and James aren't here yet, but we're going to switch the seating arrangements and let them take the second car. We're just waiting for Connor now."

Just when she said that, Connor appeared with Syaoran.

"YO. What took you guys?" Mina said disapprovingly.

"Well, we were looking for someone." Syaoran said, his words directed at Sakura. "We couldn't reach her by phone, so then we realized our best bet would be to check if she was here and…" he looked at Sakura. "…here she is."

His eyes pierced into hers with so much intensity, it was as if those ambers were asking her to look up… to please look.

But…

Sakura cleared her throat and turned away. "Uhh… we better get going." She said softly, getting into the car.

Like she was hoping, Syaoran got into the other car. But he looked back one last time and with a disappointed look, turned away.

When Sakura got into the back seat of the car with the doors closed, she sighed, sinking back against the seat with her eyes closed.

"You can do this." She whispered to herself. 'At the gathering… this mission will be accomplished. I must kill him there.' she keeps onthinking this.. >.

note: The beach is private property and heavily guarded, only allowing Li members to enter, so no attack can be made by other gang members.

The sky was clear and Sakura marveled at how beautiful everything was.

Lots of people had come and passing by some of them, Sakura could feel her hair stand up on ends.

She'd heard of some of these members from Evan and her gang members.

These people were her enemy, yet when Sakura passed them with Mei Lin and the others, they greeted her with respect and kindness. Sakura couldn't help to feel pity towards their diminutive knowledge, but also guilt.

"Here," Mei Lin said, handing Sakura a drink.

"Thanks." She said, as they made there way through all the people.

"Hey, you slow pokes," a voice said, making them all look up alerted.

Kay, James, Kuri, Yuki and Syaoran stood in front of them, nursing some drinks.

"What? How'd you get here so fast? We left earlier than you guys." Mei Lin said curious, being that she was the driver for the first car.

"We took a shortcut," Kay said, pointing her drink at Syaoran who drove. "Hey, what's the matter?" She said.

He looked spacey and distant from where they were.

"Syaoran?"

When Mei Lin ran a hand in front of his face, he looked up surprised. "Uh. What?"

"You spaced up." Connor said.

"Yeah, I was thinking. Uh… excuse me." He said, but before he had a chance to leave, someone came over to them.

"Hey guys. Thanks for inviting me." She said.

She had a cute face with brown eyes and wavy brown hair.

"Uh, this is Akina." Syaoran said to the people who didn't know her.

"Heyyy… I haven't seen you in a long time." Connor said, with a bright smile. He inched himself towards her, but stopped quickly seeing Syaoran's glare.

Sakura noticed as Akina wrapped an arm around Syaoran's neck freely and played with his hair.

"Hey, want a beer," she said, showing him the cool beer she was holding.

Syaoran took it, thanking her, and then he whispered something in her ear that made her laugh.

"Hey Mei Lin…" Sakura asked, the better part of her curiosity getting to her. "Who is she? She seems too… fragile to be a Li member." Sakura admitted.

"Well… she's not an actual Li member, but she's been friends with the family for so long, we can trust her." Mei Lin said.

"Sick isn't it?" She commented, as Akina took Syaoran's beer and shared with him.

Sakura looked up surprised at Mei Lin's words. "He doesn't love her." She added. "He only does this with her when he wants to take his mind off things. Just thought you'd like to know." Mei Lin said.

"Hey… where were you?" Mei Lin grinned as Anthony came towards them. She wrapped an arm around him and they stepped away to dance.

Sakura was left standing by the side, with thoughts burning in her. She turned her eyes away from Syaoran, Akina and all the couples and left to find Dan.

I don't like Akina already… well, we've certainly come a long way. Thanks for all your comments and reviews. They've helped me so much and time after time, you guys never fail to surprise me! I love all your support.

And thought you'd like to noe.. an SS moment is coming.. .

Until next time,

morninglori