Thanks for all your reviews!

Love of War
Chapter Ten: Thoughts

The sun shone brightly outside, it's light mildly getting into Sakura's tent, waking the Card Mistress from her peaceful slumber.

She sighed and tried to sit up, but was unable to, something was holding her down.

Slowly, Sakura opened her eyes. And almost screamed.

It was Syaoran, quietly asleep, his arms around her waist.

Sakura just sat there, in horror. What did she do?

She looked down at herself, she was still wearing her clothes, so what she had feared couldn't be.

Sakura must have fallen asleep and Syaoran mustn't have wanted to leave.

But then…where was Tomoyo?

Sakura couldn't bring herself to wake Syaoran, he looked so sweet just lying there, his messy chocolate hair strewn across his face, his arms so comfortably around Sakura's waist.

The girl shook her head harshly. Stop it Sakura. She couldn't be falling for him, she couldn't. Syaoran was part of the Li clan, one of it's leaders. She could never be with him.

Sakura sighed sadly and ran her hand through her hair, thoughts rushing through her head. What would she do if they did make it to the coast? To China? Where would she live? Would she survive? And if she didn't make it to the coast…could she say goodbye to Syaoran?

Suddenly it hit her; Sakura was in love with him. She'd first fallen for him that week on the island…but why did it feel like she knew him much more than that? And then when she'd first seen him in her home that night, she was happy, not afraid or angry. And the past couple days with him had been especially hard, being so close to him, wanting his kiss, was frustrating.

Sakura gently pulled his arms away from her and got quietly to her feet. In one swift movement she'd put a thin blanket over his body to keep him warm, and left the tent.

Only to run face-to-face with Keroberos, in his natural form.
"Morning Sakura." Keroberos said in his deep voice. "I was just coming to wake you."

Sakura felt her cheek heat up, if he had…that wouldn't have been good. "O-Oh! Good morning Kero!" Sakura smiled. "Yeah, I just woke up. Hey have you seen Tomoyo?"

"Over here." Tomoyo called from the side of the fire, not too far from Sakura.

Sakura smiled and walked over to her friend, plunking down beside her on the ground.

"I like your dress," Tomoyo said. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks." Sakura smiled. "Where were you last night? Where did you sleep?"

Tomoyo smirked, staring at the flames in front of her. "I walked into the tent last night and saw you and Syaoran. You were already asleep."

"What?" Sakura gasped. "I-uh…I can explain-"

"No need." Tomoyo grinned. "I know how you feel Sakura. I can't leave this place either."

Sakura sighed and nodded, relaxing a little. "I'm used to being here now, with Syaoran and the Li clan."

Tomoyo nodded. "Same here."

"But where did you sleep last night then?" Sakura asked.

"In Eriol's tent." Tomoyo said softly, a blush creeping to her cheeks. "Nothing happened, we slept on different cots, unlike you."

Sakura laughed weakly. "Yeah. I just woke up and he was…there."

"I think I love him Sakura." Tomoyo said.

"Syaoran?" Sakura gasped.

"No!" Tomoyo giggled. "Eriol! God no, not Syaoran!"

Sakura smiled, "Really? Well I guess I should have noticed."

Tomoyo smiled. "You have a little much to worry about"

"What do you mean?"

Sakura frowned, Tomoyo was right, she did have quite a bit to worry about. Somehow, Sakura had to protect the Kinomoto magic, not get killed, protect Tomoyo, wait with the Li clan until Touya came with help…and try as hard as she possibly could…not to fall any harder for Syaoran.

"It's impossible." Sakura sighed, leaning back on a log, one of which that surrounded the fire.

"What's impossible?" Tomoyo asked.

Sakura looked up, her cheeks flaring. So Tomoyo had heard…

"Nothing." The Card Mistress said quickly, avoiding Tomoyo's prying eyes.

"Awe come one Sakura." Tomoyo grinned. "What is it?"

"It's bad." Sakura sighed.

"It can't be that bad." Her friend smiled. "I mean, it can't be any worse than me falling for Eriol"

"Want a bet?" Sakura smirked.

Tomoyo's eyes lit up, she was always one for spotting out forming romance. "Oh my God! You're in love with-"

Sakura quickly slapped her hand over her friend mouth as she noticed Syaoran's aura move inside her tent. "Shh! He can't know!"

"Why not?" Tomoyo whined. "It would be so cute!"

Sakura glared at her friend, shaking her head. "No way. I can't Tomoyo! He's a Li and I'm Kinomoto! It's not right"

"But I like Eriol"

"So?" Sakura sighed. "You aren't a Kinomoto, not by blood. And Eriol isn't a Li, he's a Hirazagwa"

Tomoyo smiled at Eriol's name, loosing herself in daydreams.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "You are so pathetic"

"Because I'm in love?"

"No, because you dream too much." Sakura giggled.

Tomoyo punched her friend lightly on the shoulder, "So…has he kissed you yet?"

"You first"

"He has! When?" Tomoyo giggled.

Sakura sighed. "A year ago, in the cave"

"Really? Then? Why didn't you tell me?"

Sakura shrugged. "It didn't seem like it mattered back then"

Tomoyo leaned against a log beside Sakura, her eyes darting across the clouds above them. "What's going to happen Sakura? I mean…I want to be with Eriol, and he wants to be with me to. But because of the war..."

Sakura frowned, her eyes resting on Syaoran, who was standing, talking to Eriol, outside her and Tomoyo's tent. "I really…don't know Tomoyo. I mean, you aren't even supposed to be involved in this"

Tomoyo shrugged. "I'm glad I am…I mean, if I hadn't been, then I would never have met Eriol, or left Tamoeda"

Sakura nodded and sat up, noticing how Eriol's features were filled with worry.

"What's wrong Sakura?" Tomoyo asked.

"Stay here, I'll be right back." Sakura said, standing up and walking towards the two boys.

"Oh no you don't, not without me." Tomoyo smiled, seeing the direction Sakura was headed.

Keroberos joined Sakura and Tomoyo on their way there, his lion-like form trailing slowly at Sakura's side.

"Holy! What is that?" Syaoran gasped when he heard Keroberos growl low in his throat.

"Don't you recognize me? I guess a stupid kid like you wouldn't." Keroberos smirked.

Syaoran glared at Kero. "Ah, the stuffed animal"

"What did you call me?" Kero growled.

"Stuff it you two." Sakura sighed, stepping in between her guardian and Syaoran. "What's wrong Eriol?"

"Oh," Eriol said, looking a little embarrassed. "There's a little problem in the village we were heading to today, we have to make a detour"

"What kind of problem?" Keroberos asked.

"Some bandits attacked it last night," Eriol said, shaking his head sadly. "Not many survived, but the ones who did are without medicine or food, the bandits burned everything"

Sakura clenched her fists tightly together, her eyes icy and blank. "That's…horrible!"

"Sakura don't." Tomoyo warned, setting her hand on her friend's shoulder. She knew the look in Sakura's eyes.

"Don't? Don't what?" Syaoran asked.

"I have to go." Sakura said suddenly. "They need medicine, I can help them"

"No way!" Syaoran said. "You passed out when you healed me"

"That's because I healed it almost completely in seconds." Sakura said. "I'd just give them medicine, stuff that would take a few weeks to heal completely"

"You'd still use magic." Kero said.

"So?" Sakura hissed. "They need help. It's faster to go that way anyway isn't it"

Eriol nodded hesitantly. "Well, yes but-"

"Then I'll meet you at the village." Sakura said, pulling her star key from her neck. "Don't worry, I won't try to escape or anything"

"You aren't going alone." Syaoran said, clasping his hand over hers.

"I'm going with her." Kero said, stepping in between Syaoran and Sakura. "I'll protect her"

"You did such a good job with that before too." Syaoran mocked.

"Shut up you two." Sakura sighed, lifting her hand. "Now, stand back"

The small group did as the Card Mistress said, and watched as she transformed the key into the staff.

"Oh key of the star with powers burning bright" Sakura chanted, the small key in her hand beginning to glow and hover in her hand, a star symbol appearing underneath her. "Reveal the staff and shine your light. Release!"

Sakura smiled, tossing a card into the air and hitting it with her staff. "Fly card!"

Soon Sakura was standing in front of Syaoran, Eriol and Tomoyo, beautiful wings sprouting from her shoulder blades. Keroberos was beside her, having his wings transformed, they looked like a Goddess and her pet.

"Be careful Sakura." Tomoyo called as Sakura flew off into the air towards the village.

XxXxX

"Who are you?" A woman of the village asked, her eyes wide.

"My name is Sakura Kinomoto." Sakura said, her wings disappearing and her staff changing back into a star key.

The woman nodded slowly, recognizing the Kinomoto name. "You are the Kinomoto keeper of magic."

Sakura nodded, her smile warm. "Yes. Can you take me to those who are injured?"

The woman nodded and quickly grabbed Sakura's arm and pulled to her to the center of the village, the only place that hadn't been on fire. In the center of the village square were many people lying on the ground, some dead, some dying, and some just in pain.

"Can you help them?" The woman whispered.

Sakura frowned, but nodded. It would be hard and she would be exhausted by the end of the day. "Yes. I can. Just bring me these plants…"

XxXxX

The large red sun was setting behind Sakura as she finished the last few villagers. Each were bandaged and had her medicine on their wounds.

"They should be back to normal in a few weeks." Sakura smiled, standing and turning to the woman she had met before.

The woman smiled gratefully. She was young, in her late twenties, with long black hair that was tied loosely. She had bring blue eyes that shimmered with unshed tears. Her husband was among those injured.

"Thank you." She whispered. "Thank you!"

Sakura set a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "It's not a problem."

"It must have been." The woman sighed. "I saw you, your magic went into that medicine"

Sakura nodded. "It did, but not too much"

"Can you get home without rest?"

Sakura frowned and lowered her eyes to the ground, a single dandelion grew at her feet. "I have no home to go to now"

"What?" The woman gasped. "Then you must stay here for the night, we can find you a place to live"

Sakura looked up, a smile creeping to her lips. Though the woman's village had been burned, everything she cherished gone, she was still willing to help her. "That wont be needed." She said softly. "I have people coming for me"

"Family?"

Sakura shook her head. "No…not really"

Suddenly, something pricked at the back of Sakura's mind. Something was coming, something at a great speed.

"What is it?" The woman asked, noticing the sudden look of fear in Sakura's eyes.

"You must find shelter, get as many as you can somewhere safe." Sakura said quickly, turning towards the setting sun. "Kero!"

The large guardian appeared at Sakura's side. "You noticed them too? Is it Li?"

Sakura shook her head. "No. Syaoran would be coming from the East, not the West. Go see who it is"

Kero nodded and flew off, his lion form slowly drifting away into the darkening forest.

"What's out there?" The woman breathed.

Sakura turned back to her. "Nothing to worry about, Keroberos and I can protect your village"

"Sakura!" Keroberos shouted, rushing to his master's side. "It's bandits, and from what I can tell, it's the same ones that attacked this village"

The woman gasped. "No! It can't be! You can't fight them! They have many weapons and people! There's no way"

"Don't worry about it." Sakura said, resting her star key in the palm of her hand. "Just get to safety"

Just then the first group of bandits showed themselves at the edge of the forest, their eyes gleaming with the excitement of the kill, their weapons ready for use.

"Syaoran…where are you?" Sakura whispered.

Okay! I hope you liked it! Review!
REMEMBER! I have a website that you can go to to find updates! Go to my profile to see the site!