Jagged Amber

Card Captor Sakura

Chapter Six

*starjade*

Competition

Sakura burrowed under the covers as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the windows. The warmth of her bed made her fall in a drowsy half sleep, but shouting from outside her doorway didn't let her sleep comfortably.

"Mother, if she can't wake up , than I'm not gonna wake her up!"

" Who wants her to come, anyways?"

The first voice was someone she knew very well. Syaoran. The second was a girl's voice, high pitched and dangerous. Meiling.

" Well, the competition is in an hour and if she's not ready, then-"

" God, let her sleep! I don't want her coming!! She's just the damned tutor, she doesn't need to follow us everywhere!"

Sakura's eyes snapped open at that remark. Shit! The martial arts thingy!! She leapt out of bed and brushed her teeth, climbing into her clothes quickly as she ran a comb through her hair and washed her face. She threw the door open and smiled.

Yelan turned around and grinned. " She's ready!! Let's go, Xiao-Lang. You don't want to be late, do you? All the elders will be there."

Syaoran was dressed in a green fighting costume, his bangs not hiding the expression in those defocused eyes. He growled, " This whole house is fucking corrupted." Before storming away.

Yelan called after him, " I do not want to hear such profanity again, do you hear me??" But Syaoran had already stomped out the door and only the loud banging as he slammed the door shut answered her.

Sakura blinked, rather taken aback. " I didn't know the martial arts thingy was this early.."

" Well, since we are taking you, Meiling and Syaoran out of school, we let you sleep late. It is twelve o'clock you know."

Sakura's eyes bugged out. " I was asleep that long!!"

Yelan laughed. " You should've seen Syaoran, creeping along trying not to wake you. He was determined not to let you come."

Sakura looked down and sighed. " Yelan...I want to tell you something. I haven't been making any progress with Syaoran at all. I know, I've let you down, but he just-"

" No, no!" Yelan interrupted. " You've made so much progress! More than I've seen...ever!"

Sakura grew confused. " How?? He's rude, mean, self-absorbed...no offence, or anything-"

" None taken!" Yelan said cheerfully. " Yet you have made a progress that none of us could make. He's talking now, he's expressing his feelings....even if it is anger and rudeness. He's said more words in the week you've been here than he's said ever since...ever since my husband died."

Sakura looked up, her emerald eyes hopeful. " So you think there's a chance?"

Yelan laughed. " There's always a chance. Now lets go, or Syaoran will get even more surly than he is now."

Sakura, her heart lightened, followed the wise woman down the stairs and out the door, already planning forward. Yelan's words put more hope in her heart, put more ambition in her mind. She was going to complete this assignment with flying colours!

***********

" Good luck son," Yelan said warmly.

Syaoran bowed stiffly. " Thank you, mother."

Meiling had gone teary eyed and jumped at Syaoran, hugging him tightly. " Syaoran, don't get hurt!!" She sobbed.

Syaoran rolled his eyes. " Meiling, get off!"

Meiling got off, but was sniffing as he turned around to head into the building. Sakura growled under her breath. Of course he didn't want to wait for her to say anything.

Yelan patted her shoulder. " We'll meet you at the seats, okay?"

Sakura nodded, avoiding Meiling's death glares as she walked after Syaoran. She really did not know why she was doing this-

" Syaoran!" she cried out as he was about to open the door.

He turned around and bumped straight into her. " Oww!" Sakura yelled as she stumbled back.

Syaoran smirked. " Watch it, idiot. What do you want?"

Sakura crossed her arms and told her self to breathe. " Good luck Syaoran," She forced out finally.

Syaoran was still for a few seconds and then sneered, " Is that it?"

Sakura let out her breath in a whoosh. Don't let him get to you, she repeated in her mind. Don't let him get to you..

" I also wanted to give you this," Sakura said, trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. She held up a chain. At the end of it was a key charm." It's a necklace. Mine, actually. It gives me good luck. I just thought you might want to wear it, it might help you-"

Syaoran was incredulous. " You actually think I'm going to wear a cheap thing from your hands?? It'd probably be bad luck! If just your presence can make my whole life go down the drains, what would a good luck necklace do for me? Keep your pitiable things to yourself, girl. Your attempts to change me are pathetic."

Sakura felt her temper snap, and she clenched her teeth hard. " You are the most ungrateful, spoiled brat I've ever met. This necklace means a lot to me and you...you just dismiss it like.... Here!" She threw the necklace at him and he surprisingly caught it. She didn't want to waste any time wondering how he had sensed the necklace coming at him, because Syaoran was a pure bastard.

" Idiot," She muttered under her breath as she stomped away. She headed to the outdoor arena, where there was a huge mat set up for the first pair of fighters. There was so many people in the oval arena that it was surprising. Meiling and Yelan were sitting in the first row and she headed over to them.

As she sat down beside Yelan, Yelan asked, " Did you talk to him?"

Sakura muttered back, " Talk to who? I didn't talk to anybody, except for an ungrateful bastard-" She stopped and then sighed. " I talked to him."

Yelan stared at her and shook her head in sympathy. At least she had stuck around, Yelan thought. Sakura was the most promising one out of all of the tutors, nannies and psychiatrists she had hired.

" Look over there," Meiling suddenly pointed out. " All the elders."

Sakura looked over. The elders were sitting there, serious and grim faced, all of them wise and an almost magical atmosphere around them.

Suddenly, there was a ringing of a bell. " Hello, everyone! Welcome to the twentieth annual Martial Arts Competition! A series of competitions that result in the two best fighters, fighting out to see the best fighter in all of China!"

A cheering went up in the crowd and Sakura craned her neck to see where Syaoran would come out. She hoped he would be careful. It was quite unfair that all of the fighters could see and Syaoran was the only blind one. Such a disadvantage! Sakura felt worry grown in her heart, but she stamped it down. It probably would teach him a good lesson if he got hurt!!

" Now, introducing the first two fighters of the day. Ky Takisho from Beijing and Xiao-Lang Li, from Hong Kong!"

Meiling and Yelan went to their feet cheering, Meiling a bit more exuberant than Yelan. Sakura stayed in he seat, as a green clad fighter came out from the doors. The other one was in red, his eyes brown and his hair black. His face was hardened and he was quite tall, taller than Syaoran.

The both went to the mat as a man came up and talked about all the rules. And then once again, a bell was rung and the match had begun.

Sakura watched as the two circled each other before Takisho went out with a scissor kick. Syaoran twisted avoiding the kick. Takisho punched him and tried to grab him, but once again Syaoran avoided his blows. Takisho went at him, with blows of punches and kicks, but Syaoran kept on avoiding them, sensing each punch and blow.

Sakura grabbed Yelan's hands and whispered, " What's Syaoran doing? Why isn't he fighting back?"

Yelan smiled. " Watch."

Sakura winced as another kick came close to Syaoran's head. It didn't help that the audience was screaming their heads off. Sakura focused in on the two of them as Takisho gave yell after yell of frustration, punching and kicking.

Finally he cried out, " Blind idiot, do something!"

Syaoran smirked, an all too familiar smirk to Sakura. Then he launched out and punched Takisho straight in the face. Takisho hollered in pain as Syaoran kicked him in the stomach, grabbed his hands and threw him over the shoulder. Takisho landed with a smack on his back, and groaned in pain, but got up quickly. He limped over, his eyes filled with fury as he punched Syaoran. This one Syaoran didn't sense and Sakura could feel the impact of the punch.

Syaoran grabbed his jaw in pain as Takisho punched him once again in his stomach. Syaoran doubled over and Takisho grinned in triumph.

" Oh no, no, no..." Sakura muttered under her breath, her heart stopping in fear as Takisho readied himself for another punch.

Suddenly, Syaoran leapt out with an air kick, kicking Takisho in the head. Takisho fell to the ground and barely came back up again, when Syaoran grabbed Takisho's hand and twisted it over swinging Takisho around him and then flipped him over once again.

This time Takisho didn't come up.

The whole arena erupted into cheers as the announcer cried, " And the winner is.....Xiao-Lang Li!!"

Sakura felt her heart relax into relief and Yelan whispered, " You can let go of my wrist now." Sakura looked over and gasped. She had been gripping onto Yelan so hard, that there were nail marks in her skin.

" Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-" Sakura started but Yelan laughed and patted her shoulder.

" It's alright. I was a bit worried there myself!" Yelan admitted.

Sakura squared her jaw. " I wasn't worried!"

Yelan rose an eyebrow. " Uh huh."

Meiling, however, cried, " I'm going to go see Syaoran!" And leapt off her seat, running after Syaoran. Sakura watched him carefully, wondering why she had felt so worried...about Syaoran's safety!! Maybe it was because, if Syaoran was seriously hurt, it might have done some damage to her final mark. Yes, that was it.

Suddenly, something caught her eye. Sakura leaned forward, narrowing her eyes against the sunlight. There glittering against Syaoran's chest was her necklace. The good luck necklace that she had given him, so angrily before, the one with the key charm. He was wearing it.

**************

" You won all three of your competitions!!" Meiling cheered, grinning widely. " Your in the final competition! I knew you could do it!"

Syaoran growled, " Get off my arm, Meiling!"

Meiling pouted. " Xiao-Lang, love! I'm just congratulating you-"

Sakura took a deep breath and walked up the two, her face determined. Syaoran stiffened as he felt her presence and Meiling glared.

" What are you doing near my Xiao-Lang?" Meiling sneered.

Sakura gave her a long look. " I need to talk to him," She said slowly.

Meiling huffed and kissed Syaoran on the cheek. " See you later, baby!" She grinned and after shooting another death glare at Sakura, walked back to Yelan.

Sakura stared at Syaoran, who was staring off in the distance, his hand gripping at the wall, his eyes stormy and distant. They were like cold glass. Nothing could break through those pieces of amber glass.

" Syaoran," Sakura started, her voice awkward. " Congratulations."

Syaoran didn't say anything.

" Thanks for wearing...the necklace."

Syaoran still didn't say anything.

" I'm sure you'll win the finals, even if you're-"

" Blind," Syaoran spat out, his voice surprisingly filled with raw emotion, angry and bitter. " That's what you wanted to say, right? Even if you're blind. You must be really surprised that I got so far. A blind disabled boy winning a martial arts fight. You're a bit-"

" Stop it!" Sakura hissed. " Just stop it! Can't we ever have a civil conversation? Can't you stop putting words in my mouth, assuming the worst of me all the time? I wasn't going to say blind, no matter how vehemently you might believe it so."

Syaoran suddenly leaned in to her, their faces inches apart. Sakura felt her heartbeat race as he said through clenched teeth, " I don't assume. I know. Your just another bitch, another stupid asshole trying to get on my mother's good side, trying to get a little bit of glory. The next Li Clan leader, who will be the one to heal him??"

He laughed bitterly. " Here." He threw her the necklace from around his neck. " I wore it, my mother will be happy, tell her you made some sort of change and then leave. Just damn it leave. Go back to Japan."

With one last contemptuous look, he stormed away from her. Sakura's heartbeat was still racing and she tried to calm it down. Just another bitch...it resonated in her mind and she took deep breaths.

She could do this.

She was strong.

She wouldn't leave. She made a silent vow to herself. She won't leave...until he leaves.

********

Syaoran sat on the couch, his head in his hands. Darkness surrounded him, no matter how many times he blinked. Not once would colour shine through. Not once would he be able to see the world.

His punishment.

He'd live through it.

Except things just made it worse.

Especially the girl. Why was she here? Why didn't she leave? He had hurt her so many times, swore, cursed, insulted...and yet she was still there, smiling, even if it was a bit strained, taking him places, even if they fought twenty times that day.

Nothing like this had ever happened before. The people who had tried to change him left before the week had ended. He could do worse, he knew that. It was just...

She was one of the few people with that...feeling, atmosphere around her that....An innocence, if you could call it that. Innocence, purity...it surrounded her like a glow, and he could feel it when she smiled, when she was happy, when she was angry.

He wanted her to leave.

He wanted to get back to his life, his painful life, back to martial arts, back to the straightforward life ahead of him, no obstacles, nothing but to fulfill what his father wanted him to fulfill. Even if he was disabled, he'd make his father proud. It was the least he could do for his father's memory.

Yet this girl...she was changing his black and white world. Shades were appearing. No long was it planned and sequenced. And he hated that. He hated her.

She had to leave.

" Xiao-Lang!"

Syaoran jerked. It was him. Again.

" What??" Syaoran asked irritably.

" How's life going for my dear descendant?"

" Shut up, Hiirigizawa." Syaoran mumbled. He had no idea where he was. He hated feeling weak like this, hated being reminded how blind he really was..

" Where are you?" Syaoran growled.

A tap on his shoulder. " Right here, Xiao-Lang. Congratulations on the competition today. You're in the finals!"

" Great." Syaoran said. " It'd be a much happier victory if you didn't come and ruin the mood."

" What mood?" That amused voice continued. " That serious, depressed, cynical mood that you're in twenty four seven? God, Xiao-Lang, you're young and rich, get up and have some fun!!"

" Leave me alone!" Syaoran burst out. " I don't need your damned advice."

Eriol snickered. " That wasn't the advice. The advice I wanted to give you, would turn your life upside down. But you're not ready for it."

Syaoran rolled his eyes. " You'd better be ready for some serious fighting if you don't leave-"

" Xiao-Lang, Xiao-Lang, calm down! I just wanted to get up to date with your life! Your mother tells me that this tutor is making quite a progress with you! It's showing. You talk a lot more, did you know that?"

Syaoran felt cold. " Progress? What the hell am I, some laboratory rat??"

Eriol sighed. " What is your goal in life, Xiao-Lang?"

Syaoran grew confused. " What the hell are you talking about?"

" Your goal, your ambition, Xiao-Lang. What is it?"

Syaoran growled, " You know that. everyone knows that. To be an adequate leader of the Li Clan."

" Uh huh. One of the skills a leader must possess is social skills. What social skills do you possess, Xiao-Lang?"

Syaoran froze. " Shut the fuck up, Eriol. I don't need your shit."

Eriol laughed. " Xiao-Lang,, believe it or not, but that girl can turn you into the best leader there ever was for the Li Clan. You could truly make your father proud if you just-"

" Get out, Eriol."

" Xiao-Lang-"

" GET OUT!"

Eriol sighed. " All I hope, is that you might open yourself up. It's not a weakness. Don't walk around, so prideful all the time. Take a step down, You're not better than everyone else."

With that, he walked away, his shoes making sound this time, so Syaoran knew he had left. Once he had, Syaoran felt his eyes start to burn. He wouldn't cry. He never cried. Never. Ever since his accident, he had been dry eyed, even when they had told him his father died. Even when they had teased him and insulted him and pushed him around.

He didn't need any help. He didn't need that girl. He didn't need nobody.

a/n: Ah. Romance chances. 0%. Lol! Seriosly though, I think there must be some sort of chance for our leading couple!! Don't get all sad on me now!

Review, aight? Tell me what you think is gonna happen. What you WANT to happen. I take suggestions ppl! I NEED suggestions!! REVIEW, ma friendies and you shall see a new chappy to reward you. ( warning: chapter might not appear immediately)

see ya latez,

*starjade*