Chapter Thirteen

Card Captor Sakura

Jagged Amber

~starjade~

Disabled

Sakura felt her whole body freeze and became aware of all the places their bodies touched. He wasn't holding her, he was just letting her rest on his chest. Her grip on his shirt loosened but she never moved her eyes from his face.

" Mind getting off of me?"

His voice was cold and sharp and Sakura let go of him quickly, pushing herself away from him and stumbling to her feet. Her eyes were wide and the dried tears on her face prominent as she stared at him, waiting for his reaction.

He got up as well, more slower, and Sakura watched him, chest clenching tight. This wasn't supposed to happen....she thought, her heart beating hard as he walked towards her.

And almost in a quick flash, Sakura thought, what would it feel like to kiss him? What would it feel like to touch him? Would he let her?

But the thought died out quickly as he came closer and her mouth went dry. His eyes stared off in another direction but he opened his mouth and said quietly, " Move."

Sakura stared at him and then jerked to look behind her. She was covering the door to his room and she quickly moved out of the way. He walked right past her and into his room, closing it softly behind her. She looked at the closed door, her heart still beating painfully against her chest.

After all that....he didn't even anything? Not even an insult?

She turned to leave but the door opened again and Syaoran was standing there, this time dressed, his jacket slung over his arm.

" Let's go," He said shortly and walked past her. Sakura, truly baffled, followed him.

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

" How can you even think of doing that, Yen?" Sairah asked, her voice horrified though slightly awed at Yen's nerve.

Yen grinned. " I'm not even doing anything, Yen. I'm letting it happen. I realized that if I tried to do something to that damned Japanese slut, I would get in trouble. But if she did it all by herself....all I have to do is stand by and watch."

Sairah shook her head. " How do you know that this is going to even work? Kinomoto doesn't really like Xiao-Lang that much, everyone knows that and Xiao-Lang hates her-"

" It will work, Sairah," Yen said firmly, her eyes flashing dangerously. Sairah shut her mouth quickly and Yen grinned widely to herself as she stared out the window to the towering Li Mansion in the distance.

" It'll work. Trust me."

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

" Well, I meant to do this before, but since-well, since you-" Sakura stumbled over her words, trying to catch up with the speed walking Syaoran.

He hadn't spoken a word since they had driven up here. There were many times that a muscle would jump in his cheek when he probably wanted to spit out a spiteful comment but he was holding back. That was absolutely shocking to Sakura.

He was truly changing, she thought. But why? What had she done that was making him change? All she had done was bring a lot more pain to his life and hers, but-he was changing. Everyone else had noticed it but her.

" Well, we're here!" Sakura said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. Syaoran stopped and paused. Sounds of laughter and cheerful chatter reached their ears and Sakura's shoulders tensed as she awaited his reaction.

" Where the hell-" He paused and his jaw clenched. " Where did you bring me?"

" More like you brought me," Sakura muttered.

" I heard that," Syaoran shot back.

" Of course you did," Sakura said, smiling sweetly. " Let's go inside."

" What the f-I mean, I'm not going inside until you tell me what the f-I mean, what it is!" Syaoran stumbled over his words.

Sakura rose her eyebrows in amazement. He was actually trying not to swear! Hallelujah! The day she had never thought would come in her whole entire life! It was absolutely gratifyi-

" I know your staring at me bitch! So stop it!"

So much for that idea, Sakura thought almost forlornly. Ignoring the obvious insult, she smiled at him widely.

" I took you to a martial arts training arena. It's for kids that other places won't take in. You know, kids who are-"

" Disabled." Syaoran finished for her, his face taking on that hard look once more. His jaw was clenching tight and Sakura groaned. Did he have to take everything so personally?

Sakura said as gently as possible, " These kids are great kids, they just weren't given the chances you got, Syaoran. No tutor, no private lessons-could you help them, just a bit? Even if you just told them that you could do martial arts-"

" Why the hell would I do that?" Syaoran spat. " This is absolutely ridiculous. I don't even know why I let you drag me here-"

" You dragged me-"

" Look! This is not some ' I'm blind and I have a connection with you' sob story here! God, get it through your head! Those kids don't need me. They'll realize soon enough that if their deaf or blind, they're not going to get anywhere! They're social outcasts, abnormal, handicapped. No getting around it! No false encouragement!"

" You're wrong, Syaoran-"

" Am I? What kind of world do you live in? Don't you see the way people react when they think of me being a martial artist? I'm blind! B-L-I-N-D. Disabled, handicapped, call it whatever you want, but at least realize it! I'm never going to be like you, or anyone else! So leave me alone! Leave those kids alone!"

Sakura watched him with sad eyes as he finished, breathing hard as he turned around angrily to stalk out of the training studio-And ran smack into a little boy.

The boy cried and fell down. Syaoran halted and reached down, picking up the little kid and setting him straight.

" Watch where your going, stupid kid," Syaoran grumbled.

The little kids eyes grew wide at the sight of him and he made an incomprehensible noise. Then he began to scream, his voice loud and guttural and Syaoran and Sakura took a step back, astonished.

" Kenshi? Kenshi, are you ok?" Someone cried.

Sakura turned around and someone was running towards them, a woman who was dressed in traditional fighting clothes and with a strange glance to Sakura and Syaoran, bent down in front of the boy and began to motion in sign language to the child.

The child whipped his hands fast in strange signals, pointing excitedly at the two of them, making strange gurgling noises at the back of his throat. They were able to make out 'fighter' from his sounds but nothing else.

The woman smiled gently, and got up, facing Syaoran and Sakura. " Hello. Welcome to our martial arts academy. Who are you two?"

Sakura smiled. " I'm Kinomoto Sakura and this is Li Syaoran-"

" Yes!" The woman grinned. " Kenshi was telling me you were the martial artist who was blind yet topped all the competitions. It is quite the inspiration to our group and he for one, idolizes you."

Sakura watched Syaoran's reaction with interest. His cheeks were flushing red and he was grumbling like mad. " Why does he make those noises?" Syaoran asked gruffly.

The woman tilted her head. " Well, he's deaf. He hasn't learned how to speak, for he's never needed to use it. He can't hear the sounds he makes and we are trying to teach him how to speak, that other people can hear sounds even though he can't. He learned a few words, like the preliminaries, but he often resorts to screaming when he's excited. He really wants to become a martial artist-like you, Mr.Li."

Syaoran growled, " I'm not a martial artist. There's no room for disabled kids in martial arts."

The woman rose her eyebrows. " Well then what are you doing competing in competitions, Mr. Li?"

Syaoran choked. " Well-Its-I-"

The woman smiled gently. "Do you think you can talk to them? Say something short, maybe show them a move or help them with their fighting skills?"

Syaoran was trying hard to say no and a smile began to spread on Sakura's face. Syaoran actually cared! Ha ha! She felt insanely proud of Syaoran and grinned at him widely.

" Fine!! If you leave me alone, I'll do it! But I'm only saying a few words and then we're leaving! Got it, tutor?" Syaoran yelled harshly.

Sakura giggled. " Got it!"

Syaoran glared at her and she just laughed. She knew he hated it when she responded to his insensitive statements with a cheerful attitude. That's why she did it half the time! Oh how fun it was to bug Syaoran.

The woman led them inside a small temple, where they could hear the children's laughter coming closer. The woman slid open a door and revealed a room where children, all in white uniforms, were practicing clumsily, their martial arts.

Sakura gasped. It was amazing. Little children, physically handicapped, practicing martial arts. She felt Syaoran's body stiffen as they felt the silence drop in the whole room.

" Hello," Syaoran said, in a brash, loud voice. Yet Sakura knew that he was hiding an emotion....was it nervousness? Why would he be nervous?

" Who-who are you?" Asked a boy, with a defocused gaze. He had a walking stick and was holding onto someone's arm for support.

" I am the best martial artist there is. I cam here to talk to you guys. And you guys suck. Truly." Syaoran stated, his voice loud and cruel.

Sakura stared and looked at him shock. " Syaoran! What are you saying?"

Syaoran brushed her off and walked into the room. " I can hear it. The way you all are slamming your fists and trying to prove something....yet you guys don't have the heart for it. You don't really believe that you guys are getting anywhere with this."

A girl with a disease that made her bones brittle and weak was sitting on the floor with a scowl on her face. She scoffed. " Hello, mister. We're handicapped. What kind of martial artist is disabled?"

" I'm disabled." Syaoran said, his voice gruff.

There was a hush and then one person squeaked out, " Li! It's Li!"

There was gasps all around and the little blind boy shouted, " Are you really Li Xiao-Lang?"

Syaoran was getting angry, which he usually got when he was embarrassed and before he could say something mean, Sakura cut in. " Yes, he is. And he is here to help you guys! So you want to show Mr. Li exactly what you guys can do?"

There was a loud cheer after her words and all the children began to start over again, with more passion in their moves. Syaoran stood in the middle of the room, his amber eyes darkening as little children began to try and clamber over him, pelting question after question.

Sakura walked up to him and lay a hand on his arm. " You're doing good, Syaoran. They're happy you came. Help them out a bit."

Syaoran visibly relaxed and he spoke, without much conviction, " I don't need you, slut."

" That's what you think," Sakura smiled and Syaoran shot a look at her before he turned off to help one of the kids with their kick. Sakura sat down and watched as Syaoran held back his anger, and with strained patience, helped the kid with his move. The boy's eyes were wide with adoration as he imitated Syaoran's example. Sakura watched Syaoran move from kid to kid, watching his eyes especially.

He was relaxing. He was helping someone out. Sakura rested her chin in her hands and observed Syaoran. He had such a good heart. His venom filled words, his coldness and his threats were all just an armour he had built up around himself.

She smiled as one boy hugged Syaoran and Syaoran's eyes grew wide with surprise and uncertainty. Sakura wondered how long it was since Syaoran had hugged someone. But with almost robot like movements, Syaoran moved to hug the little boy back.

It was the sweetest thing Sakura had ever seen. Sakura's heart beat raced as she watched and she sighed. If only Syaoran was like that with her.

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

" Did you see Kenshi after I showed him my special spiral kick? Did you see his face? Damn, he was freaking blown away! Shit, and did you see Jun? Did you-" Syaoran was shouting, as they drove away from the temple, his expression one of amazement.

Sakura grinned at him. " Yeah, I saw, Syaoran. It was real sweet of you to do that."

Syaoran stopped and then scowled. " Shut up. I just did it cause I was forced to. Don't go thinking shit, Japanese slut."

" I'm not thinking anything!" Sakura replied, holding her hands up in innocence. Syaoran just growled and turned away from her, his cheeks showing a bit of colour as he glared at the window. Syaoran wasn't one to show much emotion other than anger and bitterness, so today was quite the change for both of them.

Sakura had never seen this side of Syaoran before. Ever. It made her heart speed up, it made her breath catch in her throat, it caused emotions to stir up, deep in the pit of her stomach. She didn't know why it was doing such a thing to her, but just seeing the look on Syaoran's face as he helped those kids out-it made Sakura grin maniacally for the rest of the day.

They reached the mansion and got outside the limo. Syaoran stumbled over a crack on the pebbled walkway and almost fell, but Sakura caught his arm and balanced him out.

" You okay, Syaoran?" Sakura asked.

" I'm fine, bitch! I don't need you worrying over me!" Syaoran growled at her as they climbed up the stairs to the doorway.

" Can't help it, Syaoran. I have to worry about you," Sakura said, smiling.

There was silence after her words as she opened the door. Syaoran stood behind her and finally gave into curiosity. " Why?"

" Why what?"

" Why the hell do you...worry."

Sakura looked at him strangely. " Well, I am your tutor. And well, we're sort of friends, aren't we?"

Syaoran looked off into the distance, his expression blank. " Sort of friends? I don't have friends, bitch."

Sakura giggled. " Well, you got one, Syaoran! Don't really know why, the way you keep calling me a slut and a bitch."

Syaoran frowned at her and growled, " We're not friends, and I can call you whatever the hell I want! Move out of my way and go slobber on someone else, your friendship mush is making me sick!"

He tried to push her out of the way but Sakura stopped him and spoke softly, " Syaoran, I know deep inside, you have a good heart. Don't be afraid to let it out sometimes."

Syaoran pushed her hard and she stumbled, falling to the ground. " I don't need your shit, Kinomoto. Get your damn mark and leave. Don't give me that 'good heart' crap that they all try to say. I ain't turning into a sap for no one."

" I'm not doing this for me anymore, Syaoran, I'm-"

" I'm doing this for you, yah, I've heard it before. Just get your ass out of here before I kick it out!" Syaoran shouted.

Sakura stared at him. Where did that guy from this morning go? Why did he change so suddenly? Why did he take every word so personally? He was so bitter, so furious-

But he had walked away already, his footsteps stomping up the stairs as he walked to his room. Sakura looked after him and sighed. She wished..... she wished he could say one nice thing to her. One compliment, one nice thing-without the after bite, without the angry words, without the trash talking-and she wished he would smile. One smile.

The phone rang, jerking her out of her thoughts. Sakura hurried over to the phone and picked it up quickly.

" Hello?"

" Sakura! Should I come over?"

" Tomoyo? What are you talking about? Why do you want to come over?"

" Well, duh! The dance is tonight! Remember, dance, dress, Eriol coming to pick you up?"

Sakura paused. Oh shit. She looked up the stairs at Syaoran's closed door.

Oh shit.

a/n: Ho Ho Ho! I can almost see a wimpy Syaoran in da next chap. Nah, I'm juss playin. More like jealous Syaoran, straight up! Lol, thanx ya guys for readin dis story and yesss! We are a thousand reviews now, aren't we? We must be proud! A thousand for dis little lowly story I write. Ya guys are too kind-

But i still want reviews. Ooh, I feel bad. I'm greedy, ain't I? Ah well. lol, aight people, send in ya reviews, ya comments, ya criticism, anythin ya wanna say to me, come and say it! I'm open to everythin, except for no good reason flames, but das it! Das it! lol, aight ppl, see ya latez,

'nuff luv,

~starjade~