Chapter Twenty

Card Captor Sakura

Jagged Amber

starjade

Revelations

" XIAO-LANG!"

The lone scream echoed through the stadium as Syaoran fell, not for the first time, down to the ground, blood pouring from wounds and injuries all over his battered body. He collapsed with a thud onto the sand, and the crowd seemed to hush in anticipation.

His opponent, who had only just broken a sweat, looked at Syaoran with an almost disgusted expression. He then spoke, his voice quiet and soft and the silence grew as the crowd strained to hear him.

" I expected to at least have a decent fight from the legendary blind fighter. I'm disappointed that I haven't even lost my breath. You're pathetic. What are you trying to prove?" He spoke, his voice unemotional, but the most cutting statement Syaoran had ever heard.

Syaoran couldn't breathe. His ribs hurt and he knew that his just healed ribs were injured or even broken from the way it dug into his stomach with almost gut wrenching pain filled movements. His nose was pouring blood and his lip bled as if there was no tomorrow and bruises covered him from head to toe.

He looked up out of his rapidly swelling eye and croaked out, " I'm.." He broke out into a gasp as he wrenched himself up onto his knees. " I'm trying..."

He pulled himself up, letting out shuddering breaths with the effort and looked up through his drenched bangs, swallowing." I'm trying to prove...that I...I can do this."

The man stared at him. " You're trying to prove that you, a blind guy can beat a man with eyesight, isn't that it?"

There was silence. Then shockingly, a smirk made its way to Syaoran's face and the man blinked in surprise.

" I'm blind?" He questioned, breathing heavily. " I didn't know that."

He raised his fists into his fighting stance and conjured up the presence that made him want to carry the world and present it to her. And he would fight for her. He would fight this for her.

Sakura...

He gave a low chuckle and leaned down low, glaring at his opponent. " If you think I'm blind...you're the one who needs to get his eyes checked."

And the man only had enough time to raise his eyebrows as Syaoran launched out, in exact precision and kicked the man off his feet.

" What," Yelan spoke lowly. " is the meaning of this."

She could hardly think whatsoever. Her son was getting beat to a bloody pulp in the middle of the stadium, Sakurahad just beentaken away from the elders and had not come back and here was an elder, telling her that she would never see Sakura again!

" It's true. Kinomoto Sakura is not who you think she is. Indeed, she has been after Syaoran's wealth, just like the rest of his nannies, tutors and supposed friends. She is not someone to trust and we have evaluated evidence on this fact and know it for sure. Therefore we have taken the necessary steps-" The elder spoke and Yelan's expression grew murderous.

She could hardly stop herself from screaming as she retorted in a deathly voice, " Necessary steps? Evidence? It's not getting ANY clearer and I DEMAND to know what is going on!"

" She has been transported to a hotel for the remaining two days she is here. Evidence was submitted from a upperclassmen which indicated Kinomoto seducing Syaoran," The elder spoke reluctantly.

Yelan stared at the elder, appalled.

" Seducing? She hasn't been seducing Xiao-Lang! If anything happens between them, it's sincere and honest-" Yelan started but the Elder clucked.

" We suspected you would feel this way. She is quite good at the 'innocent' personality. We have taken background checks on her and found out she is from a very poor family that is in desperate need for money. She is a low commoner. Do you not remember that we announced Xiao-Lang would NOT be married to a commoner? For this exact reason. All they are after is his wealth," The elder explained.

" But-"

" End of discussion, Li Yelan. Please do not mention any of this to Xiao-Lang, I'm sure she has him wrapped around her finger and he would be devastated at the news. We will be searching for new prospects of marriage for him, since we have heard that he has rejected the marriage arrangement between him and Li Meiling. Thank you and good day," The elder said and walked away, leaving Yelan gaping behind him.

This was all wrong. All of it was wrong. And she could not say a thing because she had no evidence, no proof, absolutely nothing!

Yelan's fists clenched. Who was this "upperclassmen" who provided this "Evidence!"

Yelan made a gritty promise to herself. She'd find out who this was. No one was taking happiness away from her son. No one.

The crowd was going wild. The fight was now explosive, punches and kicks exchanged with such power, people could feel the impact they made and everyone was leaning forward, hooting and whistling and not caring about the rule about being quiet as a fight was going on.

Syaoran didn't care anymore. He released every last bout of energy he had left in him and with Sakura's voice in his mind, her touch, her presence...he pounded back, punch for punch, kick for kick.

The sand raised in clouds around them as complex offence and defence moves were executed until the sand rose so much that the crowd could not see the fighters anymore.

Then they heard a thump on the ground and the crowd knew.

The fight was over.

Now it was all about seeing who the winner was...when the dust settled.
And when it did...the crowd gasped and Meiling and Yelan screamed in shock.

She knew it.

All along, she knew it.

She loved him.

God, she loved him. She loved every bit of him. It was the biggest reason why she stayed, why she smiled when he insulted her, why she didn't want to leave or go back to her hometown..

She was in love with Syaoran Li, the blind martial artist, the heir to the Li Clan...

He hated her in the beginning. Now, she knew he considered her to be some type of friend to him. And she knew that was a big step. No one had ever come this close to him. He never had a friend before in his lifetime.

She had failed to understand him when she had first arrived. She didn't understand why he was so cruel, so mean, so...Now she understood. Even though she still was mad about his degrading remarks, she understood. And that was one thing NO ONE could ever do.

No one understood him, because no one could relate to him.

And even though she couldn't relate to him, she just...accepted him. And that's all he wanted. For people to accept him as a person, not just a blind person...not just as the heir of the Li clan...but a person. Like everyone else.

And here she was, bags packed, ready to leave back to Japan in two days.

She wrapped her arms around her legs and buried her face in her knees as she sat on the bed of the hotel. Syaoran was fighting the biggest fight of his life and she wasn't there...she wanted to be there so much, it hurt. She just wanted to say bye to him!

I love him...god I love him. She kept repeating it in her head. It had enveloped her in a frenzy of emotions...and it took all her skills to keep it from showing. And she knew, even then, that she wasn't doing such a great job.

Syaoran...please be alright...she thought to herself. Please..

Syaoran lay on the ground unconscious.

So did his opponent.

The crowd was silent as the announcer walked into the middle of the field. Then, the crowd gasped.

Miraculously...Syaoran's opponent struggled to his knees, sweat pouring from his head in droplets, his face bruised and cut and his arm twisted at a weird angle. He was breathing hard and he shuddered as he got to his feet.

The announcer gaped then quickly, faced the audience and screamed, " WE HAVE A WINNER! TAIKOUGA FROM BEIJING!"

The crowd roared with approval as Taikouga, Syaoran's opponent was awarded with the fighter's belt and as reporters started to surround him, he turned back to Syaoran and said into the microphone, " That man...is one of the best fighter's I've seen in my lifetime. He is absolutely phenomenal and had such a passion...it was clear that he wanted the win and he drove himself to it. His passion...it's something I've never seen before. Most people fight for themselves...he...he fought for someone or something. His special something or someone. Li Syaoran...I will always respect you."

And as Syaoran's unconscious form was led away, the crowd rose to their feet in a standing ovation and clapped, as the fighter was led from the stadium.

Syaoran's eyes were heavy and he could barely open them. The same darkness met him as he opened his eyes but now he was aware of the pain in his chest and the bandages wrapped around his forehead and the bandages that were wrapped around his nose and the stitches that were on his lip. His arm was folded into a cast and it reminded him greatly of the first time he had gotten injured in a fight..

But this time...this time it was worse.

Syaoran closed his eyes and he knew she was there, even if his senses had left him, once again.

" Who won," He croaked out.

Silence.

" WHO WON?" He nearly shouted, his voice hoarse and rugged.

A strangled whisper. " Taikouga won. I-I'm so sorry Xiao-Lang..."

A comforting hand was placed on his arm but he wrenched away. He closed his eyes in defeat.

" Kinomoto?" He asked, tiredly.

" She's not here," Meiling responded.

Syaoran sank into his pillows. Probably didn't want to see me, the loser, Syaoran sniped in his mind. He hadn't proved a thing. He hadn't proved a thing.

" Where is that...girl..." Syaoran tried to spit out but he couldn't muster out the normal distaste he usually had when he mentioned Sakura.

Silence once more.

Syaoran's heart began to beat even faster.

" Meiling, where's Kinomoto?" He growled.

" You know, I should be calling your mother. You were really hurt in that fight, but you should've seen it, everyone was clapping for you, your famous for that fight-"

" WHERE'S KINOMOTO?" He shouted again, frustration leaking into his voice.

Then, a deathly response. " I don't know..."

" Was..was she even there..." He questioned, his voice going back down to a soft tone.

A pregnant pause. Then, " No."

Syaoran sank back into the pillows. " Leave."

" But Syaoran, she was taken-"

" LEAVE!"

Heavy footsteps walked away from him and out the door. Syaoran was left in the darkness and silence once more. His fists clenched. Wasn't even there..

What did he expect anyway? Her to be watching him lose and then smile to him afterwards, saying how she didn't care if he was defeated?

With a yell, he grabbed the nearest thing to him, which happened to be a vase of flowers and threw it against the wall, hearing the shatter with satisfaction. Then his smirk fell from his face and he let his emotions free.

She wasn't there...and that hurt him more then he'd ever admit...

"Meiling...tell him."

" Why do I have to tell him?" Meiling whined. "Can't you just tell him?"

Yelan stared at her. " Meiling please. He doesn't understand why she left. I've asked and begged and pleaded the elders to tell me where she went but all they have said was that she had gone back to Japan and I know that's not true because there is no way she can switch her ticket this late. She has a ticket to go back tomorrow," Yelan said, her voice heavy. " Syaoran...he's...hurting. He needs her. And in many ways, I think she needs him too."

Meiling's ruby red eyes were growing dark and her fists clenched. She gritted her teeth and said, " Fine. Fine I will."

" Thank you," Yelan said, smiling.

Syaoran had a cast on one arm and another wrapping around his stomach. His eye was swollen and he was pretty sure he had a tooth missing. He couldn't be sure of course, since he couldn't see himself but if that empty gap at the back of his mouth was any indication..

" Syaoran..."

Her voice swept through his mind like a tidal wave and he growled. Stop it, Syaoran, he shouted to himself. She left! She doesn't give a shit. So why are you pining away?

Syaoran got up out of his bed, even though the doctor told him not to and began to pace awkwardlyaround, exercising out his legs. He lost. But he wasn't going to remain a loser in the hospital bed.

The elders had met with him today. Strangely, they weren't angry about his loss. They told him frankly, that Sakura didn't care about him. That she was another seductress.

Syaoran had listened to it all and he attempted to get angry at Sakura but it hadn't worked. All he could think about was her touch. The way her skin felt against his and the eternal longing just to see her...the happiness in her eyes, the absolute joy that would sparkle in her green eyes..

But all that came to mind was darkness.

That's the world he lived in, anyways.

Cursing to himself as exhaustion overtook him, he sat down heavily on his bed. He looked around, clenching his fingers against the bed cloth. " Fuck her. Fuck her. Fuck Sakura. She can rot in hell for all I care. She could rot...and I wouldn't care. I wouldn't. DAMMIT!" He yelled. " WHY DO I FUCKING CARE?"

He slammed his fist against the bed and swore. "How the hell did she do this to me?"

How...she made his body flare, his soul and heart flame with a passion he never knew and he would take it out in anger at her for making him feel weak...making him feel needy...needy for her..

" She doesn't care...now all you gotta do is make sure you don't," He repeated to himself and lay back in the hospital bed, closing his eyes to the world...and to the pain.

" SYAORAN!"

The screech made his ears hurt and he winced as someone came bounding through the door.

" Oh, Syaoran poo! You look so..mangly, like a poor beggar or something. Well, your going to get healed and all those nasty bruises will go away..." he heard the voice come closer as a feminine drawl near his ear whispered, " and you'll be just as handsome as you always are.."

" Get the fuck away from me, Yen."

A gasp. " What profane words, darling! How could you say that to me?"

" Why wouldn't I say it to you? Your bothering me. Leave me the hell alone," Syaoran growled, his voice low and fury filled.

A silence. " Syaoran, I know...I know I haven't been the nicest person lately," Syaoran's eyebrows went up at the words as he heard a sniffle. " But...I just...I feel so jealous when other girls are taking your attention. It's just..."

There was another elongated pause and Syaoran waited.

" It's just...I'm...I'm in love with you!"

Syaoran nearly laughed. Here he was, lying in a bed after his biggest defeat, after he had failed his goal to prove himself, after Sakura had ditched him, after he was banged up and lying helpless in a hospital bed...

And some crazy lunatic girl comes in confessing her love to him!

" Are you for real?" Syaoran asked, sarcastically.

She must've took it as a sign of returned love because she had enveloped him in her arms, squealing, "I knew you felt the same way! That was why when the elder's approached me with a marriage proposal , I immediately agreed!"

Everything was silent.

Dead silent.

" What." Syaoran spit out, hardly able to contain his rage.

" Well...we're...we're engaged.." Yen stuttered out, probably recognizing the tension in his body to be anger. Syaoran's eyes turned almost red with fury.

" I am NOTengaged! Much less to you! What are those bastard elders thinking? IT was worse enough when they tried to make me marry Meiling but now you? Get the HELL out of my room and you can tell those elders to fuck off because I am not marrying you!" He cussed, his anger taking over his mind and conscience.

Yen had gotten up angrily through his whole speech. " YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" She screeched. " I am the most beautiful girl in the school but obviously you can't notice, you blind asshole!" She ranted, impulsivly. " Why don't you go run off after your precious Sakurrraa? Huh? Well after what I did to her, you probably won't see her again for the rest of your life so you better be grateful someone WILL marry you!"

Syaoran had turned sheet white. A clapping sound was heard as Yen's hand slapped over her mouth.

" Shit."

" What did you do to her?"

" Look, Syaoran.."

" WHAT did you DO to her!"

" Wow, I gotta go-"

" WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?"

" Answer the question, Yen," A voice at the door said softly. Syaoran instantly recognized it to be Meiling's voice. "Answer the damnedquestion."

" I won't!" Yen growled. " I've worked too hard for this!"

" Answer it before I pound your pretty little face in," Meiling said stoically. Syaoran felt a rush of gratitude towards his cousin. Anger and confusion was bubbling inside of him like an unexploded volcano and he waited with baited breath for Yen to answer.

Yen clenched her fists and then let out a guffaw, grabbing her bag and huffing.With a snarl, she said "That bitch isleaving in a day. The elder's kicked her out, because she was seducing you. I just tipped them off, that's it. You should be thanking me for saving you from such a money grabbing brat like Sakura-"

" Get out of my room, Yen. Get the fuck out." Syaoran said, coldly.

Yen turned on her heel and clipped out, saying before she walked out the door, " We're still engaged, you ungrateful loser. The elder's have made sure of that!"

Then silence enveloped the room once more.

Meiling looked at Syaoran and walked over to his bedside. " What are you going to do?" She asked, ruby red eyes looking carefully at Syaoran.

With Yen's words still pounding through his mind, Syaoran looked up at Meiling and looked down again. " I don't know..." He answered. He took a deep breath and looked towards the ceiling. " I know what I want to do though."

Meiling smiled, a bit painfully. " Then do it, Syaoran. Do it, for once in your life, do what YOU want to do."

Syaoran blinked his sightless eyes and nodded slowly. For once in my life...he thought to himself.

For once in your life, Syaoran...trust.

a/n: Alrighttt, another chapter! woot...never thought i'd be able to get this one out. lol, yea i mixed up the cities in the last chapter...hehehe...IT was on PURPOSE...and yes, no one believes meee..

lol anyways howz everyonez march break? sadly, all im doin is workin, but heyyy, its money. lol. aight ppl, see ya latez!

starjade