Card Captor Sakura

Chapter Twenty Two

Jagged Amber

starjade--

Loving

They ran and ran, as the bodyguards chased them down with increasing speed. People screamed as Syaoran pushed past them. Their feet slapped against the ground, tripping over trolleys and suitcases. Sakura looked back, her eyes full of fear as she spotted the two body guards.

They were catching up. Syaoran had caught them by surprise, by they were guards and they knew what they were doing. Their footsteps were loud and clear, even above the hustle and bustle of the airport.

Security guards were staring at them confused and a few them were talking hurriedly in their cell phones. Fearwrestled with Sakura's heart as the security began to grow, their attempts to grab Syaoran failing as Syaoran dodged.

That made it clear to Sakura that somehow, some way, through his injuries, his senses once again had become heightened. But he was running the wrong way, and Sakura screamed, " This way!" And pulled on Syaoran's hand, pulling him through the back exit.

They ran through cars and trucks parked in the parking lot and leapt down a hill. They dodged their way through traffic and across the street, but the guards were catching up, almost on their tail.

They'll get us, Sakura thought, dread seeping through her. There's no point in running. She hardly knew why she was running, why they were chasing her, why they were so desperate in not having Sakura and Syaoran contact each other, why they were pushing Sakura to leave, who got those photographs and who made those lies up..

Sakura thought, dread seeping through her. She hardly knew why she was running, why they were chasing her, why they were so desperate in not having Sakura and Syaoran contact each other, why they were pushing Sakura to leave, who got those photographs and who made those lies up..

And then Sakura saw something that made the corners of her mouth turn upward. Jerking Syaoran to the right, she ran her way up to a bus that was about to leave, hopping onto it quickly with Syaoran in tow. Shewatched with increasing satisfaction as the doors closed and the guards were left, banging on the side of the bus as it sped away.

Sweating profusely, Sakura dug through her purse, producing some change, handing it to the bus driver quickly, sitting down in the chairs closest to the driver. There, she let herself relax.

And then she turned to look at Syaoran.

His head was lowered, chocolate bangs covering his face as she heard him take laboured breaths. He was holding his hand to his chest, his face contorted in pain. Gasping softly, she whispered, " Syaoran...Syaoran are you okay?"

He wouldn't speak and just gripping his chest as if he was trying to push the pain away.

She looked at him, feeling helpless as he just leaned his head against the chair next to him, breathing slowly. Sakura could see that his forehead wound had opened up and blood was soaking the bandage on it. A woman next to them asked Sakura if they were okay, and Sakura nodded mutely.

They must've looked a funny sight. A flight attendant and a injured blind boy. Sakura could hardly muffle a hopeless, almost crazed laugh. Sweat making the back of her attendant uniform stick to her skin, she leaned her head back against the window, closing her eyes tiredly.

Why did you come after me? She yelled in her mind. Why did you come and risk everything? Why did you run with me? Why did you...

She yelled in her mind.

Questions raced through her mind and she wanted to yell at him, hold him, cry, release the emotions that were building up inside her chest in a tight knot of pain. The bus ride was a bumpy one but Sakura sat still as the bus halted at many bus stops and people were getting off. She was too tired from all the emotional drama that had been going on the last few days and all she wanted was to stay near Syaoran forever.

The bus halted once more. People were getting off but Sakura kept her eyes closed.

" Sorry guys, but this is the last stop," The bus driver said gruffly. Sakura's eyes shot open and she stared at the bus driver and then looked around herself.

" Where are we?" She murmured, tiredly.

" The bus station. You can take another bus to wherever you guys need to go," He said, his eyes looking over Syaoran critically. " Even if it is to the hospital."

Sakura nodded, mutely as she grabbed onto Syaoran's sleeve and led him stumbling outside, slowly. The doors closed behind them and the bus sped away, leaving Sakura and Syaoran standing alone on the bus platform. Sakura sighed, walking towards the benches.

Syaoran sat down heavily and Sakura sat lightly beside him. The silence grew.

Sakura bit her lip. She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't take this anymore.

She hardly spent two months with Syaoran and her love for him...exceeded everything she ever knew. She had no idea where it stemmed from, how it started, where it came from...all she knew was that she loved him and that was all. But this crazy situation, these crazy things were happening all at once and she didn't know what to do and all she wanted to do was scream.

" How the HELL can you just stay SO DAMNED QUIET?" She finally yelled, her voice loud and clear. People around them stared at them queerly, but Sakura didn't care.

Syaoran jerked, surprised and then looked her way. " Keep your voice down," He said, lowly.

Keep your voice down, Sakura thought manically. Keep your friggin voice down. After all that running, after all that shit we had just went through, all you can say is KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN?

Sakura thought manically.

" No I will not keep my voice down and I won't stay quiet!" Sakura said, her voice however considerably lower. " I just had to go through accusations that I was some temptress or a gold digger, photos of us doing non-sexual things however, taken that way and the elder's sending me off to Japan before I can say bye to ANYONE then sneaking out using a flight attendant uniform and then being chased down by two muscular men through an airport and when I FINALLY talk to you, all you can SAY is keep your voice down!"

He looked at her but kept his mouth shut and she felt guilt seep through her. He had gone through a lot too and here she was, screaming at him. She had meant to convince him that she wasn't some temptress and here she was, yelling at him like it was his fault.

She let her breath go, all in one whoosh and her fingers went to her temples. She heard calls from the system above her, reporting out delayed bus schedules but she ignored them all. She whispered, softly, " Look, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I just...I didn't know where this was coming form and I just wanted to say goodbye to you and I wanted to be there for your fight and...and I just... I really don't know what I wanted to do." Tell you I love you, her mind screamed.

Tell you I love you.

His sightless eyes went down to the ground and she felt her shoulders slump. He probably was sent by Yelan or something. He most likely didn't even want to save her. This was absolutely pointless. Absolutely pointless.

She should've just went back to Japan.

Getting up slowly, she gathered her courage and said, " Well...I guess I've got the chance now, huh? Goodbye Syaoran. I-I'm glad we're friends. I-" She wanted to say it so badly but she couldn't...she couldn't...

" I'll miss you..." Was all she could say.

The words hung between them as he kept his eyes to the ground . Say something, she yelled in her mind. SAY SOMETHING! Yell at me, call me a bitch, call me a whore, say something, something, something!

But he wasn't going to say a word. Maybe he did believe that all she was after was a good mark or money. Maybe he did believe them...

I love you, Syaoran Li, she said to him in her thoughts. And then she turned and left. She walked through the crowds waiting for a bus, finally letting all her frustrated, emotion filled tears run down her face.

Such a weakling, she thought in her mind with a sarcastic laugh. That's what he would call her. A weakling.

The only thing that makes me weak is him.

Only him.

Her words surrounded him, like a cloud of mist. He couldn't even concentrate on them, all he could do was stare blankly.

Things were racing through his mind, like a whirlwind. Memories of his dad, bloodied and breathing his last in the smashed car. Thoughts of the Elder sempai, yelling at him to train harder, drilling it into him that emotion was weak.

Fear was weak. Friendship was weak. Love was...the weakest of all.

And those nannies would come. The psychiatrists came. The "playmates" came. Everyone had come and left, with their money. And he would be left, crying at home...and they would always tell him, tears were a sign of weakness.

And his father hated tears.

In his quest to be his father, he ignored his mother. He ignored his cousin. He ignored every single sincere attempt to reach him and kept his heart cold. His exterior turned frozen and he didn't give a shit about the world. Everything became routine and all that went through his head, was proving himself.

Now he knew, that the only person that matteredwho didn't think he was good enough was himself.

And Sakura came. Sakura came and broke through it. She came and with her laugh, her giggle, her words and her tears, she taught him so many things. He let himself grow weak.

He let himself grow weak...but he knew she wasn't just a friend. The longings deep in his chest, the wants, the needs grew so deep in her presence, he didn't trust himself anymore..

" Look, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I just...I didn't know where this was coming form and I just wanted to say goodbye to you and I wanted to be there for your fight and...and I just... I really don't know what I wanted to do."

He heard her quiet voice speak and it broke through his thoughts and he listened to her words, with growing anxiety.

" I'll miss you..."

He froze up and heard her footsteps recede.

She wasn't going to leave.

Not a second time. No fucking way.

" Where are they?" Yelan barked, angrily.

The Elder's were together in a group, conversing rapidly with each other. Yelan looked at her cousin, her eyes on fire. He breathed out, running a hand through his hair frustrated.

" The tutor had escaped the Elder's watch, by dressing up as a flight attendant. We aren't quite sure how that occurred, but it happened and she got out of the room she was being watched in. Xiao-Lang seemed to have come after her and they both ran off somewhere and we aren't quite sure where they are. In all possibilities, they could be anywhere."

" So...he's with Sakura," Yelan said, her shoulders slumping in relief.

" Yes...we suppose so," Her cousin said, his voice steadily getting angry. " The woman is a commoner, and is probably smooching off Syaoran for some money. All the other girls were. The Elder's have already made a decision however, to finalize his marriage. They will get him married to Yen, a girl from a proper family."

Yelan gasped. " WHAT?" She nearly screamed. " How can you suddenly decide his marriage? Without consulting him, without consulting me?"

" It's already been decided," Her cousin said, softly. " If he wants to become the next leader, he must marry Yen. The Elder's have made their decision. They would've been more lenient if he hadn't run off and started an affair with that Japanese tutor. But he made his decision and so have the Elder's. He will just have to abide by them or the person next in line will receive the leadership position."

Yen gaped at her cousin in shock.

Yen..

Yen must have taken those pictures in order to get to Syaoran.

Yelan clenched her fists. There was no way she was going to let her son's life be ruined again. There was no way he was going to be unhappy.

She was going to make sure that none of this was EVER carried out.

" Syaoran! How did you get here! Why did you come here? Why were you looking for me?" Sakura demanded, anxiously.

" I-I- th-thought-" he gasped with pain and Sakura felt hot tears spring to her eyes, "-y-you left-"

" No! No, I would never leave..." She said, her voice ending in a slight whisper. " Never.."

His unseeing eyes opened, focusing on a spot behind her and then they closed again as he took a deep, shuddering breath. " Why do you care about me..."

Sakura waited with baited breath.

" Wh-when I've been a bastard to you?"

Sakura shook the unbidden memories out of her mind as she straightened her air attendant uniform. She stood at the ticket line impatiently, hoping she had enough change to buy another bus ticket. Score, she thought faintly. She had enough money! Then her face fell.

Nope, that wasn't a bill. It was a piece of paper. Great..

Walking out of the line, she made her way down to the exit. Might as well call Yelan or something.

Then she felt a hand grab her wrist and jerk her into the alley way, leading to the emergency exit. Letting out a squawk of indignation, she rose her eyes to yell at her captor.

" Get your filthy hands off-" She started to yell and then her eyes widened.

It was Syaoran. His amber eyes were deep and determined and Sakura could see in the way his jaw was clenched that he was angry. Furious.

" Syaoran..." She breathed.

His hands shot up and slammed themselves to either side of her head. She jerked, feeling her body squeeze into itself in apprehension and fear. Shit, she thought to herself. What had she done? Maybe he had taken those words to heart, maybe, he hadbroken down or gotten so mad that-

Her train of thought was broken as Syaoran began to speak.

" Who the hell do you think you are?" Syaoran swore, his voice almost a growl, the tone so low in his throat. " You think you can say all that shit to me and then just get up and leave?"

Sakura felt her mouth work as she fought to give an answer but she couldn't think of one in the situation that she was in. What was she supposed to say? He was so close...so close..

" Before you get up and leave," Syaoran snarled, his voice deep and low in his throat. " Tell me what the hell you did to me."

" ...did to you?" Sakura repeated quietly, in confusion.

His face came even closer and she felt her body's awareness heighten. " What you did to me. Before I didn't give a shit what happened to anyone. Then you come along, all bunnies and happiness and then turned my whole fucking world around. You can't just do that and not explain. All of a sudden, I actually give two craps what happens to you and I don't believe your a gold digger and I don't know what the hell you did!" His words blended together at the end and frustration was clear in his tone of voice as he slammed his fists against the wall, angrily.

Sakura stared at him.

What the ...hell?

Then the expression on his face contorted and he took a deep breath, his fists clenching and his hands going to his stomach. Sakura looked down and she realized that he had a broken rib. It must've been jangled or something from all that running.

When Syaoran looked up again, his face was turned a different direction and he yelled, " Well? Answer me?"

Sakura let out a choked laugh. Syaoran's eyebrows rose and she felt tears began to fall down her face. He was so innocent, she thought. Innocent about things like this...

She ignored the fact that she was a dusty, dressed as a flight attendant and lost in Hong Kong. She ignored the fact that he was an injured, blind kid, bleeding and broken from his recent fights. Not thinking about the consequences, Sakura grabbed his hand and raised it to her cheek. His face turned and looked at her, in the correct direction and his eyes widened.

" Tears?" He mumbled, almost to himself. " Why you crying?"

" Because of you," Sakura murmured back, her heart straining.

" I didn't make you cry," He protested, a defending tone in his voice. " I didn't call you a whore or anything!"

Sakura wanted to laugh but only tears would come out. She wondered at this contrast in the outlet of her emotions. She was just so happy to be in his presence...all she could do was cry. Then her breath sucked in.

His fingers were moving. Almost curiously, she could feel his fingertips flitting across the skin of her cheek like a butterfly's wings. His hand moved across her cheek, wiping her tears away. Her eyes moved downwards and his fingers brushed across her eyelashes and eyelids.

" Green eyes," She heard him mutter.

" Green eyes," She felt herself say back.

Everything around them seemed to disappear. They were at a bus station, surrounded by people yet it was only the two of them. Every sane thought, conscious movement seemed to vanish into thin air. His hands were memorizing her face, every single contour and slope being felt by his fingers and put away into his memory. His hands moved up to her forehead and then down again to her cheeks, too gentle in his touch as if he was afraid she would break.

And then his thumb brushed across her lips and she felt her heart constrict. He let out a breath as he whispered, " Lips."

Sakura moved and witha stroke of impulse and longing,kissed his thumb, lightly. " Lips," She agreed.

His hand jerked away and he stared at her in slight shock and another emotion she couldn't define. It was a bold move and she knew it. But she never knew when she could have another chance to show him...just how she felt and she had to take advantage of the moment.

You're blind, Syaoran, she thought to herself. That's something we have in common.

I'm blindly in love with you.

Then, astonishment ran through her body as he kissed her forehead, so softly it was painful.

" Lips," He said, the corners of his mouth quirking slightly in amusement.

Sakura couldn't take it anymore. She took hold of her courage and breathed in hard. She could do it. She can do it. She will..

She whispered, her voice low and her eyes to the ground, " If you want...I'll stay at home. I'll be quiet. I'll be dutiful, dependant, cook and clean and I'll do whatever you want. I'll pick out your clothes and I'll stay out of your way." Her eyes looked up, almost fearfully. "Only if I don't have to leave before you do."

Her words seemed to echo. Almost every single trace of amusement left the two of them at her words. She had confessed. He knew she had confessed. All he could do was stare at her. The memory hit him of when he had described his perfect girl to Sakura and she had laughed, telling him that these days, girls aren't like that.

The silence between them stretched and Sakura could feel her eyes burn.

He didn't feel the same way.

She knew it but she kept at it, doggedly, hoping, wishing, letting every single shred of dignity fly away and all that was left was her, in an alleyway at a bus station, hoping he would just...

Then his amber eyes grew dark and he whispered, " Fuck it all to hell." Sakura jerked up, wonderingly and then her eyes widened as he pressed his lips against hers, hard. He kissed her as if his life depended on it and she felt her body raise up to his and her eyes drifted close and all she could do was hold on to him, as tightly as possible, as he pushed her against the wall, going deeper and deeper and deeper as if he could not get enough.

Not nearly enough.

And the days of crying, laughing and wanting...the needs and wants, the demands and the secrets all came out and all she could think of was him, all he could think of was her and it all came together, all of it.

And he was a blind guy. And all he did was let himself go, as blindly as he could and hoped she would catch him.

And she did.

a/n: chokes

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too much fluff. although if u guys did notice, syaoran hasn't quite admitted that he loved her, ne? lol aww i shouldnt ruin the moment.

anyways, see ya guys later and tell me what u thought of this LONG awaited chapter, lol. EVEN THO look how quickly i updated! EVEN before misty dreams! cmon ppl. u have to love me now! lol.