Fated Engagement?
Disclaimer: CLAMP started as doujinshi artists...maybe there's hope for me writing my own stuff yet!
Sakura stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom listening to the quiet snores of Kero who was sleeping next to her ear on her pillow. She had had the vision again and it had left her skin crawling.
"Sakura?" whispered Syaoran. Sakura turned over, pulling the blankets tighter around her shoulders. She blinked bright green eyes up at the Chinese Sorcerer.
"What time is it?"
"Two in the morning. What are you doing awake?"
"How could you tell I was awake? You're sleeping two rooms away," Sakura sat up. Syaoran smiled softly.
"You snore, Sakura-chan,"
"You lie!" she gasped. Kero snorted in his sleep and the two teens froze. But the tiny Guardian did nothing more than roll over.
"But only quietly, don't worry. Besides, I couldn't sleep," he looked at her with worried eyes, "It is the visions? Do they trouble you that much?"
"They frighten me, Syaoran-kun. Something terrible is about to happen. Something evil, truly evil is coming this way. It doesn't bother me much during the day, but when I get tired..." she bit her lip, trying not to cry. Crying did not help anyone and did not accomplish anything.
"I'll be right beside you Sakura-chan, you know that. I might not be as powerful as you or Hiiragizawa but I'll do what I can," Syaoran promised fervently, holding her hand and staring intently into her eyes. Sakura's strong front cracked and the tears leaked down her face.
"Thank you, Syaoran," she whispered, leaning her forehead on his shoulder. He looped an arm around her waist, pulled her closer and just let her cry.
When the tears died down and so had the involuntary shivering Sakura pulled away, blushing at her boldness.
"I-I'm sorry, Syaoran-kun. I didn't mean to just…" she stilled when he pulled her back to his side.
"Don't worry about it, Sakura-chan. How about we move out into the sitting room and talk," he suggested, also blushing as he remembered that he was sitting in Sakura's room on her bed and they were only in their pajamas. Sakura nodded and padded out ahead of him.
The sitting room of the suite they had been given was a cozy little place. The windows overlooked the lake and the overstuffed chairs and sofas were arranged neatly around the fireplace. Sakura dragged Syaoran to one of the sofas and rekindled the fire with a small push on the Fiery. She did not always have to use her staff, it just made things simpler and less draining by focusing her will. But it took time and she didn't want to wait before the sitting room was filled with warmth.
"What are the dreams about? What do you see that has you so worried?" Syaoran started hesitantly. It really was not his business and he did not want to seem nosey. Sakura frowned.
"It's not what I see that has me worried. They really haven't shown me much of anything, just this castle, a boy with green eyes and an evil man with the most frightening red eyes,"
"Red eyes? What kind of weirdo has red eyes?"
Sakura nodded, "Don't ask me, they may be my visions but I can't tell you what they mean. But as I said, it's not what I see in the visions, it's what they make me feel. They make me feel like something we have never had to face before is about to surface," she shivered again.
"So we might just have a real fight on our hands?"
"I wish I was wrong. I wish I could be wrong," she sighed. "The aura didn't feel strong enough to give any of us trouble but...it was like..." she trailed off, trying to think of a suitable analogy.
"Like what?"
"Like sitting in a bathtub filled with maggots,"
They both shuddered.
"That's just gross," Syaoran muttered. "No wonder you can't sleep if that's what is waiting for you,"
They sat in silence for what seemed like hours. Sakura started nodding off, slowly leaning over until she was resting on Syaoran. Syaoran smiled and moved into a more comfortable position, allowing the little Magician to rest where she felt safe.
And that's how they were discovered in the morning: Syaoran lying sprawled on a sofa with Sakura draped comfortably on top. Luckily, it was not Kero or Nakuru who found them. Those two liked to sleep late. Yukito studied the two for a few minutes with a smile. Yue was pleased that his mistress had found someone to lean on and trust. Yukito was picturing the look Toya would have on his face if he found out what the 'Chinese Punk' was doing to his little sister, as innocent as it really was. Of course Yukito would never tell Toya about this adorable little scene. Yukito actually liked having the 'Chinese Punk' alive.
"Sakura, Li, you might want to wake up and move back into your own rooms," he said gently, shaking Syaoran's shoulder. The boy tightened his grip on Sakura and cracked open his amber eyes.
"What time is it?" he whispered. Sakura slept on. Not surprising considering how difficult it was to wake her.
"The sun's just rising," Yukito nodded to the windows. Syaoran grunted and slowly sat up, moving the sleeping Magician in his arms so he could carry her back to her own bed.
"At least she got a few hours sleep," he sighed.
"Oh? Has Sakura-chan been unable to sleep?" Yukito asked, worried. He had a job, two really if you counted his promise to Toya as well as his duty as Yue, to look after his mistress. If something was the matter he should know about it.
"Yeah, her visions are getting to her. She couldn't sleep well so we talked for a bit," he explained, standing and crossing over to the closed door of Sakura's room. Yukito kindly opened it for him so he would not jar her awake. Syaoran nodded his thanks with a slight smile. He gently tucked her back into her own bed, brushing her soft feathery hair out of her eyes before remembering he had an audience. He straightened and hurried out of the room with as much dignity as a retreat could offer.
"What is it about the visions that disturbs her so much?" Yukito asked, sitting down before the merrily burning fire.
"The violence in one of the auras she can feel," Syaoran sat as well and ran a hand through his hair, trying to gain some order. "Of all of her past visions she's never reacted this strongly to the malicious intent projected. She's scared and there's nothing I can do about it,"
Yukito looked at the boy with sympathy. It must be hard, he thought, to try to thrive in the shadow of such a great power such as Sakura. But… "Li, Sakura may be the worlds most powerful Magician. She may have surpassed the Great Clow Reed himself, but she is just a sixteen-year-old girl. She needs you more than she needs Kero or me. Toya will probably kill me for encouraging you two. But really, Sakura-chan needs you with her. She's just a pale shadow of herself when you aren't fighting by her side,"
Syaoran looked shocked. He knew that Sakura always wanted him with her when she fought but he had not been told the difference just his presence made on her.
"I just…" he sighed, running his hand through his hair again, "I just worry about her. She's got so much on her shoulders what with being able to see into the future like this. I thought I had it bad with mother breathing down my neck and the honor of the Li clan dictating my every move but Sakura-chan…"
"Don't worry about it. She doesn't," Yukito advised with all of the wisdom of a twenty-three-year-old despite the fact he has only really lived maybe seven or eight years.
The silence between them stretched until Kero fluttered in, yawning with all his might.
"Morning," he said around another yawn.
"Good morning Kero," Yukito smiled.
"Morning, Brat,"
Syaoran did not say anything.
"Is Sakura-chan still sleeping?" Yukito asked innocently. Kero nodded.
"Yeah. She looks so tired I don't even have the heart to try to get her up yet. She's been sleeping really bad lately," the little winged Guardian frowned. "I think it has something to do with the visions, but she hasn't told me anything,"
Syaoran felt a small swell of pride knowing that Sakura had not confided in Kero. She told the little Guardian everything. Well, almost everything it seemed.
"Good morning everyone," Eriol said as he breezed into the sitting room, looking far to awake.
"Where'd you find coffee?" Syaoran asked with a hint of sarcasm. Eriol smiled and placed a finger beside his nose.
"That, my Sweat Little Descendent, is a secret,"
Syaoran growled at the hated nickname and tossed a flaming sutra at him. The Magician dodged and put the paper out with a quick spot of water summoning.
"Now, now," He chided, "Getting violent so early in the morning?"
"Where's Nakuru and Spinel?" Yukito asked.
"Spinel is in the library and Nakuru likes to sleep in," Eriol explained, flopping with all elegance into an overstuffed chair.
"Why's Spinel in the library?" Syaoran asked, "Don't you have enough books at home to keep him happy?"
"Yes, but we're only going to be here for a short time and he wants to read as much as he can before we have to leave again," Eriol shrugged fluidly.
"Whatever,"
Sakura did not rise until it was almost lunchtime. Syaoran knew she liked to sleep, but she usually was awake around nine or ten if left to her own. As it was, it was almost noon before she stumbled out of her room, pulling a hairbrush through her hair and hiding a yawn behind her hand.
"Morning," she sunk down into another chair. She glanced around at the almost empty sitting room. "Where is everyone, Syaoran-kun?"
"Gone down for lunch," he grinned at her poleaxed expression.
"Lunch!" She cried, leaping to her feet, "You let me sleep that long?"
"You needed rest," he shrugged, "Come on, let's get something to eat,"
The Great Hall was filled with whispers. Who were these people? What were they doing at Hogwarts when there was a war going on?
Sakura toyed with her food absently. She could feel that familiar power again. It was much, much weaker than the auras she was used to but compared to the auras of the Witches and Wizards surrounding her it was powerful enough. A pair of green eyes haunted her and she wondered why the boy they had met the day before, Fred Sagitta, would want to hide his identity. She could not sense any malicious intent from him, but his actions puzzled her. Why would he want to hide from that girl in the halls?
"Sakura?"
And who was the person with the red eyes? She had not sensed anyone like him as of yet. She shuddered, hoping that she never would but knowing it was inevitable.
"Sakura?"
She sighed and poked at her food some more, still lost in her thoughts. What did the visions mean? They had not shown her anything specific, not that they usually did. Just the usual vague people and places, a landmark on a map was all it was. They called and she was haunted until she answered. Well, she answered and now they had better well leave her alone!
"Sakura!"
Sakura jumped, her hand knocking over her cup, spilling water all over her plate.
"Good, I got your attention," Syaoran looked worried.
"I'm sorry," she sighed, mopping up the wet mess. No point in using the cards for something this small, "I was just thinking,"
"Well, Hermione-san has been trying to talk to you all lunch," he cocked his head towards the girl from the halls yesterday.
"Oh! Forgive me," Sakura blushed. Hermione accepted the apology.
"Miss Sakura, I've been told that you and your friends are here in Europe on research," she started, "What is it that you're researching?"
"Me? Me in particular or Me as in Me and My Friends?"
"You,"
"Well, I'm studying the differences between how magic is channeled here compared to how I was taught," she shrugged. It was the cover story that Eriol had had them all concoct: that they were each researching a different aspect of European Magics.
"How do you channel magic?" Hermione asked, leaning over the table a bit. Sakura shrugged.
"Through my staff," she said truthfully.
"Staff?"
"Yes,"
"Where do you keep it? Isn't a staff a bit big to carry around all the time?"
"No, I keep it here," she fished the key out of her shirt and held up the pendent for Hermione to see.
"You use a shrinking spell on it?"
"An shrinking spell?" Sakura looked confused, "No, this is its temporary form. Why would I want it shrink its full form? That would be a waste of power,"
"Waste of power? What do you mean?"
"Well, to summon my Staff of the Star I have to infuse it with my power and keep a steady flow through it. When it is in its temporary form it is self sustaining and doesn't need a constant supply of fresh power," she explained, dropping the pendent back into her shirt.
"If it takes so much power to use your staff then why do you have one?" asked a boy with bright red hair around a half-chewed roll. Sakura wrinkled her nose.
"Because while it uses magic it doesn't use that much,"
"For you," Syaoran cut in. Sakura shrugged.
"What's that mean," the boy had finished chewing.
"That a ready supply of magic is not a problem for her," Syaoran boasted with a mischievous grin.
"Syaoran!" Sakura was blushing. Yep, that was the reaction he had wanted.
"What?" he asked innocently. Sakura turned away from him and favored Hermione with her attention.
"How do you channel magic here?" she asked. Hermione pulled out her wand.
"We use wands like these," she said.
"Oh! Can I see it?" Hermione passed it over. Sakura turned it in her hands, examining it closely.
"It's just a stick," Syaoran commented.
"No, not just a stick, see? It's got a core of magical material," Sakura pointed out.
"It's a stick with a tiny magical crutch," Syaoran amended. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Don't make fun of their magic, Syaoran-kun,"
"They thought your staff was silly, Besides, look at the thing. No wonder they can't wield Higher Magics, just look at the crude way it's put together. It's hardly even tuned to the girl," he sniffed. Hermione glared and snatched her wand back.
"Didn't your mother teach you tact?" Sakura snapped, annoyed.
"She tried,"
"Should I pick up where she left off?"
"You could try,"
"Watery could soak you every time I think you're out of line, you know,"
"You wouldn't."
"Oh?" she arched an eyebrow, "Are you willing to try me?" Syaoran stared at her.
"Sakura-chan, you're not eating! How do you expect to be able to grow taller than your brother if you don't eat?" he changed the subject faster than lightning. Sakura blinked, her mind trying to compute his words. It clicked. She glared.
"Who told you about that?" she hissed.
"Not only do you snore," he whispered in her ear, "You also talk in your sleep,"
She started coughing, a blush burning its way across her face.
"I have to admit that you have a lot of growing to do if you want to beat Toya. He's got at least two heads on you,"
Sakura kicked him underneath the table. He winced in pain.
"You're sure violent this morning," he grunted, rubbing his leg. Sakura ignored him in favor of her very mangled lunch.
"Like you should talk. He still uses you as an arm rest," she shot back finally.
"Yeah, but he's twenty-three, I'm only sixteen. I've got some time," he smirked.
"I should write your sisters and ask them to visit," she said thoughtfully. Syaoran paled. "And I haven't seen your mother in a while. Do you think she'd like to visit Tomoeda once we've returned?"
"Sakura," he choked out.
"Yes Li?" She asked with false sweetness. He did not miss the fact she used his family name and not his given.
"I'll do anything,"
She grinned. "I know,"
"Sakura?" Yukito came up behind the little Magician, resting his hand on her should her get her attention.
"Yes Yuki?"
"If you need any help don't hesitate to call," he stared into her eyes, his eyes flashing light blue-violet reflecting Yue's influence.
"Don't worry," she smiled, putting on a carefree act, "If the corridors shift on me I'll be sure to call for help like a good little girl in the usual way,"
He smiled, understanding her meaning. She would not try to be a hero. Good. "Then I can tell your brother to stop pestering me about you. Since he got his magic back he's been even stronger than before. He's been calling me to check up,"
"I'd probably do the same thing," Sakura smiled.
"You know if he didn't have classes and work he'd be here with you. He really doesn't like the idea of you out of the country," Yukito said, sitting down beside her. Sakura snorted and rolled her eyes.
"You mean he doesn't like the idea of me out of the country and with Syaoran-kun?" she asked, amused. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind as much if Syaoran had stayed back in Japan, or when back home to China,"
"Well," Yukito grinned and conceded, "Yes. It is true he doesn't seem to like you Li-kun being together for any reason. Any ideas as to why?"
"Beats me. Probably left over from when I first met Sakura," Syaoran grouched.
Oh yes. The infamous 'First Meeting' of the two. Syaoran had demanded Sakura hand over the Clow Cards and when she refused he tried to take them by force. Of course when Toya spied the distressed aura of his baby sister he had to intervene. Toya and Syaoran had been shooting daggers at each other ever since. However, for reasons that Sakura had not yet grasped it had only gotten worse the closer she had gotten to the Chinese Sorcerer.
"I do not believe that that is the reason," Yukito mused, "He said something a while back when I asked him but that was right after he gave his magic to Yue so I don't know how accurate it really was. Then again intuition should not be underestimated,"
"What did he say?" Sakura asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Yukito smiled, stood and whispered between Sakura and Syaoran so only they could hear.
"He said that he felt like Li-kun was going to take something that was most precious to him away," and he calmly walked away, whistling a merry tune and leaving two bright red teens behind.
Hermione and the red-haired boy stared at them in awe.
"Blimey," said the boy, "What did he say to you?"