Hey, it's another chapter. This is what I call a in between chapter a.k.a. it just popped up in my head. I think you can kind of guess who the couples are, but if you're totally clueless, here's a review: Sakura/Syaoron, Eriol/Tomoyo, Toya/(mystery), and Kaho/(mystery). You can kind of guess who Kaho is ending up with. Oh yeah, the latest I've every submitted an entry for this story would be Tuesday. I tend to update over the weekend, but sometimes something comes up~ BlueNovaBunny

BNB: The rest of the entries of the story will have *** to separate a short time later or another scene because I checked out what I've submitted and it did look confusing.

Ken: *sniff* you don't even reread your story to correct mistakes.

BNB: *blushes* yeah…but it's the stupid computer's fault for not following the format!!!

Phoenix: Yay, leap year!

BNB: haha Ken, you can only celebrate your birthday every four years.

Ken: *rolls eyes* but I get TWO birthdays on normal years. Go Leapers!!! Wahoo!!

BNB & Phoenix: idiot

Ken: *pouts*

BNB: Yeah…Well I would like to thank S+S-fan, lil-cherry-wolf, Ashi-Chan for reviewing. I didn't realize so many people are willing to review.

Disclaimer: Cardcaptors is created and owned by Clamp until their company becomes its own country and becomes communist or something like that. Then the allied countries will own it because we kick ass! (don't be offended by any remarks here…just blame it on Ken)

***

Chapter 8: The Snowy Usagi

Sakura sighed in relief as she left the chambers of Lady Daudoji. Sakura liked her, she really did, but there was sometimes she felt Tomoyo was a little squirrelly. Maybe being protected all the time messed her up a bit or was it growing up knowing your father was an eccentric was the reason.

All she knew was that she hated being dressed up in really funky costumes, and then being painted by an artist in them. Lady Daudoji called it categorizing her clothes so she could make reference to an earlier creation with images.

"Sakura?" She turned around to see a beautiful lady with ruby eyes. "My name is Lady Akizuki. Lord Hiragizawa sent me to retrieve you. I believe you had a meeting with him."

Sakura scratched her head. Naruku could've sworn a lantern lit above Sakura's head as Sakura realized who Eriol was.

"Yes. He said meet him in the North Tower." Nakuru dragged Sakura along the hallway. Sakura began to wonder if this strange lady was mentally ill. She was pretty sure Tomoyo would agree with her or they could have been long lost sisters.

Nakuru glanced back at the petite girl. Something about this girl disturbed her. This girl reminded her of someone, but she didn't know who…

"Um, Lady Akizuki, we're here." Nakuru let go of Sakura, but she continued to have a speculating expression on her face.

"You know, Sakura, you remind me of someone and I intend to find out. Eriol wants to see you and it must be for a good motive. Let's hope that reason is not for becoming a student or you'll have trouble from me." She gave her a creepy grin. "You really do have a lot of power trapped in you…a lot." Nakuru leaned in closer.

"Lady Akizuki, that'll be enough." Eriol stood in the doorway. Nakuru gave Sakura one fleeting look before walking off.

"Sakura, please come inside."

"Whoa." Before here was an enormous circular room, but that wasn't what caught her attention. The ceiling had a mural of the stars so realistic; it made her wonder if it was real. She could see the surface of the moon cast a luminous glow on her face. She somehow felt the stars pull at her and began tiptoeing to tilt closer to them.

"Sakura, are you okay?" Eriol leaning on the desk, smiling. She suddenly remembered why she was and acted with her best maidservant manner. Meaning she put her hand behind her and gave the impression of a submissive mouse.

"I'm fine Mi'Lord. It's just the stars…they make me feel funny." He looked at her thoughtfully.

"Do you know that people who have magic are usually ruled by a celestial being? Individuals have their own personal power, but it is based on those celestials. Like how people ruled by the sun can sometimes have powers based on light. And there are always those who have the moon, and earth, and much more, but I won't go into explanations about them."

Sakura had a blank expression plastered on her face. Eriol sighed.

"Sakura, I think your magic is based on the stars. Maybe that's why the stars on the ceiling drew you to them." Sakura shook her head.

"If I had some thing like magic, wouldn't I have sensed it?"

"Like I said before, it's been blocked for some reason. Can you tell me you have never sensed it?" Sakura thought back. She remembered faintly feeling something when Mimi placed the necklace in her. Then she remembered what happened to Mimi. Tears stung at the corners of her eyes.

"Oh, Master Hiragizawa, I didn't realize you were busy." Yukito gave them a thoughtful look and noticed Sakura's tears. He broke into a smile.

"Surely Master Hiragizawa is not being so much of a big brute that'll make you cry." He stood in front of her and gave her his biggest grin. "Now if you wipe those tears away, I give you a delicious treat."

Sakura stared at this strange young man. She didn't know him, but somehow he made her feel…floaty! Was she falling in love? Mimi never prepared her for this type of feeling. She asked her once and all Mimi said "if love could be described, then it probably wasn't the real thing."

Sakura soon realized that she was so deep in her thoughts that she stopped crying. "There we go. It always saddens me to see young women weep." Yukito gave Eriol a reprimanding look. Eriol was taken aback, Yukito never really stood up to him. He seemed more of a passive non-violent type.

Yukito dragged Sakura out of the door. "Wait, Sakura," but it was too late; the two had already ran out of earshot. Eriol growled with annoyance. He hadn't told Sakura what he needed to.

***

Sakura bit down on her dessert. The flavor was sweet and tangy. She gobbled down the whole thing. She blushed, but stopped when she realized Yukito had eaten ten treats already.

"Hey, what's your name for I don't know how to thank you without your name?" Yukito laughed, he liked this servant's attitude.

"I'm Yukito Tsukishiro, but you can call me Yuki. All my friends do. Some even call me Snowy Usagi." Sakura blushed. He thought of her as a friend? Could he think of her as maybe something more?

Yukito grabbed the last treat. Sakura's eyes zoned to the plate. Didn't there use to be thirty treats on the plate? Wow, this man could eat.

"So what's your name?"

"Sakura." Yukito brows furrowed. Where had he heard that name before?

"Sakura, I have to go now." Yukito stood up with a troubled face. Sakura glanced at him and saw his expression. Did she say something wrong?

Yukito searched all over the place. He couldn't find Touya. Then he spotted General Ikumori. "General Ikumori, where has Lord Kinomoto gone to?"

Ikumori scratched his head, "I think I sent him up north; a two hour ride. Why?"

"I think I found his sister; Lord Amamiya great-grand daughter."

"What!"

"I need a horse immediately."

"Yes, I'll ride with you. We should catch him by nightfall."

Touya rested his back against the rock. He rather preferred a stack of hay, but some conditions weren't offered on the road. He had watch duty anyways so it wasn't a big deal. The camp was set a few feet away. General Ikumori had sent him settle some differences in the province and have an investigation about Lady Mura Akira about her father's death.

It may or may not be a coincidence that the related Akira to Matsumoto also had some ties to the Li family. Touya snapped out of his thoughts. He heard some horses galloping. He drew out his sword.

***

Yukito drew back his horse as a mad man came charging at them. Oh wait, it was Touya.

"Toya!"

"Yuki, General Ikumori, what is the meaning of this?"

"Toya, I think I found your sister." Touya's hand tightened on the rein.

"Let's go sit near the fire and by the gods Yuki, you better be telling the truth. I don't want to hear anything false." They sat around the fire.

Yukito gave a warm smile, "I'm not lying. Do you remember that slave girl that Tomoyo bought?"

"There were three of them."

"I'm talking about the brunette. I met her today and she told me her name was Sakura. She fits your description. She had jade green eyes and chestnut brown hair. She was even talking to Lord Hiragizawa, so she must have magic. I don't know how you missed her the first time you met."

"I didn't really care who Tomoyo bought. I wasn't paying attention again." He looked down on the ground. The reason he lost Sakura when she wasn't little was because he couldn't remember the way back to her. By the time he did remember, she was gone. He didn't pay attention to his surroundings.

General Ikumori patted Touya's back. "Don't worry, Kinomoto, we can ride back tonight and reach there by dawn. I'm sure she'll be there."

***

Eriol glared into the reflection on the water. So Yukito had blabbed. If Touya finds Sakura, she couldn't possibly complete her destiny. Everything will just have to start tonight.

"Ruby Moon."

"Yes Master Hiragizawa?"

"Why don't you create some trouble for our travelers? I need to stall some time."

Ruby Moon grinned; creating trouble was a favorite subject. "I'll do that."

"Wait." Ruby Moon paused.

"Does Nakuru suspect a thing about you?"

"No, as far as she concerned, she thinks I'm a dream."

"Good." Ruby Moon flew out the window.

Usagi (n) rabbit; hare; cony

***

BNB: *evil grin* I just LOVE teasing all of you. Just remember this will be a S/S fic…with a little flirting here and there.

Ken: Yes, MORE people for my Yuki!!! *runs away crying*

BNB: Geez, he really does need a dose of reality. It seems I can only depend on Phoenix.

Phoenix: I'm the lizard queen!!!

BNB: *sweatdrops* nevermind  '^.^ The next chapter is Chapter 9: Shukuen At Hand

sidenote What the hell does milkshake mean in that song Milkshake?!?

Phoenix: ReVIeW