A/N: Hey, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! HERE'S MORE…

---------------------------------------------------------

Worthy Love

Chapter 1:

---------------------------------------------------------

The messenger's face then took on a more saddened look. Casting his eyes down, he said, "My lady, I am sorry to be the one to bear this news, but you must be informed."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Madam, your-" the messenger cleared his throat. "Your father and brother were ambushed by a bandit gang. Your brother was not hurt, but your father, it seems, is badly injured and may not be able to make it through this night. I'm sorry."

Sakura felt the blood drain from her face. Sakura whispered, "Father…"

"Sakura…I-I." Tomoyo stopped and looked down, tears falling from her unseen face.

"Where are they now? What town?" Sakura asked, determined to find them.

"Uh? But lady-"

"I asked you where they are. Please tell me."

"You'll never find-uh, they're-I'll take you there."

"No. It's faster if I travel by myself."

"Sakura, what are you saying?" Tomoyo asked, bewildered at Sakura.

Ignoring Tomoyo, Sakura asked, again, "Where?"

"Por'Aghl Alaaye. (por-ahl-a-lay) But you'll never find where that is-"

Sakura grabbed her cloak from the stand and began tying it on, while saying, "I know where that is. It's a small town, east of the Soken River and two leagues west of the Nanobe Mountain."

The messenger nodded his head. "But there are bandits."

"I'll be fine." Sakura said, grabbing the sword Touya had especially made for her.

Tomoyo was determined not to let Sakura go alone. "You're not leaving without me! I'm coming, too!"

Hearing this, Sakura stopped. "Tomoyo-chan, you know nothing of fighting and I couldn't possibly fend off any bandits if they were tocapture us. Plus, you know that what I said was true. I'll be faster alone."

"But-"

"Tomoyo, I believe that your mother is waiting for you at home. You should be getting there." Sakura turned to the messenger. "Thank you. You have traveled far. There is an inn close by. I believe Tomoyo-chan here will take you there." Sakura reached into her coin purse and pulled out a couple of coins. "Here. This is for your trouble. Good day-night."

Sakura ran out the front doors, leaving Tomoyo and a confused messenger at the door. She ran to the stables as fast as she could muster and grabbed Shinju's reins and equipment. Opening the stall, she whistled to Shinju. Shinju felt the urgent-ness in Sakura's whistle and came to Sakura. (The stalls are pretty big) She put the equipment on and checked if everything was on securely.

"Come on, boy, this way." Sakura whispered to him softly, leading her horse out of the stall and jumping onto the saddle.

Shivering from the crisp coldness of the air, Sakura turned back to look at her home with it's warm welcoming light. Tomoyo stood in the doorway and seemed to be pointed at something in the direction Sakura was about to go. The young man who gave her the message was standing next to Tomoyo and seemed to be looking in the same direction. Sakura turned her head to look at what Tomoyo was pointing at but could see nothing.

"Huh. What do you think they are pointing at, Shinju? Or did they see something? Huh. I don't see anything strange, do you?" the horse nodded in reply.

'Hmm…What could it be? Oh well.' She turned toward them and waved, signaling her leave, and ushered the horse into a fast gallop.

The harsh cold wind hit Sakura with full force. Sakura gasped as the cold infiltrated her thin line of clothing.

"I should have thought of changing before rushing off to save my family, huh?" Sakura asked Shinju.

Shinju neighed and concentrated on getting her to her destination as quickly as possible, for the cold was not his favorite, either.

---------------------------------------------------------

(Elsewhere)

A man dressed in dark robes walked up the shadowed room and bowed.

"The plan has been put into motion, milord."

"Good. Very good." A man cloaked in the shadows, said with an evil grin. "They will be mine. Soon."

---------------------------------------------------------

(Tomoyo)

"Argh! How could you, Sakura?" sigh… "When I finally convinced you to come stay over and have dinner, something comes up." I shook my head. 'My mother will be disappointed not to be able to see Sakura.'

"Umm…Excuse me, bu-"

Annoyed, I looked at him and pointed my finger directly to his nose. "And you! Why-" I looked down, not knowing what to say to the young man to express my anger at his time of appearance. Sighing once more, I said, "She paid you, didn't she? What are you doing, still standing there? Go down to the village."

"I would, but I don't know-"

"How hard could it be? If the village wasn't in the direction you came, then don't you think it was in the direction you were going?"

"I-"

"What? Do you need me to point out the direction you came from?" I walked over to the door, angry and annoyed. Opening it, I pointed in the direction he had come from. "You came from that direction. So, doyou need me to point out the direction you need to go, also?"

"Miss, I am sorry that I have made a mess of your plans, but it is not my fault. I am merely a messenger, sent-"

"That's right. You're merely just a messenger. So do what ever you want. Why should I care?" With that, I left him standing, my anger finally cooling off.

"Miss, I don't know where the inn is."

"Where do you think an inn would be? In a desert?"

"It's possible."

"OHMYGO-" just then, Sakura's face popped into my head, reminding me to not be so rude to strangers. 'Why did you stop me? I was just about to relieve all of my anger.' I sighed once more (Tomoyo seems to do this a lot) and looked at him. 'Breathe, just breathe.'

"Look, I'm sorry for being rude. Everything's been going badly. Anyway, I'm going to the village, so I might as well show you where the inn is. Will you give me a minute to sort my things?"

The messenger nodded.

"Here. Sit." I commanded,pulling out a chair. "I'll take only a moment."

---------------------------------------------------------

(Somewhere)

"What a day. Did you have fun, my cute little cousin?" said a playful, blue-hair youth with glasses. "I see that you're quite the lady magnet. We make a pretty good team, don't you think?" he added with a laugh.

A boy with brown hair looked at his cousin, smiling with a sly, attractive smile. Leaning on the wall, he said conceitedly, "Of course. What lady could look past my handsome face? My body is also in perfect shape."

"Ha. Don't forget about mine. I think that mine is better, though."

"What? Ha! What a laugh! Standing next to me, the ladies will think you hideous."

The older youth looked at his amber eyed cousin. Smirking to himself, he said, "Oh? Then let's have a wager, my cute little cousin."

"What kind?"

"Whoever gets the most ladies to say 'I Love You' wins."

"Hmm…sounds interesting." The brown haired boy looked thoughtful for a moment. "This will be easy. Your on."

"On one condition, I choose the ladies."

"Wha-" but he was stopped by the blue hair boy's gloved hand when he raised it to stop him from speaking. (It works!)

"Hold on. I'm not finished. I will chose the ladies for you to win their hearts, while you choose mine."

"Fine."

"Also, you have to break their hearts on the day they confess. Once done, the next victim is immediately chosen."

"How long will this last?"

"Ahh, yes. How long will this wager go on? One year. And no forfeit until then. Now let us talk about the price for the winner. No, the loser. Whoever loses will have to go down on one knee in front of a crowd and announce their defeat. And…their service for one year to the winner."

"Sounds reasonable."

The blue haired youth nodded his head. "Now that the wager's on, let us find your first victim."

---------------------------------------------------------

(Touya)

"Father, please, you have to be okay. I-I don't know what to do. A-And what about Sakura? What would she do without you, father?" I looked away from the white, ashen face. Not being able to hold back my tears any longer, I let them drip slowly down me face. Bringing my hand up to my mouth, I covered it, not wanting to make a sound.

'Sakura. How can I come home and tell you that I was unable to protect him. That I was unable to save him? Sakura, please forgive me for not being able to protect you or father.'

I heard a galloping hooves outside and turned to look at the window. The galloping grew louder, finally stopping out in front of the inn.

'Who could it be? And at this time of night?'

I heard rustles and a struggle. Then a thump announcing that the rider was off the horse. Standing up, I looked out, but could see nothing.

'Hmm…who could it be? Could it be the enemy? I have to check.'

I walked quietly to the door. When I was about to open it I stopped dead, hearing the scraping of the person's footsteps right outside. I stood ready to attack. As the knob turned, I pulled out my knife. The door creaked slowly open and in drifted a shadow, unbeknownst to them that I was waiting behind, ready to attack.

---------------------------------------------------------

(Normal)

Sakura opened the door. It was dark, but warm from the fire built in the fireplace. Seeing her father right away, Sakura started forward but heard and felt something come behind her. Moving with the speed and ease she had gained from long nights of practice with Touya, Sakura moved away from the mysterious person.

'It could be the enemy. I've got to keep him from father.'

Sakura jumped to block the captor from her father. Sticking out her hand she said, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"Sa-Sakura?"

'I know that voice. It's Touya!'

"Touya? What were you trying to do? Give me a heart-attack?" Sakura stammered, bewildered at what just happened.

"No! I thou-" Touya stopped and looked at Sakura. "Wait! Why are you here!"

"When I heard that father was injured and that both of you were ambushed I couldn't stop myself. What would you have me do?" Sakura said, getting angry. "Stay home and rock back and forth, wondering if the both of you were truly okay?"

"Yes."

"See? I would-What! What did you just say?"

"I said yes, that's what I would have you do."

Sakura threw up her hands. "Oh sure! And that's why you taught me how to defend myself and take care of myself in the wild."

"No. I taught you that in case there was an emergency and I or father was not there to help. Like…nevermind. I told you my reason."

Sakura grew carious. Wanting to know, she asked, "Like what?"

"Nothing. Anyway, didn't I send the messenger to tell you to stay and not come?"

"No, he didn't get that far before I started to ask questions. But don't try to avoid my question!"

"I told you the answer. 'No.'"

"Fine. Then I'm not telling you my news." Sakura turned to her father.

"Hey! You can't blackmail me. I'm your older brother. I can make you do anything I wish." Touya said, triumphantly.

Sakura turned to him and made a face, saying sarcastically, "Uh-huh. Sure."

"Fine, I'll tell you later. What was your news?"

"I'm not telling you until you tell me yours." Sakura looked at her father again. Walking up to him, she asked shakily, "H-How is h-he?"

Touya sighed. 'Well, at least she's here and I didn't have to go tell her that father didn't make it if something went wrong.' He looked up at his baby sister.

"H-He is in stable condition right now. The doctor said that he'll be okay in due time."

Sakura didn't know she was holding her breath. Letting it go, she went and hugged her father.

"Father, you hear that? You're going to be okay. Now all you have to do is wake up. Please." Hot tears began stinging her cheeks and soaking her father's sheets. "Please, father. Wake-up. Don't make me and Touya wait any more."

"Sakura." Touya pulled Sakura into a tight hug. "Sakura, it's okay. Let him rest." Touya moved Sakura away and looked down at her, wiping her tear-stained face. "Come on. Let's go get Shinju put away. I bet you just left him outside and didn't groom him."

Sakura laughed and nodded, despite her tears. "Okay. Are you sure that he'll be okay here by himself?" She was worried about her father. Only just this morning, he was laughing and smiling with her. Now, he's wounded and sleeping, close to death.

Touya gave Sakura a sad smile. "He'll be okay. He's our dad, isn't he? Now come on, before Shinju gets angry and finds ways to get into trouble and make our path difficult."

"Yeah. He's a smart horse. Very smart."

"And stubborn. Oh! And did I forget rude? Dimwitted? A pain in the a-"

"Touya!"

"Okay, okay, fine! No more. Although-"

"Touya! I'm not gonna let you say anything you want. He's my horse, not yours! Now leave him alone." Sakura pouted.

Touya smiled. It was always easy to get Sakura worked up over a small thing.

Next Day

"Touya, how long will we be staying here?"

Touya raised his eye-brows. "We?"

"Yes, 'We'. Who else?"

"Well, 'We', as in father and I, will be staying here till father gets well. You," Touya stopped what he was doing and pointed at Sakura. "You are going home."

"What? No! I'm not leaving without Father."

"Yeah, sure. Over my dead body." Touya mumbled to himself.

"What did you just say?"

"I said, 'Yeah, sure. Over the next few days.'"

"Huh? What's that's supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just go to the market and buy some food, will you?"

"Fine. Anyway, you owe me. When we get back, your paying for everything that I eat."

"What? I-"

"Bye!" Sakura ran out the inn, not letting Touya finish.

"Hey! Get back here! Sakura!"

Touya sighed as he watched his little sister run down the unpaved road.

"She's a nice gal, isn't she? Pretty little thing, too!"

"Huh?" Touya turned to the owner of the voice. Seeing that it was an old woman, he smiled, thinking, 'I thought it was a guy who said it. And if it was, he wouldn't be standing.' The old woman smiled at him. "Yeah. She is. That's my little sister for you."

"Little sister, huh? Must be nice to have her. Take good care of her." The old woman started to turn away.

"Huh? What do you mean? Is something going to happen?" Touya said, confused.

The old woman just smiled. "You'll see soon enough. Just take care of her. Don't worry, it's not gonna be like last time." Then the woman walked off and joined the crowd.

"Like last time?" Touya thought for a moment. 'Could she know? But how?'

"Hey! Old woman! What did you mean by 'last time'?" Touya yelled after her, but she was gone.

---------------------------------------------------------

(Outskirts of Por'Aghl Alaaye)

"Hey Eriol, where did Meiling say to meet her?"

"At Por'Aghl Alaaye."

"I know that! But where exactly?" Syaoran said, irritably.

"The market of course. Where else?"

"Then let's hurry. I have things to do."

---------------------------------------------------------

Market

Sakura followed the crowd and looked at the vegetable stalls that lined the dirt road. Trying to find the biggest vegetables for the best price, Sakura stopped when her eyes spotted the biggest squash she had seen all day. She pushed her way to the stall, wanting to get to the squash before anyone else did. Finally at the stall, Sakura bent down to pick it up, but at the same time, another woman grabbed it.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Sakura said, apologetically.

"No, that's fine. You did naught wrong." The woman had a nice voice. She was also beautiful, with long, straight, black hair and dark eyes.

Sakura looked up at the woman, hoping that she would offer Sakura the squash, but the woman did no such thing. Feeling a bit disappointed, Sakura turned to leave, but the woman grabbed her arm.

"Wait. Do you live here?"

"Umm, no. I'm just visiting."

"Oh, okay. Sorry." The woman turned to leave. Now it was Sakura's turn to grab the woman's arm.

"Wait. Please, can I have that squash? I'll buy it from you. Please."

"Oh, you mean this? Why would you want it?"

"To eat."

The woman widened her eyes. "You can cook?" she said, arrogantly.

"Of course." Sakura looked at her. She didn't look like common people. Sakura examined her clothing. 'Silk.' Sakura knew from years of experience helping Tomoyo and her mother at their shop. "Can I have the squash?"

"Oh! Umm. No."

"What? No?"

"Yes, 'No'. I need this for my dog." The lady began to turn to go, but Sakura stopped her once more.

"Please. I'll buy that squash and buy you some other food that I'm sure the dog will like."

"Oh, no. That's alright. The dog is very picky."

"Then why would you give it squash?"

"I want him to try new things. That's why." The lady looked impatient. "Look, here. Take it. I need to find someone."

"Okay, but-"

The woman waved to a handsome group of men. "Here!"

When they got to her she said, "Do you know how long I've been waiting?"

"Sorry. Yamazaki had to find someplace for our horses. We didn't want to be prancing around this tiny market on horses and crushing everyone in our way."

"Sure. So, where are we staying?"

"What?"

Syaoran wasn't paying much attention to the conversation. His attention was all given to the pretty girl with auburn locks and beautiful green eyes.

"Syaoran, hey. You listening?" Meiling asked. "Syaoran."

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing. Nevermind. Here, I want to show you all something." Meiling said as she began to leave.

"Syaoran, I think I've found your next victim." Eriol said, smiling evilly.

"Victim?" Yamazaki walked over to them, interested in what they were saying.

"Yes, victim. You see, we're playing a game." Eriol explained the rules and price/prize.

"Then count me in."

"Alright. So who wants the victim I chose?" Eriol looked from one to the other.

Yamazaki looked at Syaoran. "Let him take it. I'll get the next, but no uglies."

"Of course. Syaoran, your next victim is…her." Eriol raised his hand and pointed at the pretty lady who was talking to one of the vending owners.

"Her? You mean the girl with the…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

---------------------------------------------------------

A/N: This chapter is a little lame, but I had to set everything up…hope you read the next! Gonna be more interesting! Already started!

I want to thank those who reviewed! THANK YOU!

dbzgtfan2004

lovendreamz

ffgirl-07

HoMaYrA

Pinaygrrl

Angel Gone Wrong

Cherryblossom93

THANK YOU!