Introduction
A year has passed since Li fell prey to the Evil Card, and he's trying to cope with the effects. With his dark side closer to the surface, he can get angry very quickly – a fact that everyone notices.
Since he moved back to Readington, Sakura has been the rock in his life, the only person able to keep him balanced. But when an argument gets out of hand, Li makes a drastic decision…to walk out of her life forever.
Another year passes, and Sakura is once again under threat from evil forces. But without Li to protect her, is this the end for the 16 year old Card Mistress?
The scars of the past come back to haunt them…Chapter Two; This Is Goodbye
"Morning Sakura!"
"Morning!" Sakura came into the classroom, smiling at her friends. Luckily, they'd managed to stay in the same class as they moved schools, so the whole gang was still together.
"So, Sakura, are the rumours true?"
"Huh?" Sakura looked up at her friends, puzzled.
"What rumours?"
"That kid from the other school, the one that tripped Li up, has been spreading them. Apparently, Li cornered him last night in the alley, and tried to beat him up. It's not true, though, is it?" Nikki smiled.
Sakura sighed, and nodded.
"It's true."
"What!"
"I had to go in there and pull Li off him." The girls all exchanged looks.
"I hate to say it, but Li's got a real nasty streak in him." said Nikki.
"Yeah, Zachary told me that the other day in P.E, Li nearly hit Terry for saying he was a weirdo." Chelsea agreed.
"Yeah, but he's not like that all the time," Rita put in. "When he's not angry, Li's really sweet and considerate. He values people's friendship."
The bell rang, and the class got into their seats. Madison, who'd been silent all this time, leaned across to Sakura, and whispered,
"You ok?"
"Yeah. Don't worry, Madison." The girl smiled, and sat back in her seat. Sakura breathed a small sigh of relief. >What would Madison have said if she saw the bruise on my face? Good thing I covered it with Illusion.>
The door slid open, and Li hurried in, slipping into his usual seat behind Sakura.
"Am I late?" Sakura shook her head.
"You're lucky. Mr. Yoko had to go sort out something with Reception. Why were you late anyway?"
"It's a secret." Sakura laughed, and gave Li a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You're always late now! I wish you'd stop being Mr. Secretive and tell me!" Li grinned, before kissing her back.
"All in good time. It won't be long now."
"Shut up, Zachary!" Sakura looked up from where she'd been eating lunch with the others, just in time to see Li push Zachary to the floor and storm off. Zachary got up and wandered over to the girls, a look of wounded puzzlement on his face.
"What did you say, Zachary" Madison gasped. The boy shrugged.
"I don't know. All I said was that it was strange that Li lived apart from his family, and that he must really hate them if he doesn't miss them." The girls all groaned, and Chelsea smacked her cousin on the head.
"Idiot! He does miss his family, so he obviously doesn't want to be reminded of them!"
"Have to say, you deserved that one, Zachary" Rita sighed.
Sakura looked worriedly out the classroom window. He hadn't turned up for afternoon lessons, and now it was nearly home time. It wasn't like Li to skip school. He was one of the best pupils in the class, and he hated to miss classes. But the row with Zachary had upset him, so he probably needed some space.
Penguin Park was beautiful in the late afternoon. With the Sun just setting, and the breeze gently blowing the flowers about, it was a peaceful place, and Li liked it. He often came here to think, or just relax.
"I thought I'd find you here." Li started as Sakura came round the tree he was leaning against, and tipped his head back to look up at her.
"How did you know?"
"That you'd be here? Simple. You're always here. You like the calmness, and peace. You like the grove of cherry blossom trees." Li marvelled at how anyone could know him so well, and smiling, pulled Sakura down beside him.
"And you know why I like the cherry blossom trees? Because they remind me of you – my little Cherry Blossom." He drew her in for a kiss, and Sakura happily complied. She loved it when Li was like this – like himself again. True, he got angrier these days, but he was still the same Li.
A little while later, the two left the grove of trees, Sakura leaning her head against Li's shoulder. Her lips were slightly swollen, and tingled slightly from Li's kisses. Not that he'd been rough. He was always so gentle with her. >How could I have nearly let him slip through my fingers like that? I was so wrapped up in Julian, I never noticed how I felt about Li until it was nearly too late. But it turned out ok.>
They walked through the park together, arms around each other. It was a perfect moment. One that couldn't last. Laughing, Sakura twisted away from Li, and ran back from him.
"See if you can catch me, Li!" Smiling, Li let her have a head start before following. It was amazing that Sakura could still have so much fun with games like these, even though she was nearly 15.
Sakura ran ahead, stumbling as she ran over the uneven ground. She had barely run a couple of metres before Li caught up, his natural speed overtaking her. He lightly caught her wrist, and she giggled as he pulled her to him. She wriggled out of his grasp, and pushed him slightly, meaning to escape again. But it wasn't to be.
"Sakura!" They stopped their game to see Will, one of their classmates standing there waving. Li instantly began to scowl. It was well known that Will was after Sakura. And the fact that he was popular, handsome, and smart didn't help.
"Will!" Grinning, Sakura ran over to the boy, not noticing the way Li's face began to twist in rage.
The two talked for a while, Li getting more and more wound up, until finally Will stepped back.
"Anyway, it was nice to see you, Sakura, but I've got to go now."
"Alright Will. See you on Monday!" Li stepped up, and put his arms round Sakura possessively.
"Yeah, Will. Don't let us stop you." Will smirked at the jealous boyfriend, and decided to give Li something to really worry about. Before anyone could stop him, he leaned forward and kissed Sakura on the cheek. She flushed, and Will said wickedly,
"Why, Sakura, it was almost like you enjoyed that. See you!" He turned and wandered off, leaving a speechless Sakura and a fuming Li.
"Li! I'm sorry! I didn't know he was going to do that!" Sakura gasped as she faced Li. He waved her apology off, still glowering.
"Don't bother apologising. It's only lies." Sakura stepped back, confused.
"Huh?"
"You probably liked it, so don't bother trying to come up with excuses. I've seen the way you act around him."
"Li! That's not true! You know me better than that!"
But it was too late. Li's eyes darkened, and he struck out. Sakura cried out as his fist connected hard with her face. Unlike the blow in the alley, this had been meant, and was much, much worse. The force of it sent her back into the tree behind her, where she slumped to the ground stunned.
Her eyes flickered open, and she looked up to see Li striding away.
"Li! Liiii!" But it was no good. Either he was too far away to hear, or he just didn't want to.
"Hi Sakura! Bring me anything to eat?" Kero flew downstairs to meet Sakura, happy to see her. With Tori and Aiden still at work, it was safe to fly around the house, and he wanted to take full advantage of it.
"Sakura?" The girl seemed oddly quiet, and as he flew nearer, he was shocked to see a dark bruise marking her perfect skin.
"What happened?" She looked up, tears in her eyes.
"It was Li."
"Oh, Sakura. I told you that this might happen."
"Yeah, I know Kero." Sakura began to aimlessly tidy up the living room, struggling to hold back fresh tears.
"And it's the weekend now, so I can't even try to make things right with him…" Sakura sighed.
"Well, why not go over to his apartment tomorrow? Wei doesn't live there anymore, so you can talk privately." Kero suggested. He still didn't like the Kid, but since Li made Sakura happy, Kero was ok with letting him have some slack.
"Yeah. Yeah! Thanks Kero!" She began to run upstairs, perking up again, when Kero called to her.
"Oh, and Sakura?" She looked round at him.
"What?"
"Better cover that bruise up before your dad and Tori get home. You don't want Tori to kill Li before you can make up."
"Right!"
Sakura stared open mouthed at Li's apartment. The door hadn't been locked, and when she'd pushed the door open, she'd seen that it was empty. Totally. Nothing was left in there.
"Oh, were you looking for the boy that rented this place?" Sakura jumped in surprise, and saw a woman looking down from the balcony above.
"Yes. Do you know where I can find him?" The woman's eyes softened.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear, he's gone. I think he went back home. To…Hong Kong, was it?" Sakura stood there, frozen, unable to speak. Then, with a heartbreaking sob, she turned and ran from the building, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
Sakura gazed down at the letter that she'd received in the post that morning. Judging from the mark, it was from Hong Kong. Which could mean contact with Li.
She'd tried to call him hundreds of times. And every time, he was out. At least, that's what the speaker said. Personally, she doubted it. She was sure she'd heard Li's voice in the background once, asking his sister to say he wasn't there. Sakura had also left messages. None had been returned.
Yet here was a letter. From Hong Kong. Was it a reply, finally after all this time? Anxiously, she tore open the letter, and scanned it. It was from Meilin, but that was alright. Li could have asked his friend to put a message in. But what she read made Sakura's world stop.
Dear Sakura,
Hello from Hong Kong! I hope you don't mind me notwriting for a long time. I've been really busy with my martial arts studies.
Everything's just the same over here. Yelan is still trying to make a spell that keeps track of all the Showrons. With such a huge family, it's hard to keep contact. Li's sisters are still majorly hyperactive – I swear, they're all on pills.
And that leads me to one final person. Li. I don't know what you guys argued about, but it must have been bad. He came back that night on a late plane, and went straight up to his room without even saying hello.
Mind you, the way he acts now, it could have been nothing that you fell out over. I don't know.
Oh, don't bother ringing him anymore. He's been here all the times that you called, and I don't think he wants to talk to you. But that's not the main reason. He's gone off on this clan training trial. I think he must be crazy! The people who take part just stay for weeks, maybe even months out in the wild, fending for themselves. Some people have been out there for years, and still haven't come back.
I guess he's still wound up over your argument, but I don't know. Anyway, that's why you shouldn't bother ringing – he may not be back for a very long time. I'll call you when he does return, and I promise to work on him. I'll get you two back together again!
Gotta run, Wei's calling me back for another lesson. Oh god, it's on maths this time. I think I'd rather go on the training scheme.
From your dear friend,
Meilin
P. S I found this in Li's room. I think he was going to give it to you as a birthday present before you guys fell out.
Sakura looked down at the object that had fallen out of the envelope. It was a beautiful bracelet. With delicate silver cherry blossom flowers twined around a circlet of what looked to be pure gold, it took Sakura's breath away.
>So that's why he was late all those times. He must have been working part-time in order to buy it for me…> Sakura slipped the bracelet on, and held her wrist against her heart, tears already beginning to drop from her watery eyes. >I miss you Li. It feels like my heart's been torn out of my chest, and I just don't know what to do…why aren't you here? Why…>
When Tori came home from work, he found his sister lying on the couch, fast asleep. From the tearstains on her cheeks, she looked like she'd been crying. Gently taking the letter from her limp hand, he quickly read it.
Scowling slightly, he put the letter on the coffee table, and stroked Sakura's sleeping face. That Brat again, Tori had always known he'd hurt Sakura, one way or another. But Sakura wore her heart on her sleeve, and was such a kind person…she refused to see the bad in anybody. Sighing, Tori picked her up, and carried her up to her room. >Soon, Sakura, you'll get over him. You'll get your life back. But until then, hang on…>