The Covens Underneath Chapter 9: Questions, a card captor sakura fanfic

'The Covens Underneath'

By Majah

Disclaimer:

I don't own CCS, but I do own the story in this fic and things that are non-CCS related. All the name of places, historical events and other things mentioned, which you don't seem to know IRL, are products of my imagination. Any similarities with the actual thing are purely coincidental.

From Previous Chapter:

"How dare me to defy someone like you!" Sakura finished for him. "How dare me to disobey this school's stupid laws!" Tears finally rolled on her cheeks. "How dare me…who is nobody to even be granted this scholarship." She sniffed. "I've had enough of this caste! All of you are just a bunch of snobs. Well, I'm sorry! I didn't ask to be here! It was Sarabusa-sama who got me here from Saradik. If I only had the luxury of doing what I really wanted, I would rather stay in the orphanage and help Mistress Sai!"

Syaoran was speechless for a moment but eventually his eyes narrowed in recognition of the names mentioned by Sakura.

"Sarabusa? Sarabusa Hayo? The headmaster's personal assistant and member of the ministry? He was the one who went all the way to Saradik just to get a winner of a scholarship program?" His frown deepened which made Sakura glance back. "Isn't that too much of a little task for someone like him to do?"

"Wha…what are you talking about?" Sakura murmured in a small voice.

"And what's more...you mentioned a 'Mistress Sai'…could this be…none other than the Fraulein Sai?

"Fraulein…Sai?"

"Yes…Fraulein Sai…the famous previous governess in Fujitaka's household."

---: ACT ONE: ---

"THE BEGINNING OF AN END"

:Chapter Eight:

"Questions"

"Tsukishiro-san, how are you feeling today?" Tomoyo's sweet voice beckoned the teen resting on the mattress. The bed actually looked too luxurious for a hospital facility. The room itself could be compared to a hotel accommodation. Apparently, this was the treatment given to a person who belonged to a prominent family.

"Much better now, Tomoyo-chan." A male teen, who seemed to be around nineteen years of age, responded upon hearing the question. He has gray hair and dusty eyes beneath his glasses. It was evident that his arms and torso were covered with bandages. He gave his visitors a gentle smile.

"You don't have to push yourself too much, Yuki." Touya remarked as he shot a worried a look towards the other male.

"Hai…hai..." Yukito nodded with his smile never leaving his face. "Touya-sensei doesn't have to worry so much."

"Hmmph…You can just call me Touya." The dark-haired man crossed his arms. "We are still close friends, aren't we?"

Yukito lightly chuckled. "But it is improper for me to call one of our professors by their first name only. Though, we've been together for so long, you've already graduated." He gestured with one finger. "Must keep that in mind. I don't want to cause any disrespect for you." Then, he added playfully. "Ne, Sensei?"

Near them, Tomoyo could only smile at her brother's expression. "Tsukishiro-san is turning twenty this year." Her mellow voice responded. "By the end of next year, he will be graduating as well. It is not much of a wait."

Day School was primarily attended by students around fifteen to twenty-one years old. The first four years were allotted for classroom-type study. Though, trips and practical projects were given every now and then, they were still basically something out of the textbooks and lecture guides. The remaining three years were for practicum and training on whichever endeavor one had chosen to take.

Currently, Yukito was in his second year of practicum. Students like him were called interns. Tomoyo, on the other hand, was a senior—a level below interns. She turned eighteen last month.

"Ah." Touya grumpily slumped down on a chair near the bed. "Well, he could at least be informal in interacting with us outside society's judgmental eyes. It is not like we are inside a classroom right now."

"Oni-chan has a point there." The raven-haired girl agreed.

"Hai…hai…but still…it was kind of fun calling him 'sensei'…" Yukito teased. "Ne? Sensei."

Touya's brow twitched and his fangs became evident. "If you are going to insist on that, then I shall make you endlessly do 'special' homework and case studies the moment you get back in class."

Yukito chuckled. "Oh so harsh. You are very harsh indeed." Then, his expression suddenly became serious. "Speaking of which…aren't you being too hard on Li?"

With the mention of the name, Touya's demeanor became darker. "I don't care." He growled.

"Touya…" Yukito looked at him unbelievingly. "…you really despise him that much?"

But the other man just turned his head towards the other direction snobbishly. "I don't like how he always gets special treatment for his crimes. And to think that his acceleration to senior level was approved by the council despite of everything…it makes my blood boil."

Yukito sighed. "Touya…"

"Demo ne…" Tomoyo spoke up. "…Li-kun is good with schoolwork. He is quite smart actually. I think he deserves to be accelerated."

"There is nothing smart about a vampire who doesn't even know how to cast a simple sun shield spell on himself." Touya countered.

Yukito gave a thoughtful look. "Actually, he knows how to, it's just his uncontrollable vampire heritage as a beastshifter that was the one being a huge hindrance for him to conjure simple spells. It is not Li's fault if he inherited the cursed lineage."

"Cursed…" Tomoyo remarked quietly. "It does seem to be like that, doesn't it? Li-kun's power?"

The patient's dusty eyes became soft. "Although, I wouldn't say it in front of anyone else, I've regarded the Li clan's rare vampire lineage as a curse. Although, without doubt that it was indeed the most powerful amongst beastshifters like us, but attacking anyone at sight against your will or without your knowledge is just like a prison you can't get out of. So, to me…it is a curse." With that, he once again glanced over Touya. "Don't be too hard on him. I actually admire Li that he was somehow hanging on. Imagine if something like that happened to you, Touya."

The older man was silent for a moment. He knew that his friend was right, but his pride and instinctive hate towards the boy's cocky personality were blocking his right path of reasoning. "Still, it is a fact that he did commit does crimes…killing fellow vampires…his partners…the mere thought makes me angry."

"Touya…I understand where you are coming from, but be more reasonable. I don't think Li would want to kill his allies. I'm sure if there is another way he can cope with this, he would have done it already." Yukito once again tried to shine some light on his friend's opinion.

Yukito made it sound so simple and natural that Touya could not help but to sigh. As usual, the younger man's perception was greatly affecting his own that his shoulders drooped down in defeat. "Fine." He muttered. "But don't force me to love him or anything like that." He darted his gaze towards Tomoyo. "I still don't approve of him."

This earned an arched brow from the patient. "A-ra? Did something happen between Tomoyo-chan and Li?" Yukito's inquiring gaze met Tomoyo's amethyst orbs.

But the girl just giggled.

"Oi." Touya's death glare intensified.

"Don't tell me that in my absence…Tomoyo-chan and Li became…?" Yukito blinked at the girl.

Tomoyo shook her head. "It's not like that, Tsukishiro-san." She winked. "I just talked to him more than usual this day."

"Eh?"

The girl giggled again. "Oni-chan was just being protective."

"I don't like rumors to start spreading like that in campus." Irritation was evident in Touya's tone.

"Rumors?" Curious dusty eyes darted from Touya to Tomoyo.

"Well…" The gentle girl tilted her head. "…I wasn't exactly involved at first but somehow things got a little complicated and people quickly assumed many things. But don't worry." She smiled. "There are no gory details…I don't want you think that much Tsukishiro-san. Let's just say that I just defended Sakura-chan."

"Ah…Sakura-chan." Yukito nodded his head, and then it finally registered to him. "Wait!" He looked at Tomoyo with wide eyes. "Did you just say…Sa…kura…-chan?"

"Hai." Tomoyo smiled happily.

Yukito's mouth dropped open as he quickly shot an inquiring look at Touya. The man closed his eyes and frowned.

"She's here?" Yukito's face was a mixture of shock and gladness. "In Tetsuroh?"

"Hai!" The raven-haired girl clapped her hands enthusiastically.

"She seemed to have miraculously…attained scholarship." Touya mumbled.

"Really!" Yukito exclaimed. "That's great!...Well…ummm…" He looked uncertain at his friend. "…I'm not sure if it is safe for her to be here…nor if she is welcomed to be here…but ummm…it has been a while…and…" He let his sentence dangle.

Touya frowned and rubbed his temples. "Save it…it's alright. There's nothing we can do about it."

Tomoyo bit her lower lip as she watched her brother go uptight again. "Oni-chan…" But Touya just closed his eyes and remained silent.

"Hmmmm…" Yukito rubbed his chin and gave things a deeper thought. "…Her presence might cause some trouble, though."

"She is already causing trouble." Touya gritted his fangs. "Together with that Li boy."

This earned a raised brow from Yukito as he looked inquiringly at Tomoyo for confirmation.

The girl instantly responded. "It seems…Sakura-chan had met Li amongst all of us first." She smiled.

Yukito gave a light chuckle. "I see. So that's why Touya looked irritated than ever."

"I wouldn't care any less what that girl does nor what that Li boy does!" Touya barked. "As long as they don't end up getting everyone's attention that may reveal some controversial things which will effect the Daidouji clan's reputation."

"But Oni-chan…not grabbing everyone attention is somehow impossible for someone like Li-kun." Tomoyo pointed out.

"Yes, and yet you had gotten yourself involved as well." Touya glared at his sister.

But the girl only giggled. "I have no choice. Sakura-chan looked so helpless and lost."

"Eh…for someone who lived that long in the country side…it couldn't be helped" Yukito adjusted his glasses. "Is she well?"

"Ummm…I think she is healthy…well…maybe not…slightly undernourished, but what can you expect from an orphanage?" Tomoyo answered.

"Isn't Fraulein Sai taking care of her?" Yukito asked.

Tomoyo nodded. "But Fraulein Sai needs to be careful. If she does too much caring, people will suspect that some things don't connect. Ah….which reminds me…" She focused her attention back to her brother. "Oni-chan…today…Li-kun told me that he sensed that there is something not right about Sakura-chan."

"Did he, now…" It was more of a statement than a question as Touya's eyes became as cold as ever.

The raven-haired girl gave him a thoughtful look. "Though, Li-kun might be handicapped in many areas as a vampire, but he still possessed sharp senses being a beastshifter. It could be a problem."

"That's why that girl isn't supposed to be here!" Touya roared. "That old man…what was he thinking."

"You can't blame Fujitaka-tosan." Yukito butted in. "His reasons are understandable. I would probably do the same thing if I was in his position."

"He is a bastard." The dark-haired man muttered under his breath. "He should have left things the way it should be. It would be more peaceful that way considering that this was his mess to begin with."

"Oni-chan…" Tomoyo looked sad for a moment.

"You knew about this, didn't you, Tomoyo?" Touya asked his sister. "You knew all along that he was planning to bring that girl here."

"Hai." Tomoyo bent her head. "I was there when he ordered Sarabusa-san to go."

"Oi…oi…" Yukito gestured his hands gently at Touya. "Don't be so cold now."

"I..." The dark-haired man glared at both the occupants of the room. "…will never accept that girl." He strongly stressed as he stood up. He faced his sister as every inch of emotion left his eyes. "And you…" He said to Tomoyo. "…you should know where your loyalty lies." With that, he walked briskly out of the room without even saying goodbye.

Tomoyo sighed. "Oni-chan…"

Yukito leaned over and place his hand on top of Tomoyo's. "Don't worry." He smiled tenderly. "Sometimes what Touya believes inside isn't the same as what he says in the outside."

"Tsukishiro-san…" The girl murmured.

"Sa…sa…" He squeezed Tomoyo's hand. "Everything will be alright." And with a more encouraging smile, he added. "You'll see."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Sakura's confused voice filled the air. "Governess? I think you have mistaken. Mistress Sai is someone who manages the orphanage."

In front of her, Syaoran narrowed his eyes. Everything seemed suspicious. Surely, there was also the possibility that the two women just have the same name, but still…

Something's wrong…I can feel it in my bones. He stared at Sakura which made her squirm a little. This girl… He gazed at her emerald eyes. The depth of her eyes is not normal.

"A-no…" Sakura was getting uncomfortable as ever. She didn't know whether to look away or just keep returning the upperclassman's unwavering gaze. I mustn't back down. She thought. I must show that I can stand up against them or else I will get bullied for the rest of my Tetsuroh days. So indeed, she decided. She summoned all her strength and looked squarely at Syaoran's amber eyes.

Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as she thought. She only ended up blushing.

Hooooeeeeeee….this is difficult. I'm not used being the object of a guy's attention. I can only deal with little boys. I don't exactly have any experience with guys around my age and…older…

Her face continued to get flushed.

"You…" Syaoran started to reach out to her. His hand touched her face as he took a step forward to get a closer look of her eyes.

Sakura gasped at his sudden action. Her eyes were wide as she stared up at him. The upperclassman was taller than she was that she felt his hand tilting her face up towards him. Her heart started to beat faster.

He is so close… She thought as she met his amber eyes. But…there is…something awfully familiar about him.

Moments later she felt her nervousness dissipating. An aura of comfort took over her. What is…happening? She thought as she looked up; hypnotized.

On the other hand, Syaoran was having his own dilemma. His frown might have been disappearing but inside he was in turmoil. What's happening? He was asking the same question within him. He felt as if he was getting sucked down the depths of the girl's emerald eyes. Stress and stiffness seemed to have flown away from the lines of his face as he felt his head bending closer towards the girl. His eyes reflected sleepiness and weariness. Then, it happened again…

--thump----thump----thump--

--ta-thump----thump-----------------------thump--

His heart started to fluctuate and his lips suddenly became dry.

This can't be. His thoughts were racing but for some reason his body won't respond to him. I'm having contractions…no…it couldn't be…I can't… He was starting to panic inside but his physical self seemed to be lost. I mustn't transform here!

In the outside, Syaoran's breathing became hard. Even his grip on her face tightened. I can't be transforming. His mind debated. Because if I am transforming then I should start feeling pain.

But there was no pain. Was it only him getting numb or was it something else?

--ta-thump----thump-----------------------thump—

-thump--- ta-thump ------- ta-thump --- ta-thump ta-thump --------thump--

His heart continued to beat irregularly. It was a sure warning of forced transformation.

No…no…why can't I move!

Strangely though, another feeling erupted within him. It was a feeling of hunger with a great sense of need. What's going on? Why am I…why am I…?

He felt hot inside as if his blood was rising to its limits. Soon enough, his thumb wandered off to touch her lips. So soft… wait! What am I thinking! Stop!

Nevertheless, his body ignored every command of his mind. Panic was taking over his inner self and it doubled the moment he realized…

…his vampire fangs had gotten longer.