Author's note: I'm back! Sorry for the delay. Now that may month is here I can update more quickly coz my hols have begun (cheers ). Here's chapter 5! I didn't get many reviews for my last chapter so I was quite disappointed. So plz leave me lots of reviews this time. And a huge thanks to all those who reviewed! I hope you like this chapter.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I've posted my profile, please check out my future fanfics and tell me what you think in your reviews. Happy reading!

Chapter 5:

The wind blew against her, making the light of the lamp flicker for a second. Sakura read aloud,

"The end of autumn is approaching. This day is very special because I finally achieved my long standing goal. I finally found the mystic valley. It is exactly as I imagined, maybe even better… I can sense a strange aura in this place. Just like the secret garden in the castle. I took Joe to the secret garden but somehow he couldn't even see it. I've always been told that I have stronger magic than anyone in my family. Is that the reason why I came here?"

That was the end. Sakura turned the next page and began to read the next entry.

"Last night I had a strange dream. A magical voice told me that it was my strong desire that helped me enter the mystic valley. And that I had a mission to accomplish. Curiously I asked the voice what it was that I had to fulfill. The answer I got was pretty vague…that my mission had something to do about the Kinomoto Kingdom."

The next entry in the diary was even shorter.

"The King and queen of the Kinomoto Kingdom have been cursed to become flowers. And it's my job to save them…though I don't yet know why………"

Sakura turned the pages eagerly thinking that if her parents were cursed the same way then she might pick up some clues about saving her family.

But to her utter disappointment the next couple of pages were blank. She stared at it and ran her fingers over the page. There were light shades of ink in the corners of the page and Sakura supposed that someone must have accidentally spilt water on the diary. She sighed and flipped through the rest of the pages. There was nothing in it at all. She was about to close the diary but she spotted some writing in the last page. She began reading the last entry…

"It's been 50 years since I opened the gateway to the mystic valley. My last days are approaching…I know it. Things have changed drastically. The new king to the Kinomoto kingdom, whose parents I rescued, is sadly a tyrant. He has already attempted twice to capture our Kingdom for the sake of the mystic valley. Recently many people have discovered magical plants around the valley that can cure any human disease. This has increased his thirst to capture our land. I only wish someday that our kingdoms could become friends…"

Sakura closed the book surprised by her discovery. "It seems a little silly reason for such a tension between our lands," she murmured to herself remembering how Syaoran's father had reacted on hearing about her kingdom.

She got up picking the lantern with her and walked to the gates of the mystic valley and took a last look at the beautiful garden of flowers. "I'll be back tomorrow," she said to herself, "I'll be back with my mother's diary and then I can finally save my family," She walked out and the gates closed behind her.

She walked back only half conscious because of her weariness. Subconsciously her mind led her to the secret garden in the palace and she was so tired that she settled to sleep under the cherry blossom trees. But before she could sleep she felt a huge shadow loom over her. Her eyes snapped open and she looked up into a pair of puzzled amber eyes.

"Sakura?"

"Your Majesty! I mean Syaoran," she corrected seeing him frown slightly.

"What are you doing her at this time?" it was a few hours before dawn and Sakura wanted to catch some well deserved sleep.

"I just got up early I guess"

"Yeah but this is way too early,"

"What are you doing at this time anyway?" Sakura asked

"Same as you I got up early, so I thought I'd train," he said showing her his sword. It was still in its sheath so Sakura supposed that he hadn't begun training yet.

"No, you shouldn't train so early. Why it isn't even dawn yet! It's not um…healthy. An old man told me that," she said all this one breath her hands fidgeting with the front of her dress as she did.

Syaoran thought she sounded nervous but he didn't know why. Little did he know that Sakura's mind was practically yelling at him to leave.

"Oh hurry up and leave! If he stays any longer he'll find out about my curse. I can't let that happen. What do I do? WHAT DO I DO!

"Maybe you're right I'm a little tired so I think I'll go back and catch some more sleep," he said not feeling sleepy at all but somehow he could sense that she didn't want him around. "But I want you to promise me something,"

"What?"

"Will you meet me at sunset tonight?"

"Why?"

"It's a surprise. Well do you promise?"

"Yes. I promise," she said a little disappointed because she was planning on going to the mystic valley again. But at this moment anything to make him go away seemed like a good idea.

The next day sped away so quickly that before she knew it, it was sunset—time to meet him.

She crept into the secret garden at sunset but he was already there.

"Hello" he greeted her as she came.

"Um…" she said looking at him, confused for instead of his usual princely robes he was wearing a sleeveless black shirt and brown pants with a cloak (A/N: Something like what Syaoran wears in the beginning of Tsubasa. I don't much about it so I hope I'm right)

"What's that for?" she asked pointing to the majestic black stallion behind him.

"This is my horse, Clover" he said.

"Where are you going?"

"You mean we," he corrected. "We are going to the fair in the next village,"

"What!"

"So, you don't want to go?" he grinned at her surprise.

Sakura gaped at him, "I can't go like this," she said looking at her clothes.

Sure enough the gown that she was wearing was torn up to only a few inches below her knee and her once full sleeved dress was now sleeveless with bits of torn cloth hanging around her sleeve. The light pink dress was caked in dirt and mud that it was nearly black.

"I already thought about that," he said handing her a wrapped package. Wordlessly she unwrapped the package to find a pretty but simple frock. She stared at the silk dress in front of her.

"It used to be one of my sisters. I hope you like it. I'm sorry I couldn't get you a new one because I didn't want anyone to get suspicious," he said blushing slightly.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I'll go try it on,"

He nodded and added, "You'll find a pair of shoes in there as well," She disappeared into the bushes and came back within minutes wearing the frock he'd given her. It was tan colored frock with puffy sleeves and orange piping for the sleeves and a pretty orange bow in the front with matching sandals. It was very simple but it looked good on her.

"How does it look? Is it too big for me?" she asked him shyly.

"No. It's just right. You look nice." He replied, "Shall we go now? I don't want to be late"

"Sure. But are we going on that?" she asked pointing to his horse.

"Yeah"

She looks a little nervous, he thought. He quickly mounted the horse and motioned her to sit behind him. Trembling a little she sat behind him quietly slipping her hands round his waist.

"L…Let's go," he stammered blushing.

And so off they went. It was a slow journey and every time there was a little jerk Sakura would tighten her grip around him pressing her cheek on his back making his heart beat faster, his cheeks burn and nearly choking him to death.

"Sakura, can you loosen your grip a bit? I…"he puffed, "…can't breathe…"

"Oops sorry!" she giggled blushing.

"Are you scared of riding horses?"

"Yes and No," she replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I don't mind riding on my own, I'm scared to go with someone else,"

"That's weird. Why?"

"Because when I was little by brother dropped me into the pond when he took me riding with him. I nearly drowned, but a villager saved me. I was in the water for only a few minutes but I was scared to death…and to make matters worse there were a lot of frogs creeping all over me," she shivered at that thought. "And I've been scared ever since,"

"You could have said something, you know. I'd have brought another horse with me," he said.

"I didn't want to trouble you more than I already have," she said and then bent her head a little so that the shadow of her bangs covered her eyes.

"Can I ask you something Syaoran?"

"Sure. What's wrong?"

"Why…are you doing this much for me? You could easily have me arrested as I'm from the enemy country…"

He thought for a while and replied, "Well firstly I don't like wars or feuds of any sort. They're just a waste of time. And secondly I like your sincerity, your determination to complete whatever this mission is for your family. From what I see it's not an easy task, I mean escaping into the enemies land and all…you're really brave and you're devoted to what you do. You're ready to risk everything for the ones you care about. I can see all this in your eyes. However cheerful you try to sound, your eyes give you away…they tell the truth about you…I know you're hiding something from me…something painful. But you can tell me when you're ready to; I won't force you into telling me Sakura,"

Sakura stared into his gentle amber eyes, her mind digesting what he had said. She felt tears well up and she whispered, "Oh Syaoran, thank you for understanding how I feel. I don't how I'm ever going to repay you,"

"Shh…don't cry," he raised a gloved hand and wiped a tear from her cheek, "We're going to a fair now and I want you to put your troubles away and enjoy yourself, ok?"

Sakura wiped her tears and gave him a small smile. It was a small one but genuine. The two of them were quiet for the rest of the journey.

Why am I being so nice to her? He wondered. I have never been so nice to any one so far. There's just something about her…her childlike innocence and her firm determination set in those beautiful emerald eyes…I seem to be falling under her spell…

Pretty soon they reached the fair. The shrine outside the village was decorated colorfully with paper and bright lamps. There were a lot of people having fun with their families and friends, all dressed in nice new clothes. The people in the stall were yelling themselves hoarse beckoning the customers towards their stall. Sakura looked around at her surroundings, a rare sparkle in her emerald eyes.

"I see, you like this place," a voice came from behind.

"Mm….yes, it's wonderful!" she exclaimed smiling at Syaoran who had just tied his horse to a nearby tree.

"Well let's go check it out, then," he said grabbing her and dragging her with him. He led her to a juice stall first, because he felt a little thirsty and felt sure that she must be feeling the same after their long ride. Sakura happily sipped her orange juice and chatted away with him, "I want to go to all the stalls…please can we Syaoran? And I saw a candy store too, can we go there also? And then I want to go try out the hoopla and the…." She stopped realizing that she was rambling.

She blushed and apologized, "Sorry…I guess I got carried away,"

Syaoran shook his head and laughed, "Don't apologize. We can go everywhere because we have all the time in the world. I'll take you everywhere you want to go,"

Sakura brightened up at this, "Yay!" she jumped in joy, placed her glass down on the stall and grabbed his hand and hauled him over to the nearest stall. There was a bright sign outside that said, "Lucky draw! Come and try your luck. Every one gets a prize!"

"What am I supposed to do?" Sakura asked the old lady in the shop eagerly.

The old woman handed her a pair of dice and replied, "Just roll the dice."

"That's all I got to do?" Sakura asked amazed.

"Yep," replied the old woman, "That's what the sign says, everyone gets a prize,"

"I'll go first and then you try ok?" she said turning to Syaoran.

Syaoran smiled at her enthusiasm and nodded his head, "Sure."

Sakura took a deep breath and threw her dice on the table. She had rolled a number 11. The old woman asked a boy beside her to fetch a box labeled 11. The boy did as he was told and opened the box revealing a delicate gold chain with a pendant of a heart except there was only half of the heart.

Sakura stared at the peculiar chain but she loved it, "It's beautiful," she whispered. She was about to get it from the boy but his eyes were wide and he was staring at the chain, his mouth hanging open. To Sakura and Syaoran's perplexity even the old woman was looking at in awe. And before either of them could do anything the boy stood up on the wooden table and began yelling, "Everyone! Come quick! She's got the broken heart pendant!"

Almost at once the entire lot of people came scurrying towards the two, chattering excitedly.

"She got it! I can't believe it! "

"Lucky girl!"

"Finally after all these years!"

Sakura and Syaoran were completely bewildered by the whole situation.

"Is it a good thing?" Sakura asked timidly.

"Of course it's a good thing!" exclaimed a plump lady animatedly. "Why don't you tell them the story Grandma?" she asked the old woman in the stall who nodded in agreement, clearing her throat and began, "Long ago, about a few centuries before, there lived a priestess in this village. She had extremely strong magical powers. It was believed that she protected our village from the dragons, which you know are extinct now. Well it is said that she fell in love with a young man but sadly before their marriage he betrayed her and left with another woman. Filled with rage and anger the young priestess forged this pendant in the shape of half a heart made of her love for the man, the other half she hid away and killed herself. Only a person with a pure heart will be able to obtain this pendant," she gave Sakura a smile and went on, "The other part of the pendant will be found only if you find a person who will love you as much as you love him,"

"Not that you need to find him," the plump lady said nudging Sakura and giving a glance at Syaoran, making both of them blush immediately.

"Go on, young lad, put it on her," the old lady said as the boy handed a red Syaoran the chain.

Syaoran gripped the chain nervously and walked up to Sakura who just as red. He leaned over her shoulder placing the chain around her neck.

Sakura blushed even harder realizing how close he was to her, why he was practically hugging her! Sakura was clutching at the front of his shirt, her hands trembling, as he fumbled over the clasp of the chain. Finally he had put it on and he stepped back. The entire crowd cheered.

A shadow of unexpected disappointment crossed Syaoran's face because nothing happened. The plump lady was quick to notice it. "Don't look like that my boy. It takes time for the magic to work. Besides your love for the young lady isn't strong enough yet to summon the other part of the pendant," she said patting him on the back so hard that he nearly fell over.

"What?" Sakura asked looking confused for she obviously hadn't heard what the lady had told him.

Syaoran blushed and shook his head. The two of them stared uncomfortably at the ground wondering how too get out of his embarrassing situation. To their relief an interruption came. A man came running towards the crowd of people and shouted,

"Come on! The fireworks show will be starting soon," Hearing this, the crowd started dispersing leaving the two of them alone.

"Um…shall we go?" Syaoran asked not daring to lift his eyes from the ground.

Sakura looked up at him and smiled, her cheeks still a faint red, "Sure,"

The two of them walked in silence towards the lake where the fireworks show was to be held. Syaoran was completely lost in thoughts. Damn it! Why am I feeling so disappointed? Do I really want to find the other half of that pendant? Maybe I do…

"Syaoran?" a melodic voice disrupted his thoughts.

He looked up questioningly into her gorgeous emerald eyes.

"Is something wrong? Why are you so upset?'

Syaoran shook his head and smiled, "No, I'm fine…really," he added when she eyed him a little disbelievingly.

She suddenly laughed and ran forward, "Catch me if you can!" He tore after her, "You bet I will!" What was wrong with him? He was the one who asked her to forget all her troubles. Maybe he should take his own advice…

Syaoran caught up to Sakura in no time grabbing her by the hand. She shrieked and fell on top of him, panting.

"I caught you…" he said catching his breath.

Sakura quickly grabbed a few autumn leaves from the ground and stuffed it to down the front of his shirt.

"Well now you didn't…" she said jumping off him and running again. Syaoran got up startled at what she did but quickly pulled out all the leaves and sprinted after her.

"You're going to pay for that!"

He was about to catch her again but a voice came, "The show's about to start!" The pair realized that they must have reached the lake when Sakura remembered something,

"Syaoran, what is that fire—thingy that man was talking about?"

"Oh, you mean the fireworks," Syaoran corrected. "Well it's something that the Chinese people recently discovered, you'll see. It's very pretty. They make beautiful patterns in the sky."

"Patterns in the sky?" Sakura asked eagerly, "I can hardly wait to see them. But are you sure they aren't scary?"

"No, no they aren't scary, Sakura," he replied taking her to a spot away from the crowd near the lake where they could view the fireworks.

There was a huge noise and a firework flew into the sky forming a pretty red pattern. "You see that Sakura…" Syaoran turned but Sakura wasn't there. He spun around and caught a part of her dress sticking from behind a tree.

"Sakura?" he went up to the tree and saw her trembling with her hands covering her ears.

"You said they won't be scary, but they make such huge noises like thunder," she wailed.

"Oh Sakura, I didn't know loud noises scared you. But you have to see the fireworks, I'm sure you'll like them,"

Sakura agreed and came over to the spot they'd been standing earlier, her hands ready to cover her ears.

Syaoran stood behind her catching her shoulders. BOOM! The second firework was off and this time it made a blue pattern in the sky. Sakura's shoulders stiffened a bit on hearing the sound but she forgot her fear on seeing the pretty pattern.

"Wow! So pretty!" she said softly relaxing and leaning her back against Syaoran's chest.

"Glad you like it," Syaoran grinned, quietly slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

The two of them enjoyed the beautiful spectacle in front of them forgetting how close they were standing…..

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sakura yawned loudly for the fifth time. She leaned on his back trying her best not to fall asleep. Time ticked by and the only sound was the horse's hooves thudding against the ground.

"Sakura?" Syaoran called wondering why she was so quiet. Suddenly he felt her arms slipping off his waist… He quickly whirled around, one of his hands leaving the horse's rein for a moment and grabbed Sakura's arm pulling her in front of him to safety. With the other he tugged the horse's rein forcing it to stop.

"Sakura!" he said patting her cheek trying to wake her. She sleepily opened her eyes.

"Silly girl! You could have told me that you were sleepy, you nearly fell of the horse," he said.

"Sorry Syaoran," she mumbled, her eyelids drooping. She pressed her cheek on his shoulder, moved her self on the horse's saddle in front of him and once she became comfortable, she fell asleep breathing gently against his neck.

Syaoran shook his head smiling and placing his hands around her, he took hold of the reins of the horse and rode back to the castle.

Syaoran pulled the horses rein once they'd reached the palace. The horse neighed, quite softly but it woke Sakura up. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and looked up at him,

"We're back,"

He nodded jumping off the horse and helped her down.

"Would you like me to take you home?"

Sakura felt a pang in her heart when she heard this. She had no home, her home was destroyed…

Syaoran noticed the sad look in her eyes and he asked her gently, "Is something wrong Sakura?"

Sakura shook her head and replied, "No I'm ok," she gave him a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Take that. It's a bit windy tonight,"

Sakura smiled again, a better one this time, "Thank you so much for everything tonight, Syaoran," she said and to his surprise and her own, she reached up and gave him a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then suddenly realizing what she'd done, she withdrew blushing,

"S—sorry, good night," She whirled around and sped off.

'What did I just do? Oh why is my heart beating so fast?' She wondered running all the way and she didn't stop till she reached her cave. Finally exhaustion took over her and she slumped on the sandy floor of the cave wrapping his warm sweet smelling cloak around her as a blanket. They didn't do as much as she had wanted to but it still had been the best day of her life…

Author's note; That's the end of the fifth chapter! 8 pages long! The longest one I've ever typed. I hope it makes up for my delay. I'll post the nest chapter ASAP! Happy holidays!

This is sakura doll signing off! See ya!