Disclaimer: Own nothin'! 'cept my characters! Mine! All Mine!

Chapter 4 - Smoke? But where's the fire?

By: BeautyandYue

The next few days passed peacefully. Sakura had a relapse and was almost late to school. She in her hurry forgot to bring Kero along like she had said she would so he could keep an eye on her. "Don't leave with out me!" Kero called flying out the door. But Sakura was too far away to hear him.

Kero flew up to Sakura's room dejectedly. He flew to Sakura's desk and sat on it. Pulling out the Sakura book he chanted a spell and the cards flew up and around him in a golden light. Again he chanted, "Sakura cards hear my plea, open the door of knowledge that I might once again learn of the prophecy spoken oh, so many years ago."

The card glowed an even deeper shade of gold light and whirled madly around his small frame, then the Windy, Fiery, Earthy, and Watery cards lined up like a door and opened into a library, which Kero flew through. The card-door shut softly behind him and faded to be a wall of books, until Kero said the spell to tell the cards that he was done and wanted out. He closed eyes and searched for the book he wanted. A soft light, tinted like the stars, enveloped an old leather bound book and brought it gracefully in front of Kero. He paged through the book until he landed on a page that had seen use many times before. Kero began to read and on his normally carefree face a frown began to arise. The frown deepened actually showing Kero's age for the first time in many years. Only great worry for his master could do that to him and what he was reading, he did not like the outcome of what he was reading.

Sakura ran into the classroom just as the bell was ringing. Luckily Mr. Radue wasn't there, yet. She quickly took her seat as the teacher walked in. as the class got out their English notebooks and handed in their homework, Madison whispered over to her, "Back to your old routine eh, Sakura?"

"No, Kero accidentally turned off the alarm and only by my dad calling for me that I got up in time." Sakura said.

"Oh sure, blame it on the guardian." Eli said chuckling.

"Its true!" She exclaimed, "but I sure raised the roof when I looked at the clock and Kero did one of his 'oops' and just grinned." Sakura sighed exasperated at her little guardian.

Eli laughed out loud. "Oh, quit laughing." Sakura said smiling.

As the morning wore on everyone worked hard even Sakura found math a little easier. But that was all thanks to Ms. McKenzie who was a sub at Tomoeda elementary and helped her defeat Yue in the final judgment three years ago. Sakura had gotten a letter from her just yesterday. 'Actually no, Sakura corrected herself, its Mrs. Greenheart now.' She thought. She had gotten married last fall to a doctor and was expecting a baby, but would visit so that Sakura and her friends could meet her husband and the new baby. Mrs. Greenheart had written. 'I can't wait!' she thought excitedly.

"Sakura will you read on?" Mr. Radue asked quite sure that she wasn't listening.

"Y-yes." Sakura answered started out of her daydream.

"We're on line forty-two." Eli whispered.

Sakura flashed him a thankful glance as she found the line and began to read. The fire bell rang. Mr. Radue said confused, "we weren't supposed to have a fire drill today." But suddenly the bell stopped and the class bell rang to end the class. The teacher shrugged and told everyone to have a good day.

The students hurried out to their next classes. Madison said that she was going to the music room to practice then left. Eli said that he had to head over to science and Sakura to P.E. Sakura was just stretching out when some of the girls saw smoke coming from under the gym door. "Look!" they cried pointing.

Ms. Turpin, the P.E. instructor, said "alright everyone, file out as quickly and as quietly as you can to the outside then wait for your homeroom teacher to take roll call."

They filed out into the bright midmorning sunshine. Sakura looked over the confused students milling around on the grass 'there's Eli, Rubius, Selena, and…' Sakura thought 'but,' she looked around more not finding Madison. Eli jogged over to Sakura a worried look on his face. "Where's Madison?" He asked when he got there.

"I don't know." Sakura replied, worry starting to set in.

"You don't think…" Eli trailed off, the color of his face draining, as a realization hit him. "You don't think, as he tried again, that she didn't hear the bell because she was so caught up in her music. Like she's prone to do." Sakura's heart dropped at Eli's words.

Rubius and Selena came over to them. "What's wrong?" asked Selena looking at Sakura and Eli seeing their white faces.

"Selena, Rubius, I need you to get the teacher. Eli call…" Sakura thought quickly as to who would be the best suited for the job. "Call Ruby and have her notify Julian that their services are need now." Sakura said looking at Eli, who whipped out his cell phone, punching the speed dial.

"Where are you going" Eli shouted, seeing Sakura take off towards the school at a dead run.

"To find Madison!" she called back, "stay put till you Ruby and Julian get here!" Sakura disappeared into the school.

Eli sighed in exasperation, screaming cut off his "hello Ruby?" Eli looked for the source; it was Selena! She was holding her leg and clinging to Ms. Turpin, naturally drawing a crowd. Oddly enough, Rubius was not there to see what had happened to his sister. He seemed to have slipped away. Eli found it peculiar and told Ruby to be on the look out for him, once she and Julian got there.

"Alright Eli." Came Ruby's voice into his ear, "stay safe."

"I'll try." Eli knowing full well he and Sakura could not stay out of trouble, even when he was in England, trouble seemed to follow them. Eli said goodbye to Ruby and slipped off to see where Rubius had gotten too.

To Be Continued…

Thank you to all who have been patient with me on getting my stuff out. School is wrapping up in couple of days so I should be able to spend more time typing and writing. Thank you again!

-BeautyandYue