i had totally given up on this story...but a mere intuition made me continue it! i would REALLY APPRECIATE some reviews! I had this odd feeling that nobody really likes my fic and so, i was really depressed!
but, a few reviewersmade me feel really happy!!!
i'd like to thank them...i know my story is lousy, but thanx for ur support!
animeboy-12
sailor alpha tomboy
anon- LiRpA
you guys ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is the much awaited chapter!
a bit more SakuraxSyaoran in this...
very less of TomoxEriol...
so have fun!
"Oh my……Sakura!" exclaimed Fujitaka Kinomoto, watching his daughter walk for the first time in 6 years. Sakura stumbled a bit and then looked up and said, "I'm OK. Just gotta get used to this…"
Mr. Kinomoto ran forward and held her tightly. He smelt her auburn hair, so very like his own, and whispered, "Sakura…how can this be? Am I dreaming? Tell me if I am, honey. Wake me up. I don't want to experience the bliss of something that does not exist."
Sakura smiled and said, "You aren't dreaming daddy. I am real. I can walk."
Mr. Kinomoto tried hard to stop the flow of tears, but he just couldn't.
Touya looked thunderstruck. He came forward and said, "Sakura…can you really…"
Sakura smiled and said, "yes, Oni-chan. I can walk."
Touya uncertainly touched her thin face and said, "oh-my-god. You really can walk!"
Sakura laughed as he picked her up and twirled her around. "My sister can walk again! This is so damn….UNREAL!" he exclaimed as Mr. Kinomoto laughed as well.
"Does this mean I can go for Syao-kun's concert?" she asked him hopefully.
Touya stopped and said, darkly, "So that was all it was about. I should have known."
Sakura looked confused. "Wha-"she began but Touya cut her short, yelling, "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS! WHEN I SAY YOU AREN'T GOING, I MEAN YOU AREN'T GOING! I KNOW I MADE MYSELF CLEAR THE FIRST TIME! YET YOU KEEP-"
"WHY ARE YOU BEING SO DARN STUBBORN? I CAN WALK NOW, CAN'T I?"
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU STRONG ENOUGH-"
"LOOK, EVEN DADDY DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS! WHY DO YOU ACT LIKE MY NANNY! TOUYA, I'M 16. I'M. NO. LONGER. A. KID! GET IT, WILL YOU! I DON'T NEED YOU TO RUN AROUND ME, CARRYING A FEATHER CUSHION OR SOMETHING, WORRIED IF I FALL RIGHT OUT OF THE SKY! STOP GOVERNING MY LIFE!"
Touya stopped, staring at her with odd eyes. He turned around and waked away, ignoring his father, who was gazing pleadingly at him. Sakura watched him leave. What she didn't notice was the tiniest of the tiny tears that rolled down his cheek, his onyx eyes glimmering with sadness.
Mr. Kinomoto sighed softly and said, "Sakura, honey, did you really have to say all that to your elder brother? You broke his heart, darling."
Sakura muttered something incoherent. Mr. Kinomoto frowned and said, "He is not made of stone, Sakura. I thought you knew why he worries so much about you. He loves you so much."
Sakura stood up and said shortly, "I'm tired, daddy. Good night."
M. Kinomoto sighed softly and retreated to his own room for the night.
Sakura proceeded for her bedroom and stopped when she reached Touya's door.
She saw him furiously throwing darts at the board.
"It's getting late, you know," she said, glowering at him. "You should get some sleep."
"Who gave you the right to govern my life?" he said, without looking at her.
Sakura walked in and stood there, tears falling from her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Touya didn't look up. "What was that?" he said, faltering when he saw the carpet which was soaked.
"Sakura-"
"You care so much about me. I know Touya, you love me so much and you do want so see me happy. I should understand what is feels like when someone you love isn't well. You do keep constantly worrying about them. I'm so sorry."
Touya walked across the room and put his arms around his sister's frail body. He hugged her tightly, tears streaming down his own face and replied, "Idiot. You need not know how it feels 'cause I'll never let you be unhappy. If you can be so nice to me, I think I'll relent."
Sakura looked at him, surprise evident on her face.
"Don't go all sappy now, OK?" said Touya gruffly as Sakura kissed him delightedly on the cheek.
"ARIGATOU!" she yelled happily.
Mr. Kinomoto, who was listening to this conversation, grinned to himself in the darkness. His children were as unpredictable as the rain. "Just like Nadeshiko," smirked Fujitaka. Somewhere, in Heaven, you could hear the yell of some distraught angel which clearly meant, "Fujitaka, don't you forget that they have your genes as well!" (Hehehe)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sakura checked herself for the umpteenth time in the mirror. She was wearing a short denim skirt and a black razor-back t-shirt with "I kissed a rock star" written on it in silver letters. She felt sure that she looked cheesy, but this was all she could do. If there was a sensible person around, he would be yelling his lungs out over the way Sakura was dreading her perfect body and looks.
She was just pulling her hair into a scrunchie, when Tomoyo walked in. Tomoyo's attire was almost the same: a dark blue denim skirt with a silver halter neck top and black high boots. Her hair was pulled into a high pony. Behind her, Eriol stood, looking handsome in baggy pants and a black t-shirt. As she stared at them, Sakura couldn't help feeling that they looked perfect together.
Tomoyo, however, was already squealing in delight. "Sakura-chan no kawaii! Oh my! You look wonderful!" Sakura smiled and said, "Thanks, Tomoyo-chan. You're much more of a stunner, though." "I won't deny that," said Eriol, a loving look in his eyes.
Tomoyo smiled at both of them. She then proceeded to fix Sakura's hair, which was all tangled up. However, as she combed the soft auburn strands beneath her fingers, she couldn't help feeling puzzled. If she was not mistaken, she had seen a loving and caring look in the cold Eriol Hiiragizawa's eyes. Even though they were good friends in elementary, Eriol never, absolutely never, told anyone about his personal life. He hid his true emotions as well. This surprised the raven haired beauty as Eriol was always hard to read. Today, however, she could see genuine emotion sparkling in the mage's eyes. She was worried.
Sakura sighed in relief as she looked in the mirror. She looked much more presentable now.
As they headed downstairs, Eriol grinned and showed them a pair of glittering car keys. Sakura started and said, "Eriol! Do you want to get me killed? If Touya sees that, he'll slaughter you and thrash me!" Eriol smiled innocently and said, "Who says I'll be driving?" he continued, with mock sorrow, "My dear Sakura-san, you astonish me. Would I, the perfect gentleman, Eriol Hiiragizawa cause any bodily harm to two exceptionally beautiful young ladies?" at this point, Tomoyo giggled. Eriol watched, delighted. He loved the way Tomoyo laughed. It sounded like church bells on a sunny Sunday morning.
"Yeah, I know you only too well, Mr. I'm-up-to-no-good," commented Sakura dryly. Touya came out, looking very handsome in black pants and a casual grey t-shirt. Kaho arrived with him.
Sakura's jaw dropped open. Her down right sensible sensei was wearing a bright red halter neck top and a white skirt that showed her long shapely legs. Seeing her there made Eriol's stomach clench and unclench painfully. He thought of the time when they said their ultimate good byes:
FLASHBACK
The cool evening breeze danced in the comfortable pastel shaded living room. The curtains swayed gently, giving the atmosphere an eerie yet serene feeling. The last few rays of the dying sun entered the room through a slit in the window. Dark shadows were cast around the room. Two cups of coffee lay untouched on the shiny table. Their owners were just discussing something that would perhaps change their lives forever.
A beautiful woman with long cherry red hair leant closer to the dark haired boy and said, "Eriol, this is it. We can't stay together. Even though we are supposed to, as both of us possess tremendous magical power, I just can't forget about…."
"Kinomoto-san," said Eriol quietly. Kaho leaned back, her eyes glimmering sadly. She knew Eriol loved her more than his life, but forgetting about Touya was proving to be more difficult than she imagined. Every time she was with Eriol, she searched for a man with onyx eyes, rather than the sapphire-eyes young man next to her. She felt like she was cheating on the boy and so, she had decided that it was enough.
Eriol, however, simply smiled and said, "I knew this matter would come up, sooner or after, Kaho-san. I do not see anything wrong in going separate ways. In fact, I appreciate your faithfulness and concern in telling me about this rather than me finding out about it later. I guess this is good bye."
Kaho stood up, tears falling form her eyes and said, "Oh Eriol, I know you love me so much. Yet you are ready to let go of me." Saying these words, she flung her arms around the shorter guy, who simply patted her on the back. He smelt her hair one last time before he saw her to the door.
As she watched her disappear through the trees, he couldn't bite back the choking sob and the tears. Earlier, he believed that the phrase heartbroken was merely a hyperbole. But now, he realized that a phrase like that really existed.
FLASHBACK ENDS
Eriol smiled at Touya and said, "Are you accompanying us as well, Kinomoto-san? You too, Mizuki-san?" Touya nodded, looking curiously at the two of them. Sakura merely cleared her throat and said, "Let's go! I don't want to be late!"
As they were leaving, Eriol saw a soft tiny hand holding his long fingered one, gently in it. He looked up to see Tomoyo, who smiled and merely clasped his hand more tightly. Feeling good, Eriol got into the driving seat and they were off, much to Touya's anger and Miss Mizuki's concern.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Tickets please, tickets, no I don't want your handbag miss, I just want your ticket," said a harassed looking guard as he stood at the entrance of the large ground in which the concert was going to be held. Tomoyo handed over their tickets and the gang got in.
Sakura gasped as she stared at the vast ground which was full of millions of people. Everyone seemed to be waiting for Li Syaoran to arrive, and they were surely getting impatient. Li was 10 minutes late; and this was driving the crowd nuts. Seeing Sakura's dazed expression, Eriol smiled and said, "Sakura, this place sure is wacky, isn't it?" "Yeah," said Sakura happily. "I imagined it to be just like this."
Suddenly, everything went dark. The next second, a huge screen was erected and a brown haired guy jumped on stage. The crowd cheered and Sakura screamed too. Even Touya was trying hard not to look intimidated. Miss Mizuki, Tomoyo and Eriol were yelling too. The guy grabbed a mike and said, "Hello Tokyo! Hello Japan! My name is Syaoran."
The deafening roar of the crowd almost made Sakura lose her senses. The guitarist struck a cord and the music began. Li opened his mouth, clutching a black and silver guitar and began to sing:
I felt for sure last night
that once we said goodbye
No one else will know these lonely dreams
No one else will know that part of me
I'm still driving away
And I'm sorry every day
I won't always love these selfish things
I won't always live...
Not stopping...
As the band played again and Li stopped, the crowd joined in, clapping in rhythm. Li smiled and began again:
Sakura applauded loudly, much to the onlookers' amusement
You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine...
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
"Did you see the way he sang the last part? I mean, he's so damn wonderful! He looks so much better in reality! I want to go back in!" exclaimed Sakura as Tomoyo and Eriol laughed. Touya simply shook his head and muttered something like, "stupid screaming git…"
Fortunately, Sakura didn't hear him, or else she would have strangled him. "What can I get you, miss?" asked a waiter politely as Sakura doodled something on the tissue paper. "Um…I dunno…what are you guys having?" asked Sakura as Tomoyo smiled and said, "I'll have a strawberry milkshake please."
"I'll have a cappuccino," said Eriol.
"And I'll have an ice tea!" exclaimed Sakura, grinning.
Tomoyo and Eriol laughed at her antics while Touya muttered, "Kaijuu," under his breath. But he was smiling. He was secretly delighted to his sister in such good spirits. It was the first time he had seen her laugh like that, since the time she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Miss Mizuki smiled at Touya's soft expression and said, "It's amazing to see you like this…" Touya snapped out of his thoughts and stared at Kaho who was giggling. "Looks like the Oni-chan in you came out," she smirked.
Touya frowned and blushed. Tomoyo was watching this with great interest etched on her face, while Eriol was speaking to Sakura.
"You didn't tell her, did you?" he asked, urgently. "Didn't tell her what?" asked Sakura innocently. Eriol blushed and said, "you know…about how I feel…" "What if I did?" asked Sakura, propping her face up on her elbows. Eriol's blush was slowly replaced by a horrified expression. "You…you told…her?" he choked, a deathly white. Sakura laughed and said, "of course not!" Eriol smiled slowly and said, "Ya. You wouldn't."
Tomoyo turned to see Sakura laughing and said, smiling, "What's so funny? Tell me as well." "Er…"said Sakura while Eriol shook his head and said, "N-nothing. Nothing at all."
Sakura suddenly gave a start as the tissue paper she was clutching flew out of her hand. "Crap," she cursed and raced after it. Eriol yelled a casual, "be careful!" and Tomoyo watched her, wondering what was so precious in a cheap tissue paper. For Sakura, that was the most precious thing in the world. It contained the lyrics of the next song she was working on.
"Where is it…where is it," she said, as she frantically rummaged in a garbage bin. People around were giving her weird looks. She didn't care. She found it and uttered a triumphant, "ah-ha!"
As she was just about to leave, she saw two figures emerge from the dark alleyway. "Perfectly alright I am, Wei...I don't need Meilin to baby-sit me," said a cross voice. Li Syaoran and a pretty girl with long black hair came into view. Li, apparently, was talking on his cell phone. The dark haired girl's red eyes were screwed in anger as she yelled, "Xiao Lang! Get back!" Li turned around and bellowed, "Will you keep it quiet! I'm trying to talk here!"
Sakura shrank back, afraid. Was this really the sweet guy she imagined him to be?
The girl, Meilin or what ever her name was, uttered a final curse and stamped back into the alleyway. (You guys must be wondering why Li-kun isn't accompanied by 50 body guards. That's because Meilin's the chief of security personnel….get it:D) Li gave a sigh of relief and continued his walk.
Two guys leered at him and one of them drawled, "Why, if it isn't the little guy my baby sister adores? Finished crooning your lullaby at that place, pretty boy?" Li ignored them, anger flashing on his face. He quickened his pace and turned around with a deadly look on his face when they caught up with him. "What do you want?" he asked coldly. "Just a few things…like all your cash and that expensive looking watch on your tiny wrist," drawled one of them.
Li scowled and said, "what if I don't want to give it to you?" "Then we'll just have to take it from you," drawled the broader guy. Saying this, he aimed a punch near Li's jaw. Li blocked it, cracking the guy's fist in the process. Sakura gasped as the guy stepped back, groaning. Li dodged the second blow; but; he was soon overpowered when the two goons called for help. Their companions were just waiting to tear the boy into half. They punched him and kicked him.
Li didn't groan or moan, but fought back bravely. When the guys stopped for breath, Li looked up, a thin line of blood tracing his jaw and said, "That's all you can do? My granny could take all of you." the guys, enraged, yelled, "why you little-" Li spat out blood as the guys pounded him harder.
At this point, Sakura couldn't watch anymore. Wringing her hands desperately, she thought, 'How do I help him? Save him someone!' she suddenly caught sight of her reflection in a cracked mirror. The object what was attracting her attention was clear. From under her black shirt, she could make out a faint glow. Her powers were back.
'It's been ages since I've done this…I hope it works!' thought Sakura as a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. "Release!" she yelled. She didn't' even have time to register her staff's new look. It was longer and the circle around the star was gone, while the wings still remained. "Fly!" she yelled and started as two enormous wings sprang out of her back. "I'll have to get used to this!' thought Sakura. Now all she need was to conceal her real appearance. She didn't want anyone to come to know that Cardcaptors existed. She thrust a hand inside her purse and pulled out a cap. Tucking her long auburn hair inside till only a few strands remained, she ran out.
Facing the guys, she yelled, "let go of him!" the guys turned around. Catching sight of her attire, one whistled and said, "Or what will you do, missy?" Sakura pulled out the fire card and screamed, "I hate guys like you!" she set the guy ablaze, her anger exploding. Li watched as a girl with wings fought the goons. His vision was growing fainter and fainter.
The last thing he remembered was a pair of dazzling green eyes, etched in concentration, as they flew across the city. Trying hard to remember where he had seen those eyes, Li fainted, with a slight smile on his face as he thought of the girl. My Angel…
did you like it? if so, PLEASE R&R!!!!!!!