"Kinomoto! Sakura, wake up damnit!" Xiao Lang shook her shoulders. When his hands came off her he saw the blood on his hands, "Alright stupid, stop the bleeding first." He tried to look at the damage. The shoulder wound was not so bad, but her abdomen had a nasty, and bloody, wound. He removed his shirt and tied it tightly around her waist. The pain caused her to cry out.

Green eyes opened wide as her mouth pursed in pain. Tears filled them, one spilling over, "It hurts so bad! What's wrong with me?" She tried to look down, but Xiao Lang lifted her chin to look at him.

"Don't worry about that. I know it hurts but you're going to be fine." He cursed for getting an innocent girl involved in this type of mess. She was too pretty for her body to be flawed in such a way. He reached into his pocket, wiping his hand on his pants, and pulled out the phone. He dialed, "We need the doctor, and a clean up crew at the house."

The person on the other line said they would be there in five minutes and he hung up, "Sakura, the doctor will be here in a minute. He checked the shirt tied around her. The blood wasn't soaking it through so he decided the bleeding was controlled, "Just stay awake okay?"

"Xiao Lang…" She whispered, "Why didn't I remember you?" Her eyes had an unfocused look in them.

"What do you mean remember?"

"When we were ten… Clow cards…" She started to doze off. Xiao Lang looked at her slightly confused, 'What does she know that I don't?'

Shaking her again he said, "Don't pass out. Once the doctor gives you the okay you can go to sleep okay?"

Nodding slowly, Sakura opened her eyes again, "It just hurts really bad… and I can't fix it. Why? I'm trying to do it myself but it's not working."

"What's not working?"

"Magic…"

oOoOo

Kero flew as fast as he could to Tomoeda. He sensed a disturbance at his charge's house and knew that was where she would be. He could feel her using her magic. The roofs of familiar houses finally came to his sight and he spotted the most familiar. He saw a car racing down the street towards it and urgency filled the guardian. Flying down to his destination, Kero saw a man in a black suit emerge from the car. He clutched a bag in his hand with a cross on it, "She's hurt," He whispered. Spotting the open door, he flew in and saw Sakura lying in the arms of her childhood love Xiao Lang.

oOoOo

"Tomoyo-chan, what's going on?" Sakura asked her best friend as they sat on a blanket in a park.

Softly sighing, Tomoyo replied, "I'm almost glad that the things that were sealed away have been released."

"By things you mean magic right?"

"Yes. For over ten years, the magic of Clow has been sealed away. I was sworn to secrecy when this happened. My memories were supposed to be erased but for some reason they weren't. Along with Eriol-kun."

"Do you know why?"

"I have no idea why I didn't loose them. But I think that since Eriol-kun is the incarnation of Clow himself, he was null to the memory loss. But he did still loose his magic."

Sakura sat there pondering a minute, her knees folded up to her chest, "It's strange. Seeing Xiao Lang with my memories back… I like a man I don't know."

"He has not received his memories. I only hope it doesn't take too long."

"I can't believe I forgot him…"

"When you are a child, it is easier to let go of things. Perhaps since your feelings were not strong enough. And the people who sealed the power were much stronger than you are now. Your magic was not as strong then too."

Leaning her head against her shoulder, Sakura added, "It's kind of scary. He's in the yakuza, one of the leaders. I'm supposed to be terrified of these people and yet he makes me feel safe."

"Love will do that to a person." The two sat in silence for a few minutes, Sakura red in the face, 'Love? Who said I loved him?'

"That hurt!" Sakura sat up in shock, clutching her side.

"Looks like our time is up. You need to wake up, and get better. They're fixing you up right now."

"But, Tomoyo-chan, I don't want to go."

"Sakura, don't worry. We'll see each other again. We are best friends right?" Another stabbing pain dug into Sakura, causing another whimper. When she looked up, Tomoyo was gone. The park began to fade into darkness. The darkness became redder, as light filtered through her eyelids.

oOoOo

"Aahh…" Sakura mumbled groggily. Another stab. She reached out, as she opened her eyes, and noticed two figures hovering above her. Everything appeared fuzzy, and she tried to sit up. Strong hands held her down, and one figured knelt down, "Sakura, we're almost done, try not to move." Reaching up one hand, she gripped one of Xiao Lang's, "Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere." He said.

Stab. Flinching, Sakura squeezed tighter. Things began to become more focused, and she saw that the other figure was working by her side with needle and thread, "I think I'm going to be sick…"

"All done." The man stood to his full height, and Xiao Lang nodded at him, "Good work. Check your bank account in the morning, you will be getting a nice bonus."

"Thank you, Li-sama. Just let me get the wound covered-"

"I'll do it. Just leave the material. She's not leaving my sight anytime soon."

"Yes sir." Grabbing a bag, Sakura saw the man leave the room.

When they were alone, Xiao Lang said, "Alright, we're slowly going to get you sitting up so I can get the stitches covered okay? Careful with the shoulder. That one needs to be bandaged, but it's no longer bleeding.

A tear streaked down a cheek, shoulders trembling, and Xiao Lang wiped it away with the padding of his thumb, "Hey, it's really not that bad. My doctor is the best. There won't be much scarring. You won't be able to tell."

He got Sakura sitting up, and then began the process of wrapping up her wounds. Sakura was clad only in her bra and skirt, and to try to get her mind off the pain, she thanked herself for wearing a sports bra. Although, she noticed that Xiao Lang was carefully controlling his gaze while he was working.

"You don't remember me?" She asked.

Xiao Lang glanced up, and then back to the wounds, "No. But you seem familiar. It's strange. I've been doing some research into my past, and you seem to coincide in several places."

"Your memories are sealed."

"Yes, my clan sealed away magic and memories many years ago. I've been trying to the get memories."

"You'll get them," Sakura firmly said, "I have mine back. The Clow magic has been returned as well. I don't know if any of what I'm saying makes sense to you, but hopefully it does."

"So you remember me?" Xiao Lang asked as he finished. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Yes…" She paused, "We… well, we were only ten, never mind…"

Xiao Lang gave her a questioning look, and she quickly added, "It's not important. The main thing is that we managed to get the power of the Clow cards changed to a power of my own. The cards became Sakura cards."

Sweat was beading across her brow, and Xiao Lang said, "You need sleep. Just rest."

Before nodding in agreement, Sakura focused on his tattoo. He was still shirtless. She saw that the tattoo ran up his shoulder and onto his chest, stopping before the ribs. Cherry blossoms were entwined in the last bits of it. Before she could comment, though, exhaustion took over.

oOoOo

Kero watched as his charge fell to sleep. Noticing the man, he saw a syringe in his hand. He was putting some medicine in it and Kero focused and saw that it was a pain killer of sorts. Expertly, Xiao Lang inserted the needle into a vein and got the medicine in Sakura's veins.

He was still deciding whether or not to make his presence known when Xiao Lang looked straight at him, "What are you? Some crazy stuffed animal Kinomoto owns?"

oOoOo

A large fire blazed inside a building. It was controlled in the center of the room. A woman sat in front of it on a cushion. Sweat dropped down her brow from the intense heat. Her mouth barely moved as she softly muttered Chinese phrases, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Finishing, she opened her eyes and stood. As she slid open a shut door, someone approached her with a towel, "Li-sama, a towel to wipe your face."

"Thank you."

"Well, do you think it was successful?"

"We will know in twenty-four hours. If it did, as his mother, I will know."

The servant followed quickly behind the woman. They were walking down a richly decorated corridor, when they stopped in front of a large painting. The brush strokes revealed a man with kind, cunning eyes, glasses giving him a refined look, "Clow, I hope your reincarnation knows how to solve our problems. Your records failed to indicate that woman in them."

oOoOo

Kero quickly dodged Xiao Lang as he tried to grab him.

"Just a moment! I am Kero, the guardian of Sakura."

Xiao Lang narrowed his amber eyes, "And how do I know you are not lying to me?"

Kero sweat dropped, thinking, "Just wait for her to wake up! She'll tell you who I am! I'll go wait on her desk and not move, I swear." Kero knew this man was dangerous, no longer the naïve child of ten years.

"If I see you even twitch, I'll wring your tiny little neck." Kero flew expertly to Sakura's desk and sat. He heard hammers from outside the room, repairing the damage done during the fight. A clock ticked somewhere in the house, as Xiao Lang watched Kero suspiciously; with curiosity.

"What do you know about me?" Xiao Lang asked after a while.

Kero blinked, "Well, you are Li Xiao Lang, a descendant of my former master Clow Reed. You were here at the age of ten, and although at first you tried to get the Clow Cards for yourself, you eventually began helping Sakura find them. In the end of it all, you returned to China, with the intention of coming back someday. But not long after, something caused all the magic to be sealed away, and I am here now."

"What was my relationship with Sakura?"

"You hated her at first, and then eventually grew to like her." Kero didn't want to reveal too much to Xiao Lang without Sakura telling him herself. He knew that the two had liked each other as children, but now they were adults. And he knew that adult love was much different than childhood love.

Nothing else was said for a long while. Xiao Lang relaxed, beginning to realize his stupidity in being suspicious of a stuffed animal look-a-like. He could easily pull out his gun and pull the trigger.

"Why did you get cherry blossoms in your tattoo?" Kero felt he might be treading dangerous waters, but if Xiao Lang wanted to hurt him, it would have already happened.

"I don't know." He resumed watching Sakura.

Silence engulfed the room, and an hour passed. The two listened as the clean up crew finished their work, heard a car door slam, and the workers sped off. Xiao Lang was brought out of his staring by the flutter of Sakura's eyes, 'Bout time she got up.' He had meant it when he'd told her she should sleep, but he hated being nice.

"What time is it?" She asked groggily, "How long have I been asleep?" She grimaced as she slowly sat up.

Kero spoke up, "Sakura, how do you feel?"

"You've been asleep over an hour. It's about eight in the evening." Xiao Lang told her bluntly.

Recognition dawned in her eyes as she saw her guardian, "Kero-chan! It's been such a long time!" She saw Xiao Lang send a death glare, "He's my guardian, Li, you don't need to act like you want to kill him…"

She had resumed her formalities with him, acting as if the past few hours had not happened.

"I didn't know who this thing was when he got here."

"Could you help me get up?" She asked brushing off the statement. Nodding, the man stood and grabbing her good arm, helped her to slowly stand.

"Don't make any sharp movements. The stitches won't last if you do." Sakura stared up at him and merely nodded.

Changing the subject, she said, "Under my bed, there is a box. Could you please get it for me. It's very important."

"What is it?"

"Just a bunch of video tapes."

Sakura made her way to the door, "I'm going to find something for us to eat. No doubt you're hungry." Without another word, she left the room, Kero in tow.

oOoOo

Evelyn was nibbling on the end of her tobacco pipe, staring at her garden. She had no doubt that her employee was dead. If he had succeeded, he would have returned by now. If not, either he had been killed, or killed himself in shame. The woman thought back to the days when she had managed to access the power to unlock the memories of her past life as Claire, one time consort to Clow Reed.

The way the young woman had felt when the magician had tired of her behind closed doors, and then failed to honor her for the work she had done to help him with his own. Claire had been just as skilled in the magical arts as Clow Reed had. And he had thanked her by leaving her on the doorstep of a man that had only been known to her as a cruel, lame excuse of a husband.

And now, in this new life, Evelyn had witnessed the love between Kinomoto Sakura and Li Xiao Lang as children, no matter how innocent, and raged internally. The boy was in actuality a direct descendant of Claire and Reed, but he was happy with this woman. Evelyn could not let such a love exist between them, when Claire had lost her own. None of Reed's descendants deserved happiness. None of them.

'And that Kinomoto brat somehow managed to get all the power of the Cards! Despicable. That power was sealed by me! It belongs to me! Without me, Clow could not have created it!'

Spotting one of her throwing knives, she grabbed it and threw it across the garden at a distant target. Several other knives were embedded into the picture pinned to the fence. When Evelyn had managed to find the location of the Clow Cards those twelve years ago, it was too late. They had been turned into Sakura Cards, and then when she was scheming a new plan to get the new powers, that wretched Li Clan had sealed everything off.

With time, however, she had trained herself to push through the barrier that was all the way in China, and had managed to break it all. Now she was prepared to get her full powers back, and send the only male descendant of Reed to hell.

"I suppose I'll need to think of a better way of getting at that Kinomoto girl. She is much stronger than I expected…"

oOoOo

Sakura watched the water boiling quietly. She had found some noodles in the pantry and decided that was the best bet. There was nothing in the house that could go bad, as her father usually kept perishable foods at home. Travelling year round made that a huge priority. She did not hear Li enter the room behind her and when he spoke, she nearly jumped.

"What are you cooking?"

Sakura whipped around face pale. The turn had caused a sharp pain.

"Be more careful. I don't want to have to call the doctor back."

"Well then you shouldn't scare me." She slowly turned back around to stare at the stove, "Where's Kero?"

"He's headed back to Tokyo to talk to a man named Hiiragizawa Eriol."

Giving the noodles a quick stir before turning off the burner, Sakura replied, "Oh. Eriol is in Japan? I thought he had been in England."

"That was over ten years ago. You have to remember, we're all grown up now."

Nodding quietly, Sakura walked to a cabinet and started to open it for the bowls, when Li simply reached over her head and grabbed them himself, "What did I say about moving? That shoulder needs to heal too. Just go wait in the living room, I'll bring the food. The video tapes are in there."

Twitching an eyebrow in anger, she turned around and did what was told. She thought, 'He's not the boy I liked when I was in elementary school. He is a man involved in the underworld and just my luck he happens to have magic in his blood. We'll take care of whatever evil person is after us and go our separate ways.' She refused to acknowledge the feelings from earlier in the day, when he had been taking care of her, 'Out of the whole day today, he's only been nice to you for about twenty minutes of it. The rest, an egotistical, dangerous bastard.'

Slowly sitting down on the couch, she saw the many tapes in the box. Grabbing one, she checked the date. It was dated to a little over twelve years ago. She saw Tomoyo's perfect handwriting scrawled across the label, "Fire Card!"

"Do you want to watch that one?" He asked as he entered the room. Sakura looked up.

"These videos are all from when we were ten. It may help you with your memories, watch them if you like." She leaned back and closed her eyes, 'I will not cry.' The tapes were making her suddenly nostalgic for her beloved friend.

She heard a clatter of dishes as they were placed on the coffee table, "Eat." Was all he said as he grabbed a tape, the earliest dated one, and then went over to the television, and hit play.

oOoOo

"Eriol-san, she's got it all back."

Looking up from his papers, Eriol pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and stared at Kero, "What do you mean all of it?"

"Her memories; her powers. I'm not sure to what extent her powers are at, but she did a lot of damage to her home. Someone attacked her."

"I see." Was all Eriol said. He looked back down at his research. It appeared to be a family tree, "Is there anything else? You really should be with her."

"Li will protect her. She got hurt but is okay. I think Sakura was trying to use her powers to heal herself but it wasn't working."

This got Eriol's attention, "Do you think she has the capability of healing? Without the staff, she can't do anything. Did she have it?"

"No, I haven't seen it… but she used some magic. I could sense it."

Leaning back in his arm chair, Eriol said, "Alright, here's what you do. Go stay with Yue for now. When he's fully recovered, I want you to go with him and fetch the two. They should be alright for now."

"Okay sir." The creature said.

oOoOo

Sakura had fallen asleep while Xiao Lang was watching video after video. They all were so familiar, but he couldn't get them to click in his head as things he had participated in. His childhood self appeared in several videos. His phone buzzed in his pocket.

"Yes?" He couldn't forget he had his own business.

"Hello, Li Xiao Lang."

"Who is this?"

"I'm offended. How can you not recognize the voice of your old friend Kuma?"

His eyes instantly narrowed, "What do you want? I thought we settled things last year, no more worries."

"Well you see, we do have a problem. One of my men was just killed. And you know who I think was recruited to make sure that was done?"

"I have no idea."

"I think it was you Li-chan."

"Well, Kuma, that's a great theory, but do you even have proof that it was my people?"

"Actually, I could that smelly assassin and made sure he was taken care of with a bullet between the eyes. That man he killed was my brother. And I'll be damned if you get away with it. Know that I'll get you back. You hear me? You'll feel my pain." The line went dead.

oOoOo

Well, that's all for that chapter guys! So sorry it took forever. I was in Japan studying abroad. But anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. The romance will be starting up soon. More action etc., as well. We all must remember Li is in the yakuza and playing around with magic and memories does not mean he quits his job. So there will be some non-magic stuff in the plot too. I hope you guys will send me your thoughts! I appreciate it soo much! Thanks!