Sarah: Well…another chapter another day. As I write this I wait for my hair to dry. It's also very late as I write this chapter. And school's tommorow. Hah. Funny how you choose to do these things on the worst of days. Anyways enough of my rambling and on with the chapter.
Chapter 5- Dodging the BulletEriol sighed as he turned of the ignition to the car and got out walking around to Sakura's side and undid her seatbelt and picked her up. She looked skinny and she certainly was as light as she looked. He kicked the car door closed and walked up to the door and struggled to ring the doorbell. Sakura was fast asleep and he hoped she wouldn't wake up.
Fujiitaka answered the door and a small smile formed. "I was beginning to worry about my dear Sakura. Can you do me a favour and put her in her room. She must be exhausted."
"She is. Just make sure she gets lost of rest and be at school. We need her tommorow. It's very important."
"Of course."
Eriol nodded and brought Sakura upstairs laying her on her bed and covering her up and turned to leave.
"Eri...Eriol."
He turned back and kneeled beside her. "Sakura, you need to sleep. You're exhausted. Now sleep."
"But—" Before she could protest Eriol cast a spell on her to sleep.
"Sleep tight."
Syaoran watched Tomoyo finish her meal before she averted her eyes to look at him concentrating on finishing her water.
"You've been looking at me since we got dinner. What's with you?"
"How do you know this is safe and not poisoned?"
"If they wanted us dead we'd be dead. They wouldn't waste time poisoning us."
"That's true." Syaoran took his tray and ate it quickly. "I'm starving. I wish we had pizza or something."
"A sundae. With hot fudge and cherries."
"The minute I get out of here I'm going for pizza, fries and a sundae." Syaoran laughed.
"You think we'll be out of here soon?" Tomoyo asked as she got off her bed and walked to sit on Syaoran's.
"I'm sure we will. We can rely on Sakura and Eriol."
"I hope your right." Tomoyo said as she leaned against Syaoran and soon fell asleep.
"I hope I'm right to." Syaoran muttered.
The next day, Sakura felt refreshed and much better then she had the previous day. Kero was asleep beside her on her pillow and she smiled letting him sleep. She remembered everything that had happened and frowned missing Syaoran and Tomoyo. But she knew that the quicker she past time by, the quicker they could save them. It was early still so she quietly left her room and took a long, hot shower and quickly dried her hair and made her way back to her room. Pulling on her school uniform and brushing her hair she did a look over. She may have felt better but she still looked tired. Running downstairs she saw her father already up.
"Morning Out-san!" Sakura said as she sat down.
"Good morning, beautiful. How is my daughter feeling this morning?" Fujiitaka smiled as he placed a plate of pancakes in front of her.
"I feel much better. I feel well rested and ready to face anything."
"That's good. By the way, your friend, Eriol, stopped by to give this to you." He said as he placed an envelope in front of her.
"I'm ready to face anything but this." Sakura frowned as she placed a forkful of pancakes in her mouth and opened the envelope.
Sakura,
Meet me by your locker in the morning to discuss what we know before class.
Eriol"Goody." Sakura sighed as she finished up her pancakes and left.
Sakura had grown up and though she was 17, she never gave up her roller blades. Although she did have to buy a new pair later on as she outgrew her first pair.
As soon as she turned down the hall to her locker she saw Eriol waiting there, with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
"I think he must feel better by doing that. Make him feel all macho and smart." Sakura mumbled to herself. She giggled as she reached her locker and turned the combination lock and it sung open.
"Good morning, Sakura."
"Good Morning."
"So, you know where they are, right?"
"Yea, they are-"
The bell cut off Sakura and she hurriedly dropped her skates in and grabbed her books as she ran after Eriol to homeroom.
"Well, it seems as if Li-san and Daidouji-san are absent today. Shame that they have to miss the last test before the exam! Clear your desks and take out a pencil. Quickly, now!"
Sakura glanced over at Eriol who sighed leaning back in his seat.
"This is so not good for them," he mouthed to her.
"Quiet Eriol. There's no talking or it's a failing grade for you."
Eriol shot the teacher an evil look before he turned to his paper.
Sakura giggled and started the test.
Meilin tapped her foot impatiently as she waited by Sakura's locker. When she saw Sakura walking down the hall she smiled in relief.
"Thank goodness you're here! I was beginning to worry you wouldn't show!"
Eriol came up behind Sakura. "What about me?"
"Who cares about you!" Meilin said as she gave Sakura a hug.
Eriol mocked gasped as he clutched his chest. "That hurt."
Meilin made a face at him. "Come on, the girls are waiting for us so we can all eat lunch together!"
"Ahem! Meilin. If you remember, we, including you need to talk."
Meilin made a face. "Okay, let me just go tell them that we're busy."
"Okay. Hurry though, Meilin!" Sakura said as she opened her locker and dumped her books and her backpack and pulled out her lunch and then slammed her locker. She turned and slid down the locker until she was sitting.
"Well, this has been a productive day. To bad Syaoran and Tomoyo are missing all the tests."
"Yea, it's just a pity." Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Well, we can't have their grades failing. If that happened you know what the Li Clan would do."
"They'd pull Syaoran and Meilin out of Japan so fast we wouldn't have time to say Sayonara!" Sakura said as she opened up her lunch and began eating.
"Sakura! Do you want to go shopping after school at that new mall that opened up last weekend? It's supposed to be really cool! And one of the biggest in Japan!"
"I would love to! I've been dying to find someone to go with. I was hoping Tomoyo would come but I really want to go! Are the girls coming?"
"Yea! Well, except Rika. She's got a date with Terada-sensei!" Meilin winked and giggled.
Meilin sat down beside Sakura and glanced at Eriol.
"Wow. You look like you lost your best friend. What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong is that you just made plans when we were supposed to save Tomoyo and Syaoran after school."
"Oh, right."
"Well, we can't just go tell them that we just happen to have to go and save Syaoran and Tomoyo using our magical powers, can we?" Meilin complained. "I mean, I love Tomoyo and Syaoran. My best friend and cousin. But I would really love to go shopping. Besides, giving Sakura a day to not use her magical powers will help them maintain be strong. I know these things, after training with Syaoran and Wei for so long."
"Fine. But not a day after! Tommorow, we are going to save them. If we wait any longer then who knows what will happen to them."
"Sakura, didn't you say you knew where they were?"
Sakura nodded as she swallowed the last piece of her sandwich.
"Remember what the orb said? We all know where they are, but it's concealed. Look into the past and we find where they are basically. At first, I thought it was so easy, but maybe it's harder then it seems. Remember when Eriol told us that the evil force lived underneath my house and I freaked out? Well, at first I thought maybe they were in the chambers underneath my house. But later on I got thinking about it and I remembered something else Eriol said. When I opened the Clow book, I disrupted the force and released it? So, if I released it, he would be smart enough to leave. Leave Tomoeda altogether and I'm pretty sure they are smart enough to leave."
"One thing though, where would they have gone?" Meilin asked.
"Gone where?" asked a voice from behind Meilin.
The three looked up to see Chiharu, Naoko, Rika, and Takashi.
"Oh, hey guys…" Meilin said as she turned to face Sakura and Eriol giving them a 'Help me pleaseeee!' look.
"Are you talking about Syaoran and Tomoyo?" Naoko asked.
"Yea, where are they? We were wondering if Tomoyo was going to come to the mall with us and then remembered she wasn't in class today." Takashi said.
"Is Tomoyo okay? And Syaoran?" Chiharu asked.
Sakura's expression saddened thinking about them.
Eriol saw the look and quickly said, "They're sick."
"Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo and I were at the park and Syaoran and Tomoyo got a little sick. Luckily for Sakura and I were okay. They should be back to school in about a week."
"Friday is the last day of school before the winter break. Do you think they'd be back before then? If they don't take any tests before then, then they fail those tests." Naoko said.
"I'm sure they will be." Meilin said.
"Well, we'll see you guys after school!" Chiharu said cheerfully as she walked off with Takashi.
Rika smiled. "I can't go. I'm busy after school."
Sakura giggled. "And exactly how busy are you?"
Rika blushed and Meilin smiled. "I told her you had a date after school."
"I'm just helping him with some papers."
"Su-ure you are." Sakura giggled.
"You two are impossible." Rika smiled and hurried after Chiharu and Takashi with Naoko.
The three waited until they were out of earshot until they continued.
"Well, where do you think they went?" Meilin asked.
"That's the thing. I don't know."
"So the best thing we can really do, is try and get into the catacombs underneath Sakura's house." Eriol said.
"Well, Touya has his own apartment so he can't intervene. And 'tou-san? Well, as long as we don't ruin the house, I'm sure he won't mind."
"That's good. Maybe you should tell him tonight just in case." Eriol said.
"I will."
The rest of the lunch period was quiet as they ate their lunch in peace.
Although their minds were far from at rest. It took all her might to not thing of Syaoran but she was having a lot of trouble keeping him off her mind. And Tomoyo also. Maybe they saw each other. Or were together. That would be good and they could console each other.
Eriol was worried about searching the catacombs. He never knew what he was going to face or find down there. Hopefully a name of some sort.
Meilin was worrying about her friends, but also getting home to change before going shopping.
"Why does life have to be so frustrating." Meilin sighed as she leaned against the locker.
"Who knows. Maybe we were chosen to do this. Like, we are the special people chosen to take care of this because we have the heart. The whit and the strength to do so." Sakura said as she started at the bland white ceiling.
Just then the bell rang and they three shot off to class.
After school Sakura met Meilin at the school and proceeded to the mall to meet their friends. Sakura wore black jeans and a pure white sweater with a light jacket. It was cold lately and everyone was hoping that there would be more snow before Christmas. Her hair was tied up into a loose ponytail and her jacket had the star symbol from her staff stitched onto the white jacket.
Meilin wore a pretty outfit as she had knee high black boots and long jeans and a long sleeve black shirt. Her hair was tied into a ponytail also and her black jacked matched her outfit perfectly.
"So where do you think the girls are?" Sakura said as she walked into the crowded mall.
"I suspect over there where Takashi is sitting on a bench surrounded by like…ten bags."
The two giggled as they ran over as Chiharu and Naoko came out of the store.
"You guys have to come in this store! It's absolutely amazing! And I saw the perfect thing for Sakura!" Chiharu said as she grabbed Sakura's hand and ran inside the store.
"Ohh! Meilin! We were at this store awhile ago and there was something that would look amazing on you!" Naoko said as she grabbed her hand and ran down the crowded hallway.
Takashi said frustrated around the bags and pulled out a book. He'd be there for awhile.
Three hours later the five were in the food court eating dinner.
"That was so much fun! I only wish Tomoyo could of come!" Sakura said as she munched on a French fry.
"Yea, I saw so many things she would have liked. So I bought her something for a Christmas present!" Naoko said.
"Christmas shopping! I totally forgot about Christmas shopping!" Sakura said as she slapped her forehead.
"Me to! We've been so…busy lately!" Meilin said as she cast a glance at Sakura.
"Maybe we can come back another day?" Chiharu said hopefully.
"Yea! That would be great!" Naoko said. "And maybe Rika won't be so busy."
They all giggled.
"Another day. Please, can I NOT come." Takashi whined as he sat tired and eating a very big dinner.
"Awww, are you sure. You get to watch us try on clothes, and listen to us whine, and try on clothes, and whine again, and go to the next store and try on clothes and whine and then finally buy something for you to carry! It's so much fun!" Chiharu said laughing.
Takashi rolled his eyes and the girls all giggled.
They soon left and Meilin and Sakura were carrying their purchases home.
"Do you think we'll be able to find them soon? Before Christmas?" Sakura asked.
"Hopefully."
"It would be nice for them to be home for Christmas." Sakura said as she looked at the stars in the already dark sky.
They reached a turning point and the girls waved and said good-bye.
Sakura smiled as she breathed in the sweet scent of honey milk. She pulled off her jacket, mittens, hat and shoes and pulled on her slippers as she dropped her bags in the hallway and walked into the living room to see her dad sitting at the table staring into space with a mug of honey milk.
He looked up and smiled as he saw his daughter walk into the room.
"My, you look more like your mother every day."
Sakura smiled as she sat down across from him.
"Would you like some?"
"Sure."
Her father took the mug beside the pot of honey milk and poured some and handed it to her.
"I knew that if I made some that you would love some, especially with the chilly weather."
"Arigatou, otou-san." Sakura said as she took a sip and smiled. Delicious.
"It seems as if I haven't seen you forever. And you're my daughter." He said as he once again was staring into space.
"I know. Well, I've been busy with school, and volunteering and well…trying to find Tomoyo and Syaoran."
Fujiitaka smiled. "You're so grown up. You have your own life to attend to. Touya's living on his own. Remember when you and Touya used to fight all the time. And that young man, Yukito coming over and you had such a big crush on him. You would love when he came over."
"You knew about that!" Sakura said shocked.
"Well, wasn't it a bit obvious. Touya even mentioned it to me a couple times."
"Otou-san!" Sakura said blushing and smiling at the same time.
"Why don't we fill up and get some popcorn or something and watch a movie?" he said with a smile on his face.
Sakura knew she had homework but she saw the hope in his eyes and nodded. "Sure. Like old times. Remember how I always tried to stay up as late as you and Touya because I thought I was old enough to stay up late but would always wake up in my bed wondering how I got there."
"Yea. And you would always come down and get so upset that you never saw the ending of the movie."
They smiled and then made some popcorn and more honey milk and settled down on a movie. Although by the end of it, Sakura was asleep.
Fujiitaka smiled and lied her down on the couch and covered her up with a blanket.
"Good night sweetheart." He said kissing her forehead and turned off the lights before going to sleep himself.
The next morning Sakura woke up and smiled at the beautiful Tuesday morning and frowned when she noticed the time and ran to her room to get ready.
"I'm so glad school is over for today! What a frustrating day!" Meilin said as she danced around in front of the school.
Sakura laughed as she danced after Meilin as Eriol followed them, closely behind.
"What do you think about searching the catacombs today?" Eriol said in a quiet voice.
The two girls stopped and looked at him dead serious.
"Well, my dad is home, but I'm sure he'll understand. He was the rest of the week off."
"Right now? I have homework and a life you know?"
"Do you want your cousin and friend back or not?" Eriol said shooting her a look.
"Fine." Meilin said. "Just, don't expect me to be going through spider webs or anything. Can I at least change before we go?"
"Yea, that's a good idea. How about we meet at my house in an hour." Sakura suggested.
"Okay. See you in an hour." Eriol said and the three separated.
Sakura walked in the house and heard mumbled voices coming from the kitchen. She quickly dropped her things in the hallway and entered the kitchen to see Touya, Yukito and Fujiitaka talking.
She saw the looks on their faces. They were having a serious conversation.
"What's going on?" Sakura said as she looked at them.
They all looked at each other not speaking.
"What's going on you guys?" Sakura said her voice shaking. Something was seriously wrong.
"Sakura honey. We don't want you to overreact, but Tomoyo's mother, Sonomi has suffered a heart attack and is in hospital."
Sakura went pale as her mouth dropped open and dropped to the floor. The three rushed over to her and helped her up and to the couch in the living room.
"No-o. No way. This isn't real. Is she okay?" Sakura said as she looked up to the three faces.
"I went to see her as soon as I found out and she seems to be okay. They are worried about her. They said it was stress related. I guess with work and Tomoyo and everything. It was to much for her." Touya said.
"This is unbelievable. We have to go see her."
"Sakura, visiting hours are over for today. You can see her tommorow though." Yukito said softly.
"No." Sakura said as she buried her face in her hands.
The doorbell rang and Sakura's head shot up. "Yuki, can you get that? I have to explain something to you guys."
Yukito answered the door and Meilin came in with him.
"Why are you so early?" Sakura asked.
"Sorry, I just couldn't find anything to do for an hour." Meilin explained.
"It's okay." Sakura said.
Sakura then explained to the three men that they knew there were catacombs from the past under the house and they were going to explore them.
"Do you need any help?" Fujiitaka asked.
"I think it would be best for you three to stay up here. If anything happens, we'll find a way to contact you."
They waited until Eriol came and then went down to the basement.
Sakura led them down and she looked around the rows upon rows of dusty shelves.
"Well, I don't know where to look so we'll just have to search every inch."
Meilin and Eriol sighed and the three got started.
Tomoyo yawned as she opened her eyes and stretched. She stood up and Syaoran fell and hit the hard bed and woke up.
"Ow, what a way to wake up." Syaoran said rubbing his head.
"Sorry, I forgot we fell asleep leaning against each other." Tomoyo giggled and helped him sit up.
"It's okay."
"I wonder what time it is." Tomoyo said.
Her stomach grumbled and Syaoran smiled. "I'm guessing dinner time by the sound of your stomach and by the looking outside and seeing the dark sky, I'm guessing I'm right."
Tomoyo frowned and flopped down on her bed. "What I wouldn't give for a hot shower and something nice and good to eat. And a nice warm bed. And Touya. I wish he were here. Well, maybe not here. And not that your horrible company."
"Don't worry about it. I miss Sakura to." Syaoran said.
A man then came down the stairs with another man behind him.
"Are you the man responsible for us being stuck here?" Syaoran said jumping up and running to the cell door.
"And what if I am?" a low voice responded refusing to show his face.
"Then I demand to know why and you let us out." Syaoran said trying to grab the man through the bars.
The men shook his finger. "Silly boy. Don't mess with me. I'm in a good mood and you would not want to change that."
Syaoran loosened his grip and let go, stepping back.
"I wanted to see how my two little friends were doing and to bring you some food."
The man stepped aside and the man behind him set a tray down and slid it through the opening. On the tray were two plates with pizza and fries, two drinks and two sundaes.
"Is this a joke or something? Is it poisoned?"
"There's no sense in killing you. Yet. I thought it might be nice for you to enjoy something you wanted as a last request." The two men then walked back up the stairs.
"Well if this isn't poisoned than I'm definitely going to eat this!" Tomoyo said cheerfully and grabbing the tray, bringing it back over to her bed. Syaoran followed her and looked longfully at the food.
Tomoyo bit into a fry and melted. "This is so nice. I've missed good food." She looked at him and at his food. "You know if you don't eat that I will, right?"
Syaoran sighed and sat down and took a long sip of the drink. "I think this is a cream soda float. It's really good."
"Wow. For a guy who intends to kill us, he sure gives us good food as a last request."
"You know, this conversation sounds really weird. We're all cheerful about this maybe last meal and the murder of us and we're all happy." They laughed.
"I guess just because we're optimistic that we'll be saved in time."
"Yea, I guess your right." Syaoran paused and then grabbed his pizza and started to eat it.
"This is so amazing." Tomoyo said as she licked her spoon to get all the ice cream.
"This has got to be the nicest meanest captor ever." Tomoyo commented as she munched on a french fry.
It ran through the streets breathing heavily trying not to stop. It knew that if it were away to long then they would be missed. It reached the hospital and closed its eyes before looking up at the top floor. Looking around it found a tree and climbed. Biting it's lip it jumped and barley reached the windowsill. Looking in it saw the women asleep on the bed. Heaving itself up, it managed to get the window open and climb in.
"Hi Tomoyo's mommy. You don't know who I am but I'm gonna help you. Anyone who knows Sakura I promise to help. For example, I helped Sakura and as hard as I tried, I was unable to fully help Tomoyo and Syaoran because they disappeared. But we'll get them back. But right now I'm gonna help you. I can't fully help you, but only speed along the process, as you don't have magical powers." It then placed its hand over Sonomi's eyes and her body began to glow a bright orange and then dimmed.
Footsteps and voices could be heard so it hurried.
"Feel better Tomoyo's mommy."
"W-wh-who a-re you." Sonomi staggered out trying to open her eyes.
"A friend to help you. I hope you feel better soon." It then slipped out the window and managed to jump back to the tree and climb back down.
It's feet touched the ground and it looked up to see people in Sonomi's room. Smiling it ran before someone noticed it was gone.