Sorry for the long wait dear readers. And as usual, I do not own CCS. Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Punishment

Sakura and Syaoran sat in the training hall waiting for Yelan to arrive. They waited for their punishment with a soft smile. Syaoran did not regret anything since he would do it again if needed to. Sakura was feeling bad but she felt happier to know that no one was angry with her. Yelan even agreed to be her mother.

Sakura spoke very softly, "Um…Syaoran."

Syaoran turned to her with soft eyes, "Yes."

Sakura fidgeted slightly, "I am really sorry for sneaking out like that and endangering you."

Syaoran smiled warmly while Sakura avoided looking at him, "Well you are free to sneak out again if you wish. I will again follow you."

Sakura blushed furiously at this and smiled slightly. Syaoran blushed a little seeing her soft smile.

"Thanks Syaoran."

Silence prevailed for a short time. Both beamed slightly at their recent discussion. Yelan entered the hall with strict looks and sat before them. The duo grew nervous at her presence now.

Yelan spoke, "Now before I decide on your punishment, I would like to know everything you remember from the encounter with that evil mage. I am guessing that your guardian saved you but I am sure something took place before that. You did mention about two cards getting injured."

Sakura grew sad remembering the incident. Syaoran watched her with sadness as well. He did not want to see her like that but he could not help it. Sakura slowly narrated the entire thing to Yelan. Yelan heard everything with interest and found Sakura's use of magic interesting. She processed everything in her head carefully and suddenly had an idea.

Yelan got on her feet, "It seems you were lucky at that time. Good for you. Do you remember the feeling you had right before you managed to use your magic?"

Sakura shook her head in denial. Yelan was not surprised. She had guess that Sakura was too caught up in her emotions at that time to notice anything.

Yelan brought out her fan, "In that case, you punishment will be a duel with me. Two against one."

Both were shocked at her words. Yelan looked very serious with her words.

Syaoran spoke, "But mother…"

Yelan cut in sternly, "Are you planning to disobey your teacher? Li Xiao Lang."

Syaoran and Sakura were surprised. They realised that Yelan was indeed very serious. They knew they would not win against her. They still could not control their magic while she was an expert at it. The result was decided already. It was a one-sided battle.

Yelan glared at both seeing that they had yet not gotten ready for it. The duo hurriedly got up, brought out their weapons and stood ready to fight.

Yelan smiled, "Calm your minds and concentrate on your magic. I will not go easy on you two so be careful."

Both nodded obediently. Sakura knew it was more for her than for Syaoran. Her part was just a fluke but Syaoran could manage a little on his will. She had to try her best. She concentrated on her magic and felt it flowing inside her staff. Strings of pink energy emerged out of the tip of her staff visible only to Sakura.

Yelan opened her fan and small fireball appeared over it. She had felt Sakura's magic bend its flow in her staff. She knew that Sakura was ready. Syaoran was ready as well. Without warning, Yelan shot the fireball at Sakura. Sakura's strings grabbed the fireball to stop it but it only divided into two and one darted at Syaoran. Syaoran was ready as he deflected the fire with his sword towards Yelan. Yelan smiled as she caught the fireball with her fan. Sakura had managed to capture the fireball in her strings and she flung them towards Yelan. Yelan caught this one as well and the two fireballs became one.

Yelan spoke, "Well done."

Sakura and Syaoran smiled at each other. Yelan closed her fan and the fireball vanished. She waved it around as if writing something in air. Syaoran grew cautious while Sakura watched her with awe. Several balls of water formed in the air and revolved around Yelan. She opened her fan once again and with a wave of it, she sent two balls at Syaoran and Sakura each. Syaoran made a thin barrier with the air around him while Sakura once again caught one ball with her strings and dodged the other. The second ball returned to her and she threw the first ball at it. The two balls struck and combined to form one big ball of water. Sakura was not ready for this. Syaoran tried his best to keep the barrier up but it shattered with the first ball and he dodged both of them acrobatically. Yelan smiled to see both of them struggling with the balls.

Surely, they had progressed a lot but it was still too little. Nevertheless, they had progressed faster than her expectations. She was not expecting anything like this for at least another month or two. However, both had come far in a few days. The fight from the night before had only accelerated their growth. Yelan watched proudly from behind her fan as her two students struggled with the water balls.

Sakura fell on the floor as the water ball hit her on the shoulder. That distracted Syaoran long enough to let in two hits as well. He rolled over and returned to his feet while Sakura hurriedly got up behind him. They stood back to back now. Yelan's eyes sparkled to see both blush due to the contact. She smiled to see them smile shyly even during the punishment. Yelan suddenly remembered the reason they were fighting the water balls and frowned slightly.

With a wave of the fan, the other balls circling around her darted towards the duo. Sakura and Syaoran were caught off-guard as a few hit them. They toppled to the ground. Both tried their best to avoid. Syaoran used an air barrier to the best of his abilities while Sakura kept trying to deflect them away from her. Yet, several hit them repeatedly. Syaoran began to regret not being able to use his charms and Sakura remembered her cards. It only strengthened their resolve as they tried harder. Yelan simply smiled knowing their mind very well.

Fifteen minutes later, both fell exhausted on the floor. Yelan watched from a distance. Their punishment had ended and she saw good results as well. Yelan straightened up and turned to leave.

"Rest for now. Your punishment will continue after the noon."

Yelan left with that. Sakura and Syaoran looked at each other and smiled. Syaoran got up and helped Sakura to her feet. Both were exhausted and helped each other walk out of the hall. Yelan watched them in a puff of smoke floating above her fan. She smiled mysteriously at the sight. She was planning something without a doubt concerning the duo.

The lunch was silent and in a very light atmosphere. Yelan noticed that the duo had gotten used to eating together. They no longer stole glances or felt shy now. They simply held faint pink hues on their cheeks conscience about each other. Yelan simply smiled at her observations.

An hour after the lunch, the trio gathered in the training hall. Sakura and Syaoran happily waited for their further punishment together. Yelan smiled behind her fan seeing the happiness in their eyes. She had an idea.

Yelan sat at her usual place, "Previously, I attacked both of you and you did your best to defend. This time, I will change the things a little."

Sakura and Syaoran nodded obediently.

Yelan's eyes shone for a second, "This time your opponent will be someone else. In addition, you will be attacking in any way you could think of instead of defending. I do not want to see any sort of defence."

They nodded again though slightly confused this time about the last part.

"You will be opponents to each other."

Syaoran and Sakura were shocked to hear that. Yelan had serious eyes so they knew she meant her words.

"But mother…" Syaoran started.

Yelan cut him off, "Do not forget that this is your punishment. You two did not expect this part to be as easy as the last time, did you?"

Syaoran and Sakura looked at each other with worry and reluctance.

Sakura asked, "What if he gets hurt?"

Yelan saw similar concerns in Syaoran's eyes. She smirked behind her fan unseen to the duo.

"I seriously doubt that you two are anywhere close to the level where your attacks could hurt someone."

Sakura and Syaoran were surprised for a second and then they turned red with embarrassment. They knew she was correct. Neither could manage it. They were still very weak in that part. They barely managed to defend against Yelan's very weak attacks. Sakura's attack the previous night was simply a fluke as well.

Yelan broke the long silence, "You can begin whenever you are ready. I will watch from here."

Sakura and Syaoran turned to each other and hesitantly took the stance to fight. Yelan watched from the side with amusement on her face hidden behind her fan. She was going to enjoy this time. She expected nothing grand but she knew that they would advance a little with this. Sakura and Syaoran were worried as well as reluctant to battle. Yelan watched as neither was in a hurry to attack first.

Five minutes later the short battle ended with shock for both Syaoran and Yelan. Sakura caught him off-guard twice. First when she attacked with the light balls in the basket in the corner. Syaoran was busy defending and did not realise what she did next. Second when Syaoran felt his sword move on its own to point at his face before falling on the ground. Yelan and Syaoran realised that Sakura took control of the sword while he was distracted with the balls. Sakura looked at him cautiously for a moment before smiling happily and jumping around in joy that her plan worked.

Yelan smiled to see the growth in her student. She smiled to see her son defeated so easily. She smiled to see him smile in his defeat watching his special girl hop around happily. He never took his defeats with a smile but Sakura was a different case. He would do anything for her as long as she was happy with it. Yelan felt proud of her son's smile at this moment. However, she was his mother.

"Happy with you victory, are you Sakura dear?" Yelan spoke strictly.

Sakura stopped and looked at Yelan embarrassed at her dance now. Yelan smiled behind her fan to see it. Syaoran straightened up as well.

"I never said that the punishment was over. That was simply round one. Let us move on to the second round."

Syaoran picked up his sword and both took the stance to fight. Yelan watched carefully.

Sakura flung the balls at him once again. Syaoran did not stop them individually as last time. He made an air barrier before him to stop them all. The balls hit the barrier and fell on the floor. Syaoran used the loose balls and flung them at Sakura. Sakura panicked and shut her eyes with her staff before her face. Syaoran used the chance to get near her. When she felt nothing hit her, she opened her eyes and saw Syaoran standing before her. He touched the hilt of his sword gently to her head before she could react.

"I win." Syaoran spoke softly. "And I am not going to dance the funny way you did." Sakura pouted with anger at him. Syaoran chuckled though red on the face due to her cute pout.

Yelan smiled to see the result, "Third round. Now."

Syaoran and Sakura returned to their initial places. They were ready for the next round. Both had a win and a loss.

Sakura threw the balls at Syaoran. He laughed inside his head at the same tactic and defended as before. He flung the loose balls at Sakura. She did not panic this time and waited for Syaoran to come closer. When he was close enough, the remaining balls hit him on the head before he could touch her. Yelan was impressed with Sakura's change in tactic. It was Syaoran's loss and Sakura simply grinned from her place. Syaoran was surprised at first and then he smiled at Sakura's victory.

Syaoran straightened up, "That was impressive Sakura. You caught me there."

Sakura blushed partly due to his smile and partly due to his praise.

Yelan got to her feet, "It seems you two are getting a hang of it now. Good job but this is simply the beginning. You two have a long way to go. Keep practicing and grow better as soon as possible."

She elegantly walked away and out of the hall. Sakura and Syaoran sighed and fell on the floor. They were both tired and did not have it in them to go for another round. Yelan's punishment may have been part of the training but she was harsher than ever. Then again, it would not be a punishment if she took it easy. Neither could complain. They just lay on the floor relaxing and smiling gladly.

Meiling returned from school in the evening along with Tomoyo. Sakura was happy to see Tomoyo and the two girls hugged like sisters. Syaoran and Meiling watched them from the sides while Yelan watched them in her wine glass from her room.

Tomoyo spoke, "Meiling told me that Syaoran and you were getting punished today. Was it hard?"

Sakura smiled and shook her head, "No. It was fine. Simply tiring but then punishments are supposed to be hard."

Tomoyo asked, "So how is your training going on? How long until you two are ready to face that mage?"

Sakura flinched slightly, "It is going fine and I do not know how long it will take. Why do you ask?"

Tomoyo's eyes glittered, "I have finished preparing a new battle costume for both of you specifically for that day. Oh my Sakura will look so perfect in it. Syaoran would be like a prince next to his princess."

Sakura and Syaoran turned scarlet at her words. Tomoyo got lost in her dream world imagining Sakura and Syaoran in her handmade costumes. Meiling sniggered from her place and Yelan smiled behind her fan as well with shining eyes. She had noticed the camera in Tomoyo's bag focussed on Sakura's face as well as Syaoran behind Sakura. Tomoyo never missed any chances.

An envelope fell before Sakura out of the blue. They were all surprised. Yelan was shocked now. She did not feel any magic and yet some one slipped through her barrier and sent a letter so easily. Sakura took the envelope and opened the letter.

'Dearest little angel. Kiss Syaoran on Eva's behalf and get him to kiss you on my behalf. You two have come a long way into such a difficult magic. We are proud of you both. Your mother wants to kiss you too. Love you.'

Sakura and Syaoran were blood red due to the first line. Tomoyo and Meiling loved the impact. Tomoyo made sure to record them at this moment. It was fun. A second letter fell out of the envelope. Sakura picked it up.

'Dear Tomoyo Daidouji. Be ready with all your fashion skills for very soon the fashion princess will return to business along with the ruby-eyed warrior. Let us see more of those beautiful costumes. Kiss you two too.'

Tomoyo and Meiling were surprised for a second and then Tomoyo's eyes sparkled like never before. Sakura and Syaoran were pale like never before. Their hidden guardians were going to have fun watching Tomoyo dress them up with her bizarre costumes. Syaoran has been lucky so far since Sakura alone was the guinea pig. Suddenly he realised that Tomoyo will use him as well this time. Yelan controlled her giggles in her room. She knew the two people were actually teasing the duo. She had barely laughed so much ever since Syaoran's father passed away.

Shorter than ever buuuuut I just could not prolong the cute couple's punishment. Bear with it.

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