She Writes His Heart Chapter 3: Training is Tough!
Please welcome Twilight Kisses, who is not only betaing but also co-plotting this work! You are awesome (hugs) as is everyone who reviewed last chapter. Thank you so much!
The next morning, Syaoran dragged himself to work, feeling tired to the bone. Yue had kept at him almost all night, teaching him elemental spells, sword work, and hand-to-hand combat. Luckily the living room of his condo unit was easy to clear of furniture, but Syaoran found himself wishing he owned an extra large inflatable mattress for the many falls he'd taken. Oh crap; he knew the bruises would show up in a day or two, and how was he going to explain those?
And how was he going to explain dipping into his trust fund to pay for the wall he'd wrecked with the sword? Syaoran had managed to avoid the rest of the furniture but he realized he still had a long way to go, and he made a mental note to find an alternate venue to train with Yue.
If Yue was right though, his mother would understand. Syaoran sighed; he would have to talk to her, and soon, to find out how much she knew. Come to think of it, he knew that the entire Clow Card business—if he understood Yue correctly, and Syaoran prided himself on being intelligent when it came to that kind of thing—was going to mean time for training and capturing Cards. How was he going to explain absences, sudden disappearances from the office, and, heaven forbid, mysterious occurrences at the office itself to Meilin?
He felt that he knew exactly what Xiao Long went through in the chapter of the fanfic he'd read the night before by SkyPhenomena. His own training had gone through practically the same course, and if that continued, Sakura would come in, call him to the roof, and then tell him she'd released the Clow Cards the night before…
Ah but if it were true it meant he would get to spend more time with Sakura. Syaoran closed his eyes and summoned up a picture of her smile. He could look at it all day if he had to.
Someone tapped his shoulder hesitantly. "Um… Syaoran-kun?"
It was Sakura.
Please God don't make her say, "Could you come with me somewhere private where we can talk?" Syaoran begged in his mind. It'll be like slowly going insane if everything in that fanfic happens to me. He turned to her, raising his eyebrows a bit to indicate that he wanted her to continue.
"Oh," Sakura placed her hand on Syaoran's cheek, where he had a cut from when Yue had tossed him halfway across the living room and he'd hit the edge of the sofa. "You're hurt!"
"Ah…" Syaoran looked away. "It's nothing," he muttered. He'd avoided it while shaving, but forgotten about it later.
"You shouldn't keep this uncovered!" Sakura scolded him. "Wait for me." Before Syaoran could react, she dashed out of their office.
He stared after her. Where was she going? Ah well at least she didn't suddenly ask me to go out on the roof with her, Syaoran thought.
Yet he was kind of disappointed that she hadn't, because the chapter went on to state that they would make their first capture of a Reed—oops, Clow card on that roof.
Sakura quickly returned with a box of bandages, cotton, and antiseptic. "I got these from the office clinic." She poured antiseptic on the cotton, then began gingerly cleaning the small cut.
It stung, but Syaoran didn't notice it; her face was so close to his own. He could feel her light breathing, and he loved how her lashes kissed her cheek when she blinked, how smooth and pink her lips were. Add that she was cheerful, friendly, and sweet to her obvious concern for him—even if he knew it didn't really mean anything because she was nice to everyone—the fact that she was the way she was made him really, really like her…
Whoa! Calm down, Li! What are you thinking? Syaoran startled Sakura when he suddenly shook his head to clear it.
"Oh no! Did I hurt you?" an alarmed Sakura asked.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Syaoran said. "N-nothing, I just remembered something…"
"Okay." She blew gently on the cut to dry the antiseptic, making his cheeks heat up. "There." She opened a pack and placed a band-aid on his bruise. "All better."
Syaoran felt his cheek; he could feel himself almost floating. Whatever Sakura did made him feel light and happy, and he gave her a little smile in gratitude for her tending to him. "Thank you."
"Yatta!" She clapped her hands. "I made you smile!" Then she gave him a big smile of her own. "I'm gonna make it my mission to make you smile!"
Oh shit shit shit… Syaoran could feel his cheeks heating up, and he shook his head. Get a grip, Li, you're 22, for heaven's sake! Stop acting like you're a grade school boy with a crush! he scolded himself.
Then Sakura's expression turned serious. "I think I know why you have that cut… and it may be my fault. Could… could you come with me somewhere private where we can talk?"
Syaoran's mouth dropped open. He was definitely going to private message the author SkyPhenomena once this was over, if Sakura said what he thought she would say: the story of the Reed—no, Clow cards, about how she was the Card Mistress, about Yue and Keroberos—or was it Cerberus? Xiao Long called it a stuffed toy, and Syaoran had the insane urge to giggle. How unmanly!
Of course there was also how Cerberus said that Fa Ying should seek out Xiao Long as he was her ally in all this.
Once on the roof of their office building, that was exactly what she told him, save for a few changes and by beginning with "Uh, um, you may not believe me… ah, er… Someone told me to talk to you, as you're my ally in all this… uh, mess."
Oh no. They were almost exactly Fa Ying's words to Xiao Long. For a crazy moment Syaoran wondered if Sakura was SkyPhenomena. Why else would she be acting exactly like the heroine in the story?
No, and he shook his head. She was just as uncertain as he was, and if there was something Sakura was not good at, it was pretending at anything.
What happened next was just as the chapter had detailed it. As Sakura narrated how she'd opened the Clow book and even injured Cerberus with her old cheerleading baton, Syaoran didn't laugh, although he had when he'd first read the chapter. How was he supposed to know that within twenty-four hours he would be right where Xiao Long was? He had the uncomfortable feeling that someone was playing with them, and he blurted it out when she ended her story.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"There… you ought to know… um… er…" How much to tell her? But if he was right then Sakura's very life was being threatened, and Syaoran could not bear the thought of her going into this Card Mistress business without knowing what she was getting into. "Do you know of a manga series called 'Captors'?"
"Ehh, yeah, I think, although Tomoyo-chan—she's my best friend, you met her a few weeks ago…"
"The one who said I would look good in a prince costume and offered to design it for free if I'd wear it?" Syaoran winced.
"Yeah, she gets excited about things like that," Sakura smiled. "Tomoyo-chan would know, she likes to read. I think I've read some of it though." Then she squinted, and abruptly squealed. "Oh now I remember! When we got home after Tomoyo-met you, she laughed and showed me the cover of one of the volumes. The lead character, Xiao Long, looks kind of like you!"
"Well… Okay." Syaoran knew he was blushing, but what could he do? "I know you opened the Clow book last night because I… um, read about it…" He told her the story of the Captors manga as a backgrounder then mentioned SkyPhenomena's fanfic; to his relief Sakura didn't ask why he was reading fan fiction but furrowed her brow.
"So you knew what was going to happen to you?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, and…" With pauses for blushing and breath, Syaoran told her the story of what had happened to him, omitting only the whole "you-are-Sakura's-consort" part.
"Hmm. Maybe I should read this 'Captors' thing. I'm sure Tomoyo-chan can lend me a copy." Sakura grinned. "It must be utterly cute though!"
"Actually, you should read the fanfic by SkyPhenomenon," Syaoran blurted before he realized that it might give his feelings away to Sakura.
Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, as the cliché went.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of reading it so I can try to find out what I can to help you," he assured her. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. Anyway I think we should talk to both our Guardians so we can learn some more. I'll do my best to learn as fast as I can, okay?" he promised.
"Oh no," Sakura slumped against the wall. "I am so, so sorry, Syaoran-kun! I just realized… You got dragged into this because of me!"
"N-no!" Right now Syaoran wouldn't turn back time and change things—because this gave him a reason to be with Sakura. It was an opportunity! And… Consort. Yue had said it clearly: the Card Mistress' consort. It meant he had a chance to love her, with her loving him as well.
Syaoran almost smiled when he realized it. This was an adventure in his boring life, the one he wished for whenever he read 'Captors'. "Yue said something about this being my destiny too… that my powers were locked away when I was a child…"
"Really?"
"Yeah." It was the only thing that hadn't been in the fanfic, come to think of it. But in 'Captors' that was Xiao Long's situation. Weird. Syaoran decided that if the manga and the fanfic hewed any closer to his life and Sakura's, he'd have to go to the Lamplight offices to talk to the authors—four women, according to Kawaii magazine, who avoided the spotlight, and a mysterious "Senior Editor Y" they all deferred to.
Sakura smiled. "Can I see your new spells? It must be so great to be able to cast your own spells without relying on the Cards—well, just one." She showed him Windy, then looked at him eagerly.
Syaoran began to sweat, even though the day was cool and they were in the shade. "Uh, I haven't mastered them…"
"Come on, please? I can show you how I summon my Key, how about that?"
A weak grin forced itself on his face. "Okay." He closed his eyes and made a fist with his right hand; his hand glowed red and a large yet light, well-balanced sword appeared in it.
"Wow," Sakura breathed. "No incantation? That's amazing!"
"Um, Yue said I should just think of it. The sword disappears into me when I don't need it."
"May I hold it?"
"Er, sure," Syaoran handed the handle over to Sakura.
"It looks heavy but it's not!" Sakura experimentally swung the sword; not being used to it, she overbalanced and lost her footing. Syaoran quickly caught her. At least his athleticism in school served him better now; his reflexes were very good. Even Yue had commented on it. He had to be doing something right, after all.
But one tiny problem. She was so soft, and she smelled so sweet. Syaoran knew he would have to beg someone—Yue? Eriol?—for lessons on how not to blush when the girl he liked so much was around.
Okay, maybe not Yue. He'd probably raise an eyebrow and lecture Syaoran on how to behave as the Card Mistress' consort.
"Are you all right?" he asked her.
"Yeah," Sakura smiled. "Sorry for being clumsy."
Syaoran fought a blush as he helped her to her feet and took back the sword. Sakura reached into her blouse; for a moment Syaoran thought she was going to strip in front of him.
Okay fine. Not like he'd object. Well, maybe a token protest so he wouldn't seem like a lecher… He gulped. She would probably be utterly cute, and he bet himself that she was wearing a lacy pink bra…
Oh. Syaoran chastised himself for being hentai when she drew out a long gold chain, at the end of which dangled a tiny winged pink and gold key. She chanted a spell about a key and the forces of darkness and a contract that made Syaoran do a double-take; it was Fa Ying's spell!
He found himself muttering the words along with her: "… I command you, release!"
The Key turned into a staff, and Syaoran gasped. It was exactly like the staff used in the Captors manga!
"That staff!" he gasped. "It's Fa Ying's staff!"
"Hoe? You know this staff?" Sakura gasped.
Syaoran clenched his fists then arrived at a decision. "Come with me. I have something to show you." He had some of the tankobons of Captors with him, hidden deep in his locker, but he figured Sakura's need was greater than his. He unsummoned his sword, and when he turned to go down, he felt Sakura's hand in his. He looked at her, and she was looking down.
"I'm scared," she said in a small voice. "I don't know what I'm doing, or even if this is real."
"It is real," Syaoran said gently, and to his horror she began to cry, leaning against his chest. He held her, hesitating to embrace her at first, but soon when she leaned fully against him, he realized she needed his support. Given the unique situation they were in, it was all he could give her for now.
He placed one hand on her nape as she clutched his shirt front and buried her head in his chest, and the other steadied her at her waist.
"Shh. Don't cry. Okay?" he said soothingly after a few minutes, when he judged it was time for her to stop before she descended into hysteria.
"Please stay with me, and help me," Sakura said quietly. "I can't… no, I don't want to do this alone."
"I will," he promised. He wiped away her tears with his handkerchief, then handed it to her so she could blow her nose. "Now come on. Let's go back."
Her hand slid into his again, and she smiled. "Okay, Syaoran-kun!"
As they made their way down the stairs, she tugged on his hand, stopping him.
"Thank you for being so nice," she said. "I'm glad it's you who's with me on this and not some guy I don't know."
You'd prefer Yukito, though, Syaoran thought sadly. Out loud he said, "It's nothing."
As they exited to the main building, a deep voice said, "Well, that worked out better than I thought it would. I must say, he was excellent at calming her down."
"The poor boy," a sweet soprano voice replied. "Did you see him holding himself in? Such an honest guy!"
"Well, on to the next level. Once everyone leaves the office tonight, I release this." He held up a Clow card, which glowed scarlet in the dark.
"Ah, just like in our plot," the woman said, sounding satisfied. "Make sure she doesn't get hurt!"
"So you don't mind if he gets hurt?" the man twitted her.
"Oh for goodness' sake, you know what I mean. And I want you to set up that Deviantart account tonight for my sketches, you hear?"
"Dictator," the man said, though he sounded amused. "I obey, then, my sovereign blackmailer."
"I prefer 'judicious use of incriminating material,' because that sounds better," the woman sniffed.
The man sighed, but he had to admit… this was more fun than he'd had in the last ten years.
Syaoran suppressed a sigh as he looked out the window; night was falling, and he and Sakura were working on a last-minute document Meilin had suddenly assigned them. She'd called them into her office and given them materials for a report on spas and their services in Ginza. He was busy doing the summary and Sakura was creating the illustrations for it.
Earlier, when they were called into Meilin's office, Syaoran had blurted out, "Why only now?" He'd planned to spend the rest of the day with Sakura, training with Cerberus and Yue, not working on a report that could have been assigned earlier.
"Ma'am," Meilin added, her eyes narrowing. A tall woman with long, straight raven hair and big, lovely burgundy eyes, she was beautiful and formidable. Syaoran thanked the gods that she was married to Yuu Kurogane, and wasn't using her maiden name of Li; otherwise the connection between them would have been suspected. As is, he was grateful that their consulting company was called 4HKL, and his mother Yelan Li had reverted to her maiden name, Clow, when his father had died.
"Ma'am," Syaoran added hastily; a sidelong glance told him that Sakura looked a bit curious and confused.
"Well, get to it, then. I'll expect it on my desk tomorrow morning." Meilin had dismissed them, and to Syaoran's surprise, she'd left early… and so had everyone else.
Luckily the report was fairly easy as the material, which had been gathered by Takashi Yamazaki and Rika Terada, was comprehensive. Syaoran made up his mind to invite Sakura to the best of the spas soon, when he noticed she had raised her head, looking bewildered.
"What is it?" he asked curiously.
"Something… Like a tingling, only…" Sakura said. She'd finished with her half of the work and was importing the charts and photos into the master document Syaoran had saved on their shared server.
Then he felt it. It was like something was resonating inside him; like Sakura he couldn't describe it, yet it felt like it was calling to him.
"Oh great," he said. "Yue mentioned this last night… it must be the aura of a Clow card."
"Oh no," Sakura said. "Not at the office!"
"Calm down," Syaoran said reassuringly. "We don't know for sure." He cautiously saved the document, then hit PRINT. "There we go. Nice timing, if it's a Clow card."
"How are we…"
"I don't know," Syaoran said, struggling to keep calm. He printed four copies of the document, slid two copies into a clear folder and placed them on Meilin's desk, then locked one into his desk. The last one he handed to Sakura, who slid it into her desk as well. He then made backup copies of the document on the server, in his own folder, and sent one copy to their office and personal emails.
"Paranoid much?" Sakura teased gently.
"No," Syaoran said grimly. "Lost too many documents in the past to chance it."
"Oh. Sorry," she said.
"No need to be." He switched off the other lights and the airconditioning as Sakura packed up her things; since Syaoran kept his satchel well organized to begin with, he was ready to go as soon as she was.
"Wait…" Syaoran placed a hand on her shoulder. "Bring just the Key and your phone. If it is a Card we can't leave our things out in the open. We'll lock them here and then come back."
"Right," Sakura agreed. "You're so practical," she added.
Idly Syaoran found himself wishing she'd said, "You're such a nice guy. I like you!" He shook his head, then when Sakura grabbed his hand, he blushed and ran after her.
They took the elevator to the topmost floor of the 4HKL building, then the stairs to the roof. The strange sensation kept getting stronger, and when Syaoran flung the door to the roof open, Sakura gasped, "Hoe!"
A huge bird was staring at them, and the strange aura was almost overwhelming. Syaoran placed himself between Sakura and the bird, which was glaring beadily at them; it spread its huge wings and Syaoran quickly summoned his sword.
"I think this is Fly!" Sakura said. He nodded.
Then the bird beat its wings; the wind that resulted nearly blew the pair back into the stairway. Sakura clung to Syaoran, who had used his sword to brace himself against the door.
"It's got to be weakened before it's sealed," Syaoran yelled. "We can't let this thing loose! The Cards are attracted to us, and so we can't let them escape and bother others!"
"But how do we weaken this?" Sakura yelled back.
"Let me try." Syaoran raised his sword then called out "Raitei shourai!"
Syaoran was hoping that his lightning spell would work, but he yelped when he felt the magic course through him then his sword. As a result of the lapse in his concentration, a weak bolt of thunder streaked towards the bird, which casually flapped it away.
"Shit!" Syaoran swore. He recalled Yue's warnings about Syaoran's inability to master spells just the previous night.
"You're not trying hard enough," Yue sneered as a tired Syaoran dismally muttered, "Fuuka shourai." He was trying to get the wind spell to pick up Yue, but the force he generated barely ruffled Yue's hair.
"I'm tired, damn it," Syaoran retorted. "You've been at me since eight, and it's three in the freaking morning!"
Yue harrumphed. "So you're one of those mages whose feelings control magic access. Tsk."
"Look, how about a break? This is my first time!" Syaoran exploded. "You're asking me for the impossible!"
"No," Yue said coldly. "I'm asking for what you're capable of. Remember that when Sakura is in danger."
Yeah, Syaoran remembered. Sakura was in danger now and all he'd managed to do was literally ruffle Fly's feathers. Congratulations, Li, you win the Useless Idiot of the Year award!
Sakura for her part was edging towards Fly. Syaoran realized she intended to try and seal it, but he somehow knew the Card still wasn't weak enough for sealing. So he raised his sword to try and summon another lightning bolt when the bird abruptly flapped its wings.
"Watch out! It's about to take off!" Syaoran screamed.
With a grimly determined look on her face, Sakura nodded; he couldn't hear what she was chanting but he knew she was trying the sealing spell.
"Kashin shourai!" Syaoran yelled in desperation to try and distract and weaken Fly. Again the flame he produced spluttered out as it reached Fly.
"Shit!" he cursed again. If this was what capturing Clow cards meant, he probably had better expand his repertoire of dirty remarks and curses, because he would surely need them all.
And then his eyes nearly popped out; Fly began to lift upwards, and as it glided past Sakura, she leapt onto its back.
NO!
Syaoran began to run, desperate to try and catch Sakura but Fly had already gone past the ledge and was now flapping above the street—which was thirty stories below. Sakura was clinging on for dear life, and Syaoran could literally feel his heart in his throat. The stupid card might kill Sakura! He could not, would not live with that! Never would he let her be hurt if he could do something, anything!
Summoning all his strength as best he knew how, Syaoran bellowed, "Fuuka shourai!" The resulting wind knocked even him off his feet, and Fly, confused, tried to flap backwards. But Syaoran imagined a sphere of his own wind surrounding Fly, forcing it back to the rooftop and preventing Sakura from falling off.
He began to sweat with the effort, but he kept at it, and when Fly was on the rooftop, struggling feebly, he screamed, "Get off it, then seal it now!"
She needed no more encouragement; Sakura slid down then raised her sealing rod and commanded the Card to be sealed, and it faded into a beautiful scarlet and gold card with the words "THE FLY" on it.
Syaoran bolted towards her, dropping his sword; he didn't notice how the sealed Card followed him. He grabbed onto Sakura, checking her for bruises.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Sakura smiled up at him.
Then she squeaked when Syaoran abruptly hugged her.
"Ho… eh…" she breathed as Syaoran almost crushed her in his arms. When he pulled away, his eyes were stern.
"Don't you ever do something that stupid ever again!" he admonished her. "Swear it to me!"
Sakura looked at him; Syaoran reminded her of how Touya had once gotten furious at how she'd tried to cling on to the back of his brand new motorbike when she was on rollerblades. Ten years old then, she didn't know how dangerous what she'd done was, and once Touya had brought his bike to a stop, he'd turned to her, screamed that she was an idiot, then hugged her hard.
Just like Syaoran had.
"I'm sorry," she said, and smiled sweetly at Syaoran. "I just didn't want the Card to get away." She hugged him back, and noticed that, as she buried her nose in his chest, he smelled rather nice, like the fading scent of crisp cologne with fresh laundry. And to Sakura's surprise, she kind of liked his scent—and his strong arms wrapped around her felt good as well.
"I know," Syaoran said, his tone softer now. "I just… couldn't bear it if something happened to you…" He let his hand brush her hair, then he gasped. Why was he telling her these things? Luckily she was distracted by something; he could feel her trying to grab at something behind his back. Syaoran let Sakura go, and he raised a brow to indicate he was wondering what the heck she was doing.
"Syaoran-kun… There's a Clow card that won't let me get it, but it's floating near you…"
Syaoran turned. A Clow card floated into his hand.
"What… Isn't this supposed to be yours?" He tried to hand it to Sakura.
"No," a soft voice said. "You weakened it and made it ready for capture and sealing, thus it recognizes you as its master."
Sakura gaped. It was Yue, and he was floating in the air with Cerberus.
"Your timing stinks. We could have used your help earlier," Syaoran grumbled.
"Who's that?" Sakura asked faintly. "Is that… Yue?"
"Uh-huh." Syaoran folded his arms.
Cerberus turned to Yue. "I told you he's just some brat!"
"What?" Syaoran glared at Cerberus. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you can't possibly be the one destined for Sakura," Cerberus snorted.
Yue threw him a dirty look. "Enough. Let's move to the park nearby. There are few people there."
"Um, you'll have to wait… we need to go down the elevators and get our stuff from the eighth floor…" Sakura began.
"What do you think Fly is for?" Cerberus said disdainfully. "It's for flying. Go and get your things, then fly yourself and the brat to the nearby park."
"He is not a brat!" Sakura scolded. "His name is Syaoran and he saved me earlier. Why, if it hadn't been for his wind spell, the pooka shoray…"
"Uh, 'fuuka shourai,' actually," Syaoran muttered, and when Yue gave him a glance that was almost a smirk, he resisted the urge to try and fry the angel-like being with a lightning spell. Know-it-all prick, Syaoran thought.
"…fuuka spell, I would have been goo on the pavement!" Sakura finished.
"Still a brat and I bet your brother would agree," Cerberus said, sotto voce.
"I heard that," Yue said.
"Come on," Sakura tugged at Syaoran, and they retrieved their things from their office. Once back on the rooftop, Sakura cast Fly and found that her staff elongated into something like a broomstick.
"Ooh, try it, get on!" she beckoned to Syaoran.
"Uh, I'll walk," he said.
"Come on, don't you trust me?"
He looked into those eyes he loved, then reluctantly nodded. Lordy, he would get a nosebleed for sure if he had to hang on to her all the way to the park.
Which he did; Sakura enjoyed flying, and Syaoran was forced to grip her around her waist when she rolled with the staff on the way to a landing. She was a natural, and Syaoran found himself actually enjoying himself.
"Showoff," Cerberus taunted as Sakura landed. She stuck her tongue out at him as Syaoran dropped lightly to the ground.
"Go on, get used to flying, as you'll need the practice," Cerberus encouraged. Sakura eagerly waved goodbye to Syaoran, and took off.
"Now. Show me that your wind spell earlier wasn't a fluke," Yue said.
Syaoran sighed; there was no arguing with his Guardian. So he cast the 'Fuuka shourai!' spell and managed to push both Guardians back. He stepped back, feeling proud.
"Now do the fire spell," Yue said.
"Kashin shourai!" Syaoran called, but the fire he produced burned for a while, then faded.
"Still weak," Yue said. Cerberus sneered.
"Lightning, please," Yue commanded. Syaoran raised his sword to obey and cast the spell.
"EARGH!" Syaoran yelled as he dropped his sword. The 'Raitei shourai!" spell was hard to control, and he'd gotten grounded as the magic coursed through the sword… again.
"This is the Li heir?" Cerberus said scornfully. "Yue, I think you made a mistake. This clumsy boy can't possibly be the one Clow said! And his spellwork stinks!"
"I don't make mistakes," Yue said coldly.
Syaoran, ears red from shame, picked up his sword and walked off to face one of the trees in Penguin Park, feeling worse than useless. Sakura had learned her sealing spells so easily, and he…
"Syaoran-kun?"
The hair on the back of his neck prickled. Oh no. Sakura was back from flying with her sealing rod, which meant she'd probably seen his humiliation.
Without turning, he asked, "What is it?"
"I'm scared," she said, to his surprise. She moved to face him, and he was startled to see how downcast she was. "I'm just me, and then this happens because it was my fault for opening that Clow book, and I…" She began to sniffle. "Now the disaster of the world might happen because of me!"
His misery no longer mattered—because she was unhappy. Syaoran placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Don't cry," he said soothingly. "We'll get through this somehow, okay?"
She sniffled then nodded. "I wonder if I can tell Yukito-san about this?" she mused.
Oh great, Syaoran thought, dismayed. You'd think we'd've bonded but no, she's still thinking of him!
"I'm not sure…" he began. "Maybe we should ask Yue." Yeah, ask Yue, as Syaoran didn't like or trust Cerberus.
Oddly his thoughts about Yukito were echoed in the mind of a woman who was standing nearby, filming them with the latest in high tech spy cameras.
"Oh screw Yukito, hello, handsome guy in front of you, Sakura-chan, for goodness' sake!" she said.
The man in glasses next to her chuckled. "You don't expect her to get over Yukito in a flash, now, do you?"
"There must be something we can do to speed things up between Sakura and Syaoran," she fussed. Then the woman gasped; her companion could almost visualize a lightbulb going on in her head. She seized the man's arm. "I have an idea!" she hissed.
"What?" He'd long ago learned to listen to his partner, who tended to get brilliant inspirations from out of the blue for mischief.
"Force Yue back into his false form now. Sakura-chan has to see who he is!"
Frowning, the man objected, "Won't that throw our timing off? From what I can predicate of Sakura-san's behavior, she is the kind to act, to confess her love if she finds out something that important about him. She will correctly deduce that his false existence may be easily threatened. Do you want Syaoran tossed out of the running?"
"No, no," the woman smiled. "Yukito will reject her."
Amused, the man turned his gaze on her. "And what makes you so sure?"
She folded her arms smugly. "Because I know who he really loves."
"And you chose Syaoran instead for Sakura-san?"
"I didn't choose him, per se. Look at the way he ran in front of that Card to protect her. Have you seen the way he looks at her? You've got to be blind to miss how much he cares for her. And I've checked his background—no girlfriend since birth. He's always been too shy to do anything, but now, look at him train hard to be with her. Do you know how hard it is to find guys like him in Tokyo--handsome, smart, kind, caring, straight, and all agog over her? Sakura-chan deserves the best!"
"Don't forget, she has no idea he's the heir to the Li fortune."
"That too! Ooh, he can keep Sakura in the luxury she deserves!"
Chuckling, the man raised his large golden staff. "All right then, if you're sure." His staff glowed, then Yue, who had been instructing Syaoran and Sakura, suddenly dropped to the ground, was engulfed by giant wings, and turned back into Yukito. Then he playfully complained, "This wasn't in our last chapter, you know."
"So we'll write it in the next one, big deal," she grinned.
"All right." The man raised a giant golden staff crowned with a large sun and moon, and it glowed red. "But you're doing the writing. And don't forget—we have a meeting with the Lamplight girls tomorrow."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," she said.
Sakura and Syaoran were walking towards Cerberus and Yue; the latter pair were bickering about Syaoran's qualifications, and Syaoran felt himself go red when Yue said that Syaoran's potential was unmatched in centuries of watching his family.
Then Yue's eyes suddenly went blank. A large pair of wings enveloped him.
"What's going on?" Sakura said.
"Oh no," Cerberus said. "He's… Something is forcing him into his false form."
"Like your teddy bear form?" Sakura asked.
"I am not a teddy bear, how many times do I have to tell you? No, I don't know what his false form is either; I haven't seen him since the Clow book was sealed."
The bright glow surrounding Yue faded, and when he dropped to the ground, Sakura screamed and ran to him.
Syaoran's heart sank even further as Sakura cradled the false form's head in her lap. He knew those glasses, the light hair, and that slender form.
Yue was Yukito Tsukishiro.
And Syaoran thought, there go my chances with Sakura... down the drain.
To be continued in chapter 4.
Next chapter: Warning: more fluff! Syaoran buys an issue of Kawaii, and Sakura catches him! They train together some more, and Sakura decides on setting up a double date: her and Yukito, and Syaoran and Naoko—who seems to know more than she lets on.
A question: Since SxS are adults here, and paladin3065 brought my attention to the fact that I've never written limes/lemons for more cheerful stories, would you be OK with mature SxS scenes later on? Do drop a review and let me know, thanks! Also, are you OK with longer chapters or should I return to 3500K words per chapter?