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Chapter 11: Stefan's Old Friend

Since Sakura got her book back, she had no reason to stay at the boarding house anymore. Well, there was one reason, Leilani was seriously mad at her. Sakura apologized, but it didn't work and she was now receiving the silent treatment. Sheriff Forbes called and wanted to talk to Sakura in person. Apparently, she wanted to talk to everyone that was in contact with Vicki recently.

"I was only looking for Vicki because Stefan asked me to. And apparently, Elena asked him to help. I don't really know a whole lot," Sakura sighed as she sat forward in the seat across from the Sheriff, in her office.

"What was she like the last few days?" she kept asking questions.

"Sporadic, I guess. I didn't really talk or hang out with her much. Your better off asking Matt," Sakura said, wishing the questioning would end. Sakura was nervous, being at the police station. They always made her uncomfortable, so she was itching to get out of there.

"So, do you believe Vicki really has left town?" Forbes asked.

"That's what Jer said, I have no reason to think otherwise," Sakura sighed.

"Alright, you can go," Forbes sighed and wrote something down.

Sakura came out, after Matt and saw him walk by Stefan angrily.

"I was trying to help her Matt," Stefan said as Matt walked away.

Sakura walked up to Stefan, "Give it time, that's all you can do," Sakura sighed. Elena, Jeremy and Jenna came out of the station. Elena separated from the other two, saying she'd meet them at the car. They walked by Stefan and Sakura with a very brief greeting and a nod to be polite. Elena walked up to them and she looked worried. "Are you okay?" Sakura asked.

"I don't think the Sheriff suspected anything. Jeremy had no memory at all, all he knew, was what Damon made him know," Elena said, seeming to be disturbed by it.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Sakura sighed.

"Yes, it's just unsettling," Elena smiled weakly.

"Thank you," Stefan smiled down at Elena.

"I can't do this guys. Everytime I look at Matt or Jeremy all I think is that, Vicki's never going to come back. And they'll never know why. Around you people get hurt and people die, it's just too much," Elena was overwhelmed.

"Why don't you two go somewhere and talk about it?" Sakura suggested.

"No, Stefan you have to stay away from me. It'd be wise if you stayed away from him too," Elena walked away.

"She's right you know. People get hurt and die around me. It's not safe for you," Stefan sighed sadly as he looked at Sakura.

"Stef, I could say the same thing about me. No one's safe around me either, that's just life," Sakura said it nonchalantly. "Besides, we're friends. I'm not just going to drop you because you're dangerous. If that was the case, no one should come near me," Sakura laughed lightheartedly.

"Thanks," Stefan smiled and gave her a one-armed hug. "At least I have you and Lexi," Stefan at least seemed a little cheerful.

"Who's Lexi?" Sakura asked, not being familiar with his longtime vampire friend.

"I'd tell you about her, but why don't you just come and meet her," Stefan suggested.

"Sure, I've got nothing to do right now, so let's go," Sakura marched forward, making Stefan laugh.

Sakura and Stefan arrived at the boarding house, and it seemed as though Damon wasn't home. They walked inside and someone ran past them, at vampire speed. "Welcome back birthday boy," Lexi appeared in front of them, "And who is this strapping young lady?"

"I'm Sakura," Sakura smiled and put her hand out for a handshake. Lexi graciously took her hand and seemed to be all smiles as they shook hands. "You must be Lexi," Sakura smiled then turned to Stefan, "You didn't tell me it was your birthday."

"Well, when you pass 100, you tend to forget it," Stefan laughed. "Besides, you haven't told me when yours is," Stefan pointed out.

"Yeah, it kinda already passed this year. October 15th, was a few weeks ago," Sakura laughed nervously.

"You didn't tell me it was your birthday," Stefan mocked her. They went into the parlor and sat on the couch as they talked. Stefan got Lexi up to date and Sakura got to learn a little about both of them.

Lexi got up and walked around the parlor, "So, this Elena girl, she'll come around, I'm sure of it. Have you had sex yet?" Lexi asked Stefan, making Sakura kind of uncomfortable.

"No," Stefan said boldly as he smirked and sat up.

"Sex always works, I mean you'll rock her world so hard with your vamp sex, she'll be yours forever," Lexi kept going. Sakura sighed and looked away.

"This isn't about sex," Stefan started to explain, "Or about compulsion or any of our other tricks. She has to want to be with me, on her own terms." Sakura smiled and looked at what Lexi was doing, she was pulling out a blood bag.

"Wow, you're sounding all mature and grown up," Lexi pouted a little.

"Well, I'm not getting any older," Stefan smirked.

"Ha ha," Lexi fake laughed and stabbed a straw into her blood bag. "Want some," Lexi offered Stefan.

"No," Stefan got off of the couch, "Thank you."

"Relax, I didn't kill anyone for it. I have a supplier," Lexi explained. Stefan stood leaning against the doorway, with his arms crossed. "Oh, don't judge," Lexi sighed. "Okay, listen, I tried the animal diet and it lasted three weeks," Lexi put her bag down.

"Doesn't matter, cause if I start again, I just don't know if…" Stefan trailed off.

"If you could stop," Lexi finished his sentence. "I just wish I had your control," Lexi sighed, "By the way, what are we doing tonight?"

"Funny you should ask!" Damon came into the parlor.

"Well, I wasn't asking you," Lexi glared as Damon walked closer.

"There's a party at the Grill, you'll love it. Banquettes, tacky wait staff, all of Stefan's friends," Damon put his hand on the couch behind Sakura.

"Yeah, I don't want a birthday party," Stefan shrugged.

"Well, it's not for you, it's a party, party. No one's going to know it's your birthday," Damon explained. "Caroline's throwing it," Damon smiled.

"Anyways, stay away from Caroline," Stefan glared at Damon.

"We're friends, it's cool," Damon said nonchalantly.

"You have friends?" Sakura laughed.

Damon glared at her, "It's important for the town to see us out and about like normal folk. We need to blend." Damon looked down and saw the blood bag, "Ugh, I prefer mine at 98.6," Damon leaning in close to Sakura and breathed in her scent. Sakura glared at him and he backed off, and walked out of the parlor.

"Let's go, please," Lexi looked up at him and Stefan just shook his head with a smirk.

Sakura sighed and got up, "I think he's up to something." Sakura looked to were Damon had headed. Lexi looked at her and smirked. "Anyways, I'm off. It was nice meeting you Lexi," Sakura left.

"See you at the party," Lexi shouted to her, and Sakura waved a hand back at her. "I like her, she's spunky," Lexi laughed.

"She's a lot of things, and that's definitely one of them," Stefan smiled.

Sakura made it back home, she went inside and Leilani came up to her. She stood in front of her with a frown on her face. "Something wrong?" Sakura asked. Leilani's eye twitched. "I know you're just itching to tell me something," Sakura tried to get Leilani to spill the beans. Leilani growled and walked away. Not even a moment later she walked back, still mad.

"Bonnie's a witch," Leilani squealed.

"Oh, so you're talking to me again," Sakura smiled.

"You know I never last long," Leilani sighed. "Anyways, I'm talking a real witch, like magic and all," Leilani seemed excited. "But you can't tell anyone," Leilani pointed a finger at Sakura. Sakura brought her hand up to her mouth and pulled her hand across, as if zipping her mouth closed. "Honestly, I don't think I should have told you. But really, they should know that I tell you everything," Leilani giggled.

"Yeah," Sakura fake smiled, starting to feel guilty about keeping things from her.

"She ripped apart Elena's pillow and made the feathers inside float, it was epic," Leilani looked as if she had stars in her eyes.

"That's awesome," Sakura tried to sound enthusiastic. While looking through other books from her ancestors, Sakura had come across something written as 'The Bennett Witches,' she also knew that the crystal she took, that Damon dropped, belonged to Bonnie's ancestor, Emily Bennett. "She'll have to show me some time," Leilani glared at her, "After she tells me herself, that she's a witch, of course," Sakura laughed nervously.

"Oh yeah, did you get the text?" Leilani pulled out her phone, "There's going to be a party tonight at the Grill. And you are so going!" Leilani wasn't going to give her a choice, "It'll be one way to make it up to me, just no ditching me!"

"Yeah," Sakura sighed and looked at the clock on the wall.

"Oh and, I kind of owe you an apology anyways," Leilani sighed.

"What for?" Sakura had no idea what it could be for.

"I forgot your birthday last month! I can't believe I forgot, I'm so sorry," Leilani was being sincere.

"That's alright, it's not exactly a day I like to remember, considering," Sakura thought back.

"I know, it's our parents deaths anniversaries. But, you can't always be glum on your birthday," Leilani stated.

"What made you remember all of a sudden?" Sakura asked suspiciously.

"One sec," Leilani ran into kitchen and came back with a small gift box in her hand. "This showed up in the mail, here," Leilani handed Sakura the box.

"Who could this be from?" Sakura pulled the ribbon off and opened the box, inside was a card and another, smaller, fancy box.

Leilani quickly took the card to read it, "Dear Suzaku, a gift for your special day." Sakura opened the fancy box and inside was a silver necklace of a phoenix. Sakura thought about it for a moment, and it seemed as though her heart stopped for a moment. Leilani looked at Sakura and she looked frozen. Then it hit her, "The only person that called you that was…" Leilani trailed off.

"Darien," Sakura said in complete shock.

Sakura and Leilani went to the party at the Grill. It was packed with people, and most of them were drinking. "Hey girls, welcome to my party! Enjoy yourselves!" Caroline came up to them, in a very chipper mood. "Can I talk to you for a sec Sakura?" Caroline pulled her away from Leilani.

"Hey, have you seen this crystal, it's an amber colour. I lost it, and I really need it back," Caroline seemed hyper.

"This," Sakura pulled Damon's crystal out of her pocket. Caroline tried to take it from her, but Sakura held it away. "This isn't yours," Sakura stated. Sakura shook her head and walked away from Caroline, as she put it back in her pocket. Why wouldn't Damon just come after it himself? "Hey Bonnie," Sakura came up to her and Leilani.

"Wow, great necklace!" Bonnie commented on the silver phoenix necklace that she had on.

"Thanks," Sakura smiled and rubbed the back of her head nervously. Sakura looked around and saw Stefan dancing with Lexi, well as close to Stefan got to dancing. Then they headed over to the pool tables to play. Lexi went to get some shot's of tequila, including one for Elena, who she noticed lingering around. Sakura looked around again and noticed that Damon seemed to be wandering around. What was he up to though? Whatever it was, it probably wasn't good. "I'm going to get a drink," Sakura said receiving a glare from Leilani, "Of water." Sakura walked up to the bar for a bottle of water, standing next to Damon in the process. "What are you up to?" Sakura asked as she waited.

"Well, that's not really your business. But it's something to help me and Stefan stay hidden," Damon vaguely explained.

"Right…" Sakura trailed off. She turned around and leant against the bar countertop as she waited. Then she suddenly went pale.

Damon noticed and raised an eyebrow curiously. "What's wrong with you, you're pale as a ghost," Damon looked at her. Then he noticed the necklace, "Where'd you get that? An ancestors?" Sakura seemed to be ignoring him as she stared off. Damon turned to see what she was looking at and it was a guy, in his late teens, with short black hair, and a tall, medium build. He was wearing a leather jacket, black shirt and jeans. "You know him?" Damon asked and Sakura nodded. Damon sighed, at least she was listening to him.

"Darien?" Sakura took a step away from the bar. Someone walked in front of her and when they finished passing by, he was gone.

"Who's this Darien?" Damon asked, sounding like a jealous ex-boyfriend.

"My brother…" Sakura seemed to be dumbfounded.

"Didn't he die in the fire?" Damon was confused. Sakura nodded and looked at him. She sat down at on one of the stools and started to play with her necklace. "Oh yeah, you have my crystal, give it to me," Damon demanded.

"Later," Sakura said as she took the water from the bartender and got up to walked away.

Damon grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her. "What's going on?" Damon asked, actually sounding concerned. Sakura turned to him and shook her head, she had no idea what was going on. Sakura sighed and left, to go back with Leilani. Elena was now with Lexi, drinking shots of tequila, and talking. Sakura handed Leilani a bottle of water, as she had gotten one for both of them and went to check on Stefan, who was shooting pool alone.

"Hey birthday boy, how's it going?" Sakura asked as she walked up to him.

"Alright I guess," Stefan smiled, then he noticed the necklace, "Where'd you get that?"

"Does it stand out that much, people keep asking," Sakura sighed.

"Sorry, guess we're just used to you dressing a certain way now," Stefan smirked.

"So, how do you think that's going?" Sakura nodded her head towards Elena and Lexi.

"Well, I hope. Want to play?" Stefan offered her a pool stick.

"Sure," Sakura smiled and took the stick. "Hope you're ready to lose," Sakura boasted.

They played for a few minutes and Lexi came back. "Yes I drank yours, sorry," Lexi said referring to the shot of tequila, but not actually sounding sorry. Sakura handed Lexi the pool stick and left, to let them talk more.

Leilani and Sakura went to a different pool table, to talk and play for a while. Suddenly a group of police came in with a scared looking girl, who pointed towards the bar, where Lexi was talking with Damon. They walked up to the bar and stabbed Lexi with a needle and took her away. Stefan started to make his way through the crowd and Sakura followed, "What's going on?" Sakura asked as they moved. They got to the door, blocked by two policemen who wouldn't let them through. They went out a back way, with Elena following behind them. There were a bunch of shots fired. They looked around the corner to see Damon stabbing Lexi in the chest with a stake. Damon had made it seem as if he had saved the Sheriff, rather than cause the whole thing. Sakura held Elena and Stefan back, to stop them from rushing in. Stefan ran off, convinced that he had to kill Damon. Damon had killed Zack, Tanner, turned Vicki and now Lexi was gone.

Elena went to chase after Stefan and Sakura went back inside. Sakura found Damon talking to the Sheriff, Sakura waited off to the side till they were done. As soon as the Sheriff left and Damon turned around, Sakura slapped him, as hard as she could. Damon's head turned and she left a red handprint, they started to receive stares, since the sound of the impact could be heard over everything else. "How could you do this?" Sakura snarled.

"You didn't even know her, why are you so worked up?" Damon said as he held onto his jaw.

"How could you do this to your brother, you…" Sakura trailed off, "You kusoyaro!"

Damon looked at her dumbfounded, "Swearing at me in another language?" Damon leaned in closer, "What's that mean anyway?"

"Look it up, you baka," Sakura walked away, leaving him clueless. "Let's get out of here Leilani," Sakura grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from a couple of guys she was talking to. Leilani waved to them and just let Sakura drag her out of the Grill.

"Something going on?" Leilani wanted to be kept in the loop.

"I'm using what you told me to," Sakura said ambiguously. Leilani looked at her curiously. They got into Sakura's Impala, to head home. "I used restraint," Sakura smirked.

"Okay, I saw you hit Damon, and with that sound, how was there restraint?" Leilani started to laugh.

"For me it was, plus I didn't swear at him, at least not in English," Sakura smirked.

"What did he do anyways?" Leilani asked.

"Something so cruel to Stefan, that I won't say it. Not really my story to tell," Sakura said, and Leilani didn't ask about it anymore.

I hope you enjoyed! Please review!

If you want to know what the words Sakura said to Damon mean, let me know. I'd just put it, but I'm not really one for putting bad language unnecessarily.