Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ A New Breeze Breaks ❯ New Accommodations ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer:

I don't own CCS or CC. If I did you can be assured that the fluff would have never stopped. The love would continue forever and ever and ever.

A New Breeze Breaks

carpetfibers

Chapter Two: New Accommodations

For what felt like the hundredth time that night, Syaoran looked down at the now sleeping girl beside him. He had only been back for one day and already so much had happened. Silently, he thanked whatever forces had convinced him to return. Whatever it was that was attacking Sakura was powerful. Just the barest remnants of the energy had remained in the kitchen but even by those few crumbs, he had been able to guess the magnitude.

This new power- it was more than he or Sakura or even Clow Reed, the greatest Magician, had held. It felt ancient. It felt cold. But mostly, it felt dead. It was a dark force, not like that of the moon's shadows or even of the underworld, but of pure blackness, pure negativity.

When he wasn't checking on Sakura, he was watching the window. Where had that stuffed guardian gone to? Now, when he needed information, that fluff ball had to go off, probably somewhere stuffing his face.

He sighed and stared at his hands, the rough callouses from years of holding a sword seemingly staring back. He glanced back at the smooth lines of Sakura's cheeks. She wasn't a little girl anymore. She looked like a young woman, even as she slept with her mouth partly open. Syaoran wondered what her soft cheeks would feel like, what the white skin beneath her throat would feel like on these coarse hands of his. And he blushed, yet again.

There had been a time, three years ago, when Tomoyo had taken him aside and given him a few words of advice. Those words had stayed with him, even despite having been packed away in that trunk of his. He had been too young, too immature to understand what she meant, or even how she knew, but as he watched Sakura sleep and listened to her softly breath, he thought that maybe now, he might begin to.

'Sakura-chan's much like her namesake. Like the tree, she'll only be here so long, because even for the cherry trees, there comes a winter. You should take care to catch her blossoms before even they stop falling.'

"Like a cherry tree, Daidouji-san?" he whispered. "I hope you're wrong."

* * * * *

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong? You look tired." Tomoyo leaned over anxiously. Her best friend's face was unusually pale this morning, and her smile uncommonly absent. Sakura shook her head, pieces of her honey hair falling across her face as she tried to reassure her friend.

"It's nothing, Tomoyo-chan. I just didn't sleep too well last night. Probably something I ate..." She didn't like lying to her friend, but she knew that Tomoyo would only worry more if she knew the truth. She might even do something drastic like call Touya or her father. Her frown deepened. No way would she allow her problems to overflow unto her family. Touya had been so happy those last few days before he left. She was convinced that he was finally going to take his and Yukito's relationship that final few steps.

The pain from the night before had disappeared when she woke that morning in her bed. Still though, there was the faintest of touches in her heart, like something was missing. She had half hoped to find Syaoran there when she woke, if only to ask him his thoughts on the matter. Absently, she brushed back at her bangs. Maybe it was time for a haircut...

The doors to the classroom slammed open, and Syaoran walked in. Immediately, his rich brown eyes fell on his classmate's seated form. He had left first thing that morning, returning to his cold and empty apartment to shower and change. He didn't want to leave her alone, but it would have been awkward explaining his presence. After being completely absent from her life for three years, it'd be difficult explaining his sudden friendliness. He glanced at her folded hands that clutched tightly at her wrists. Not that she'd think anything bad of him; she was far too innocent to think anything bad of anyone.

He sighed and fell into his seat next to her. Less than 48 hours, and he was twice as confused as he had been three years before. He didn't even know anything about her now- like maybe she no longer liked vanilla ice cream, or maybe she had finally got over her fear of ghost stories. He snuck a peak at her from under his thick bangs. She had finally released her wrists and stared out the window, tugging at a piece of her hair. She could even have a boyfriend for all he knew...

Syaoran sighed yet again, and stared down at his desk. He had better things to be thinking about than a girl who was his friend three years earlier's love life. Although, with a body like hers it wouldn't be hard to imagine that she had guys falling all over her...

His hand flew up involuntarily and whipped across his cheek. He couldn't be having thoughts like that!

"Li-kun?" Sakura turned around at the sound of the slap, worry etched across her pale cheeks. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah," he stammered, avoiding her green eyes. Naive or not, he was sure she would be able to read his thoughts with those eyes of hers.

"Do you know what happened last night?" she asked quietly, returning her eyes to the landscape out the window.

"Did you check your cards this morning?"

She shook her head, confusion obvious on her face. "No, why?"

"Can you sense them from here?" Syaoran asked, his tone serious. She nodded. "Then check them."

She nodded again, and closed her eyes, reaching out for her cards' aura. The familiar warmth of her cards reached out to her probing and a light smile came to her face. She loved them so much, and they her. Slowly, she went through their individual energies, checking each one over. It only took a few seconds, but by the fourth card, her smile disappeared. Something was wrong with her cards; one of them was missing!

"Li-kun! One of my cards- Sweet- it's missing..." A dull horror had crept into her hushed voice. In front of her, Tomoyo jerked into awareness and turned around.

"Sakura-chan, what's wrong?" Tomoyo knew something was off with her best friend, and it hurt her that she didn't want to tell her.

But Sakura just shook her head, pasting on a bright smile. "Nothing, Tomoyo-chan! Like I said, I'm just tired. I was only talking to Li-kun about some things, that's all."

Tomoyo stared at her friend with unblinking eyes. She knew something was wrong. Instead of pressing it though, she just smiled and waved her hand. If Sakura didn't want to tell her, then it was time for some Tomoyo the Spy action! She laughed silently as her eyes glazed over. All the new scenes that she could video tape with this new development...

Sakura's smile twitched as she watched her best friend slip into one of her scary modes. Wouldn't Tomoyo ever get tired of taping her?

Syaoran listened to the exchange and sat back. Why didn't Sakura want Tomoyo to know? After all, he knew, so why not her as well. She had been as involved in capturing the cards as he or Sakura. So why keep her in the dark?

As if reading his thoughts, Sakura turned her tired eyes to him and gently shook her head. He stared, his mouth partly opened, as a strange emotion gripped him. Why was his heart beating so fast? Why did his blood rush so? All she had done was look at him- but, he knew it was more than that. She had transferred all the love and care she had for Tomoyo in that look and he understood. She was protecting her friend.

He closed his mouth, and nodded, leaning back into his chair as Kaikato-sensei took his place at the front of the room.

"Good morning, students. Today, instead of discussing last night's assignment-" the young teacher broke off as he noticed two of his students visibly wince at the mention of last night's homework. He narrowed his pale eyes and cleared his throat. "Actually, strike that. Kinomoto-san, please come to the front of the room."

Sakura stood up, a guilty expression on her face. She had completely forgotten about her homework, an essay on the previous day's poetry lecture. Nervously, she stood at the front, next to her frowning teacher. She really didn't think Kaikato-sensei liked her.

"Kinomoto-san, please read your essay for the class," he directed, the frown never leaving his face.

She bowed her head and whispered, barely audible. "Please forgive me, sensei, but I forgot to do the essay."

"Forgot? You forgot? This is inexcusable, Kinomoto-san. You only have two years left before college entrance exams and already you are slacking off. You will remain after class today."

"Please, sensei, may I just make up the essay? I have cheerleading practice after school-"

"Excuse me, but am I not the teacher?"

At Sakura's timid nod, Kaikato's frown lessened into a smirk. "Then you shall report to me immediately after the end of school today. End of discussion."

Again, she nodded and bowed before returning to her chair. There had only been a few titters in the classroom at her public embarrassment, but thankfully, most of her friends had only looked on sympathetically. It was no secret that Kaikato-sensei liked to pick on Sakura. Even when it seemed that she had done nothing wrong, he found something to scold her about. Tomoyo glanced back at her green eyed friend worriedly. Poor Sakura... she turned back around to glare at her teacher. That horrible man was always being so mean to her. She narrowed her violet eyes as she watched him pace in front of the board. Something about him had always rubbed her the wrong way. Sakura had made up excuses for him, as she always did- that was just one of things she loved about her naive best friend.

Still though, Tomoyo's glare increased, and Kaikato stiffened as if feeling the strength of it. She did not trust that man. Something was off about him.

* * * * *

Sakura fought off yet another yawn. Despite having slept so much the night before, she truly felt exhausted, as if she had been running marathons all day. All she wanted was to curl up on her bed and go to sleep. But, she told herself for the hundredth time that day, she mustn't make anyone worry. Tomoyo was already suspicious and if she saw her falling asleep, there would be no way to fend off her questions. Mentally, she released a frustrated sigh. What was going on? Kero was still missing since yesterday morning; she hadn't been able to find his aura all day. And why was Sweet without any energy? Why couldn't she feel her card anymore? And the pain from the night before- what had caused it?

She had a million questions, and it seemed as if there was no way to find their answers. She glanced over to the boy sitting next to her. How different Syaoran looked from three years earlier! He still frowned too much, and his eyes seemed too serious. His dark hair still stuck out messily every which way, but he was older now. His face had narrowed, the baby fat from his youth having been replaced with the strength of adulthood. She could see the muscles from beneath his uniform press against the seams. Her eyes widened. Syaoran had always seemed so strong, but now, he must be really strong!

An image of him smirking and picking up the king penguin slide flashed in her mind and she bit back the laughter.

In front of her, Tomoyo smiled lightly. It was good to hear Sakura laugh.

* * * * *

"Kinomoto-san, I'm disappointed in you. If this had been the first time that you had neglected your work, I wouldn't be so upset, but it's not. Add in your almost constant tardiness, frequent outbursts, day dreaming- surely, you can understand why I'm angry." Kaikato stood with his hands on his hips, frowning down at the wincing girl.

Sakura just nodded and seemingly sagged deeper with every complaint added against her.

No wonder her sensei was so upset, if she was always doing these things. She owed him an apology. She bowed more deeply, her hair covering her face and hiding her eyes. How could she have been so disrespectful? Self reproach filled her with shame and she fought back the tears that threatened to fall. And she was just so tired...

Kaikato stopped his lecturing and let his hands fall. He sighed, and ran a thin hand through his brown hair. "You can go after you finish straightening up the room. Just don't let it happen again."

Sakura nodded fervently and straightened, heading for the plants at the back of the room immediately. They would need watering.

Kaikato sat back in his chair and pretended to be focused on the papers in front of him. This girl had him perplexed in the strangest of ways. He had always considered himself a bit of the ladies' man. He knew that many of the girls in his class, not to mention the school, had crushes on him. He was even aware of the Kaikato fan club that had been formed since his arrival at the school, but this one girl had him stumped. His usual smiles and light flirting had gone over her head completely. She seemed completely oblivious to his charms. It had him frustrated to no end. It wasn't a matter of liking her- the girl was fairly attractive after all with those unusual eyes of hers- but more a matter of pride. Already a few of his college school buddies had started kidding him around, joking about his inability to turn eyes anymore.

He watched as she moved from plant to plant, watering them and touching their green leaves lightly. She acted like such a child, but she was a young woman. It only made him more frustrated. How could she not be aware of such things at her age? It made him feel guilty when she'd turn those innocent eyes of hers on him and nod, accepting his reproves and whispering her apologies.

"Kinomoto-san?" he asked suddenly, surprising even himself.

"Yes, sensei?" she stopped her cleaning and turned to him with wide eyes. Had she done something wrong?

He winced seeing the worry in her face. "You can stop now. I know you're missing practice." She smiled brightly, the entire affect of it lighting her face. His heart skipped a beat and mentally he scolded himself. She was just a teenage girl after all. "You can make up the essay as well."

She twirled around, clutching the dusting rag to her chest. "Thank you, sensei! Thank you so much! I promise to not forget again. And I'll try to be on time. Sensei is too nice!" She bowed deeply and ran out the door, closing it gently behind her.

Kaikato sagged visibly in his desk, rubbing at his forehead ruefully. "Eh, Saito, what'd you get yourself into now?" he said aloud, before settling to pay attention for real this time to the papers.

* * * * *

Sakura leaned against the front door before slipping in her key. She should have just skipped practice after Kaikato-sensei released her. She was almost too tired to focus on the work for tonight plus the one from the night before. Wearily, she called out to the empty house.

"Tadeima!" she called out weakly, knowing only silence would greet her. The staircase seemed endlessly long, each step growing in height. By the top of the hall, she almost gave up doing the homework entirely. Instead though, she dropped her bag and headed for the shower. Maybe a quick shower would wake her up.

From the start of the hot water pounding against her back, Sakura felt the day's tension and weariness fade away. The soothing steady pressure seemed to ease away her worries. She closed her eyes in blissful appreciation as she kneeled at the edge of the tub. She soon lost track of time and absently in the back of mind she heard the faintest of thuds. She blinked her eyes, straightening beneath the shower. Was someone calling her name?

Turning off the shower, the steam clouding her vision, she reached for her towel, not paying attention. Her foot fell on the soap, and even as she pulled the pink towel from the shelf she started to fall forward, a small scream escaping her lips. She closed her eyes and waited for impact only to land on something soft, something that let out a muffled 'umph.' Timidly, Sakura opened one green eye only to find herself staring into two very familiar brown eyes and a quite red face. Not quite understanding, she blinked, a puzzled look on her face.

"Li-kun? When did Li-kun come into the bathroom?" she wondered aloud. Underneath her, Syaoran was close to exploding. He tried keeping his eyes closed but that didn't help at all. He just kept seeing what had flashed in front of him just seconds before. He tried opening them but all he saw was more of her exposed flesh. Didn't she realize that she was on top of him with nothing more than a towel between them? And that he could feel everything pressed against him?

He almost face faulted as she only continued to blink at him in confusion.

"Y-you're going to get a cold if you don't get dressed," he managed to stammer out finally. Realization finally dawned on her and her own face flushed with embarrassment. She jumped up, and thankfully for Syaoran had the sense to pull up the towel with her. He decided to simply lie on the floor a bit longer, considering it a safer alternative to trying to get up with his head spinning so much.

Not bothering to puzzle anymore on Syaoran's sudden appearance, Sakura ran to her room to change. Syaoran continued lying there, thankful for the steam in the room. He hadn't meant to burst in on her, but she hadn't answered his knocks on the front door. And then even after he had climbed in through her window, she hadn't answered his calls. In all honesty, he got worried, especially after last night's episode. When he had heard the shower he had been relieved but then she had screamed so he had just, well- reacted.

God, he was such an idiot. Now he was going to be even worse off. No more was it left just to his imagination, now he would have everything real and in life for him. He groaned out loud, wishing he could slap the images away. But this time, he had a feeling that it was going to take more than just a good slap to wake him up.

"Li-kun?" Sakura called nervously from the doorway. Syaoran glanced up from his sprawl on the floor, still not too inclined to get up. Thankfully, she was wearing a sweater and jeans- no revealing skirts or mid drifts. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied absently, still a little lost in his daze.

"Ano..." she continued, her nervousness growing, "why're you lying on the floor?"

"It's kind of comfortable lying here."

"Oh." She shuffled her feet, her hand playing with the door's handle. "I think I'll go make dinner, then."

She hesitated by the doorway, but he just waved her on. He waited until he could no longer hear her footsteps before pushing himself up. His head still spun and his stomach felt a little weak. When had his body turned into such a traitor? He picked himself up and leaned into the sink, splashing cold water unto his face. He glanced up into his reflection, peering into the eyes that had been playing tricks with him. Absently, he reached for a towel to dry his face.

Syaoran felt all the blood return as he breathed in the towel's scent. God, did she smell like this? He felt that same sick weak feeling flood his stomach and he suddenly longed to just lie on the floor's cool tiles again. If she agreed to his proposal, he was going to have to be more careful. He sighed heavily and replaced the towel. He couldn't believe he was willingly going to enter into such a situation- it was like begging for trouble.

He stepped into the hall, running a rough hand through his thick hair. From below, he could hear the sounds of Sakura moving through the kitchen: the gentle clang of pots and the subtle swish of vegetables and running water. Already he could smell the faintest aroma of some delicious edible.

Maybe his proposal would have some upsides to it, and a small grin tugged at his lips.

* * * * *

Sakura played around with her food, nudging one piece from side to side, not really eating anything. Syaoran frowned, noticing the fullness of her plate.

"You need to eat. You're already weak from last night," he said, gruffly. She started, a little surprised by his words and then winced. She had hoped he wouldn't notice, but she simply wasn't hungry. Not when there were so many things on her mind. And she still couldn't find Kero!

"Where is that fluff ball?" Syaoran asked, echoing her thoughts.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him since I left for school yesterday, and I can't find his aura anywhere."

Syaoran's frown deepened. Now she didn't even have that stuffed animal around. No way was he going to let her stay here alone.

"I don't think it's wise for you to stay here alone," he said abruptly. Sakura just shook her head, pasting on a smile.

"Thank you for worrying, Li-kun, but I'm fine. I don't mind being alone." She rose to pick up her plate but his hand stopped her.

He blushed at the slight contact and then continued, his eyes on the floor. "I don't mean like that. I don't think it's safe."

Sakura sat back down with a sigh. Her smile slipped off, and she began tugging at her hair. "Thank you, Li-kun, but I just can't do that to Otou-san or Touya. It was hard enough convincing them that I'd be fine on my own. If I let on that something was wrong, one or both of them would return. I don't want that."

"What about Daidouji-san? I'm sure you could stay with her for the time being-" She shook her head vigorously.

"That's even worse! If this new danger is so powerful that not even you can feel it, then..." She looked him straight in the eyes, her green orbs filling with tears. "Tomoyo-chan was already hurt too many times because of me. I don't want to do that again. Not to my friend."

Syaoran stared at her, a little surprised by the strength of her emotions. "Then there's only one choice left to you."

Sakura looked up, her tears forgotten. "Nani?"

"Move in with me."

* * * * *

Author's notes:

Okay yeah, a little overplayed, I know. I mean, how many fanfics are there where Sakura moves in with Syaoran and the romance blossoms? Yeah, yeah, but I still LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Sigh, I totally love writing these stories, the power, the manipulation, the ability to do whatever I want with the characters- I get a little on a writing trip, so be expecting the next chapter forthwith.