Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ A New Breeze Breaks ❯ A Lullaby and an Unusual Surprise ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer:

I don't own Card Captor Sakura.

Notes:

This chapter was mad fun to write. It's fairly light hearted, so the drama's been set aside for now. Just read and enjoy.

A New Breeze Breaks

carpetfibers

Chapter Seven: A Lullaby and an Unusual Surprise

Just into the last week of January, the fickle nature of winter retreated aside for a false spring. The air warmed enough for jackets to be tossed aside and a few hesitant flowers to peak their heads skyward. The combined cloudless skies and picturesque early blooming was enough to spark a sense of joy in Sakura's eyes. She had left early for once, wanting to skate to school and enjoy the morning. Two weeks worth of sunrises and sunsets had passed since that eventful trip to Chiyo.

She slowed, allowing herself to coast gently to a stop a few streets from the school. The questions and self interrogations she had put herself under since that time were gradually silencing. The feel of Kaikato's hands were but a faint thing. Fear at times trembled up on her, but only in the dead of night, when dreams reigned and worries painted ill fated pictures in her mind. But at those times, she remembered the person sleeping just beyond her wall, and the fears slipped away.

She stared up into the perfectly clear sky, the gentle blue hue calming her heart. To say that everything was all better would be grossly incorrect, but, she was healing. Just because something bad happened to her didn't mean that the world would stop, that people would quit living, or that trees would never bloom. And just as that followed, she wouldn't allow herself to do any of those things. She wouldn't stop living or moving or even blooming. She refused to allow herself to quit trusting in people, or in their good intentions.

Sakura smiled quietly, brushing back the bangs that fell from her loose braid. To reinforce this commitment of hers, she was going to find out something about the red haired student of her class with the strange eyes. Today, she was going to make a friend of Keiji Noriyori and prove to herself and her heart that she was stronger despite of Kaikato and his words. She was going to smile and laugh and love, even knowing that there were dangers in this world.

Dangers as bad as anything the world of magic might send her even.

She started skating again, enjoying the cool feel of the wind on her bare arms. Everyone had been so kind to her. Tomoyo had slept over for a few nights, when the nightmares had been the worst. Chiharu and Takashi brought her a picnic lunch at school. Rita gave her a blanket she had knit, and Naoko wrote a special article in the paper warning girls of sexual assault and measures they could take to protect themselves. And then there was Syaoran...

Her heart felt so calm when she thought of him. How could she have ever thought he was distant or cold? He was so gentle around her and kind. He was there every time some moment of insecurity hit her, ready with soothing words and a soft smile. She tried to remember if his smiles were that common from their early days. She remembered mostly his scowls and angry words, even though at times, he would be so kind. She tried to match up those memories with this warm yet still withdrawn young man. Maybe Syaoran had changed as well, as it seemed everyone else was.

Maybe this was her time for change. Maybe this was her time to grow, mature, and become an adult.

A low laugh escaped her lips as the school pulled into view. Sakura wasn't sure she really felt like becoming an adult quite yet. She never saw too many adults roller blading, and she wasn't about to give that up!

* * * *

Keiji wandered through the empty school halls, his hands shoved into his uniform pockets. His hand kept creeping up to touch the back of his head, looking for the now absent pony tail. He didn't have the slightest clue why that urge to chop off his hair took him, but now it was too late to retrieve the lost inches. They were probably sitting in some trash bag in the back of the barber shop. He sighed as he leaned against the grey stacked lockers. It was just some stupid little vanity, this hair of his.

The Elders had never said which side of his family the hair had been inherited from. But then again, it probably wouldn't have mattered, having never met his parents. He had a vague memory of two faceless people standing by a fireplace. The only really tangible thing he had from this forgotten childhood of his was a melody. Just two little strands of tune, but even to this day, he held onto them. The Elders would probably have advised forgetting the song, saying it would detract from his concentration and thus mission. But what the Elders didn't know couldn't be used against him, now could it?

Again, Keiji's hand sought out the missing pony tail, the involuntary motion already annoying him greatly. God, you'd think he'd get over it already.

"Noriyori-kun?" He turned around, his blue eyes meeting two sparkling green ones. "Ohayo!"

He inhaled sharply, the Card Mistress's sudden arrival sending his heart into full drive. "Ohayo," he muttered, clutching his uniform sleeve.

"You're here early, too," Sakura remarked casually and fell into step with the red haired boy. She studied him carefully; something looked different about him...Not his clothes, not the earring stud...and then it hit her. With a snap of her fingers, she turned and exclaimed.

"Your hair! Oh Noriyori-kun, you cut off your hair!"

Self consciously, he rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah..."

She cocked her head, eyeing him carefully, and increasing his embarrassment. "Demo, I like it. It makes you look..."

"More handsome?" Keiji switched into his other character: Keiji the smart ass flirt.

Sakura blushed and then shook her head.

"I'm hurt, Kinomoto-san. So you mean I'm ugly?" he held his hand to his heart as he mock grimaced.

She only shook her head more, obviously worried that he took her seriously. "No, no, I didn't mean that-"

"Ah, so you do think I'm handsome?" he grinned, sweeping out his hands knowingly.

Sakura blushed and tried again. "Stop that, Noriyori-kun," she scolded, "What I mean to say is that it makes you look more mature and less-"

"Not less gorgeous, right?" he interrupted.

She sighed and then winked. "How about less arrogant?" she teased and then laughed as Keiji pretended to faint at her words.

"The beautiful Sakura Kinomoto has crushed my pride and wounded my manhood! I must lie here and die as she tramples my heart with her vicious words," Keiji cried dramatically, and closed his eyes, pretending to have died.

As silence greeted his banter, he soon opened his eyes, a little worried. Sakura was staring ahead, as if frozen. He pulled himself up from the floor and waited while she gathered her thoughts.

Sakura had been laughing until Keiji called her beautiful. Surely she had put that behind her by now...but no, just the mere word was enough to bring down her spirits. Beautiful; the world was full of beautiful things, but she wasn't one of them. She couldn't be, for beautiful things were clean things, untouched things, and while she trusted Syaoran and her friends' kind words, she was no longer of that nature. Her mind was more aware now. She knew more now.

Beautiful...she was hardly beautiful. Not her...

"Kinomoto-san, are you alright?" Keiji asked softly, his mask dropped for now.

She shook herself from her thoughts and smiled lightly in return for his concern. "Hai, hai! Just thinking, that's all."

He eyed her carefully, pretending to believe her. He needed to be more careful in choosing his words around her. After all, after what happened to her-

Sakura clapped her hands suddenly, a shocked look on her face. "Oh no! I completely forgot!"

"Forgot what?" he asked, taking a step back. That was a quick change in moods...

"I forgot to wake up Sya-" and then she clamped a hand over her mouth. Only Tomoyo knew about her new housing arrangements. Syaoran would get angry if Keiji found out about her and him living together.

"Wake who?" Keiji eyed her suspiciously.

"Eh, wake up Sya-sya! Yeah, I forgot to wake up Sya-sya-chan, my-uh- parakeet!" Inwardly she groaned. She was no good at this lying thing. Her parakeet? Sheesh, could she be any more transparent?

"Your parakeet? You wake up your bird? I'd think it'd be the opposite." Keiji crossed his arms, secretly enjoying watching his classmate struggle to build up her lie. He knew all about her little change of address. After all, he was supposed to be watching her. He'd be a complete failure if he didn't even know she wasn't living at her house anymore.

"Ah, well, you know...Sya-sya-chan's not an ordinary bird. She sleeps a lot. All the time even!" Sakura skipped ahead and pulled open the class room doors. Immediately, she smiled and clasped her hands. Someone had put flowers on each desk during night!

"Look at that Noriyori-san!" she cried, her made up parakeet completely forgotten.

"Hn. Flowers..." He narrowed his pale eyes. Who would put flowers on desks? Had to be some kind of freak...

Sakura bounced over to her desk and picked up the sprig of cherry blossoms. How'd they know? On Tomoyo's desk laid violets, and on Syaoran's rested peonies. How on earth did this mystery person know their favorite flowers? She lifted the blossoms to her nose and sniffed deeply. It wasn't even really time for them to bloom...what a nice present!

"Noriyori-san, what are those?" Sakura looked at the flowerless branch that Keiji held in his hand. His eyes had grown wide at the sight of the sharp tipped leaves and brittle bark.

"It's a branch from a Joshua tree," he replied lightly. He kept his wonderment and shock inside his mind. It was impossible...no one had ever known about that time. No one, except for himself and that tree. So how had this person known? How was it possible?

Sakura sat down and watched her red haired classmate, curiosity in her eyes. She hadn't realized it before, but the weird feeling Keiji used to give her was gone. She no longer felt any strange vibes around him at all. All she felt was an easiness that she felt with all her friends. Her smile brightened; she was getting stronger already!

"Ano, Noriyori-san, you can call me Sakura-san if you like," she said, a light blush on her cheeks.

Keiji dropped the Joshua tree branch back on his desk and his blue eyes softened, a glint of the silver shining. "Thank you, Sakura-san. And please, no more Noriyori-san, it's just Keiji."

"Then ohayo, Keiji-kun!" she beamed at him, her hands still clutching the small sprig of blossoms.

"Ohayo to you, Sakura-san," he winked and then jumped into his seat, bowing dramatically.

"Oh wow, flowers! And it's lady's breath, my favorite!" a girl squealed and her friend echoed the sound. Keiji and Sakura's time alone was cut off as more students from class D arrived for school. Behind the first group of giggling girls, walked in Tomoyo, her hair held back neatly in two matching braids. She smiled as she met her friend's excited green eyes.

"Ohayo, Sakura-chan!" she waved, happy to see her friend so energetic. It felt like an eternity since she had seen her Sakura looking quite so herself. It wasn't until she reached her desk that she noticed the violets or the other flowers that adorned the desks.

"Someone put flowers on all the desks during the night; I got cherry blossoms!" Sakura handed Tomoyo the small sprig. Her lavender haired friend sat down slowly, as she picked up the bouquet of violets. Her favorite...

"Did you do this, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo whispered, a sly smile on her face. "Only you know how much I love violets."

Sakura shook her head, her braid flying. "No, it wasn't me. Although I wish I had thought of it. Flower would have loved the idea," she added wistfully.

"Then who?"the serenely smiling girl asked, still keeping her voice in a low whisper.

"I bet it's magic," Naoko walked up to her huddled friends, a small wad of pink carnations held in hand. "No one knows I love carnations, and it's completely out of season."

"Maybe someone had an exotic greenhouse?" Rika walked up as well. In her hands, she held a single white orchid, the lightest touch of red in the petals. "My grandmother used to send me an orchid every Christmas from her greenhouse. She grew everything in there, even chrysanthemums year round."

"I still bet it's magic," Naoko insisted, her eyes gleaming with wonder. She could see it now: a darkly cloaked man slipped into the classroom, a wand held tightly in hand. He stepped from desk to desk, touching each lightly with his wand. But he stopped when he came to one certain desk, a desk belonging to a bespeckled girl with beautiful brown eyes. Yes, she could see it perfectly!

"Is she imagining a story again?" Sakura asked Rika, her voice hushed. The mature girl nodded, her eyes kept on her dreamy friend in amusement.

"Naoko-chan's going to write a great story some day, I'm sure."

"Ohayo! Did you all get flowers, too?" Chiharu jumped up next to them, her hair loose for once. She kept batting it away from her eyes. She didn't know why she let Takashi convince her to let it out of her braids; it always got in the way.

"Mine were violets. Sakura-chan's cherry blossoms; Naoko-chan's carnations, and Rika-chan received an orchid," Tomoyo counted off, still sniffing at her violets.

Chiharu held up her bouquet of red and yellow tulips. "My onee-chan brought back tulips once when I was little from Holland. I haven't seen any since then. How did this person know?"

Naoko woke up from her dream to supply her theory. "Magic!"

Takashi popped up from behind Chiharu, a messy arrangement of daisies stuffed into his uniform pocket. "Magic first originated from-"

"We've already heard this one," Chiharu muttered angrily, before smashing her hand over his mouth. "Maybe you're finally running out of lies."

Takashi grinned from behind his girlfriend's hand mischievously. He had warned her not to do this anymore... Chiharu let out a yelp and let go, a bright red blush filling her face.

"I warned you, Chiharu," Takashi said calmly as Sakura stared at him blankly.

"What did you do to Chiharu-san?" she asked curiously.

"Eto, Sakura-chan, I don't think you want to know," Tomoyo replied for the boy.

The group broke up as Chiharu dragged her boyfriend away, probably for a scolding, and Rika guided the still theorizing Naoko to her seat. Keiji sat back, his mind still puzzling over the branch on his desk. Apparently everyone had received the flower, or in his case, plant that they loved best. Naoko probably didn't really realize how right she was.

"Where's Li-kun, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked. Sakura winced noticeably.

"Ano, I left early because I wanted to skate to school, but I forgot to wake him. He's probably running late. I hope he isn't angry."

"Oh, Sakura-chan, I don't think you should turn around then," Tomoyo intoned before turning around in her seat, her hidden camera secretly taping every moment. Mentally, she let out a chuckle.

Sakura winced again and then slowly turned around, an apology ready on her lips. Syaoran stood behind her, his uniform jacket hanging loosely from his shoulders. His shirt had obviously been buttoned up hastily: half the buttons still were undone. One of his shoes was untied, and on his face was an all out scowl.

Immediately, Sakura bowed her head, her braid twisting around her neck. "I'm so sorry, Syaoran! I completely forgot! Will you please forgive me!"

"Look at me," Syaoran ordered. Hesitantly, she lifted her eyes. He smiled lightly and knocked her gently on the head. "Here's your lunch. Don't forget it next time."

Sakura stared in amazement as he dropped her wrapped bento on her desk. He wasn't mad? Her eyes softened, and she reached out to straighten his jacket.

"Arigato, Syaoran. I'll make an extra special dinner tonight, alright?"

He blushed and nodded. Then his eyes fell on the peonies. "Wha-?"

"Oh yes, flowers- everyone got one! I got cherry blossoms. Who do you think did it?"

Syaoran studied the peonies, his amber eyes worried. "Did you feel anything when you came in the class this morning? Any unusual energy?"

Sakura shook her head, "No; do you think it might be by the same people who are draining the cards?"

He picked up the small yellow flowers, sniffing at them cautiously. Smelled alright, just like peonies should smell. Strange though, cherry blossoms are Sakura's favorite, and peonies are his- how did this person know this? This was far deeper than any normal magic, assuming of course that the flowers were from a magical source, this was something of ancient means. It meant that this person or persons could read trace energies, the auras people left behind on objects they touched. Whoever did this had to be strong indeed. Such an innocent thing, and it could hold much danger.

"I don't think you should keep those-" Syaoran's words were cut off by the substitute teacher's sudden entrance. The middle aged woman walked in slowly, a huge pile of notebooks cradled in her hands.

"Good morning, class," Matsuri-sensei sputtered, her focus on balancing the notebooks. Sakura smiled; she liked her new teacher. Matsuri-sensei was dressed as messily as ever, her blouse half tucked in her neutral brown skirt.

"Ohayo, sensei!" the class replied, everyone rising to bow. She waved them all down, finally plopping the notebooks down on her disorganized desk.

"I think we may need to reconsider your homework load, class. I don't think I'm strong enough to carry all these books everyday," Hitomi Matsuri joked as she brushed her short brown hair from her eyes. The class laughed comfortably.

"I have an important announcement though. Some of you may be unhappy to hear this, but unfortunately, Kaikato-sensei has decided to not return this year."

Few in the class, except for the members of the Kaikato Fan Club, seemed upset at all. In fact, more than a couple faces donned contented grins. Matsuri rubbed her forehead; what a strange reaction!

"However, I will be staying on in his place, so to celebrate my first ever permanent position, I would like to have a little get together at my house this Sunday. I have directions for all of you. This will be a chance for extra credit, of course. If you bring something you've learned to make in cooking class, I'll add points onto your worst test score."

Several girls squealed out in delight. To be invited over to a teacher's house was an honor, indeed! And to get extra credit for cooking- Matsuri-sensei was too nice!

"But now, I want to go over your notebooks from your field trip. I was impressed by how detailed some of you were, but I noticed several of your entries had repetitive mistakes in grammar. I realize that for several of you Japanese is not your native tongue, so as I call you up, I may assign you to a tutor. I don't mean this as an insult, just as help. Alright? Oh, and feel free to talk quietly among yourselves as I call you up." She beamed as the class smiled on encouragingly. Really, their new teacher was just too nice!

"Daidouji-san, please come up."

Tomoyo propped her camera in her desk carefully before walking up to her teacher.

Sakura took the moment to lean over. "What were you saying, Syaoran?"

"I don't think anyone should keep these flowers, especially you," he replied seriously.

She glanced up from her flowers, surprised. "Why?"

"Obviously these flowers are not natural- everyone received their favorites, and many of them are too rare. Someone may be using these flowers to attack you again."

"Demo, Syaoran, they're flowers!" She really didn't want to throw them away; it would still be a good six weeks before the trees bloomed.

"Promise me," Syaoran insisted.

"Okay," Sakura sighed, slipping the flowers into her desk. Stupid person using such pretty flowers and making Syaoran all suspicious. Stupid person for going after her Cards for that matter. Stupid, stupid, stupid person.

Syaoran bit back a smile as he watched Sakura continue to pout. Gomen, Sakura, but I have to protect you. Even if it is from flowers.

"Li-san," Matsuri called. He jerked out of his seat and tugged on his jacket; he had a feeling that it was his journal his teacher had been thinking of. His grammar was more than bad, it was pathetic. He still needed to use a dictionary just to read.

"Oh, and Kinomoto-san, could you come up as well?" Matsuri added, looking down at her papers.

Sakura nodded and followed Syaoran up to the desk. Their teacher smiled as she motioned for them to sit down.

"Sorry to call you both up, but I needed to ask Kinomoto-san something that concerned you Li-san. You are both friends, right?"

They both nodded, a light blush settling on Syaoran's cheeks. Matsuri bit back a chuckle. So that's how it was...she just loved high school. Young love was in the air! Shaking her head and returning to task, she continued. "Li-san, I saw in your school file that you're Chinese, so I understand your difficulties. I'd like to assign you to work with Kinomoto-san on your grammar. Is this alright by you, Kinomoto-san?"

"Hai, Sensei! I don't mind at all," Sakura smiled happily. Now she would have a chance to finally do something for Syaoran after all he had done for her. Even if it was only school work.

"Li-san, is this alright by you?" their teacher asked.

He just nodded, finding his hands terribly interesting all of a sudden. Why was he so nervous? He thought he was past all that. Stupid, traitorous body, always reacting.

"I also called you both up to discuss your journals," for the first time, Matsuri frowned. "As compared to some of the other groups, your entire group's journals were very disappointing. If it had only been one or two of you, I might not be so concerned, but all of you turned in poor work. I was wondering if you could give me some reason for this, because I'd like to give you a chance to make it up."

Sakura's smile slipped away. Syaoran frowned and then turned to glare at his teacher. The woman's eyes widened. What was that look for?

"Matsuri-sensei," Sakura began quietly. Syaoran took her hand into his protectively and shook his head.

"You don't have to do this," he said softly.

Matsuri looked back and forth between the two teens. She didn't like where this was going. It hadn't occurred to her that anything bad might have happened during that trip. But now that she thought about it, Kaikato had quit immediately after returning from Chiyo. And these two were from the group that supposedly got lost.

"Kinomoto-san, Li-san, never mind. You don't have to say anything."

Sakura looked up gratefully. "Thank you, sensei."

"I'll give your group a break. But I would like the six of you to work on something special for me. I haven't told the class yet, but the school's planning a spring festival. I have something in mind that the six of you could help me with." Matsuri felt her smile brighten as the girl's eyes lit up. She dismissed them and watched as Syaoran still held her hand even as they sat back in their seats. Young love...how she missed being in high school!

"Noriyori-san!" she called out happily. To be teaching though, was almost as good.

* * * *

Sakura closed her math book with a satisfied smile. Finally finished! Now, she would make herself and Syaoran dinner, extra special just as she promised. Rika had given her the recipe for a chicken with orange sauce. She knew that Syaoran liked duck with orange sauce, so maybe he'd like this. Now where to find it? Hurriedly, she started digging through her papers, looking for the small slip of paper. Nope, not there...

Dropping her books, she dragged up her school bag. Immediately, her eyes fell on the cherry blossom sprig. Oh no! She had forgotten; Syaoran would be mad if he found out. Nervously, she grabbed it and peaked her head out the door. Good, he wasn't in the living room. Tiptoeing to the kitchen, she let out a breath of relief once inside. Now, to throw them away. She hesitated though. What if he saw them in the trash- he would know that she had forgotten!

Not a good idea. What else then? Her green eyes scanned the kitchen, looking for some means of disposal. Disposal? Perfect!

Sakura hopped up to the sink and promptly started stuffing them into the garbage drain. Once all traces of the pink blossoms were gone, she flipped the switch, a gurgling sound meeting her ears immediately. Just to make doubly sure, she flipped it again. Satisfied, she reached under the stove to grab for a pan. Maybe she could just make the chicken without Rika's recipe. It couldn't be too hard, could it?

It could.

* * * *

Syaoran chewed carefully, the brittle feel of the chicken in his mouth made him want to gag. But he knew that Sakura was watching him, and so he pasted on an even smile, still chewing faithfully.

"It's good," he mumbled, his mouth full. Sakura smiled happily. She was worried that maybe she had cooked the meat too long. She didn't think the skin was supposed to be quite that brown, or the sauce quite that thick, but if Syaoran liked it then what did it matter?

Syaoran swallowed thickly, just noticing that Sakura wasn't eating. "Where's your plate?"

She shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"You should eat anyways," he insisted. This trend in her not eating wasn't a good thing. Already, she looked too thin.

"No, seriously, I'm not hungry. Besides, your lunch was huge! I could barely eat it all," Sakura bloated out her cheeks dramatically.

Syaoran placed his fork down carefully. Now he knew for sure something was up. Lunch had been unusually small today because he had burned half of it and had to toss it out. "Sakura," he said, a warning in his tone, "What's really going on?"

She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just not hungry."

"It doesn't have anything to do with that bastard does it?" he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving her face. Her smile dipped at the mere mention of Kaikato, but still she shook her head.

"I'm telling you the truth, Syaoran. I'm just not hungry. Now quit questioning me and finish your chicken. I worked hard on that." She tried to frown sternly but quickly smiled as his face paled. She had thought so!

Slipping out her hand quickly, she snagged a piece of the chicken and stuffed it into her mouth. Immediately, she covered her mouth and ran into the kitchen, spitting it out into the sink.

"That's horrible!" she gasped.

"It's not that bad," Syaoran tried to insist.

"No, it's horrible! Don't eat that, Syaoran, you'll get sick."

"I'll only stop if you promise to go get something to eat with me," Syaoran smirked sly. He would get her to eat some way or the other.

Sakura sighed, lifting her hands in defeat. "Fine, fine! Are you happy? Just let me go get changed..."

"Hurry up. It's getting late," he called after her, dropping his food, plate and all into the trash.

Minutes later, Sakura stepped out of her room, having changed into a long skirt and pale pink blouse. "Syaoran's so stubborn," she muttered to herself as she shrugged into a matching pink jacket.

He smirked, watching her grumble. All Li men were stubborn. It was a matter of pride.

"You're so slow, Kinomoto," he teased.

"Watch it, Li, or I'll start experimenting with recipes for breakfast, too" she teased back.

Both laughed and Syaoran locked the door behind them.

Few people walked the streets despite the pleasant evening. Although it was significantly cooler than it had been in daylight, the air still had a fresh lilt to it. Sakura breathed deeply, a content smile coming to her lips. Her mind went over the day's events as she walked in silence. Keiji really wasn't that bad of a guy...he obviously wanted to make her laugh. And she thought that behind the laughing and teasing, he probably hid a serious side. And then there were all those flowers. She frowned as she thought of her now destroyed flowers. Syaoran had probably over reacted.

"Are you wearing perfume?" Syaoran asked suddenly.

"Perfume?" she repeated. She never wore perfume; she didn't think she even owned a bottle. The stuff always made her sneeze. "No- why?"

Syaoran sniffed the air and turned to her equally puzzled. "Are you sure?"

She nodded and then repeated his gesture, sniffing for herself. She didn't smell anything, although...she sniffed again, this time in Syaoran's direction. Her eyes widened.

"Syaoran, I didn't know you wore cologne!" she said, surprised.

Syaoran blushed. "I don't!" he said gruffly.

Sakura tugged on his coat and sniffed the sleeve and then at his neck. "Ne, Syaoran, but you smell just like peonies. I mean it, you smell as if you've been drenched in them."

Syaoran pulled out of her grasp. "That's ridiculous. You're just smelling yourself. You're the one who smells like flowers. Is your soap scented?"

"No I'm not," she crossed her arms. "Mou, I told you, I don't use perfume and my soap's unscented. I'm allergic to the scented kind."

Syaoran paused in his steps, his eyes closed in thought. There had to be an explanation. She claimed he smelled like peonies, and strongly at that. But she smelled just like she came out of a cherry blossom bath. Now- and then it all made sense. The flowers from class!

"Why didn't I think of this sooner?" he said, smacking himself in the forehead.

"Huh?" Sakura took a step back. Why was Syaoran hitting himself? Now that she thought about it, he hit himself quite often. What a strange habit...

"Sakura, feel out your cards for me," he asked suddenly.

"O-okay," and she closed her eyes, finding her cards' familiar energies easily. She went through them carefully, her heart paining as she scanned over the powerless Freeze and Sweet. Toward the end of the deck, she stopped. Oh no...not another one!

"Oh Syaoran, Flower's been drained!" Syaoran nodded grimly.

"I thought so," he leaned over and sniffed at her hair. "The flowers from class were part of the attack, and now both you and I smell like we've been swimming in perfume."

Sakura groaned. "Will it wear off?"

Syaoran sniffed again, and then sneezed. "I hope so."

"Guess dinner's out then," she said, frowning. Was she completely unable to protect her cards?

"Hey," Syaoran took her hand and squeezed gently. "We'll just run in and out. Think of it as an adventure, alright?"

She squeezed back and nodded. Once again, Syaoran was trying to cheer her up. Well, for tonight, she'd forget about her worries and play along. It would be funny to see people's reactions. She giggled and then sniffed for herself.

"That scent is just so manly, Syaoran," she said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Shut up," but he smiled anyway. If she had to be attacked, and it seemed like they were going to continue, then it might as well be with over powering perfume. It was better than some of the alternatives. With the Flower card, they could have been suffocated under a pile of petals, or the apartment could have been filled with flowers sprouting out every which way. He shivered at the thought. Yes, it could have been much worse.

"You're too slow, Syaoran!" Sakura called from up ahead. She waved and then continued running, knowing he would catch up easily. And he did, grabbing for her hand.

It could have been much worse.

* * * *

Author's notes:

Another chapter done, and I'm starting on the next one immediately. How did you guys like Matsuri? She's fun; I'm totally basing her off of my best friend's sister. He's so lucky to have such an awesome sister! Seriously though, did you guys think that Sakura's dealing with her experience was a little too rushed? I mean, I don't want it to seem like it's all been forgotten, she's still pretty shaken up, but Sakura's strong, right?

On to my thanks:

Moezy-chan: thanks for your continued reviews! I love to see that my story is being followed so closely.

Zoe: thanks as well. As I said, I'm writing this story for me, but I love input, so thanks again.

Weissangel24: I certainly hope to keep things on a high caliber, or at least a decent one. I think I'm getting better at dialogue, which totally rocks, cause I suck. *insert grin* But yeah, Kaikato is removed, for now. He may come back later on, who knows?

Runic Knight: Keiji is definitely becoming a fave of mine. I like creating characters of my own. It makes interacting with them more fun. And there shall be more of Keiji and his mysterious mission. Who sent him? And why? Is he part of the reason why Sakura's cards' energy are being stolen away? All shall be shown in due time.

Sakura Song: Thanks so much! I'm fine though with the few reviews I've received already. It's quality, not quantity, right? And you guys definitely rock. I'm glad you think I'm sticking to character. That's by far the hardest to deal with when writing fanfics. Syaoran's particularly difficult as he's obviously matured. But I've brought out the protective, caring side of him. I keep referring back to the series, to catch certain quirks. His nervousness and flusteredness always disappeared when Sakura was in danger or needed comforting.

Serena B: I'm glad you think I'm growing as a writer. I would hope I would though- it'd be sad to stay at one level with no improvement. But I'm really glad it's noticeable. As usual, I totally appreciate your reviews. Sigh, it's great to have friends, isn't it?