Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ A New Breeze Breaks ❯ A Slow Walk and a Few Questions ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer:

I don't own CCS.

A New Breeze Breaks

by: carpetfibers

Chapter Eleven: A Slow Walk and a Few Questions

The rush of a foreign language filled Sakura's ears. She could only recognize small bits and pieces of the conversations- snatches of words that she remembered from her Chinese language course at school. All about her were people steadily making their way to known destinations, their purposes planned and set. When she had come to Hong Kong four years earlier, her brother, Yukito, and Tomoyo had all been with her. She had companionship and something recognizable. But this time...

There was only Syaoran, and he seemed oblivious to her growing distress. He had only been growing more and more distant the closer the plane drew them to Hong Kong. And now that they were in the airport, heading to the baggage claim, and then eventually to a car that would take them to the expansive Li estates, he only seemed more remote than ever.

Sakura tugged loose her already disheveled pigtails and ran a hand through her hair. She knew she must look a mess. Syaoran however, looked completely put together- his shirt wasn't even wrinkled, and his hair appeared unusually controlled.

"Sakura- you missed your bag again!" Syaoran snapped.

"What?" she blinked and saw that for the second time she let her bag pass by. "Oh, sorry."

He sighed and shook his head. "Just pay attention."

She ducked her head and focused on the scrolling baggage claim. Why was it that she was always such an inconvenience? She couldn't even do something normal like grab her bag...

She blinked as the familiar pink and yellow suitcase flashed in front of her. Trying not to shove the man next to her, she grabbed for it, and the weight of it sent her tripping backwards. Two strong hands caught her before she fell, and she smiled at her benefactor appreciatively.

"Thank you, Syao-" she began but he cut her off curtly.

"Try to be more careful. I can't always be there to catch you."

He grabbed her bag from her hands and marched purposely toward the exits, not even glancing back to see if she was keeping up. Sakura sighed again and then smiled, determined. She was in Hong Kong again! She was going to find out who or what was attacking her- and everything will be alright, definitely.

Even if Syaoran was acting weird again. And even if he was being a little mean to her.

* * * *

"Syaoran?" Sakura asked softly, mindful of his rather enforced distance from where she sat. The car and driver he had hired were both of rather gargantuan proportions. The driver stood at least a good foot and a half taller than her, and had to be at least half as wide. His car mirrored him perfectly, with a backseat large enough to fit easily six people. Syaoran had rather pointedly sat her on one edge and himself on the other.

"Syaoran?" she repeated. This continued silence was getting her nervous. After all, she was staying with him at his family's home. If they saw him acting like this around her, they might think something was wrong.

He might be forced to come back!

"What?" he finally answered, his voice clipped and short.

"Um..." now that she had his attention, what did she want to ask? "How far is it to your house?"

"Twenty more minutes."

And the conversation was done.

Sakura sighed again and decided to simply enjoy the new scenery. Syaoran would snap out of his depression or whatever it was he was doing eventually.

Hopefully.

Syaoran made sure her eyes were elsewhere before he allowed himself to watch her. He knew she was confused by his manner, but it was better this way. If his mother saw how familiar they were with each other, she might suspect something, and that would only lead to tragedy. Well, tragedy for him. So for the next week, he'd act as he had when he first met her over five years ago.

He watched as her small hands wrung the edge of her jacket around her fingers. She had pulled her hair loose, and now the strong air conditioning conduits blew it gently from her face. A tiny tangle was caught by her small earrings, and he longed to tuck it behind her ear. It might be better if he just told her now, so that she wouldn't worry. She might even understand- or she might not.

He fought back the sigh that threatened to echo hers. Syaoran would have to watch himself. He couldn't be heard using her name, or standing too closely. He would need to treat her like he treated every other girl- coldly and with an aloof curtness. If it got really bad, he could just sneak into her room at night and watch her sleep. He'd get his full of her that way. It would be enough- and for just a week after all.

Just a week.

The driver glanced back and caught Syaoran watching the auburn haired girl. He winked carefully at the now red faced boy and slowly mouthed 'gig's up!'

Damn driver...Syaoran thought to himself. But he returned his attention to the silent girl next to him all the same.

He really would have to be careful, though.

* * * *

"Syaoran! It's even more beautiful in winter!" Sakura stared in awe at the large estate in front of her. The elegant columns and carefully trimmed gardens from her memory held no justice to the grounds in reality. She clapped her hands and twirled around to face the stony faced boy.

"You were really lucky to grow up with so much beauty, Syaoran..." she breathed, smiling expectantly.

He winced. He almost forgot about that one part.

"Don't use my name here," he ordered shortly. Sakura stopped mid twirl and stared blankly.

"Eh?"

"Don't use my name. It's real simple: don't use my name." He shoved her bag into her hands and started up the drive, not giving her a chance to question him.

She watched him blankly. Not use his name...She blinked back the water that had unexpectedly gathered in her eyes. Crying? Tears? That really was mean, Syaoran...

She shook her head and followed up behind him. It was Li now.

Syaoran walked through the front doors, not bothering to knock. It was his home after all. He stood in the open doorway, his eyes falling on the furniture and decorations that he had last seen almost two months earlier. A wave of nostalgia ran over him and he closed his eyes. Just that small amount of absence had been enough to weaken the bitterness of the memories that came from this house. But he knew it was more than just absence that was forging over those memories- it was that his heart was softening. It was hard to feel anger when happiness coated over your every emotion.

Sakura stopped behind him, her suitcase's wheels echoing loudly on the tiled floor. She winced at the abrasive sound and thought to apologize when a servant suddenly appeared. The older woman started visibly at the sight of her young master standing in the doorway, but she quickly calmed herself and approached him with a serious frown.

"Master Li? You are earlier than expected," she stated, moving to close the doors and block the intrusive cold.

"Show us to our rooms, Wan."

The maid nodded respectfully, her young master's tone obviously not bothering her.

"Please follow me."

Sakura listened, only having understood the word 'please.' She watched as Syaoran followed the older woman who she guessed was a servant. He didn't even bother to introduce her or translate anything. Oooh, she wasn't just hurt, she was getting a tad annoyed. He was the one who invited her here- the least he could do was show a little courtesy.

A little angry now, Sakura grabbed her suitcase and hurried to catch up. She almost ran into his back when he stopped suddenly. The maid- Wan- said something in Chinese, gesturing toward the closed door.

Syaoran answered back angrily, and she caught the word mother and room. Obviously, he was upset about something. The maid replied softly, and then Syaoran barked out some kind of order, because the maid immediately bowed and almost ran off.

He stood staring at the door, his face contorted in thinly veiled anger. He seemed to have forgotten completely about Sakura. He opened the door, threw in his suitcase, and continued to all but throw her in as well. He planted her beside a small creme colored love seat, and proceeded to march out the door, slamming it behind him. Her knees suddenly weak, she sat down and stared at her hands.

What had just happened to make Syaoran so angry?

* * * *

Syaoran couldn't believe the audacity of it, the cunning. But considering it was his mother doing the planning, could he have expected any different? He didn't know whether she meant this as some kind of slight or insult to Sakura, or some thinly veiled attempt to show that she already knew about the change in him. He still couldn't believe that she had the daring to go and put the both of them in one room- and then have the maid be the one to announce it. It was a blow not just to his rank in the family, but to his pride.

And he absolutely wouldn't have it- not from that woman.

He stormed down the hallway, following the many twists and turns, so very familiar, that would lead him to his mother's waiting room. He had never seen her bedroom, the one place where she let down her guards and defenses to sleep, only the waiting room. Syaoran never realized how much he hated to be denied such knowledge- to be relegated to a room like any other common guest or visitor. He was her son, damn it. He was the Chosen One, the future clan leader, and once again he was to be tossed aside and treated like- like- a nobody!

He paused just outside the double doors, his hand almost trembling on the handle. He had to calm himself before entering. Anger was never a useful tool against Yelan Li. She was far too calm and calculated for it to bother her. The only way to deal with her coldness was to return ice with ice. He would simply have to be the cooler of the two.

He knocked once to announce his entrance and opened the doors. As if she had been expecting him, Yelan stood poised by the window, her long black hair tied up in the traditional family manner. Her dress was formal as always, and there wasn't the slightest hint of surprise in her eyes at his entrance. She didn't greet him with affection or a gentle caress, just a quick glance and one word.

"Xiao lang."

Not a question, not even a statement, it was more of a challenge. Syaoran hated that she could unnerve him so easily, so quickly, yet still make him feel as weak and as undeserving as an insect.

"Why is it that there is only one room given to us?"

Straight to the point as ever, Yelan smiled dimly, the curve of her lips seeming unnatural to her son.

"You should know the answer to that, Xiao lang."

Damn cryptic answers. What she really wanted was for him to disclose something. Damn, frustrating woman...how he longed to actually be able to hate her, to disconnect himself from her entirely, so that her words and actions no longer affected him.

"I request a second room."

Yelan stepped away from the window, moving more into the light of the room. Even as it was, the shadows crawled over her white skin, drawing deep lines across a lineless face.

"I'm afraid that can't be."

Syaoran slowly unclenched his fists, not allowing his eyes to fall away from her gaze.

"It is showing a great deal of disrespect to my guest to do this."

Yelan frowned down at her son and reached out to straighten his collar. So sloppy in dress... He flinched visibly at her sudden touch, missing the flash of hurt that coursed through his mother's eyes. She turned back around, surprising Syaoran with having been the one to break the eye contact.

"The Elders requested it. There was a vision. That's all I've been told."

She didn't turn around as her son left the room without replying. Yelan could only close her eyes and silently pray that the visions were indeed true. She straightened and returned to the window, continuing her vigil. At least though, her son was home for this short while...

* * * *

Sakura stood up as Syaoran barged through the door abruptly. His lips were still turned in an angry frown and already his hand was reaching for the talisman under his shirt. He longed- no, he craved for the clarity the sword always gave him. The Elders, a vision, and no one thought to tell him of these things? He glanced at the one bed in the room and knew that his attempts at keeping himself at a distance from Sakura would all be in vain. Still silent, he walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him, not bothering to lock it.

Sakura blinked at the door for a moment, stared at the floor, and then tried desperately to not stomp her way through and give that boy a tongue lashing he wouldn't forget. She counted slowly to ten and then to twenty and finally by the time she reached thirty, the anger dissipated enough that she could start unpacking her suitcase. If Syaoran didn't feel she deserved an explanation or at least a few words of greeting, then she'd just pretend he wasn't here. Once unpacked, she would go enjoy a walk around the grounds.

Syaoran threw himself under the shower, turning the knob as far as it would go. The scorching water beat on his back and the steam enveloped him. He really was acting like a nonsensical fool- where was his strength of mind in his actions? First he treated Sakura so coldly, barely talking to her, and then he yelled at Wan, one of his family's most loyal servants. All because he was worried of what his mother would think of him. Ultimately, it always came down to that. He wondered if she had the slightest clue how much influence she had on him. It was strange that someone as independent as he would be so dependant on his mother's approval. He was almost sixteen years old, almost a man by the Clan's definition- he needed to break away from the apron strings and act for himself.

Maybe then, his mother, Yelan Li, would respect him.

His muscles loosened under the water's merciless pounding. It struck his back, the heat painful, yet wonderfully clarifying in its every touch. That was it- after he got out from this shower, he would apologize to Sakura, explain the situation- a blush came almost immediately at the thought of explaining the bed part of it-, and then he'd show her around the house. They could relax the rest of the day, have dinner in their room, and then after a good night's sleep, start in on the research.

That would be perfect. And if he worked it right, they should be able to avoid his mother and- his eyebrow twitched- his sisters.

Syaoran wrapped the towel around his waist, using a smaller one to dry his hair. He opened the bathroom door, the steam rushing out around him in waves. He could make out Sakura's thin frame standing in the middle of the room. Her eyes were wide with something that made his heart quicken- she was afraid! She clutched at a shirt in her hands, obviously caught in the middle of unpacking, and her lips were moving slowly, uttering silent words.

His body caught up with his eyes and he was by her side in seconds, calling out to her.

"Sakura! Snap out of it!" his voice came out unusually harsh, and he winced at the sound of it. Sakura blinked slowly, her hands dropping the shirt on the floor. All at once, she seemed to notice Syaoran's closeness, and she stepped away.

Syaoran ignored the hurt that stabbed through him and brought his hands to her shoulders. She shook her head and stepped out from his reach, a frown on her lips.

"Don't, Li-san."

He winced at the formal use of his name. Well, this is what he deserved after all. He couldn't expect anything less after treating her so badly all day.

"Listen, Sakura, there are some things I should tell-"

"Tell me later. I'm going on a walk." Sakura ignored the clothes that still needed unpacking; she didn't even notice Syaoran's half dressed state. She just walked to the door and stepped out, leaving Syaoran mentally beating himself up.

"Just perfect, Li. Way to go and be an asshole."

Part of him screamed that he should run after her and make her listen, while another, a slightly colder part of him, reminded him of his current wardrobe. Sense won out and Syaoran dug through his bag for a pair of pants and a sweatshirt.

* * * *

Sakura let her anger fade away as she walked through the lightly frosted Li gardens. Towering trees, trimmed and pruned for the perfect touches, lined her eyes' glance. She could easily imagine the myriad of colors that would grace the greenery come spring. How could any place so beautiful, so peaceful have ever produced such a moody and temperamental person as Syaoran Li? She folded her arms and snuggled more deeply into her coat. She really didn't understand him. Sometimes she'd think she was getting closer to that mystery of distrust and hurt that he carried with him all the time, but then he'd pull away or confuse her with those rare smiles of his.

Why couldn't he just make up his mind to be brooding and sullen or good natured and kind? Why be so complicated? She didn't think she was complicated. Tomoyo merely said that she was innocent, and maybe just a shade naive. The very thought resurrected her former teacher's words, and her frown increased. Perhaps she was the one acting strangely... obviously, there was something in her that drew that man to her. Maybe if she frowned a lot and made scary faces and never spoke except to say something mean, maybe then people like that man wouldn't want to hurt her.

She brushed away the thought and reached out to break a small branch off. She held it in her hands, letting her warmth melt the ice from its bark. It was ridiculous to think such things. She might be childish, but she wasn't a fool. Her father always said that if it felt right, then it must be right. And it felt wrong to frown unless she was sad, just as it felt only right to smile when she was happy, which was admittedly a good deal of the time. She had felt particularly happy these past two weeks.

Syaoran was different these past two weeks.

He was- she didn't know how to put it exactly, but- he made her feel better. Her heart wasn't heavy when he was near, and her thoughts would lighten when he'd take her hand. Even when he would glance at her and then turn away, she felt touched by that slight contact. And then there was that other feeling...that new one, that strange one. Sakura didn't know the right words for that sensation either, but-

She kind of liked it.

Sakura laughed aloud and twirled in a circle, her hands lightly brushing the neighboring foliage. She really hoped that Syaoran would hurry up and start acting nice again, because she really liked it when he smiled, and even more rarely, when he laughed. She stopped her twirling, her smile suddenly turned in a frown. But even when he laughed, there was something in it that made her heart hurt. The laughter always had a bitter end to it, a sad edge that twisted her up inside.

She turned and faced the nearest tree- a semi frozen eucalyptus. She beamed up at it, bowing low.

"And would you care for this dance, Sakura-san," she asked aloud in a purposely deep voice. She flipped around and curtsied, hiding her lips behind a gloved hand.

"I would be delighted, Tree-san."

She giggled, grabbed a branch in either hand, and pretended to bend and sway as if in some extensive waltz. Her laughter bubbled out as she let her deep thoughts fade away. Worries, complaints, confusion- who needed them? Not Sakura Kinomoto. Not this Card Mistress. No sir.

She stopped in the middle of dancing, abruptly dropping the branches, when someone tapped on her shoulder. Turning around, her smile dipped for a second as she recognized the serious frown of her moody roommate.

"I wanted to be alone, Syao- I mean, Li-san." She started to walk away but his hand stopped her.

"Wait. Please, Sakura, wait for a moment." She stopped and sighed, turning around to face him. Her green eyes waited, a little impatient for whatever new pronouncement the future clan leader had for her.

Syaoran cleared his throat nervously. He really wasn't that big on apologies. Now that he thought about it, he could probably count the number of times he had apologized on one hand. That is to people other than his mother. He scowled at the thought and then refocused. Sakura. Apology. Now.

"I'm sorry about this morning, and then at the airport and then here, leaving you in the room and not saying anything. And I'm sorry that I didn't bother translating and that-"

Sakura shook her head, a small bit of laughter escaping her lips. He really sounded like a little boy. "You're forgiven," she said, her smile full force.

Syaoran did a double take. That easily? "But aren't you angry?"

She shook her head. "I'm a little hurt, but the anger's gone. I wish that you had trusted me to simply say that you were nervous about coming back home. I would have understood."

His shoulders slumped forward. He knew he should have told her. "Yeah, I'm sor-"

"Okay! No more apologies, right?" she took his hands into hers and walked backwards so she could see his face while they spoke. "Now, tell me what made you so angry earlier."

Syaoran ducked his head and then nodded reluctantly. "I became a little annoyed-"

"Angry's the word, Syaoran!"

"Okay, okay, I became a little angry earlier when Wan showed us to the room because I thought my mother was trying to insult you."

She cocked her head, puzzlement in her green depths. "How?"

He fought back the blush and lost terribly, his face going scarlet with his explanation. "She put us in the same room, and Wan's wording insinuated that it appeared as if you and I, that is, that we're-"

"We're what?"

If it was anyone else but Sakura, Syaoran would have been positive that the girl was being coy. He'd just have to say it.

"That we're sleeping together."

"Sleeping together?" She still looked at him, puzzled. "But we have, at least three times, I think."

He almost fell. Again, if this was anyone else, but this was Sakura, and subtleties would never fly far in her field. He decided to simply move on.

"Anyway, I thought it to be an insult, so I confronted my mother about it. For some reason, a vision one of the Elders had requires that we share a room for the mean time."

Sakura stopped walking and he almost ran into her, trying as hard as he was not to look at her. She held up a finger, a bright smile on her face.

"I know! It must be about what's happening with the Cards!" she beamed proudly. "Maybe there's a chance that we're going to be attacked again, while here in Hong Kong, and it'll take place at night, so the Elders simply wanted to make sure you could protect me."

She dashed on ahead, repeating her revelation to the frosted trees and bushes. Syaoran only shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his somber lips. He doubted very highly that the Elders had dreamt anything having to do with the Cards. They had some kind of plan up their sleeves, and he would make sure to learn of it before the next day's sunset. But hey, if he was going to be forced to sleep with her, he might as well enjoy the luxury while it lasted.

* * * *

"Are you positive of this?" A booming voice called out angrily from the deeply shadowed room. A long semi circular table lined the roofless room held in eternal nightfall, hooded figures seated along it.

"I have only what I've observed, sir, but if you're asking whether I think it true, then my answer is yes." The reply came softly, but with confidence.

"This is unfortunate. The signs did not point to such an early completion." The worried tone echoed loudly.

"Sir, nothing has yet to happen to fully consummate the emotion. It is one sided, I am sure." For now, that is. But the solely illuminated individual kept that last part to himself. If they asked, then he would provide.

"And the girl? How does she fare?" Another voice called out, this one distinctly female.

The lone figure shifted his attention in the questioner's direction. "She has weakened, but she still remains strong magically and physically."

"No, I meant after the attack from her teacher- how is she?" There was genuine care in the voice now. An echo of mutually held concern followed behind her question.

The Observer allowed himself a small smile, a vision of the strong hearted girl rising before his eyes. "She struggled, but her heart is far too strong to be broken by such a thing. And as for the teacher- if he returns, you needn't worry my Lady, the Chosen One will surely deal with him."

Something in the Observer's tone struck a chord with another of the questioners, and this hooded figure stood up for his demand.

"Noriyori, can you continue your task as directed?"

Keiji ran a coarse hand through his hair, his frown steady but serious. "I've made my vows, sir. I stand committed to the cause. I can continue."

The hooded figure sat back down, but he raised his hand for yet another question. "Does she know who you are?"

The red haired descendant slowly shook his head, the oddest smile on his face. "The Card Mistress does not yet know."

The center figure stood up, his hands calling for an end of the questioning. "Noriyori, there are forces acting against our plans. The Li Clan has been non committal thus far, but their Chosen One knows nothing. It must remain so. He cannot know, he cannot find out, or the future may change. The stars are fickle things these nights... and her power lies there. Take care, and keep your heart a closed thing."

Keiji Noriyori bowed, knowing his dismissal at the last words. Always, these meetings ended with those final words: keep your heart a closed thing. The Council repeated those words like some kind of desperate mantra, as if they were afraid. He shut the non existent door mentally and quickly muttered the incantation to return him to his room in Tomoeda. A familiar rush of frigid air crossed over his body and when his silver eyes flew open, they met the sparse furnishings of his home.

He knew not to question the Council- they were the ones to question. He knew not to inquire further or show the slightest interest in their affairs, but, for the first time, he felt a tinge of distrust at their words. The Council cared for the Card Mistress greatly, that he knew. They had followed her every movement from early in her youth, long before she found the Book of Clow in her father's library. But now, Keiji felt as if there was some greater importance in the rising.

They seemed so concerned about the growing relationship between the Li Clan's Chosen One and the Card Mistress. Syaoran and Sakura- their signs hadn't foreseen his return to Tomoeda, nor had they seen his complete integration into her life. The purpose was to have her isolated completely. She was to be alone. But now he was there, and the stars were showing strange things, worrisome things.

There was too strong a magic at work here for them to understand, and Keiji found it a bit ironic that the great weavers of destiny should find themselves walking blindly. The Council had never before been in the shoes of the unknowing; the Council had always been the guides of fate and fortune for the magic community. But now.

He fought back the urge to laugh, and stood up, stretching his tired legs.

Keiji had never really thought the future could be a known thing, an unchangeable thing. The Council unfortunately made the premature decision that having learned the future's rules, they could then control it. Manipulations have a way of biting you in the back, though, and every day, their ideal future was slipping way into a vague, shadowed thing. This final test of the Card Mistress, her eventual discovery of the forces against her, and even the end of it all- once they had seen all of it so clearly. But then the Card Mistress began to dream; she dreamt dreams showing a different future from theirs and slowly it began to slip away from them. All turned dark when a second figure arrived on the scene, one who's fierce aura sprung brightly at any threat against the Card Mistress. Now the challenge was directed against them both.

The future was changing, and the Council was afraid of it. Desperately, terribly afraid.

But he was simply the Observer. And currently, this red haired Observer needed to fill his rather empty stomach.

* * * *

Author's Notes:

Another day, another chapter. Am I wonderful or what? You bet I am! Goodness though, today was lovely. No sarcasm here by the way, but it was drearily cold and plenty of drizzle. After my exam, I went and fed the pigeons in the Union. People looked at me like I was insane, but hey, I'm a romantic at heart and what's more romantic than feeding birds in the rain?