Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Disaster Brings Us Together ❯ Escape is Instinctual ( Chapter 3 )

Wow, how long has it been? I'm really sorry, but there's been… most of you have probably stopped reading this by now (I do it to, don't feel guilty), so I won't go into details and just know that I'm trying to be more dedicated! On with the fic!

Disaster Brings Us Together

Chpt. 3- Escape is Instinctual

Syaoran hadn't slept much that night, keeping a silent vigil beside Sakura's sleeping form instead. After seeing Tomoyo safely into the hands of her body-guards (that bastard was still at large, no sense in taking stupid chances) he'd returned to find the brown-haired girl curled into herself with fresh tears dotting her cheeks. It confused and worried him so he'd called out to her, testing to see if she was awake, but her form had remained silent.

At some point during that long night, he must have dozed off because he awoke to find himself spread across one of the couches in the living room. This unpredicted change in location was anything but pleasing and, seeing the only person who could be responsible for the chance, Syaoran wasted no time in showing his annoyance.

"How the hell did I get here?" he had demanded through gritted teeth, sending a poisoned glare at his cousin.

The older Li simply shrugged, taking a seat on the worn arm-chair opposite him. He had a steaming mug in his hand which he offered and eventually drank himself when it was refused. "You were asleep in a chair, Syaoran. You don't want back problems when you get older, do you? It would make beating you too easy…"

Logical, yes, but there was something about that statement… Latching onto the problem, he snapped out a vicious question. "And just what were you doing in that bedroom?"

"You're accusing me of what, exactly?" his cousin returned coldly, black eyes turning obsidian and sharp. "I didn't touch the girl. You left the door open, if you didn't remember. I saw you through the crack and drug you out so you could get a decent amount of sleep. Gods know you'll need it. But now I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have bothered."

Syaoran wasn't convinced immediately, but after a few moments of scrutinizing stares he gave in with a resigned sigh. "Of course, thank-you for that. I didn't mean to jump to conclusions, but it's difficult…"

He received an understanding smile for his efforts. "You're worried about her, it's understandable," Ping answered amiably, taking another sip from his cup. "You always get cranky when you're bothered by something."

And so, having mended his relationship with his cousin, Syaoran repositioned himself outside Sakura's door. For what must have been the millionth time that morning, he slid the door carefully open and peaked inside. The room was bright with the new day, sunlight shinning through the window and onto the bed in which the young card-mistress slept. She was in the same position she'd been in the last time he'd checked in on her, curled in on herself with the covers pulled safely over her head. Fighting down a sigh, he closed the door and went back to pacing the hall.

"Oi."

He glanced up in time to notice the orb-shaped object flying towards his face. Syaoran caught the bagel before it could do any real harm before looking curiously between it and his cousin.

Pin stood in the hall, arms crossed over his chest with a firm expression on his face and mug in hand. (That boy drank enough coffee for a small army, it was a wonder he could stay still at all). "Eat it," he instructed, tone leaving no room for argument.

"Not hungry," the younger of the two replied, hurling the pastry back down the hall only to frown, annoyed, when it came plummeting back seconds later.

"Don't be an idiot," he replied calmly. "You're no good to anyone if all you do is sit around and mope."

"I'm not moping! This is damn serious, Ping!"

He was beside Syaoran in seconds, giving a look that plainly stated he was not intimidated. When he spoke again, however, his tone held a gentler note. "I know that. And I know you're worried. But pacing endlessly is doing nothing for her. What she needs is rest and some time then she'll be good as new…"

Syaoran knew he was trying to be pacifying, but Ping was horrible at setting a person at ease. Like usual, his last comment only served to set of the Chinese warrior. "She is not fine!" He hurled to bagel at his cousin's head, feeling a small pang of contentment when he failed to catch it in time. "You have no idea what she's going through, so don't talk like you do!" Giving up his post outside her door, he shoved past the older boy and stormed into the kitchen. Ping followed him with a sigh.

"Look, don't you think you're over-reacting just a little…"

"Shut-up the hell up!!"

***********

Sleep had not come easy for the girl buried beneath her fortress of woolen blankets. She had drifted in an out of fitful dreams ever since her mid-night encounter with… Sakura shuddered, pressing down deeper into her warm safe-haven.

He was still in this house, she could feel his aura, and that fact shook her to her core. Never mind the fact that just days ago she had been subjected to the most dehumanizing crime in existence. Every part of her, body and mind, was still reeling to come to terms with what happened. She hurt all over; her arms, her stomach, and other places she didn't want to think about. The area above her eye was especially painful, giving her the impression that it would bruise, if it hadn't done so already. It was too much, she wanted nothing more than for all these thoughts and pain to leave her in peace…

The temptation to cry her eyes out was there, but she fought it down. She would not give up hope yet, she was stronger than that. Just because she had come face to face with the man that did this to her did not mean she would stop fighting. What would Syaoran say, after all, if he knew she had given up so easily?

Syaoran. His name brought a slight smile to her face, followed soon after by an enormous sense betrayal. He'd promised to protect her, hadn't he? And yet he'd offered his home to the very man who…

Sakura shook her head, banishing such evil thoughts. Syaoran wasn't to blame. He didn't realize his cousin was the one to… No, don't think about that anymore. None the less, it wasn't his fault so she shouldn't think ill of him. He was only trying to help her, after all.

Voices outside her bedroom door reached her ears. She recognized the first as Syaoran's comforting tenor tone and a wave of relief washed over her. The voice that replied, however, made her want to run until her legs would carry her no further then retch until she was exhausted. He was still here, she'd known that before, but hearing his voice set off the bells of panic in her head.

For the first time in forever, Syaoran's apartment was no longer safe.

The voice were retreating, Syaoran's sounding slightly angry. There was only one option available that would keep her from that hated man's sight, although it was a cowardly and contemptuous thing to do after all the help Syaoran had offered her. But she felt she had no choice and, moving slowly without any sound, she slipped from the warm covers and onto the carpeted floor.

She wore yesterday's clothes, having fallen asleep in them, and they were now wrinkled and creased with sleep. They were the least of her worries as she reached for the pendant underneath her shirt. A mummered incantation was enough to encourage the wand to expand to full size and, spinning it skillfully in a hand, she concentrated on calling for help.

"Fly card…" At her soft request, she was engulfed in light as delicate wings sprung from her back. Sakura walked to the window, flinging it open and flinching as the winter air brushed her skin. "Fly me home…"

And without another word, she lifted gently into the winter sky.

**********

Syaoran had made up his mind to ignore his cousin, if only to save them both from a useless fight. The older boy had eventually taken the hint, giving up on pestering him in favor of the televisions. He sat docilely in the living room now, remote in hand, as Syaoran leaned against the kitchen counter with a glass of water.

He was lost in thought when a nagging sensation began to build in the back of him mind. It took a few moments of trying to dismiss it before he realized exactly what he was feeling. Magic. Someone was working magic nearby. And the strange thing was it had Sakura's signature, he could tell her magic form any other because of the pink feeling her aura gave off, her unique signature that was interwoven with all her work. It felt like she was using a card, but how was that possible when she had been fast asleep only moments before…

The water was forgotten as he dashed from the room, not caring as the glass tipped and spilt all over the counter. Ping gave a startled cry at the noise, but he had no time to reply.

Pulling the door to his bedroom open, it took him mere seconds to take note of a few vital details. One, the bed was empty, no more sleeping Sakura, and the covers were kicked toward the foot. Two- Sakura was no where in the room. Three- the window was open, letting in the crisp December air.

Syaoran ran to the window and leaned out, scanning the cloudy sky desperately. There, almost too small to be seen, was a small speck surrounded by Sakura's aura.

"Damn," he muttered, watching her float lower and lower until she disappeared from sight entirely. "What is she thinking…"

One thing was for sure, he'd find out. Syaoran picked up the phone and dialed with vengeance.

************

"Fly card, return to your power confined." Sakura whispered, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as her feet touched down gently onto her snow-covered front step. The delicate wings vanished from her back in with a warm swirl of magic, materializing instead into a slim card resting in the palm of her hand. She shuffled around under the welcome mat before pulling out the key and pushing it into the lock with a slightly shaking grip. If she'd felt bad before, the feeling had multiplied tens times during her journey home. Using her magic had drained her already exhausted body, making her shoulders slump as the door finally gave way and she stumbled inside.

The house was cold and empty, sunlight shinning through the front window playing down the deserted hall and illuminating the suspiciously clean kitchen. Touya was away at college, had been for almost a year now, and she had to admit that the moment he'd packed his things and stepped out the door she'd missed him. He still visited on weekends, of course, but the three hour drive between here and there was not to be taken lightly.

So it had been her and her father for a while now. At the moment Mr. Kinomoto wasn't home either, having left the country a few days ago for a European dig. He'd planned to be gone for two days at the most, but an incredibly discovery had been made and he informed her of his plans to stay longer. Sakura wasn't cold hearted enough to ask him to return, even though she was lonely, and instead wished him the best of luck.

She made a small, unhappy noise in the back of her throat, taking extreme caution to lock and bolt the door behind her. Half of her was glad for her family's absence, it would mean she wouldn't need to explain her situation. Still, it would have been a comfortably safe feeling to curl up in her father's lap… Even Touya would do at the moment. She was tempted to pick up the phone and call him, but restrained herself. He had a huge workload, after all, and the last thing he needed was more stress.

"Kero-chan, I'm back." Her tone was anything but light, she could force a happy tone and knew her guardian would have picked up her distress regardless. Waiting a few minutes for him to extract himself from wherever he was hiding, she glanced around the house curiously. "Kero-chan?"

A slip of paper resting on the kitchen counter caught her attention and she walked over to examine it. It turned out to be a hastily scribbled message that was more or less illegible, mentioning a `chocolate-lover's convention' and asking her not to worry since he'd be back in a day or two. The not was signed with a small paw-print with Kero's cartoon-self-in-miniature scribbled hastily beside it.

So, she was alone.

I guess it's for the best… Sakura considered half-heartily, reasoning that she wouldn't need to explain the painful situation to anyone just yet. Still, the idea of being alone in her house didn't sit well with her. Even after locking all the windows and doors and drawing all the curtains she still didn't feel completely safe. To help ease her nerves, she retrieved a metal bat from the basement and her Clow book from upstairs. These objects helped marginally, but she was still prone to jump at even the most miniscule sound.

"Stop being a baby, Sakura," she scolded herself, fidgeting with the bat. Outside, a patch of melting snow hit the roof and she jumped a good foot and a half. "Relax, you're being so stupid." Maybe she should call Tomoyo to come keep her company… No, it wasn't fair to drag her into the mess, what if something were to happen to her? She would never forgive herself… Syaoran was out of the question, considering he was probably livid with her for leaving without a word. That and his cousin…

"God, don't think about that!" she yelled, her voice reverberating around the empty house and making her flinch back in surprise. Desperate to overcome her nerves, she made her way into the living room and sat stiffly in the arm chair, flipping on the television and turning absently through the channels. She settled on light-hearted children's anime, hoping the careless figures would help her forget her problems.

She was just beginning to relax when a sharp ringing caused every muscle in her body to contract painfully.

"Just the phone…" Sakura muttered, taking deep breathes and speaking aloud to comfort herself. "It's probably Syaoran-kun wondering where you are. Answer it or he'll be worried." But she couldn't bring herself to pick up the phone and confront the boy. There was no doubt in her mind that he would question her sudden flight, and he was often relentless in his search for answers. She wanted to tell him the truth, she really did, but how could she?

`Leaving without saying anything? Oh, I'm sorry Syaoran-kun but I was a little freaked out. It's understandable when you think about it, considering your cousin, whom you happen to be very close to, was the one who raped me. I know it was rude but I couldn't stand to be in the same house with him. Sorry again'.

She laughed darkly. No, she couldn't say that. Syaoran would kill him on the spot, literally.

"Why am I so concerned for that man, after what he did to me?" Sakura cried to the heavens, searching desperately for an answer. It wasn't that she had forgotten, those horrid images were still as vivid as ever and they still burned her horribly whenever they resurface. No, it was something else.

"It's not because I'm worried about him, not in the least," she told the table passionately. "It's Syaoran… When he introduced us, there was so much emotion in his tone. I know he's never been on excellent terms with his family, he didn't even speak about Meiling in such a way. Syao-kun said he was like a brother to him, and all he's ever had is a mother and sisters… I'm almost certain he looks up to him. How would he feel if he discovered his role model was capable of such a thing? He'd hurt him, badly, at the very least." Or at least she hoped he would, no matter how evil that thought made her feel. But there was still something in the back of her mind the was frightened by the fact that Syaoran might choose his cousin over her… "No, I can't tell him!"

-BRING- The phone rang for the fifth time and, with a small click, was transferred to the answering machine. "Hi, you've reached the Kinomoto residence!" Sakura's recorded voice chirped happily. "Me, my dad, or Touya can't get the phone right now, but if you leave a message we promise to call you back!"

"If the monster remember to check the messages, that is." Touya's voice put in snidely.

"Touy…!" Her indignant yell was cut off by a cheerful beeping tone, followed by a longer beep. The machine began to record.

"Sakura?" It was Syaoran, as she'd suspected, and he didn't sound too pleased. There was worry in his voice, true, but his tight tone all but covered it up. "Sakura, if you're sitting there listening to this message, you'd better pick up. I mean it!" He paused and then sighed, defeated, before continuing. "This is Syaoran, Sakura. Please call me when you get this message. I'm worried about you." There was click and the message ended, leaving on a flashing number one.

Sakura continued to stare at the small black box, a torrent of thoughts running through her mind. She didn't want to worry Syaoran, maybe she should call him back… No, that would be much worse than letting him worry in peace. She turned back to her t.v. show, trying to concentrate on the cheerful animation as a million dark thought rolled through her mind.

*****************

"Damn answering machine!" Syaoran cursed, slamming the phone back onto the receiver and causing a resounding crack. From the couch, Ping gave him a skeptical look.

The Chinese youth paced the floor impatiently, glaring daggers at the tile. For the past half hour he'd been calling Sakura's home, nonstop, but had gotten no reply. Either she wasn't home or she wasn't answering the phone. He hoped, desperately, that it was the second because God only knew what kind of trouble she could get into outside of locked doors with that bastard roaming the streets. That thought brought a flash of red to his vision and he reached for the phone again, praying this time he'd get an answer.

It rang before he could lift it, startling the young man out of his skin. For a few seconds he stared, flabbergasted, at the noisy object as if seeing it for the first time.

"Answer it, idiot," Ping called over the staged laughter of the television.

And he did just that, jerking the mouthpiece from the receiver and praying that he would hear Sakura's melodic voice floating over the line. No such luck.

"Xiao Lang, I've been trying to get a hold of you all morning." While the voice coming across the line was feminine, it wasn't soft or gentle. Instead it contained a cold bite, like steel, made more pronounced by the announcement blooming in the speaker's tone.

"Mother?"

The woman chuckled without humor, a dry and grating sound. "You sound surprised, my son," she observed. "Has your cousin found you?"

"Yes, Ping's here." Syaoran was annoyed and more than a little impatient. Every second he was on the line answering his mother's pointless questions was another second Sakura could be in harm's way.

"He's to stay with you until he finishes his task."

Ah, so that was her angle. That didn't bother him, Syaoran was used to taking orders from his mother and he'd shared his home with worse guests. Meiling, for example. In comparison to her, Ping was nothing. "Yes mother."

"Very good, I assume you were waiting for a phone call?" Again, she smirked knowingly.

"Good-bye, mother."

The line went dead and his shoulders sunk. Ping glanced up from the couch again. "Not her?"

"That was my mother," he answered, rubbing his forehead to sooth away the beginnings of headache. Syaoran liked to think he worked well under stress, but anything involving Sakura's wellbeing never failed to try his patience. "Looks like you'll be staying here until you finish whatever it is you came here to do."

"I hope you don't mind," Ping answered, looking a little embarrassed. "They told me room would be secured upon my arrival here, they never mentioned what type of boarding it would be."

He dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. "It's nothing, really." With that said, he reached for the phone and dialed the now familiar number.

-RING-

"Pick-up, Sakura."

-RING-

"What could you possibly be doing?"

-RING-

"Come on, don't be stubborn."

-RING-

"Xiao Lang, you're going to give yourself a hernia frowning like that."

-RING-

"Stupid girl, what do you think…"

"Hi, you've reached…"

"Damn it!" Again, the phone was slammed harshly onto the counter. "Why isn't she answering?"

Ping was watching him again, concern blossoming onto his face. "You don't think something happened, do you?" he wondered cautiously. "Maybe it had something to do with why she left so suddenly. Or maybe she felt like seeing her family."

"Her family's out of town," he answered

"Oh," he frowned, "So she's home alone. Do you really think that's safe, considering…"

That was enough to make-up Syaoran's mind. "I'm going to see her," he snapped suddenly, stomping towards the door and grabbing his coat from the rack. "I'll be back soon, make yourself at home."

Ping nodded appreciatively, waiting until a few seconds after the door was closed soundly before slipping off the couch and heading to the phone. The number he pressed was programmed in and he waited patiently as it rang and was picked up by a young woman.

"Li elders, please."

******************

Sakura was hating herself at the moment for being so stupid. Every light in her house was blaring and she had turned the radio, t.v., and stereo up fell-blast. The telephone, as well, had fallen victim to her wrath and was, at the moment, lying unplugged on the kitchen counter. She had been unable to ignore its constant ringing or Syaoran's increasingly frustrated messages that inevitably followed. Each time it rang over the din of the television, she would go stiff and remain that way for an unbelievably long period of time.

Unable to concentrate on the happy shows, even with the phone unplugged and the house brightly lit, she had retreated to her room and barricaded herself behind the solid wooden door.

That was where she lay now, prone form stretched across the bed. Her body was immobile, like that of a broken doll, as she was left alone with her torturous thoughts.

Why, oh why hadn't she fought back? That concept chased itself through her head mercilessly. She could have, she realized now, if she hadn't been so terrified. The cards were at her disposal, she could have used them to fight back if she hadn't been too dense to see it then. It really was true what everyone said about her, she was hopelessly clueless. They never mentioned it to her face, but she knew all her friends, including Tomoyo, thought it to be true. And it was true, because this time her naïveté had cost her horribly.

A sound, coming from outside her window, interrupted her thoughts and sent a freezing sensation down her spine. It could have been nothing more than the tree knocking against the window, but it also sounded suspiciously like a hand tapping. Please let it be nothing, dear Gods please…

But the noise continued, causing Sakura to roll her into a ball beneath her blankets. It was obvious, now, that the thing outside her window could only be alive. There was nothing she could do to make her visitor go away so she tried, instead, to take comfort in the fact that they couldn't get inside. That thought did very little to fend off the cold feeling filling her stomach and her hand inched out, reaching for the lamp that sat on the table beside the bed. "Please go away…"

Outside, the tapping developed into a more persistent pounding. Despite her trembling, Sakura vowed silently that she would not allow past events to be repeated, especially not within her own home. She drew the lamp from the table against her chest, clutching it at the ready.

"Sakura, I know you're in there. Open the window!"

Her heart skipped a beat, the fear that had been gripping her disappearing as relief washed through her veins. It was Syaoran outside her window, how could she not have realized it before? Now that she concentrated on finding it, she could feel the comforting magic she always associated with his aura.

She was out from under the covers in seconds, throwing open her blinds and peering through the glass. Syaoran was, indeed, balanced outside her window admits the snowdrifts. He must be cold, having been out there for at least five minutes with only a thin jacket to keep him warm. With new found haste, she opened the window and stepped back to let him inside.

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" he demanded immediately, glaring slightly. "I've been worried sick about you. And on that topic, what was the deal with your leaving this morning?"

So he had been worried. Well of course, that was obvious. She'd expected that reaction… but it didn't make her feel any better about herself. Sakura let her head drop as the carpet suddenly became incredibly interesting. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Syaoran-kun, and this morning… I just… I just felt like I needed to leave." That was as close to the truth as she could get.

There were tears on her face, she realized when she glanced up, only to have light reflect off her face. Horrified that she was, again, being so childish, Sakura hastily brought a hand to wipe them away before her visitor noticed. But the glimmer that had caught her attention caught his as well. Syaoran caught her hand, turning her so he could look fully into her face. "Sakura… you're crying…"

She shook her head, attempting to smile in hopes that it would off-set the water running down her face. Had she really been that scared? Yes, but the question was why?

Strong arms wrapped around her in a light embrace, Syaoran's uncertainty showing through his actions. "I'm here to listen."

That simple gesture was enough to make her heart sore, but it did nothing for the tears beginning to build-up behind her eyes. She hugged him back, clutching him all the tighter when a new wave of fear washed over her, bringing with it the tears she'd been holding back. Syaoran didn't flinch and his hands didn't waver as he continued to stroke her back comfortingly, muttering gently and trailing his fingers through her hair.

Her tears subsided after what seemed to be an eternity, leaving Sakura feeling horse and utterly exhausted. She gave a small sniffle, pulling from his embrace with a small smile and dropping into the desk-side chair. As her eyes met his, blood-shot and swollen, she couldn't help but give voice to the thoughts running through her head.

"What would you do if you knew…"

"Who did this to you?" he finished, anger glinting into his eyes as his hands firmed tight fist. Still, he was able to approach her, kneeling beside her seat. "They'd never hurt you again, I promise you that."

"That's not what I mean… what would you do… to them…"

Her voice trailed off and Syaoran's eyes danced off to the side, refusing to met hers. "That's not important, Sakura. You don't need to worry about that."

She nodded. "But what if you knew them… personally…"

Amber locked gazes with her so quickly it made her head spin and when he spoke again, the young man was unable to keep the growling anger from his tone. "Someone I know did this to you!" Already, he was compiling and mentally running through a list of suspects.

"No, I didn't say that!" she interrupted, panicked and slightly guiltily at lying. Well, she wasn't lying, exactly, just misleading him… still, she felt horrible.

"Why would ask that question if it wasn't!"

Her head dropped and she clenched her fists, refusing to meet his eyes or even acknowledge his presence beside her. "Never mind, forget I said anything," she mummered.

Syaoran's fist connected solidly with the desk, surprising both of them and making Sakura flinch away from the noise. The boy noticed her reaction with a twinge of remorse, but it was too late to contain the anger that had been building over the past few days. "Damn it, that is not an acceptable answer," he burst out, eyes burning. "What are you thinking! Are you trying to protect this person?"

"No!" The words floated out on her breath, reaching his ears as a desperate half-sigh. This is for you, don't you understand? She'd never hated anyone before Ping had come along and she wanted him dead. The question, though, was at what price? Did she want to risk losing Syaoran again, after she'd just rediscovered him as friend?

Her breath was becoming choppy and she felt tears begin to prick her eyes, but she vowed she would not cry any more. "It's not that… I just can't… please understand, I just can't…"

Slowly, the fire in his amber eyes calmed, transforming into a dull glow of concern. "That… I shouldn't have done that, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have got so out of control, but I'm concerned for you."

"I know, I appreciate it," she gave him a small smile and was suddenly overcome by the need to be alone that was as strong, if not stronger, than the fear of the very same thing that had encompassed her earlier. One more white lie wouldn't hurt, she considered, especially considering that if she didn't tell it he would refuse to leave her alone or force her back to his apartment where... That thought erased any doubts from her mind. "Touya-nii-chan will be back soon. He won't like it if you're here…"

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" he wondered dubiously.

"Yes, because of you. Thank-you for everything, Syaoran-kun."

Reluctance was etched into every line of his body as he made his way towards the still-opened window. "Touya… have you told him…"

She shook her head slowly, shuddering at the thought although her older brother was nowhere around. How would she explain this situation to her family? It would have to be done eventually, so how… Sakura shook her head, banishing the thought for the moment.

"That's what I thought, just…" he paused, mid sentence, with a hand stretched towards her in an almost beseeching manner. It dropped, though, and he turned his back on her to climb through the window. "If you need anything at all, call me."

"I know."

"You know, but will you do it?"

She nodded patiently. "Yes."

"Promise?" She wasn't sure if he was delaying his departure or just being through.

"Yes Syaoran-kun, I promise."

"Good." Balance precariously on the window sill with the afternoon sunlight reflecting off his hair and the snow around him, Syaoran gave her a gentle, endearing smile. "Stay safe, Sakura."

"Ja, Syaoran-kun."

His disappearance left her alone with her thoughts and guilt. The last thing she had wanted was to have to lie to him, after he had been so kind to her, but there was no other option. The thought of facing Ping again… it was enough to bring up horrible images with in turn nearly paralyzed her with fear.

Syaoran wouldn't understand, he couldn't. It was impossible to tell him and he would remain ignorant to the true nature of the situation and keep wondering why she avoided his dear cousin. The young girl sighed, it was all too much…

Parts of her were beginning to throb with a constant pain. It had been present before, ever since that day, but now it seemed to be elevating to new levels. Cautiously, Sakura roused herself from the chair and crept down the stairs to retrieve a container of aspirin from the cabinet. On the way, the spotted the phone laying unplugged on the counter and felt a strange longing come over her.

It couldn't hurt, she decided, and on a whim plugged the thing in and dialed a familiar number. "Tomoyo-chan? Yes, it's me. I'd like to talk, if you don't mind…"

-End. Chpt.3-

-TBC-