Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Icy World ❯ Up the Mountain, To A New Road ( Chapter 7 )

AN: Here's another chapter.

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Up the Mountain, To A New Road

"And that's why we were on the bottom the stairs." Sakura concluded her explanation to her family. Touya still looked a little doubtful and Tomoyo had stars in her eyes.

"Sighs. So romantic. A gallant knight saving his princess from danger. I wish I could have a prince like that." She said this glaring poisonously at Eriol.

Everyone sweat-dropped at such fantasy with their queen and shouted, "Tomoyo!"

"Hehehe, sorry… I got a bit trailed off," Facing Syaoran, Tomoyo shouted, "You thief! How dare you hurt Sakura-chan! I ought to have your head cut off! But luckily I'm too kind to do so." Looking away, Syaoran's eyes landed on a picture of a woman. (Who is that? I don't see her around very much… but I see an awfully lots of portraits of her around here)

"Ahem, father, I suppose that we should start our way up to the mountain. We might not have much success climbing up at night. Suppose if there are ghost that are waiting for us up there." Touya said flashing a grin at Sakura. Face paled and beads of sweat ran down her face, "Waa, no ghost!" (I hope there isn't, I can't stand them…. They're so ghoulish and freaky)

"Sakura, are you sure you can go? You seem awfully pale. Are you sick? Maybe you shouldn't go." Fujitaka said in concern. "Don't worry, Otou-sama, Sakura is just worried about something, right Sakura?" Kaho covered Sakura from embarrassment. "Hn, just worried about some grouchy boy that would be going with me… that's all." Then she whispers a thank you to Kaho when her father wasn't looking.

Walking outside into the golden white rays of sunshine, their luggage was waiting for them. Takashi and Chiharu were coming out with four unicorns and some large blankets. Handing the reins to Sakura and Touya, Takashi began, "You know, unicorns are really…" BONK! Chiharu whacked him with the big blanket, and then told him to shut up. "Here, the blankets should keep the horses warm if you guys hit a snowstorm. There are some water and tea leaves in the pouches on the saddle." Chiharu said gently while smoothing the mane.

"Thanks Chiharu-chan, but why four mares? There are five of us, unless you got something up your sleeves." Sakura asked suspiciously. Smiling innocently, she told them to have a great time. Takashi helps Tomoyo onto one of the horses, while Syaoran is trying his best to get on. Whenever he tries to jump on, the mare always trots ahead or bucks Syaoran off. "Geez, is this unicorn crazy or all of them are like that?"

Everyone laughed but Sakura remained silent. Feeling a bit sorry for him, she got off her unicorn and went to hold the black unicorn's reins. Tomoyo and Kaho's eyes widened and then a smile plastered on their faces. Touya had a large frown on his face. Talking to the horse, she gave Syaoran the look, You-Better-Jump-On-Before-I-Leave. Giving a nod of gratitude, he jumped on without strength. Getting on to her own, Touya lead the way to the mountains.

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"Can we rest for a while, I think my horse is really worn out with all the walking in the steep and slippery snow. Plus my hands are killing me, I've been holding the reins for about 5 hours." Tomoyo complained. The sun on their left was sinking, leaving only thin bead rays of light for them to watch the road in front of them.

"I agree, I think our unicorn is slowing down because of carrying the both of us, Touya. I suppose that we should make camp here for the night. Once the night settles in, we could get lost up here." Kaho sided with Tomoyo. Looking at his wife, he sighed in defeat and stopped the unicorn near a small forest. Sakura and Syaoran followed.

Tomoyo and Kaho went to set the tents and food, while Touya and Syaoran went to get the firewood. Sakura laid down near the waterfall, looking up into the clouded sky. Closing her eyes, a memory flashed back to her.

^^^Holding onto her mother's hand, she pulled Nadeshiko into the rose garden. Up and down, left and right Sakura ran quickly to the center of the maze. Standing in front of her was a giant oak tree. Looking up, seeing no stars, little Sakura started to wail. Her mother bended in front of her and wiped her tears away.

"What's wrong Sakura? Did something scare you?" Worried green emeralds looked into the wet ones.

Shaking her head, "No, I wanted two swhow mommy bwatiful staws. Bwt Sakura wan't bewas no staws are hwre." Sniffing, she looked up and saw fireflies circling her and her mother. Jumping to reach for one with her chubby hands, she caught it. Suddenly, the firefly went ZAP and didn't glow anymore. Looking at the dead insect, she started crying again.

Nadeshiko shushed her and then gently swiped one of them. Slowly, she let it fly into Sakura's hands and told her not to squish it by cupping it softly. Snapping her slender fingers, a glass jar appeared in Nadeshiko's hands. "Sakura, leave a little hole in your grasp and then let it in the jar. Okay, sweetie?"

Nodding, she did as she was told. Inside the jar the firefly lit up the clear jar. Squealing in delight, Sakura tries again to capture another one. Nadeshiko placed the jar on the stone patterned ground and watched her daughter hopping merrily around the tree. A blissful smile curved on her rosebud lips and her finger traced a stone. Looking down, on her ring finger, she saw a crystal gem with a green diamond speck embed into the center of it.

By the time when Sakura was tired from running around, it was near midnight. Her little eyes wandered up into the night sky. Then in awe, she pulled her mother's sleeve and pointed up into the black sky. A thousand twinkling sparks hung above them as they looked for a special star. The Vega of Lyre, it over shined all the other stars. The melodic silence between the mother and daughter grew as they watched with endless thoughts.

Breaking the silence, Nadeshiko said, "Sakura, you see the Vega of Lyre? That's my favorite star. When I'm not going to be here, you can always find me up with the stars." A wistful expression came upon her face and then disappeared as a chubby hand fingered the ring on her finger.

"Mommy, what is this? It is so pretty. Can I see?" the curious of Sakura made her even sad. Gently sliding the ring off her finger, she held it up and it lit up in the night air. "Sakura, do you know what this really is? It's the Legendary Jewel. My family, the Amamiya, was one of them. Your father and his half is another important family, the Clow. They have the Golden Pendant. The Li has the Clan Sword. The Mizuki, they have the Spirit Bow. They used to hold the balance of the world. But after a horrible affair with the Atsuya, they had been separated and the balance became unequal…" Shaking her head, she had doubt that Sakura would want to know what happened.

"Mommy, does it mean that I would get to wear the pretty ring when I'm queen? If I'm queen, then what are you going to be? The older queen?" Sakura only paid attention to the ring, other than the explanation of the Great Legendary Sorcerers/Sorceress. Nadeshiko laughed heartily at her daughter's wild imaginations. But stopped when she heard a light snore. "Don't worry, mommy would always be your queen…" Sakura smiled and fell deeper into the peaceful sleep.^^^

"Mother…" Tears streamed down her face at the sight of her dead mother. Looking up, she scanned the sky for the Lyre constellation. Sparkling down on her like a polished diamond, Sakura smiled as she thought of her mother being the Vega.

Out of the blues, a rustling noise came behind her. Jumping up in fighting stance, she demanded, "Show yourself!" Coming out of the high bushes, her white unicorn came to her with caution. Sighing in relief, she walked to her mare and brought it over to the spring.

As her horse was drinking, she dipped her hands into the clear water. Splashing her face, droplets of water landed on her hair. Fingering her waist length hair, it reminded of Nadeshiko's long wavy dark violet hair. "Mother's hair always smelled like nadeshikos and the oak tree that's still in the backyard. I wonder if my hair would be like that?"

Her horse walked over to her, nuzzling her neck as if replying to her question. "Mistress, you would never be like your mother outside, but always on the inside. Everyone is different, but you and Nadeshiko-sama have many things in common…" Suddenly, a flash of light crossed past their faces. Releasing her staff, Sakura stood in front of her unicorn. "Come out and reveal yourself!" A slimy black creature jumped out of it's hiding place upon the trees. The blood red eyes glared at Sakura with venom, as if it wanted to erase her from her existence. With a short ivory dagger, it charged towards Sakura. Pushing her horse away, she blocked the attack with equal force. "Sword!"

With swift and accurate coordination, she sliced the red gem on top of its head. Screeching in agony, it gave a high piercing scream, calling for its allies. Ten more of the exact thing surrounded Sakura and her unicorn. Without regrets, she slapped her mare's flank, telling it to run. Shaking its silvery mane, it refused to leave. The demons, taking it as a distraction, sliced a shallow cut on Sakura's left arm. "Flight!" Wings grew onto her back, and then she motioned for her unicorn to follow.

Up in the air, she whispered softly yet deadly, "Go to shelter or go find Touya. I don't care which one. Just go and get help. Don't worry, I'm going to be okay." The white mare shook its head again, denying leaving its master. "Leave if you want me to be happy. I don't want to see you get hurt. NOW GO!" Slapping its flank once more, and it flew off, not looking back.

Unaware, the earthly demons were joining her in the sky. Narrowing her eyes, she saw them sprouting wings behind their spiny back. Gliding up to her like a bat, it slashed vigorously. "Why are you trying to kill me? Arg, what have I done to deserve this?!" Sakura exclaimed to the ugly beast. "You are the main part of our destruction to the world. We must kill you for your powerful blood to bring him back. We suffered because of your cursed mother and the that Li."

A new anger sparked deep inside her heart. "Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!" With rage, her body began to glow white. Her eyes were lifeless, as if another spirit had taken over her body. Her sword evolved into a long blade with a carving of a dragon near the tip. The handle was the shape of a crescent moon giving her a better grip. Charging at the demons with new power, Sakura stabbed one of them in front of her. Dieing instantly, the demon fell to ground and its body melted into nothing but black acid. The others, frightened by her new powers were trying to fly away. But only to be blocked by Sakura.

"Where do you think your going? Scared that you'll die?" With an evil grin, she slashed at their wings. But unknown to her position, her back was facing the waterfall. With force, two demons holding sword-like blades cut through her wings. Falling deep into the water, she called, "Wood!" Landing on soft earth instead of breaking her neck, she used one final attack. Forming a globe of white energy, she held it above her head and chanted:

Spirits of the Legend,

Lend me the strength

To fight till the end,

With this as my length

I granted you my body,

For this deadly battle.

Throwing the ball of energy at the demons (which formed into a circle in front of her), they all screamed and screeched at the blinding light. The light swallowed the whole group and shrunk into nothing. Exhausted from using so much energy, Sakura fainted with her `new sword' lying next to her.

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Seeing the unicorn flying to them with great speed, Kaho stood up quickly from her place at the fire. It landed with a great THUD and ran to Touya. Head logging into him, she whined noisily and prancing with power onto the ground. Standing up from his position of the ground, Touya saw desperate eyes looking at him. "What's wrong?" he asked patting the golden horn.

It turned its head towards the waterfall. With great luck, they saw a flash of white light just above the green treetops. Urgency ran through Touya and Kaho's body. Syaoran stood there dumbly looking into the light and Tomoyo was in trance. "Come on! Sakura's in trouble, we got to go help her!" Kaho said to Touya. Running near the area of the waterfall, they saw Sakura on the grass near the spring with a long sword next to her.

A look of shock was on Touya's face. Kaho went to check Sakura's pulse and found it beating really weak. "Don't worry, she's going to be okay. Just a little tired from something." Nodding, he carried his sister on his back with Kaho picking up the sword and following behind them. Reappearing at the camp, Tomoyo rushed up to her cousins. "Is Sakura-chan alright? Why is she like this? What happened to her?" The questions were unanswered because Touya just laid Sakura on the sleeping mat inside the tent and Kaho went to aid Sakura.

Tomoyo sat next to the blazing fire worrying. Her brows were scrunched and her forehead wrinkled. Syaoran sat on top a tree branch in deep thought. After what seems to be an eternity, Kaho walked out looking a bit pale. Stumbling her way to a tree for support, she closed her eyes. Feeling a bit dazed, her vision fogged making everything blurry. "Sakura is going to be okay… But she needs rest… Her energy level was awfully weak." Slumping down to the floor, drawing her knees to her chest, she buried her head into her hands.

^^^ "Mommy, where are you?" a coal red headed little girl asked. A lady with a brighter color hair as her daughter, came out from the Tsukimine temple. Her mother had come back to visit her after a long training of tranquility magic in Hokkaido. "I'm right here, Kaho. You ready for your lesson?" With great excitement, she smiled happily and then followed her mother to the forest near by.

With a skip in each step, little Kaho couldn't wait till she could be a mage like her mother. Halting to a stop behind her mother, her red eyes looked warily at the pond. It was empty, it looked as if was dead. No goldfish swimming, no lilies blooming, no fireflies nestling on the water. "Mommy, where are the fishes? The beautiful lilies? The fireflies?"

"Don't worry, my Kaho, their just hiding. Now, why don't we try to find them with our auras? Remember, keep calm and concentrate to slowly push your way through the objects." Taking a deep breath, her red aura flowed freely around the pond. At first, the fishes were only sticking their heads out to the surface. With fear, it sticks their heads back into their holes underwater. When Kaho tried to pull her aura back to her, it didn't budge. Bawling after a few more tries, she looked at her mother with sad red eyes. "Mommy, I can't get it back. It won't move. Could you show me how?"

"Of course. Kaho, it's very similar to releasing it. Just take in a deep breath and then control it carefully. Then it should be back inside you. One more thing, always hide your aura from the public. Even though our blood line is related to Clow Reed, you still have to take caution."

Sadly, her mother added, "I might not always be here for you Kaho. You have to learn to be strong on your own. Mother has to leave to a place where her friends are, and might never come back."

"Where are you going? Why do always have to leave me alone with dad? Do you not love me? Are you leaving because I'm a bad girl?"

Kaho's tears are threatening to fall out, her mother replied softly, "Of course I love you Kaho. You're the sweetest daughter a mom could ever imagine. But I have to fulfill my destiny and prove myself worthy to my loyal friends. If I don't ever come back, don't ever cry or worry just because your heart feels lonely. Mother would always be here for you, as a human or spirit.

"You would also inherit the Spirit Bow once your power has reached it's maximum. You would have to wield its greatness and carry on the faithful duty of the Mizuki's promise to Clow-sama. Do you understand?" Eyes downcast, Kaho nodded to her mother.

"For now, I need to transfer some of the spirits into you in order for you to hold the power of the bow. Use it only when necessary, you would need it on the Great Battle of the Balance. Now sit down and try to meditate."

Squeezing her eyes shut, she breathed heavily, but slowly. Feeling her mother placing her hands on her back, her muscles lessened from its tensed state. Her mother chanted some words and then a surge of magic flowed from her body into Kaho. After a tingle ran in her mind, her small body was refreshed and light. The clear blue red magic seeped into her veins and sparked new warmth in her heart. For about half of the night, they sat there unmoving, concentrating only on the magic.

Taking her hands away from her back, she panted heavily. She had given a bit too much magic to her. But to Kaho, it felt like nothing. Turning around, she looked at her mother. Pale skin and braided hair was around her. The moonlight shined on her mother over shinning her outer beauty. With a final smile, her mother's face dissolved from her memory. ^^^

Looking up from her sitting, she found out that she was no longer sitting on the soggy ground. Inside a comfortable tent, she saw her husband snoring quietly next to her. His black brown hair was covering his eyes. (So cute. He looks just like a little baby. Wonder how I even got here?) Kaho already knew the answer to her question. Touya carried her to the tent when she fell asleep after helping Sakura recover from her weak state of magic. Hearing the sparrows outside singing, she climbed quietly out of the blankets and into the clear morning.

Entering the teens' tent, she saw Tomoyo sleeping peacefully. Next to her, Syaoran's mat was rolled up and he was gone. "Where did that boy go? He could get lost during this time of year." Kaho whispered. Walking slowly to the corner of the tent, she saw Sakura tossing and turning. Bending down to her sister, Kaho felt her head was burning up and sweat was forming all over her face. Unexpected, a shadow formed behind her. Turning around, she saw Syaoran standing there with a handful of spice and herbs.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be asleep from being out of magic or something?" Syaoran narrowed his eyes, not really trusting the woman before him. "You know better than to say those things to me." With a smile, she pointed at the herbs. "You went to get those for Sakura, right?"

(Eh? How did she know?) "Uh…yeah." Came the response.

"Thank you Li-san, you're very kind. Did you know that she had a fever?"

"I kinda noticed that she was sweating and breathing deeply at night. She was also mumbling something about `the Legendary'."

"Oh…. Since you go the herbs, why don't you try to keep her cooled off for a while? I'll be outside fixing the medicine." Taking the handful of wild spice, she walked out of the tent without giving Syaoran the chance to answer.

Sighing in dismay, he sat down and watched Sakura murmuring about. (Hmm…so awkward, nursing someone that tried to kill me. But then again, I need to find the stone.)

"Then why not force her?" said a voice deep inside his mind. "You could also kill her afterwards."

Why should I listen to you? You're nothing but an annoying voice in my head.

"Chuckles. Are you afraid? Are you a big softy or what? I guess Meilin was right about you. You're a big chicken!" the silvery voice taunted.

(Get out of my head! Go to hell! Go bother someone else and leave me alone!) Syaoran knows that this was true, but hates to admit it. It would hurt his pride and honor as a king.

A sparkle caught his attention. Right next to Sakura was a sword. (No a blade. But it's too long. Arg, I give up. Forget it! Hmm…it has fine craftsmanship. But I never saw her using it when we battled. Maybe it's new...) Taking hold to the handle, he swung it up to shoulder level with a smooth motion. It felt like water to him, but when Syaoran tried to swing it into a forward charge, one hand holding the sword and the other on the handle, it was heavier than stone. Clumsily, he nearly dropped it onto the sleeping girl below him. (AN: Don't you DARE drop that on SAKURA!) (Whoops, I better be careful before it crushes her with her own sword.)

Groggily, Sakura blinked sleepily until she finally noticed where she was. Her eyes snapped open to her new surrounding, knowing that this wasn't the waterfall. Jumping up, she saw Syaoran in front of her holding HER sword. As she reached out to swipe back her possession, her knees gave away and then she fell. Hastily, Syaoran caught her in the nick of time before she hit solid ground. "You shouldn't be up, you know. You're sick." He said caringly.

Looking up with surprise, she asked weakly, "Why do you care? You wanted to kill me for killing your people, for nearly killing you. Don't you hate me? Or are you just pitying me because of my health?" Regaining her balance, Sakura stood up with shaky legs. Then her body gave away again, collapsing right into Syaoran's arms. Turning red, Syaoran's body went ridged. A giggle was heard behind them.

Tomoyo was recording every moment possible of Syaoran being kind to the sick Sakura. (How can I even miss such romantic scene? Hmm…I'll call it… Moment of truth between rivals.) "T-Tomoyo, when have you started recording?" Sakura uttered with shock.

"Since I heard you waking up."

"Oh no…."

"How much of it did you record?"

"About the whole thing. Why?" tilting her head to one side. (Wait; do I see gleams in her eyes? Okay, this is not good.)

Smiling sweetly at her cousin, she said, "Uh… just curious. That's all."

"Uh…Li-san, you could let go now." Sakura said. "Huh?" Lowering his eyes, he saw that he was still holding onto Sakura's hands. "Oh…Uh…sorry." Dropping Sakura back on the mat, he backed away. Leaving the girls alone, he went to find a nice high branch to sort out his thoughts.

AN: I'm gonna stop here, cuz it's longer than I thought it would be. But, hey there's gonna be more interesting stuff going on in the next chapter. Who, maybe more like what are these ugly looking demons? What's up with the history? Oh well, I technically, don't have a clue what I typed but who cares? About the past, Li's and Sakura's parents are somehow known. So is Kaho's. But the puzzle is for you to find out and me to know. Ja ne!