Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Sakura and Emerging Rivals ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Syaoran glanced over the daily horoscope in the morning paper and scoffed slightly. It gave an overly general warning about letting emotions run unchecked. Such comments were good for everyday life, and not something to personally go by. Particularly as that was a general reading for large groups of people. The one thing that was missed in doing general horoscopes was that the positions of the planets, moon and stars at the time of birth also played a factor. It determined which celestial bodies would strongly or weakly effect your daily life. For him the Sun had a lesser effect, Mars was fairly strong, while the Moon and a certain star ruled over everything.

That the star was in his horoscope had always confused Syaoran and others. It wasn't until Sakura had her horoscope read during her second visit to Hong Kong well over a year ago that he learned why. That same star dominated her life to an unbelievable degree, especially considering the prominence of Sun and Moon should have them as her ruling aspects. The star was obviously Sakura's magical link, whose mystical image now rests on the back of Sakura's cards. And with the star so strongly featured in his own horoscope, it made him wonder how much cosmic choice he had in being Sakura's boyfriend.

After a few weeks of nagging on Meiling's part, Syaoran now set his bedtime at a reasonable hour and got up in time to do his own horoscope readings that were much more attuned to him.

Syaoran moved to an open area in the living room and sat in the corner. He then began chanting and the floor began glowing with different colors, making it look like an enlarged version of his lazen board. He then frowned at the illusionary appearance of the planets, moon and stars that appeared in the air, trying to decipher their meaning.

Sakura's star was in a position that showed a prolonged challenge, which was why he was in Tomoeda. However, Mars took a strong aspect and while Venus wasn't a major symbol for him, that it was in retrograde made the hot-blooded nature of Mars even stronger. The Moon had also taken an interesting position.

"So what's today's verdict?" Meiling questioned, peering over the back of the couch.

"Rash anger will lead to greater troubles," Syaoran replied. While the paper had been right about emotions, he at least knew which one to watch out for.

Meiling hopped over the couch and sat in the middle of the open space. "Do mine."

Syaoran shrugged and chanted once more, despite the fact that he already didn't like the prospects. Mars and Venus were the dominant planets for her. He then sighed after he figured out her reading. "You shall pick up an unwanted admirer."

Meiling raised an eyebrow. "Unwanted? I'm getting to the point I might date just about anyone."

"You may change your mind on that before the day is done," Syaoran warned.

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Card Captors Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon

Chapter 3: Sakura and Emerging Rivals


Author's Warnings:

In accordance to movie rating system this series would be rated PG-13, and as for television would rate TV M for mature audience, but would be viewable with no edits save for some incidents of vulgar language. Due to subjective nature of the ratings, for FFnet this series has been labeled with R rating for those who have poor views of some of the subject matter contained within.

This series contains:
Adult situations.
Sexual situations withOUT detailed description of sex nor the naked human body.
Brief moments of violence, some cases involving people getting severely injured and possibly death.
Occasional use of vulgar language.
Japanese humor: which include bathroom jokes, panty fetish and shocking situations.
Depictions of criminal activity committed by fictional characters.
References of homosexuality.

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Tomoyo frowned at the clock. "It's almost time for class."

Meiling folded her arms. "If Kinomoto's late again, it's her own stupid fault."

"But Fukino-sensei said he'd give her detention for a week if she's not on time," Tomoyo fretted.

"She won't be able to join the cheerleader team that way, let alone make captain," Chiharu added.

Syaoran only half paid attention. He was looking outside, straining his senses to feel Sakura's approach, but she didn't appear to be anywhere near the school. He blinked as he finally felt her presence but it wasn't from the school gate, but in the air. "Ah, geez...," he groaned seeing a rather large white dove flying straight for his classroom.

"Something up?" Takashi questioned, seeing Syaoran open the window.

"Sakura," was Syaoran's simple reply.

Tomoyo moved next to him and looked down. "Where?" She then stared at where the Chinese boy pointed. "I didn't know peacocks could fly."

Syaoran fought the urge to collapse in shock.

Takeshi rubbed his chin. "Looks like a sparrowhawk to me."

"Nightingale," Meiling said simply.

"Pigeon," Chiharu added.

"Mallard duck," Rika commented.

Naoko blinked repeatedly. "Roc."

Chiharu looked at her strangely. "A flying rock?"

"Not a rock, a roc. A giant predatory bird that can pick up and eat elephants," Naoko corrected. It was rather frightening and yet exciting at the same time to see an enormous dark brown bird with over thirty meter wingspan flying straight at her.

"Did you know in South America, skeletons of giant birds have been found that were large enough to prey on large horses?" Takashi asked with a grin. "While those were believed extinct many millenium ago, some researchers wonder if cousins of those birds did exist a few thousand years ago in Europe to give rise to the myths of the Roc."

"True or false?" Chiharu groused.

"True," Meiling answered.

Naoko blinked in surprise, not expecting it to be true. Chiharu scowled darkly, knowing her husband had been using more true stories lately than his usual made-up wild tales.

Syaoran frowned. "Unless you want a headache in a moment, Yanagisawa, I suggest you close your eyes and think of a MUCH smaller bird, like a dove."

Naoko did as instructed and saw a turtledove finish the approach to the school. The bird land briefly at the open window before hopping inside.

Sakura was rather unnerved to do this so publicly, but her tardiness left little option. At least her friends knew of her magic and had swarmed around the window, obstructing the view of the rest of the class.

Naoko's eyes seemed to sparkle in wonder while Takashi and the others watched in rapt attention as the image of the bird faded away to reveal Sakura with angelic wings. Then the white feathers also disappeared, leaving the normal looking schoolgirl holding two cards.

Sakura smiled sheepishly. "Made it."

Syaoran shook his head. "Sakura, you really shouldn't use your magic like that."

Before any further comment could be made, the bell rang and Fukino entered the classroom. One girl stared at Sakura for a moment, wondering how the girl entered the classroom as she had watched the door, secretly hoping that she would be late.

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"Lunch time! Lunch time!" Sakura chirped as she pranced her way down the hall. She actually had gotten up early that morning, but was late because it was her turn to cook. She had spent extra time preparing lunch as she made an extra bento for Syaoran.

A faint smile appeared on Syaoran's face as he watched her skipping, lost in her own delightful world. He then flinched as he saw a rather tall and muscular boy come around the corner of the hall and right in front of Sakura. It was too late to call out in warning as the two collided.

"Hey!" the large boy cried out. He was knocked back a few steps and his box lunch fell from his hand, spilling its contents onto the floor.

Sakura emitted a squeak of pain as she landed on her ass, the pair of box lunches she had held bounced on the floor but stayed sealed thanks to its cloth wrapping.

"You stupid little cunt!" the boy growled, upset at his loss of food. He reared his clenched hand back and rocketed it forward. The prone girl squeezed her eyes shut in expectant pain from contact, but the boy's fist never made it.

Despite the boy being larger and looking stronger, Syaoran stopped the punch cold with his bare hand. The smaller Chinese boy wasn't done with just blocking the attack, he twisted the guy's arm sending him off balance and crashing headfirst into the wall.

The large boy howled in rage and lunged at Syaoran, but the only contact made was the smaller boy's lightning fast strikes against him. Pain flared through his body as he collapsed to the floor.

Syaoran almost acted on instinct as he felt a hand grasp his arm, but held himself in check as he realized that was a teacher who was restraining him.

"It's only Monday and you've already gotten in trouble twice, Satome," the teacher intoned at the fallen boy, and then glared at the boy in his grasp. "And you've only been here for a few weeks and already gotten into a fight. You better not make a habit of this, Li. You both got bathroom duty for the next week."

"Yes, sir," Syaoran acceded in a neutral tone. He guessed this was what his horoscope had tried to warn him about. He could really do without the bathroom duty, but he had acted out of anger and deserved this trouble for it.

"He started it!" Satome protested.

The teacher glanced down at Sakura, who was still sitting prone on the ground. "Somehow I doubt that. Besides, who started it means nothing, only who was fighting."

"No sense fighting it, bud," a guy only slightly taller than Syaoran commented as he helped Satome stand up.

Another boy grinned as he stared at the girls that had been with the Chinese boy and the klutz. He whispered, "We'll get 'payment' later."

Satome grunted as he nodded. He then swiped the lunch from his grinning friend and stomped off, quickly followed by the two other guys. The smiling boy did not raise protest at his stolen lunch, lost to his own perverted world.

Sakura blinked at how fast everything had happened and how quickly Syaoran had moved to her defense. It was a sweet gesture, but the ferociousness of his attacks was upsetting. She leapt to her feet and advanced on her boyfriend. "How can you loose control of yourself like that?! You could've really hurt him!"

Syaoran flinched at her words. "Sorry...." Bathroom duty now seemed to only to be the tip of the iceberg of his trouble.

Sakura huffed and grabbed her fallen bento lunches and stomped off.

The teacher shook his head at the Chinese boy. Perhaps he should leave the punishment to his girlfriend. He then smiled at Sakura's friends who were finishing cleaning up Satome's fallen meal from the floor.

-----------------------

Syaoran's stomach growled as he sat to the side of Sakura and her friends as they ate lunch. Now he knew why Meiling had only prepared one lunch. Unfortunately, his defense of his girlfriend had only served to upset her and now he was out of a lunch.

Meiling was tempted to share her meal with Syaoran, but decided it would be best not to. He had gone a little overboard in fighting that thug. Besides, it wouldn't do to have Sakura upset at her as well for condoning such behavior. She didn't want to add any more confusion to her own relationship with Syaoran as well.

Yamazaki gave a sympathetic smile. "I'd help, but I don't want to be in the doghouse either."

Chiharu let out a short laugh as she pulled out her husband's lunch.

Syaoran nodded. After growing up with his mother and four sisters, he knew very well that the best way to appease a girl was to not go against whatever 'punishment' she decreed. Not only would the person giving him food receive Sakura's anger, but it would work to delay her forgiving him as well.

Meiling tried to distract herself from Syaoran's plight by trying to worm her way into the other girl's conversations. Unfortunately, Daidouji and Kinomoto were being pressed for magical information by Yanagisawa and the 'Yamazaki couple' was best left alone. That left Sasaki, who was oddly glaring across the field.

The Chinese girl followed the gaze and saw Terada-sensei tending to a class of fourth graders on the neighboring elementary school grounds. She then noted there was one particular bouncy girl that was practically hugging the teacher's leg. Even from the distance, she recognized the look of desire in the little girl's eyes. But why would a fourth grader crushing on a teacher upset Sasaki considering she was dating an... older... man.

"And here I was thinking your boyfriend was around twenty, Sasaki," Meiling commented.

Rika flushed bright red. "Wha... What do you mean by THAT?!"

"You could be less obvious as to who your boyfriend is," Meiling retorted.

Syaoran started looking around trying to see who Sasaki's mysterious boyfriend was.

"Don't tell anyone," Rika whispered with unusual harshness.

"If he stays faithful to you, no problem. If what you're fearing happens, then I'll nail his ass to the wall for you," Meiling promised.

"It's nothing. She just has a crush. He wouldn't betray me," Rika asserted weakly, as if she didn't believe her own words.

Tomoyo had been listening in. "I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"I hope so." Rika's glare returned as the girl readjusted her shorts, quite possibly flashing herself at the teacher. He only turned away and blushed.

-----------------------

The end of classes for the day doesn't mean the end of the school day. For many students, there were cleaning duties and various club activities. They were the quickest to gather their things. For those students who had no place to go, they settled in to chat with friends or play games, much to the chagrin of those who were supposed to clean the classroom.

Syaoran didn't waste any time gathering his stuff and going to deal with his detention. It was better than dealing with the disapproving gazes of the 'firing squad,' Sakura's especially.

"Any particular reason you're upset at your 'shining knight?'" Naoko questioned. "I mean he was defending you."

Sakura pouted. "If Syaoran-kun had just protected me is one thing, but he took it too far."

"That creep was going to hurt you. Going overboard just shows how much he really cares," Naoko insisted.

"Naoko-chan, you don't understand. It's not that Syaoran-kun hurt that boy, it's that he lost control." Sakura sighed. "Syaoran-kun wasn't taught marital arts as a sport. You could go to kenpo classes for years and never learn a move specifically for killing."

Naoko stared in surprise along with Chiharu and Rika who had listened in.

"You're saying Li-kun could kill someone?" Rika questioned in morbid shock.

Meiling let out a short laugh. "Give me two minutes and _I_ would leave every person in this classroom dead. With Syaoran's attention to magic, I've managed to surpass him in martial arts."

Chiharu sweated nervously. "I'd say that's more than I wanted to know. It's bad enough knowing what Sakura-chan could do, and there's little chance she'd ever hurt anyone, let alone worse."

Meiling propped her head on her hands. "Kinomoto, you're just going to have to get used to Syaoran protecting you like that. You mean more to him than everything else in his life."

Sakura shook her head. "I guess he will. But why can't he be more open with his other emotions? He's been back for weeks and we haven't kissed once." The girl then blushed at her admission. She then glanced at the time. "Oh, look! I've got to get to cheerleading practice!" She grabbed her stuff and bolted out of the room.

Tomoyo smiled sadly, but not just at Sakura.

One after the other, the group went to their various activities. Tomoyo departed for choir, Rika to orchestra, the Yamazaki couple to the library to work on homework, and Meiling went off somewhere as well. That left Naoko behind in the classroom. They had all made plans to meet up after their clubs, leaving the bespectacled girl to join the 'go home club.'

Not seeing anything of particular interest, Naoko pulled out a preview copy of the first volume of her novella, 'Bloody Sword Detective,' to check it for errors. As she scanned past the first chapter a shout of surprise interrupted her. She blinked at the boy pointing at the book in her hands.

"How do you have THAT?!" Asaba howled, a tad overweight, but otherwise normal-looking boy. "That's not due out 'til next month!"

Naoko smirked. "I know the author."

Asaba growled, "I'm Noa-sama's biggest fan! I love her more than life! I have every chapter she wrote! If anyone should get her first volume, it should be me!"

Naoko had to fight the urge to laugh. That boy just professed his love for HER and didn't even know it. With amusement thick in her voice, she commented, "Oh, you should see some of the stuff she wrote before. That was absolute garbage!"

"You are undeserving of seeing Noa-sama's work! All she writes is gold!" Asaba insisted.

Naoko shook her head.

"Hey, 'Wolfy,' stop annoying Yanagisawa and get back to the game," Tsuda called out, a tall and lanky boy.

"Don't call me that! I'm 'Black Wolf!'" Asaba announced.

Naoko failed to completely stifle her laughter at the boy, considering 'Black Wolf' was the name placed on a vicious, but unknown, magic-using criminal in her story. She laughed more when he glared at her. Her interest peeked, she listened in as Asaba and his friends began playing some role-playing game. She began watching them intently as the game's setting was from her story.

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While the junior high uniforms were much more conservative in design than the ones from Tomoeda Elementary, they still made the girls look cute. However, there was something about a cheerleading outfit that did something to plunge the minds of boys into the gutter.

"If you keep staring at Meiling-chan's ass, I'll rip your eyes out," Chiharu whispered harshly, causing her secret husband to laugh sheepishly.

Syaoran was close enough to hear the girl, but he was too busy staring at a different cute little rear to register her words.

"So you're joining the cheerleading team as well, Meiling-chan?" Tomoyo questioned politely to start the conversation.

Meiling smiled devilishly. "Can't let Kinomoto be better than me in everything. I may just take team captain from her. Besides, boys like cheerleaders."

"Yeah. Too much," Chiharu groused.

Sakura shook her head. She couldn't understand why Meiling-chan would want to be better than her at something when there already were lots of things the girl was better at than she was. But it would be fun working with Meiling-chan outside of magical troubles. Though she was left to wonder why a fellow classmate seemed so upset at practice.

As the group entered into the forested area of the park, they stopped abruptly at the sight before them.

"I guess even Tomoeda has gangs," Meiling commented.

Syaoran scowled seeing that Satome thug he beat up at lunch was leading the pack of boys.

"What do you want?" Sakura questioned.

"Payment," Satome growled out.

Syaoran clenched his fists. "So you want to beat me up?"

"I said 'payment,' not 'revenge,' foreign trash," Satome retorted.

The boy to Satome's left stared at Meiling with a lecherous grin. "Yeah. We'll be taking our 'payment' from the girls. And I just LOVE Chinese."

Meiling scowled. "You're right, Syaoran. He's definitely unwanted."

"I think Li-kun should've hurt him more," Naoko voiced.

"Foreign trash, get lost and take Yamazaki and his 'little wife' with you, and I'll consider things even and not have your ass kicked. I'll be sure train your girl nicely," Satome decreed with an evil grin.

"What are we going to do?" Rika fidgeted nervously.

"Leave this to Li-kun and Meiling-chan," Tomoyo assured her.

Sakura grasped the key charm on her necklace. "Syaoran-kun, do as you must."

The Chinese boy nodded, but Meiling was already ahead of him. The boy who looked lecherously at her was already on the ground dying the dirt red from his bleeding nose. The intimidating appearance of the gang quickly proved to be a false air when faced with talented fighters. Meiling quickly showed she could take all of them by herself, but Satome was left for Syaoran to deal with.

Naoko tried to take in every aspect of the fight, but words failed her in how to describe the graceful yet pain-inflicting dance before her. She would like to say the Chinese pair weren't holding back, but if what she had been told earlier was true, this could've been bloodier and deadly.

Satome tried to land a single blow on the Chinese boy, but only came up with air and pain. Syaoran danced around the large teen, showing with disgusting ease at how much of a mismatch the battle was. In less than a minute Satome could barely stand, his arms and legs nearly useless in mind-numbing haze of pain. "If you ever hurt Sakura, your body will not be found," Syaoran threatened before knocking Satome unconscious.

"You're so beautiful! Marry me!"

Meiling blinked and looked down. The lech was still laying on the ground and was now looking up her skirt. She promptly introduced his face to her right foot, repeatedly.

Naoko grimaced in sympathy. "He's going to need a dentist."

Takashi laughed nervously. "And imagine if it was Kinomoto who had to do the fighting?"

"Let's not think of that," Chiharu returned. "I like having a park."

Sakura blushed. "I'm not THAT strong."

Those comments brought a round of disbelief.

Syaoran took out a set of paper seals and placed each one onto the foreheads of the fallen boys, giving them a suggestion to go home. It would be bad if they watched Sakura while she attempted whatever magical challenge Yanagisawa had prepared to help 'train' her. Though the boy knew it had more to do with Yanagisawa getting to see real magic and Daidouji to tape Sakura in action than actual training. That accomplished, he growled out, "Let's take care of that 'test.'"

Sakura nodded as she proceeded to lead the group deeper into the wooded area, a frown frozen on her face. "Syaoran-kun, you didn't really mean what you said to that boy, did you?"

Li slouched. "Sakura.... If anyone ever hurts you the way he threatened... I... I probably would. You mean everything to me."

Sakura huffed. "I'd like you to express your feelings in other ways."

Syaoran blinked. "Ah, what do you mean?"

"I think it should be obvious," Sakura returned.

Confusion did not leave Syaoran's face.

"Naoko-chan," Sakura called out simply, holding out her hand.

"You're forgetting something," Tomoyo interrupted.

Sakura slouched at the large dress box her best friend was holding out, kind of wishing Tomoyo had forgotten.

"I don't get enough opportunities to make these anymore," Tomoyo insisted.

"Keep the boys here," Sakura growled out.

Syaoran pouted wondering why his girlfriend was so upset, suspecting there was more to her sour mood.

It was only a moment before Sakura returned with depended scowl. Pink and lime green in various patterns, puffy shorts and bells, the magical girl looked like a cute, but irate, court jester. She held out her hand toward Naoko once again.

"It won't help you being upset to solve my problem," Naoko informed, handing over a sealed envelope.

Sakura made no reply. "O Key which hides the power of the stars, reveal thy true form before me. I, Sakura, command thee under contract. RELEASE! Make what is written inside this envelope reality, CREATE!"

Immediately a box appeared around Naoko. But that did not concern the magical girl as much as what hovered above it. Crackling with an aura of fire was a demonic beast over four meters tall. With a voice that sounded like the hollow depth of a grave, it growled out, "You have ten minutes to defeat me."

Sakura immediately tossed a card into the air. "Sword!" With a flourish move, she tried to slice apart both demon and box, but neither showed any ill effect. The young teen found herself tackled to the ground by Syaoran as he knocked her out of the way of a fireball launched by the demon.

"Syaoran-kun?" Sakura questioned.

"Something doesn't feel right with this," Syaoran told her.

"This isn't Naoko-chan's test! She's in danger!" Chiharu called out, her ear pressed against the box.

Sakura closed her eyes and willed Create back into a card, but failed. Though it didn't help her to concentrate with Syaoran pulling her out of the way of more attacks.

"Defeat me if you wish your friend to live," the demon intoned cruelly.

Sakura glared at the evil creature. "Freeze!" A giant fish of ice materialized in front of the girl and slammed headfirst into the demon, who merely grunted as his aura only diminished in it's intensity for a few seconds.

"The spiked ceiling is getting lower," Chiharu yelled out. "She doesn't have ten minutes!"

"What?!" Sakura cried out.

"Your friend had two minutes when we started. And you'll lose another friend every two minutes after that," the demon informed with laughter.

Tomoyo frowned. Not counting Sakura, there were seven of them. At two minutes apiece, it should take fourteen minutes to trap each one of them, but the demon said ten minutes. Two of them were not in danger. But why would two of them be excluded? Would it just be the girls at risk, or were Li-kun and Meiling-chan the ones that were safe?

"Everyone back off," Sakura ordered. "It's about to get REALLY cold."

The demon chuckled harshly. "No amount of cold could stop me."

Syaoran pushed the others away noticing that Sakura's wand was transforming. It grew longer, the wings tripled in size and were now attached to the base of a multi-faceted star.

Sakura glared through the demon. "I won't let you hurt my friends. Windy! Watery! Storm! Snow! Freeze!"

In what had been a quiet clearing before their arrival was now a raging blizzard. The witnesses standing meters away moved further back as the temperature plunged several degrees Celsius around them. Chilling winds licked at them and they didn't even want to image what it was like for the target of this fierce storm.

As quickly as the ice storm began, it ended. Encased in ice was the demonic form and part of the box. Sakura called forth her sword once more and shattered the ice before her, taking the evil being and one side of the box with it.

Naoko stumbled out, shivering with blue lips.

"Fiery, warm Naoko-chan up! Gently!" Sakura casted.

Meiling folded her arms. "Overkill much?"

"Naoko-chan was in danger! I couldn't let her die," Sakura returned.

"I seriously doubted Yanagisawa was ever in danger," Meiling retorted. "She was a distraction. YOU are the target, remember?"

Sakura pouted. "Who's to say the one after me won't hurt my friends? Naoko-chan and everyone was there at the battle with the dragon, and she could've been hurt or worse there too."

Meiling scowled. "I seriously doubt that."

"Sakura, the envelope with the challenge!" Syaoran called out.

"Return to me, Create!" Sakura intoned. The card returned to her hand, but the envelope that contained the challenge Naoko-chan had given to her exploded into flames.

Syaoran growled. "Damn it. We need proof."

"So, you have a suspect," Tomoyo observed.

"No, we don't," Meiling replied harshly.

"Yanagisawa, the next time you challenge Sakura, make sure it's YOUR challenge," Syaoran ordered.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Naoko replied, rubbing her hands near the slightly irritated looking fiery efreet. "I don't want to die until I finish writing my books."

Fiery began zapping blocks of remaining ice to have something more to do than being someone's personal fire.

With the excitement over, the group slowly disbanded after assurance from Naoko that she would be all right.

Tomoyo walked a fair distance alongside Sakura, who was wearing her school uniform once again and was noticeably 'not talking' to Syaoran. The longhaired girl placed her finger to her chin. "Sakura-chan, I think you understand Li-kun more than you want to admit."

Sakura blinked. "What do you mean by that?"

"Would you act any different if someone hurt Li-kun?" Tomoyo questioned.

Sakura pouted. "I'd be... upset, but I could never kill someone."

"You were certainly intense enough against that demon," Tomoyo returned.

"Yeah, but I knew it wasn't real. I couldn't do that against anything alive," Sakura insisted.

Tomoyo nodded. "But Sakura-chan, can you really blame Li-kun for wanting to protect you? Even if it's THAT intense?"

"Not really." Sakura kicked a small rock. "I know he cares about me. But can't he express it some other way than through magic or beating someone up? I mean, he hasn't kissed me since he came back or asked me on a date or anything."

"AH! You want some _personal_ time with Li-kun," Tomoyo figured.

"Yeah...." Sakura sighed with longing.

"You do realize being upset at him isn't going to help you with that situation," Tomoyo observed.

Sakura huffed.

-----------------------

Love motels dominated the commercial districts of Japan, allowing for people to meet in privacy. Many of these places were designed so that as long as caution was used at entering, it would be near impossible to tell who was meeting whom. For a young student and a teacher, love motels were the only place that was truly safe for them to meet.

Yoshiyuki entered the rented room and found a young teen waiting for him. The girl was hugging her knees and barely registered his presence. "Something wrong?" he questioned.

Rika gave the young teacher a side-glance. "There was another magical attack today. Naoko-chan's been setting up little challenges for Sakura-chan to train against, only it got replaced by something much worse. Naoko-chan nearly got killed by it."

Yoshiyuki frowned. "I'd like to see some magic sometime soon."

"That's a wish you may just regret getting," Rika returned.

"If you say so." Yoshiyuki sat down on the bed. He soon found the girl's arms wrapped around him as she snaked her way in front of him and kissed him. Hers was a passion that both tantalized and scared him. Pieces of their clothes quickly began to fall to the ground. While her actions were beyond enticing, it was much too fast and far too soon. "Rika-chan, slow down."

"Why should we?" Rika retorted, knowing what he meant as this was an old argument. "We're long past the point of no return."

Yoshiyuki frowned. "I know that all too well. But you also know how I feel about this."

"Am I not attractive enough anymore?" Rika demanded.

Yoshiyuki stared at her in shock. "Why would you EVER think that? Every day you grow more beautiful."

"But soon I won't be growing much more," Rika insinuated.

"You noticed Hayabusa, didn't you?" Yoshiyuki figured.

"That's the name of that... girl," Rika hissed.

Yoshiyuki frowned. "Rika-chan, I know she has a crush on me... and is excessively forward, but she's not you. I love you. I asked you to marry me, and I still mean it. You mean so much to me that I've risked everything for you, and you alone."

"Then take the ultimate risk," Rika demanded.

"Not until we're married," Yoshiyuki replied firmly. "I don't want what we have to be about sex."

"I don't want that either, but I want YOU," Rika insisted. "I need to feel your love."

Yoshiyuki kissed the girl's forehead. "There are other ways to feel love."

Rika wrapped her hands around him. "I know that, but I want to feel complete with you."

"Rika-chan, I feel complete just holding you," Yoshiyuki replied tenderly.

"Make me feel loved," Rika pleaded.

Yoshiyuki laid the girl down onto the bed. "I'll do my best, but...."

Rika placed her finger on his lips. "No more words."

Soon the girl was made bare before her beloved, his fingers and mouth upon her body. Despite being enraptured with pleasure, her virtue remained mostly intact.

-----------------------

"What are you doing here?" Touya growled, entering his father's living room.

Syaoran fidgeted as he sat on the couch. "I could say the same about you."

"This is my family's house. I have every right to be here," Touya returned.

"I'm, ah, taking Sakura on a date," Syaoran answered.

Touya glared. "On a school night?"

"We don't have a lot of homework, and well...," Syaoran trailed off.

"You made Sakura upset," Touya finished angrily.

"Kind of, but I'm still not sure how or why. I was protecting her," Syaoran explained.

Touya glanced toward Sakura's room. For some reason he felt he should be more upset at her than the brat, but he'd rather target his big brother frustrations at the heart thief. "If you ever hurt Sakura, they won't find your body."

"Not you too." Sakura glared at her brother. "Syaoran-kun said the same thing."

Syaoran was relieved to note that despite his girlfriend's momentary scowl, she seemed happier now than she did before. The approval in the young man's eyes set the teen's mind a bit at ease. He still didn't know why Daidouji called him up and told him to take Sakura out on a date, alone, but he was not about to turn down the girl's advice.

Touya didn't like that the pair left to be on a date on a Monday. He wouldn't like it if they went out any day of the week for that matter. His little sister was too young to be getting into a relationship like this, even knowing his mother was the same age when her brief courtship with his father happened. It was that knowledge that made the situation all the more upsetting. He tried to stomp down on his misgivings before going upstairs with a Cantonese textbook in hand to see another annoyance.


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Author's Notes:

Coming Next: Chapter 4 - The Changing Bet
Being married does not mean a perfect relationship as Chiharu and her husband get into an argument over whether being a boy or a girl was better.

For those that have missed it, I have a second Card Captor Sakura fanfiction in the works called Sakura's Christmas Surprise and is in the same continuity as this series. Syaoran's comment of Sakura getting her horoscope read during her second visit to Hong Kong will be detailed there.


I'd like to remind readers that insinuating sexual activity does not equate to full NC-17 lemon scene. You can find more explicit and visual scenes of sex in teen romance novels, daytime soap operas on television, and in PG-13 movies.


Japanese schools do not have janitors, instead it falls upon the students to maintain and clean their classrooms. While there are some who avoid such duty, it is instilled into most children that they should keep everything clean. As such the term from earlier, 'kirei wa kirei / clean is beautiful,' is an important cultural phrase. Even when it's not their own mess, many will clean up litter.


Instead of repeating the opening and closing songs, I've decided to add my own version of 'Kero-chan's Check.' But with these omake it's more of little side stories that give more background information to the main story, yet don't quite work with the story flow. To start this off, a small moment of Meiling watching Syaoran on his first day at school in Hong Kong after Sakura's battle with Eriol.

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"There you are, Meiling. I was wondering where you went," called out an elementary school girl with short, dark hair.

"Hi, Luchen, I just needed a little time to myself," Meiling replied with a slight depressed tone, her long raven hair streaming in the spring breeze.

"Why? I'd thought you'd be excited to see Syaoran back home," Luchen commented.

"I am glad for that..." Meiling sigh uncertainly.

"Then what's the matter?" Luchen pressed.

"Do you remember what Syaoran was like before he left for Japan?" Meiling question.

Luchen paused for thought. "I barely remember him at all. He was always so quiet and serious. About all I can remember was thinking, 'what crawled up his ass and died?'"

Meiling gave her friend a wry smile. "Not far off the mark there."

Luchen looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I forget when it was, maybe when we were two or three, but I do know it's Syaoran's oldest memory. His father was dying and he had Syaoran promise to train and become a worthy leader of the Li clan. He has lived by that vow ever since." Meiling shook her head. "Which kind of annoys me considering Syaoran's father married INTO the Li clan. It's Syaoran's mother who is the head of the clan." She then sighed. "But from what mother told me, Auntie and Uncle were more partners then husband and 'trophy wife.' And that the day Uncle died, Auntie and Syaoran died too."

"I see..." Luchen trailed off. She'd rather get off that morbid line of thought. "You know, I do remember what you were like before you went to Japan."

Meiling let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah, I was a complete bitch."

"I wouldn't have put it that way," Luchen retorted.

Meiling smirked. "But it's the truth. I was so full of myself. I was second only to Syaoran. No other guy or any girl could beat me. Highest marks, fastest time, most points, biggest ego. I had everyone beat. Everything was perfect and I was invincible."

"So what humbled the great and mighty Meiling?" Luchen teased.

The reply was one word, "Kinomoto."

Luchen blinked in confusion.

Meiling curled up. "While I could reluctantly swallow a drop in grades because of stupid Japanese kanji, I suddenly found myself first at NOTHING! Assist Syaoran on his little quest? I got in the way more than I helped. Kinomoto ended up completing the quest and getting the rewards for it. Gymnastics exercises? Well, I'll do a series of tumbles and flips. Kinomoto did all of that and a double twist. Long distance running? I don't even want to remember that fiasco. Kindness? Gah! I was so far behind selflessness of Daidouji and Kinomoto it wasn't funny. Trust? Friendship? I had given none of that, but Kinomoto gave that to me."

Luchen placed her arms around the girl, surprised to see her on the verge of tears.

Meiling continued, "And the one thing, the ONE THING that mattered most to me, Kinomoto beat me there too. Syaoran loves her more than he loves me. And the stupidest thing of all, I can't hate her for it. Hate the world, but not her."

Luchen didn't know what to say. "Well, she's still there and he's here now."

"Don't tempt me," Meiling retorted. "It would only make things more painful for me. I can't win against her in this. There's no use in trying. It's quite literally written in the stars that they'll be together."

Luchen sighed. "I guess seeing Syaoran pulled all of this out."

"Hardly." Meiling scowled. "He returned home days ago. But today was the first day we had class together. You said it yourself he was quiet and serious before he left. Did he EVER talk to anyone? Did he EVER join in a game of anything? Now LOOK at him!" She pointed out at the school's yard where a pick-up game of soccer was being played with Syaoran amongst the players. "In all the time I've known him I could NEVER get him to do that, but SHE has. She got him to open up, to have fun. I'm just his cousin, his childhood friend, his proverbial sister."

"Well, he still loves you," Luchen said hopefully.

"But not the way I want!" Meiling protested. "I love him more than anything. I've wanted him to be happy. And now I learn to make him happy is to let him be with her, his beloved Kinomoto."

Luchen didn't know what to say. She simply sat next to her friend, yet slowly a smile crept on her face.

"What are you smiling at?" Meiling groused.

"Oh, just thinking about how two years ago you were a snotty brat that didn't apologize when you knocked me over. How you didn't have friends, but a pack of groupies who delighted in picking on weaker girls, like me. Yet, now we're best friends."

Meiling huffed. "You're not my best friend. I didn't cry into your lap for an entire night after Syaoran told me that he loved her, not me. You don't know about the stuff that happened in Japan. You don't know about my family's secrets." She then gave a ghost of a smile. "But you are a good friend. Maybe some day I'll let you in on the things in my life that you would have to see to believe."

"What could possibly go beyond what you just told me?" Luchen wondered.

"A world that I can only glimpse," Meiling answered enigmatically. "A world that's unbelievable."