Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction ❯ Shadow of the Dragon ❯ Sakura and the Return to the Summer Cabin ( Chapter 24 )

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

"Hello, Grandfather," Sonomi greeted as she sat down across from the man at a high-class restaurant.

The elderly British man smiled at her. "Ah, good afternoon, Sonomi-chan."

"I've brought the second quarter earnings reports," Sonomi informed.

"Now, Sonomi-chan, there's no reason to jump straight into business," her grandfather replied.

Sonomi frowned. "Then why have you called me out here? I have a lot of business to take care of."

"Here I thought your brush with death changed your priorities," her grandfather commented.

"They have changed. Once the tasks are completed I was hoping to spend some time with my daughter, maybe Sakura-chan as well," Sonomi explained.

Her grandfather nodded. "And how are my great-granddaughters?"

"It's hardly a secret that Tomoyo-chan started to date Kuogane-san to have him around to help with Sakura-chan's problem." Sonomi sighed as she shook her head. "However, his devotion seems to go beyond the job at hand. He spent the entire weekend watching her, not Sakura-chan."

He chuckled. "She could choose a far worse companion than Kurogane."

"Do you know what he does for a living?" Sonomi questioned.

"Private investigator, body guard, assassin, whatever that is needed of him," her grandfather answered. "I've done business with his family in the past. They do not take jobs for the money. They take them because it is the right thing to do and they won't accept immoral commissions."

"That may be so, but do you really want sweet Tomoyo-chan part of that life?" Sonomi returned.

The old man gazed through his granddaughter. "You know very well Tomoyo-chan already took steps into his world of her own choice."

"Don't remind me," Sonomi bitterly replied.

Her grandfather sighed. "And what about Sakura-chan?"

Sonomi pouted, but was thankful of the change in conversation. "Apparently she got nervous thinking her boyfriend would propose to her. He had been getting increasingly agitated. He wanted to tell her a secret concerning her main problem, a secret she had already largely figured out. Because of what others have done she does not feel ready to be engaged even though she hopes to marry him someday."

"'Engaged' and 'fiancee' are mere words." He shook his head. "Even 'husband' and 'wife' can be just words."

Sonomi bowed her head. "I know that all to well considering my 'husband.' Where ever the jerk is right now. Yet those words carry a weight, and Sakura-chan already has too much of a burden to bare."

"True enough." He paused in thought. "How likely is it that Sakura-chan will marry this boy?"

"I would bet on it. It would be no surprise if they're already lovers. And they've faced many challenges and know more awaits them, yet they still stand together," Sonomi replied.

He rubbed his chin. "Perhaps I should meet him."

"Grandfather..." Sonomi trailed off.

He waved his hand. "Do not mistake me. I just want to meet the lad. I have no intention of interfering. I do not wish to revisit my regrets by making new ones."

Sonomi frowned. "Grandfather, Sakura-chan isn't ten anymore. She will likely see who you really are. Knowing what you've done to her parents... she may dislike you."

"Sonomi-chan... that is a risk I have to take if I ever want to see her again. And there may not be many days left for me," he admitted.

"GRANDFATHER?!" Sonomi screeched.

"I'm not ill," he tried to soothe her. "I am old, though. I may not have been old enough to fight in the Great War, but I certainly saw the horrors of it. Even fleeing to America did not shield my eyes completely. And after the war, coming to Japan in hopes of making my fortune, and seeing the devastation that was Hiroshima..." He shuddered. "There are few left who have seen what I have, as they have passed before me. I want to finish my time without regrets."

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Card Captor Sakura: Shadow of the Dragon

Chapter 24: Sakura and the Return to the Summer Cabin

By: Lord Archive

Card Captor Sakura belongs to the fine ladies of CLAMP. Used without consent, all rights reserved.

Author's Warnings:

This contains mature themes not intended for children under thirteen.

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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"I'm home," Fujitaka called out as he entered his house and quickly got a reply of welcome from his daughter. He made his way to the kitchen and smiled as he saw his daughter cooking dinner with help from her boyfriend. "How was your day?"

"Good," Sakura chirped. "Oniichan and Yukito will be coming over to eat."

Fujitaka nodded. "And how was school today?"

"It was fine," Sakura replied.

"What about you, Li-kun? Anything special?" Fujitaka wondered.

"Not really." Syaoran appraised him. "Why did you want us all here tonight?"

Fujitaka rubbed his chin. "Was going to save this until diner, but it may be better to get part of it out of the way. Sakura, you remember the cabin we went to when you were ten? We'll be able to stay there for the weekend."

"Really?" Sakura chirped.

"Yes, we'll all be able to go, you as well, Li-kun," Fujitaka confirmed.

"That's great!" Sakura almost happily clapped her hands together, but caught herself before she would spill the food she was making. She then froze. "Wait... Oniichan and Yukito as well?"

Fujitaka nodded again. "Yes."

"Um... where would Syaoran-kun sleep? I suppose he could room with you. Oniichan certainly wouldn't like sharing a room with him, especially with Yukito around. There is the couch..." Sakura fretted.

"He can share your room," Fujitaka added.

"That can work." Sakura blinked. "Oniichan will really hate that."

"There's an understatement." Syaoran chuckled.

"That won't be a problem for you, will it Sakura-chan?" Fujitaka questioned. "If you have any concerns about your brother, I'll deal with him."

Sakura shook her head fiercely. "No! I don't mind at all. I've spent the night with him before."

"Yes, and your brother should hardly be raising a fuss about that now," Fujitaka noted. "You will be able to join us, won't you, Li-kun?"

"Please come with us. It's a really nice place," Sakura pleaded.

Syaoran shrugged. "I have no plans."

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"Why did I insist Syaoran-kun come with me on the family outing?" Sakura bemoaned as she was getting ready for gym.

"Didn't you say your father invited him?" Naoko wondered.

"Yeah, but now we're going out to a cabin and sharing a room," Sakura pressed.

"Hardly the first time you've shared a bed," Naoko returned.

"I doubt that's what has Sakura-chan so upset," Chiharu interjected. "There will be times that you'll be all alone with Li-kun, won't you?"

Sakura nodded.

"And you're worried about the implied permission," Chiharu guessed.

Sakura nodded again, her face becoming red.

"'Implied permission?'" Naoko wondered.

"Sharing a bedroom, all alone, and knowing nothing will be done if certain... noises are heard," Chiharu spelled out. "I was in that position after I was engaged."

"Why are you worried about that?" Rika wondered. "You know Li-kun won't push you into anything."

"Well, that is... um..." Sakura began to look like a ripe cherry.

Meiling smirked. "You want to do stuff with Syaoran, just not necessarily go all the way."

Sakura nodded, not trusting her voice.

"Spell it out to Li-kun ahead of time," Chiharu advised. "My mistake was not talking to Takashi first. I put myself into a position I couldn't tell him 'no.' Before you go on the trip, set some ground rules with him."

"That's good advice," Tomoyo affirmed. "And remember what I told you during the marriage camp."

"Right, I wouldn't want to hurt him by letting him push me before I'm ready," Sakura agreed firmly, but then pouted. "But if I set rules with him, then he'll be expecting something and I'm not sure if I'll actually want to do anything."

"The rules don't just have to apply to the trip," Tomoyo pointed out. "It wouldn't hurt to set ground rules for other times you find yourself alone with him."

"What?" Meiling shot at some girls that were obviously eavesdropping.

"Sorry, just wanted to know what it's like having a boyfriend," one of the girls replied.

"A lot like the marriage trip, only more physical," Meiling shot at her.

"But my 'partner' barely worked, went through most of what we made buying food, complained I spent too much, and only paid attention to me when it suited him," the girl returned.

"Exactly, just add kissing and groping and that's what having a boyfriend is like," Meiling insisted.

"I wish I could argue the point," Chiharu muttered. "But I can't."

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Syaoran looked over the cabin and surrounding woods. It was certainly scenic. He didn't know such out of the way places existed in Japan, especially one so close to Tokyo. There was not a single store in easy walking distance. "Guess there's not much to do around here."

"There's all sorts of things! You can explore the woods. There's a pond nearby for swimming. Oh, and I hope the nice man is still around, it'd be nice to see him again," Sakura rattled off.

"That works for the weekend, but it'd get boring living here," Syaoran commented.

"Would've thought you'd like the serenity and quiet," Touya shot at him.

"You can find your own peace where ever you are," Syaoran returned.

Fujitaka smiled. "A nice swim does sound good. I might take a dip after setting everything up."

"Toya and I will handle getting dinner ready," Yukito volunteered.

Kero-chan rubbed his paws. "What's for dinner?"

"That'll be a surprise!" Yukito chirped.

"That's cruel!" Kero-chan protested.

Sakura pulled out her suitcase and grabbed her boyfriend by the hand. "Come on, I'll show you our room."

As soon as Syaoran grabbed his bag, he was dragged into the cabin. They came to a stop at a room with spartan decorations and a decent sized bed adorn with purple bedding and a dresser topped with a vanity mirror.

"Oh, they put in a bigger bed than was here last time." Sakura set her suitcase down and tapped her lips. "Why does this place seem so... familiar? I know I've been here before, but it's more than that."

Syaoran shrugged. The room did carry an oddly friendly air.

Sakura popped open her suitcase and pulled out her one-piece emerald green swimsuit before starting to pull off her clothes.

Syaoran blushed deeply and quickly turned away. "Ah, Sakura..."

Sakura began to fidget, even as she discarded her bra. "It's okay, Syaoran-kun. You can look at me. I don't mind... Really, I don't."

Syaoran swallowed nervously as he slowly turned to look at her. The image of her putting on her swimsuit would forever be etched into his mind. He had long imagined what she would look like naked, and was surprised at how accurate he was. Course growing up with four sisters and his mother, not to mention Meiling's lack of modesty, Sakura was hardly the first girl he had seen without any clothes on.

"Come on, Syaoran-kun. Your swimsuit won't put itself on," Sakura teased with an embarrassed blush.

Syaoran nodded, but he didn't immediately move. He shook his head and quickly removed his shorts and underwear to replace them with swimming trucks.

Sakura's face went deep red. His desire for her was painfully obvious. He was not the first guy she had seen naked, having bathed with her brother and father when she was younger. She had even seen him before while he was in coma. However, she could not remember seeing... THAT being so large.

"Um, Sakura..." Syaoran shifted uneasily under her vacant gaze.

Sakura shook her head. "Right. Ah, let's go swimming."

"I could certainly do for some cold water," Syaoran muttered under his breath.

Sakura could only nod.

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Syaoran slowly began to wake. He stiffened realizing not only was his hand up Sakura's nightshirt, cupping one of her breasts, his boxers were not keeping him covered. The only barrier to Sakura's virtue was her panties and that could easily be pushed aside.

Before going on the trip Sakura had put into words rules he had largely had already placed on himself shortly after Tomoyo had been attacked by Satome, that either she would initiate or give him permission before they did anything sexual. He was allowed to kiss her anytime he wanted, but anything more needed her approval. And last night they had certainly kissed. In truth, they hadn't gone any farther than they had in the past. He had touched and licked her chest, yet he had not been the one to touch her between her legs, she had touched him that way. Just as things were getting intense, she pulled away and rolled over. Sakura may not have immediately fallen asleep, but she drifted off long before he had.

Syaoran tried to pull his arm free of her, and she resisted the action. He was able to pull free and tossed on his shirt and shorts before exiting the room. He made his way to the bathroom and struggled to take a piss, his hardness being as much lingering arousal as it was his need to pee. Finally finishing his need to go, he left only to find his girlfriend's older brother on the other side of the door glaring at him.

Touya glared at him. "Have fun last night?"

Syaoran shifted uneasily. "Not really."

"Why not?" Touya demanded.

Syaoran looked at the man in confusion. "She didn't want to finish."

Touya blinked. "She's just been teasing you?"

"Not intentionally, I think," Syaoran admitted.

"So, you didn't do anything last night? Just seen her getting dressed?" Touya questioned.

"I wouldn't say 'nothing,' but... not enough..." Syaoran squirmed, wondering why her brother would even ask such things.

Touya smirked. "She's leaving you wanting."

"To the point it hurts," Syaoran replied.

"Good." Touya pushed him aside to enter the bathroom, seemingly enjoying that his little sister was giving Syaoran a serious case of blue balls.

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Sakura led Syaoran down the road and came to a stop in front of an impressive manor house with a heavily European influence that she had visited five years ago. She peered through the gate inquisitively and smiled upon seeing an elderly British man walking through the front garden. "Hello. Remember me?"

The elderly man looked a little surprised. "You're not little Kinomoto Sakura, are you?"

"Yup!" Sakura nodded.

"My. You aren't so little anymore, are you?" the man commented.

"Nope!" Sakura grabbed Syaoran's arm. "I wanted to say 'Hi' and let you to see my boyfriend, Li Syaoran."

"Greetings, Li-san." The elderly man gave a slight bow. "I was about to sit down for some tea. Would you both care to join me?"

"Sure!" Sakura quickly agreed.

Syaoran gave his girlfriend's hand an uneasy squeeze.

Sakura whispered to him, "Just play along."

Syaoran didn't exactly let go of his apprehension but let Sakura pull him along. His feelings changed to confusion upon arriving at the back patio where three place settings and a steaming kettle was already waiting for them.

Sakura didn't even pause as she happily sat down at the table. "It sure has been a long time. My feet barely touched the ground last time. So... how has life been?"

"I can never seem to fully retire," he replied with a chuckle. "Even now I still keep an eye on the businesses I created."

"They're like your children, aren't they? Even after letting them go, you want to make sure they're doing well," Sakura surmised.

The elderly man looked at her thoughtfully. "Yes. Kind of like that. Now how have you been doing?"

Sakura pouted. "I've had a few problems I've been trying to sort out. I've been making some progress, but things are not nearly as easy as I wish they were."

"Life is not simple or easy," Syaoran added.

"Sadly true." The elderly man looked at the boy. "And how long have you known Kinomoto?"

"Fourth grade," Syaoran answered simply.

"Ah, but when did you two become a couple?" he pressed.

"Start of sixth grade," Syaoran answered.

"Short and to the point," he observed. "And you've been dating that long?"

Sakura blushed. "We didn't exactly start dating until this year. We had a long distance relationship for most of that time as he was in Hong Kong."

"Are you from Hong Kong originally?" the elderly man asked.

"Yes," Syaoran answered.

"What sort of work does your family do?" he wondered.

"We run and have investments in many businesses," Syaoran replied.

"Ah, not unlike me." He took a long sip of his tea. "Sakura-chan, there's a dress much like the one I gave you last time that should fit you just fine."

"Really?" Sakura chirped.

He nodded. "I'd very much like to give you it. You can go ahead and try it on. You can find it in what was my granddaughter's room."

Sakura patted her boyfriends hand. "I'll be right back."

Syaoran's gaze followed her. Then he shook his head. Something about this situation bothered him.

The old man looked evenly at the boy. "What kind of businesses does your family run?"

"Several different kinds, from shipping to a museum," Syaoran replied.

"Will you gain control of them when you're married?" he wondered.

Syaoran shrugged. "Not necessarily when I get married. I will likely become clan leader when I get older."

"Why wouldn't you become clan leader?" the old man asked.

"Destiny may exist, but life is filled with uncertainty. Anything can happen," Syaoran explained.

"Ah." The British man nodded. "You're surprisingly aware for your age."

Syaoran merely shrugged.

The old man gaze deepened. "Do you plan to marry Sakura-chan some day?"

"It is my wish," Syaoran stated firmly.

"What would Sakura-chan gain from that?" he pressed.

"Even if I somehow don't end up as clan head, my family's wealth will allow us to live comfortably." Syaoran really wondered why he was have this kind of conversation.

"Would her father gain any access to that wealth?" the man asked with a sharp edge to his voice.

"WHY?!" Sakura announced her presence still wearing her shorts and T-shirt and holding a picture of a lavender haired teenage girl.

The old man and Syaoran jumped and looked at Sakura in surprise.

Tears formed in the girl's eyes. "Why? Father married my mother for love. You know that, don't you?! Why don't you trust him? Why do you hate him?"

The old man looked down.

Wings formed on Sakura's back and she shot into the air.

"Sakura?!" Syaoran cried out. "What is this about?"

The man never looked up. "How can I not dislike the man who took away my beloved granddaughter?"

"Sakura is your great-granddaughter?" Syaoran demanded.

"Nadeshiko was so young, and that man was her teacher. He shouldn't have been allowed to touch any of his students, yet Nadeshiko didn't get to finish school because he had violated her." Old Amamiya shook his head. "I know she loved him, and Kinomoto has never came to me for money. I've apologized to Kinomoto before... but hate, like love, is not easy to let go. I foolishly lost time I could've spent with Nadeshiko."

Syaoran felt a flare of magic that was not Sakura's and pointed towards it. "What's over that way?"

Amamiya looked up and was confused. "The family cemetery."

Syaoran paled.

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Sakura landed, her heart guided her destination. A new wave of tears erupted as she read the tombstone before her, 'Kinomto-Amamiya Nadeshiko.'

She remained there, unmoving save for her sobs, until she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Syaoran-kun?" She looked up and screamed in horror. A ghastly skeleton with a tattered suit barely hanging on stood before her reaching out for her. The undead man was not alone as other skeletons clawed their way out of the ground.

Absolute terror gripped Sakura as their soulless eye sockets seemed to pierce through her soul. Their bone hands looked more like claws reaching for her. The stench of decay was overwhelming. Voices from her cards rang out in her head and she called for them to be silent in her panic.

Bones rattled against each other as the undead moved closer to her. As one reared it's arm back to strike, Sakura curled up into a ball and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard something strike the ground, yet felt nothing. More noised of bones clattering, but she remained untouched.

Slowly, reluctantly, Sakura risked opening her eyes. Before her wearing an old colonial styled dress was something that was more zombie than skeleton as flesh still barely coated the moving corpse. Sakura raised a hand to her lips, uncertain whether it was to cover a gasp or bile. "M-mother?"

The undead woman merely nodded. Her mouth crack as she opened it to speak, "Free us."

Sakura edged away. "H-how?"

"You know how," Nadeshiko rasped out. "Your train-" a crack in her throat prevented her from saying anything more.

Sakura tried to think. Her mother was suffering blows keeping the other undead away. The stench, clattering bones, claw like hands and soulless empty eye sockets already haunted her dreams. She had been trying to learn how to face this, her greatest fear. How had she beaten this before?

Her cards pulsed, trying to reassure her with their presence. She bit her lip and tried to calm herself as Yueh taught her. Reaching for something familiar she grabbed the charm on her necklace and began to chant, "O Key which hides the power of the stars, reveal thy true form before me. I, Sakura, command thee under contract. RELEASE!" What could she use to face the dark abominations of her mother's family forcibly brought back in a mockery of life? Fiery would obliterate the corpses, reducing them to ashes, but would that truly free them? What had she used before? She couldn't remember. Syaoran had said nothing, and Naoko complained about... "LIGHT! Severe the chains of undeath! RELEASE!"

The cemetery was filled with a blinding light. When it subsided, the dead no longer moved.

Sakura looked upon her dead ancestors and began to cry again.

"Sakura." Nadeshiko placed a ghostly hand on the girl's shoulder. "Thank you. And don't be upset at Grandfather. Your father has come to understand his feelings."

"Dad doesn't hate Syaoran-kun!" Sakura denied.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that. Some part of him likely does hate your boyfriend. Before long Li will take you from him. He may respect and like the boy, but he's still stealing you away. Just as your father took me away from my Grandfather," Nadeshiko pointed out.

"What he had asked..." Sakura persisted weakly.

"Wasn't something he should've asked," Nadeshiko agreed. "Grandfather hated Fujitaka for so long. He was sure I was being used to get at the family fortune, yet never did we ask for money even after we eloped to deny myself of a share of it. Yet if you were being used by your father to get a share of the Li clan's wealth it would justify that hate."

"Dad would never do that! He has nothing to do with my relationship with Syaoran-kun!" Sakura defended.

Nadeshiko smiled and nodded. "I believe Grandfather knows that as well. Though he may also be looking for reason to get between you and your boyfriend. He failed to 'protect me,' he may have wanted reason to protect you."

Sakura bowed her head in thought.

Nadeshiko looked up. "Though I know very well I do not need to ask, Li-san, do take care of my daughter."

"I swear I will." Syaoran approached them. "Sakura, are you all right?"

Sakura first nodded, then shook her head. "If there was ever a reason to hate the one out to get me..."

Syaoran had caught the end of the battle and knew exactly what had been done. "This would be it. To defile the graves of your ancestors, your mother. It is unforgivable."

Sakura looked at the picture she still was holding and pouted. "I got it dirty."

"It's fine. The frame protected it." Nadeshiko giggled. "Now why don't you go and get cleaned up so you can see your great-grandfather without any secrets."

"...Okay," Sakura reluctantly agreed.

Nadeshiko faded away smiling at them.

Syaoran began to guide Sakura toward the cabin they were staying at.

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Amamiya looked upon the family cemetery with horror and outrage. "What is the meaning of this?"

Sonomi walked up behind him but avoided looking ahead. "It would seem Sakura-chan's attacker tried to exploit her greatest weakness... her fear of the undead."

"How could anyone know she would be here to dig up all these corpses?" Amamiya demanded.

Sonomi looked at her grandfather with serious eyes. "Look at the holes. They were dug from below."

"What?" Amamiya went to the nearest grave and noted how small it was and the lack of dirt around it. The grass wasn't even disturbed as it would be if dirt hand been piled up and then shoved back into the hole. "What sort of enemy has Sakura-chan found?"

"A powerful, cunning and intelligent one," Sonomi replied simply. "For some reason he wants Sakura-chan dead and almost succeeded before. If not for her magic and her friends, she would be."

Amamiya clenched his fists. "Why must this keep visiting my family?"

"Destiny can be cruel," Sonomi could only reply.

Sakura shyly entered the cemetery while clutching onto her boyfriend. "So... you know about magic..."

Amamiya gazed at the young teenager. "Your grandmother had some ability. She was unlike any other girl my son ever met. She may have been of noble blood, but she was a reluctant demon hunter. I still question if the accident that took them away was really an accident."

"I see..." Sakura looked away. "I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me... the graves wouldn't have been defiled."

"It's not your fault," Sonomi denied. "It's the fault of the one who is attacking you."

Syaoran glanced towards the skeletons. "The magic I sensed earlier isn't the same as the magic used by the one behind the other attacks."

"This was western magic," Sakura noted.

"Doesn't mean that her enemy didn't recruit some help," Sonomi pressed.

"Sadly true. This attack was to strike at Sakura's greatest fear, which by now her enemy knows about," Syaoran agreed. "With Daidouji's tapes, the enemy may have even set up the entire weekend for this attack. Planting the idea of seeing Sakura in her great-grandfather's mind, pushing him to ask questions and planting the picture somewhere for Sakura to find since I'm sure you hid all of them before she arrived."

Amamiya frowned. "I thought the maid might've missed one... but now I can't be so certain."

Sakura pouted. "So I can expect more traps like this."

"Another undead attack is unlikely, at least for the near future. The enemy has not repeated an attack yet, I doubt he'll start now," Syaoran theorized.

Sakura summoned her wand, which shook in her hands. "Great-grandfather, if you can point out who my ancestors are, I can put them back into their graves."

A black figure jumped down from a tree next to Sakura. "Wait on that. You may not be able to recognize who this was, I have an associate who is more experienced in western magic."

Sakura slowly shook her head. "When I used the Light, I flooded the area with my magic. It's impossible to get a good read on the one responsible. All I can sense now is my presence from them, so I can't even tell who belongs in which grave."

"Where were you when this happened?!" Sonomi demanded.

"He beat me to the cemetery when it was already too late to interfere," Syaoran defended. "Your associate may not be able to get a reading from the bodies, but if we can find where he observed the battle from, there may be a trace of magic."

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To say that Fujitaka was surprised at the invitation, would've been an understatement, yet he could not turn it down. Being here as a family was Nadeshiko's dream. While he was sure she was watching, it still hurt that she was not alive to see this family reunion in person.

Touya was asking Kurogane all sorts of questions which seemed to cause Tomoyo to be increasingly upset for some reason. Sonomi was trying to learn more about the attack from Kurogane's associate, Fye, and Yukito who had surveyed the area as Yueh. Meanwhile Sakura was wearing a fanciful colonial dress her mother once wore while dancing with Syaoran to a song from the radio.

Amamiya walked up. "Fujitaka, I find myself needing to apologize to you again. I asked some things earlier about you I shouldn't have."

"You have nothing to apologize for," Fujitaka replied. "I find I have to remind myself that Sakura is nearly the same age Nadeshiko was when I met her. I look at her and feel she's so young, too young to know what love really is, yet I know she's truly in love and isn't confused. When she looks at Li-kun, it reminds me so much of how Nadeshiko looked at me."

Amamiya laughed a little. "At least you're not repeating my mistake."

"I wonder if I'm making different ones. I give Sakura the freedom to live her life, but do I give her too much? I want to protect her, but I don't want to hurt her for my own selfish wants," Fujitaka related.

"And yet it hurts to look on as the one she goes to for help is that boy and not you. More and more it seems she no longer needs you." Amamiya sighed. "And that was truly my greatest mistake, believing that Nadeshiko no longer wanted me. In truth I was the one who turned away. Even now while Sonomi is a strong, capable person, she still looks to me for advice. I know Nadeshiko would've as well, if I had let her."

Fujitaka smiled ruefully. "I wonder how that'll work out once she's married and living in Hong Kong."

"Phone calls, e-mails, whatever they come up with next," Amamiya rattled off. "Just being able to communicate with you will be a comfort for her."

Fujitaka nodded. "I guess."

"Now why did Touya bring that guy with him again?" Amamiya asked.

Fujitaka frowned. "Love cares little for form."

Amamiya stared at his great-grandson. "He's a fag?!"

"Grandfather!" Fujitaka snapped. "Touya loves Yukito for who he is, not what he is. If Yukito had been a girl, his love would not be changed."

"You let him carry on like that?" Amamiya demanded.

"If I tried to interfere, I would be repeating what happened with Nadeshiko. Forcing him to choose between me and Yukito and I will lose. Not only would I alienate Touya, Sakura would not forgive me either," Fujitaka defended. "Love is not something you can plan for, it just happens. If being with Yukito-san makes Touya happy, then I have no complaints."

Amamiya growled. "I may not agree, but I certainly see your point."

Tomoyo suddenly stood up and marched off.

"What's that about?" Amamiya echoed Kurogane's question.

Fujitaka smirked. "I've seen Touya ask questions like that before. I suspect Tomoyo-chan may have picked up a bodyguard for life and she knows it from Touya's behavior."

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Tomoyo gazed over her great-grandfather's garden. "Sakura-chan... what's it like knowing the future?"

Sakura froze, not expecting Tomoyo to sense her presence. She then pouted. "I suspect you know now."

"The way your brother was acting... it was like watching him with Li-kun. And the questions he asked." Tomoyo shook her head. "I know what it's like to be in love. I don't have those kind of feelings for Kurogane-san... Am I really doomed to marry him?"

"You do know Oniichan can't predict the future, rather he can see that some people are connected." Sakura smirked. "Though I do sometimes wonder if my feelings for Syaoran-kun were fated. If I ever truly had a choice. It'd be so easy to give into my feelings and let him have his way with me, but would that truly be my choice?"

"You honestly love Li-kun, I'm not in love with Kurogane." Tomoyo looked down. "Yet you were right about him. He has been watching after me more than he should have. He... he has feelings for me. And if mother was to die today... he would be my first choice."

Sakura hugged her friend from behind. "It's scary isn't it? Knowing something will happen, and you don't know if you can do anything about it. I know I'll marry Syaoran-kun someday. I know I'll be happy with him. Yet I still feel trapped by it. It's my future, but in this I seem to have no choice. I will never date another guy, will never kiss anyone besides Syaoran-kun, will never know if someone else could have made me happy."

"It is scary," Tomoyo agreed. "Especially as I don't love him, and I don't know if I ever will."

"I wasn't in love with Syaoran-kun when Touya was being mean to him, yet my brother knew I would end up with him. He even sung an English song in class thinking about us. It was a song about a wedding with the bride already pregnant." Sakura held her friend tighter. "Just give it some time. I'm sure you will come to have feelings for him. Or you can take this as a warning and severe your ties with him now, before things go any farther."

"I can't just send him away." Tomoyo shifted uneasily. "We still may need his help. As certain as your love for Li-kun may be, your enemy may still succeed in either killing you or breaking you apart."

"Tomoyo-chan, I suggest that you don't fight it, but don't just accept it either. You can't force yourself to fall in love, it's something that just happens. Spend some time with him. Learn what he's really like. Get to know him," Sakura advised.

Tomoyo nodded slowly. "I can try. I guess this isn't really so different from an arranged marriage. At least he's not some stranger with money. Mother at least will know what I'm feeling in that regard."

"Right!" Sakura agreed.

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Author's Notes:

Coming Next: The Troubles of Sakura's Friends
Sakura isn't the only one with problems.

Obviously the distractions I've had have largely gone away as I've been able to write this in about a week's time.

I am well aware MOST Japanese cremate the dead. Sakura's Great-Grandfather is clearly not Japanese, for this series I've already referenced him to be British (he could just as easily have been from another European country, was from a mix of European countries, or was originally from America). While he has long since been a Japanese citizen, he still holds onto some of his European-centric Christian beliefs, which is why Sakura has been referenced as being baptized Christian earlier in the series even though she's more Shinto than any other religion.

Just a note about my website: due to lack of funds and that the price for the domain name became stupid expensive I was not able to afford it. I may some day put up a new website, but that will not be in the near future.


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Orohime seemingly bounced out of nowhere. "Ichigo! Last night I saw a witch!"

"Yeah, sure." Ichigo waved her off as he walked toward school.

"I was taking a video of the moon when I saw the witch!" Orohime pulled out a video camera with a view screen and pressed play as she showed it to him. "See?"

Ichigo's eyes twitched as he saw a blurry image of a person flying on a long pole with wings. "It's a bird."

"I thought so too, but then I zoomed in." And the image became a lot clearer and it was clearly him on the pole.

"Why didn't you tell me you were a witch? That's so cool!" Orohime whined.

"I'm not a witch," Ichigo muttered.

"Sure you are. You were flying a broomstick in front of the moon. You're a witch!" Orohime pressed.

"Girls are witches," Ichigo shot back.

"Then what are you called?" Orohime persisted.

Kon popped his head out of Ichigo's schoolbag. "Card Captor Ichigo! Or if you want a generic term warlock or sorcerer works as well."

"What a cute witch's cat!" Orohime cheered.

"Oh, mama! Neechan, I'll be your little cat anytime!" Kon jumped for the girl's chest which was rather impressive for her age.

Ichigo slammed the familiar into the ground. "You can just get lost."

"What if a card shows up while you're at the school? You'll need me!" Kon defended.

"Like a hole in the head!" Ichigo retorted.

* Characters in this omake are from Bleach and belongs to Tite Kubo and Shounen Jump, all rights reserved.