She dragged her luggage after her and stowed it in the overhead compartment. The Boeing 747 was nearly full and she was one of the last to board, being single and young. She could afford middle-class, so here she was. She edged over the knees of an elderly couple, mumbling her apologies, to get to her seat. She smiled because it was beside the window, and she’d always loved watching the plane take off, the ground speedily departing. She loved the feeling of flying, unlike Syoaran who always grew queasy and a bit green around heights. Thinking of him sent a familiar pang through her heart, one she banished and forced a look of steel calm on herself. Outwardly, it looked absolutely perfect; well, not exactly, but she wasn’t crying and that was a start. Suddenly a flash of memory escaped the steel cage that contained her heart and settled itself in her mind, offsetting a chain reaction. It was the time she had found out she was adopted, when Syaoran had been there, holding her, comforting her. Jet had burst into the room and called him ‘Syao’. She hadn’t showed any sign of hearing her but of course she had. She remembered everyone snapping at her and telling her that Sakura had earned the right to call him that. That memory brought her to think about how she earned it. It had been painful. She sighed and relaxed, knowing she couldn’t be okay until she let this memory go.
Flashback“Please?” She had begged for the hundredth time. They were in sixth grade, and he still wouldn’t let her call him by a nickname she made up, nor would he call her the nickname she told him to. After all the years he was still so formal.
“No, Sakura.” He replied firmly, but gently. They were walking home from another day in Terada-sensei’s class. It was summer, she recalled, and the leaves were lush and green, the air was fresh and warm and she was with her best and only friend in the whole world.
People had never actually liked Sakura, sometimes she was afraid Syaoran didn’t either. She hoped their friendship was not one based on pity at her obviously inept ability to not weird people out with her strong belief of Fairies and the like. It wasn’t, as he had proved to her time and time again. He even began to teach her some martial arts, until she knew as much as he did and they could spar together for practice. She was not, however, in the same legue as he was. But she fought to become so.
The were casually walking on a secluded path that wasn’t used by many people other than they. Suddenly, and group of boys appeared. They were tall and bulky; but only a year older from the look of them. They glared at the pair menacingly, it was clear they weren’t here to enjoy to scenery. Bravely, Sakura and Syaoran walked forward, attempting to walk around the boys, and failing miserably. They barred their path with their bodies. “Can I help you?” Syaoran asked, his voice was calm, but his eyes were blazing in their sockets. A look of uncertainty crossed each of their faces, they had gotten used to children like them dropping to their knees and begging them for mercy. They stood their ground, though, and leered at Sakura. The old Sakura would have squealed and ran, she had grown up with her mother’s warnings at prowlers and rapists, but this one stood firm, making Syaoran proud of her. They drew their strength from each other through their bond of friendship, glad for each other’s presence.
“Yeah,” Said the boy at the front, clearly the ringleader. “You can lie down so we can beat the daylights outta ya, punk kid.”
“And what,” Sakura stepped forward boldly. “Would be the reason for this kind gesture, ladies?” She sneered at them.
“Your sister.” The boy at the far left replied, looking at Syaoran. He seemed to be the weak link, his chicken-like knees trembling under the weight of those fiery amber eyes.
“Shut up, Hoshi.” The leader scolded. In any case it seemed because he wanted to tell the story himself. “She seems to think she’s so big and tough, hitting our friends around the heads. Well we don’t fight females so I think I’ll settle this problem with you.” With that the boys rounded on Syaoran. Syaoran sneered, “I bet she kicked your butts and you are too scared of her to go back for a rematch, tsk tsk tsk.”
Quick as a jackrabbit, he swept the legs out from under the one called Hoshi, and socked the one on the right in the face. But, as good as his skills were, his opponents were tougher and very determined. Plus, he was outnumbered. One of them threw him on the ground and the rest were kicking his small form. Every time he tried to stand they shoved him down until he didn’t try to rise any more.
“Stop it! You idiots! Where is your honor, pick on someone your own size, he’s just a kid!” Sakura screamed. They stopped as one to look at her. Obviously they shared a brain.
“Shut up, or we’ll get you, too.” The middle one growled. Then they went back to kicking her friend. She discreetly pulled a cell phone from her pockets and dialed 911. She pressed the ‘send’ button and began screaming her head off.
“Help! Somebody help me! Pleassee!” Then she ran up to the boys and kicked the leader in the face. She winced and she heard his nose crack. ‘That’s gonna hurt in the morning.’ She thought. Another one lunged at her, she used his bulk and forward momentum to throw him behind her, kicking him in the crotch as he sailed. Hoshi grabbed her around the middle as the remaining one threw a punch at her head. She ducked and he hit Hoshi instead. She landed in a crouch position and elbowed him in the stomach. Someone groaned. She looked around and they all began to get up again. She sneaked a glance at her friend. He was down for the count, she needed stall for as long as she could. She led them into the woods on the right side of the path. She ran until she found what she was looking for; a low-hanging branch, with just enough youth and strength to snap back and smash whoever was behind her. She pushed it past her and let go when the boy was in the right spot. His and the tree’s momentum made him fly back into his friend. She ran back to where she had left Syaoran. Only one boy chased her now. She scaled the rough bark of a nearby tree and waited on a branch. The remaining boy looked around, puzzled as to why he could no longer see her. She whistled. As he looked up, she crashed down on him and he crumpled with the sudden impact, a kick to the head hadn’t helped improve his consiousness much. She ran the rest of the way back to Syaoran. In her mind, she had counted those she had knocked out; three. ‘only three? I swear there was four.’ And them she was suddenly face to face with the last boy, the ringleader. The dash throught the woods had cost her and her hands and face were bleeding from small scratches. She also had a prize bruise in her rib when that Hoshi had grabbed her. She rubbed it slowly, trying to ease the pain.
However bad she looked, he looked a thousand times worse; his nose was oddly misshapen and there was blood everywhere on his face. She smirked knowing that was her doing. “You’ll pay for that.” He threatened. She shrugged an kicked him in the stomach and kneed him in the face again as he doubled over. He howled with pain as she hit his nose a second time. She stepped back, thinking he would leave her along now. But when he straightened, his eyes burned with fury and she wasn’t fast enough to counter his blow. His huge, meaty fist smashed her porcelain face, sending stars across her vision. Now she was mad. She drove her elbow hard into his gut and kicked him again in the unmentionables. Either he was really strong, really mad, or he had nothing there but he got up faster than before. She opened her mouth to tell him so. He didn’t give her the chance. She aimed a kick at him but he grabbed her foot, spinning her around and crashing into a thick oak head first. She saw him advancing and stop suddenly and run away. But her vision went red, then faded to black as she slipped from consiousness.
A week later she woke up in a room with white-washed walls and comfy pillows. Her head throbbed angrily, reminding her to NOT try taking on four boys twice her size EVER again. She easily agreed. She moved her hand and realized there was something warm and sweaty on her hand. Horrified; she turned to look, but it was only Syaoran. She sighed with relief, the action waking him immeadiately. “Are you… okay, Syaoran?” She struggled to talk. Her tongue felt like sandpaper in the sea of honey that was her mouth. Syaoran smiled widely at her.
“Me?” He answered increduolously. “Am I okay? You’re the one that got knocked out, Saki.”
She got the hint and smiled. “I’m glad you’re okay, Syao.” And she drifted back into unconciousness.
End Flashback
Reality came back to her with a jolt. That memory seemed like it was from so long ago. She leaned back in her chair as the plane bounced along the ground. Finally, she was in China. She called her Kaho-sensei and sat down to wait. A group of giggling girls passed by her and she stared at them with longing. She was instantly reminded of Tomoyo. She sighed, she really should’ve told her best friend where she was going. Maybe there was still time? She pulled out her cell and texted a short and to the point message. She signed it ‘with love, you know I miss you, Sakura.’ And reminisced back to the day when she met Tomoyo.
FlashbackIt was Sakura’s birthday and Syaoran was taking her out for a picnic in the park. They chose a seldom-used path and were happy to walk slowly through the autumn forest. The leaves were turning majestic shades of gold and red and the air was crisp and clean. They were about to cross the cobblestone bridge that led to the park when they heard something down below. They paused for a moment, there it was again; a splash and a gurgled cry for help. They leaned over the edge and saw her. There was a girl in the deep river below, splashing around in a frantic attempt to swim.
Sakura stripped down to her undershirt and underwear and jumped over the edge of the bride. She grabbed the girl around the waist and towed her to the nearby shore. The girl gasp and spluttered but looked obviously relieved at being on dry land again. Sakura, having known the dangers of hypothermia frantically dragged the girl to the shore. Her eyes were closed. Worried, Sakura grabbed her wrist to check for a pulse, it was there, very weak, but still there. “Is she alright?” Startled, Sakura looked up; Syaoran was already there with the pile of clothes she had left behind. “I hope so, Syao. I think you should call 911, we don’t know how long she was in that water and at this time of year, it’s freezing. She might be suffering from hypothermic shock or something.”
Syaoran nodded, as he was making the call, Sakura took the girl’s clothes off, just up to her undershirt and underpants. She wrapped the girl in her shirt and pants and put her puffy goose-down jacket over the girl. Then she put her socks on the girl’s hands and curled in to a ball to try to keep warm. She looked up and was once again relieved to see Syaoran was coming toward her. “The ambulance should be here in about fifteen minutes.”
Sakura sighed with relief and shuddered to think of what might’ve happened to the strange girl if they hadn’t seen her. Her shudder was continuous and suddenly she realized she was shivering; her teeth chattered together and her body had involuntarily curled into a ball. She closed her eyes, she was so tired…
Sakura awoke in a whitewashed room that had vague, pastel-colored ink-splatters on the walls. They looked familiar, She looked down and saw that she was in a narrow bed with white sheets and nothing but a paper-like gown to cover herself. On her wrist she had a plastic wristband on. She almost jumped in surprise when she saw that Syaoran was sitting in a chair beside her little cot, with his messy mop of mahogany hair resting wearily on the bed beside her hand. She smiled tenderly at him, what would she do without him? There was a knock on the door. His eyes opened slowly, and he smiled at Sakura.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Saki.” He mumbled.
“How long have I been out?” She wondered aloud.
“A day or two. That was some birthday party, huh?”
“Most definitely.” He smiled warmly and clasped her hand. The knocking became more insistent so Syaoran got up to answer it. “Alright, I’m coming.” He grumbled.
The girl they had rescued came in. She was decked out in smooth velvet pants and a hot pink halter-top under a black leather jacket and stiletto heels. “I owe you my life.” She said solemnly, coming to stand beside the bed.
Sakura grasped her hand, noticing the girl’s perfect manicure. “You owe me nothing but your friendship.” Sakura smiled.
“Consider it done, I’m Tomoyo.”
“Sakura.” Both girls held out their pinkie fingers and linked them. They slid their hands together and lightly knocked fists as if it had been planned.
End FlashbackSakura broke off her train of thoughts when she saw her sensei walking towards her. She stood up and bowed respectfully. “Kaho-sensei. So good to see you.” She greeted formally.
Her sensei studied her, what had happened to her carefree and bouncy spirit? “Yes, indeed Sakura. It is.”
“I must give you my utmost gratitude at your agreement to pick me up on such short notice..
“It is nothing. Shall we go?”
“Sure.” Sakura gathered her heavy bags and lifted them with ease and put them slowly into the back of the older woman’s Jeep. The drive back to the mountains was long and silent.
Meanwhile back in Tomoeda.
Jet got home and thrashed her sister’s room. How dare she? Turning on family like that. She was going to pay…
She got and idea and headed to her favorite hair salon. She had them cut her hair to shoulder-length, dyed light and brown then curled into ringlets. Then she ordered special blue contacts that added to her innocent look. She spent the remaining day talking to her mirror in the way that she had seen Sakura do; innocent and cute in a shy way. She ordered a new set of uniform, one that was full length and conservative. She practiced talking a bit more and smiled, angry and feral. “This is what you get for dumping me, Li.” And went to bed, she had a long day ahead of her.
The Next Day
“Class, settle down! We have a new student for our class today.!” Their teacher announced, catching their attention. “Alright, you may come in, Miss Mitari.”
Everyone watched in awe as a girl shyly shuffled into their class. Her dress was so long it went a bit past her knees. Some of the cheerleaders snickered, She is going to be a nun when she grows up, They thought. Syaoran abesently wished Tomoyo and Mei Lin were here, but they weren’t being pretty damn pissed and his lame-ass decision.
“Now, now girls. Introduce yourself, Miss Mitari. Please.” The teacher said kindly.
“Um, hi. I’m Mitari Kiaki. My family just moved here. And um, that’s it, I guess.” She giggled nervously.
Syaoran looked at her sharply, everything, from her voice to the way she held herself, reminded him of Sakura and his stupidity. Still, he felt extremely captivated by her adorable and innocent blue eyes and the way her hair curled to her shoulders.
“You may sit in that empty spot, next to Mr. Li.” The teacher said.
Syaoran was uncomfortable with her sitting there. Just a few days ago that was Sakura’s spot. Just a few days ago she was laughing and smiling with him and passing him notes about the way their teacher’s toupee was slowly falling off his head. Just a few days ago he was happy.
“Mr. Li, if you would be so kind as to show Miss Mikari around the school for the first week or so?”
“Of course, sensei.”
“Hi.” She whispered when she sat down. He looked into her eyes and was startled that he thought of this girl as a mix of Sakura and his ex-girlfriend. Even so, he had to be courteous to this mysterious girl as much as he could. If not for the girl or his teacher, then to prove to himself that he could handle not having either of those green-eyes beauties in his life.
“I’m Li.” He whispered back.
China, Six Months Later. (That’s May)
Sakura was practicing her roundhouse kick technique on a wooden dummy, grunting in frustration as the dummy didn’t budge. The last time she was here, she would’ve felled it easily. Now she was struggling with even the simplest tasks.
“It’s because you’ve locked away your emotions.” Her sensei called, coming towards her, titan hair flowing in the wind.
“Pardon, sensei?” She asked, not understanding.
“I know that I’ve told you once that your emotion controls too much of your fighting.” Sakura nodded, remembering clearly. “Since you have locked away your emotions the fight inside you has been locked away as well,” She nodded, gesturing at the wooden dummy. “You must get angry at it, but not let your anger control you, mind you, but anger gives you strength. And another thing; whatever happened between you and the Li boy has nothing to do with anything else. Just because you do not feel for him does not mean that you should punish the rest of the world by no smiling.” At this, Sakura let go a little, just as her sensei said, and grinned. “That’s alright, but you;ll have to do a bit better than that.” And Sakura smiled like the Chesire Cat. “Much better. Now, try the dummy.”
Sakura turned back to the dummy and focused all her anger towards Jet at the dummy. “Hraugh!” She yelled and threw her strength into the triangular part of her heel. The wooden dummy splintered into a million tiny splinters.
“That’s the Sakura I know and love.” Her sensei applauded her. After that, everything became easy for her. She drew strength from her emotion and succeeded and surpassed all expectations of her. One day Kaho came up to Sakura as she was stamping on the snow she had brought down from the mountain with her bare feet so that she could have a wash.
“I think you should go back to Tomoeda, Sakura.” She told the girl, surprising her so much that Sakura slipped and fell down with a loud, “HOE!”
She hurriedly picked herself and bowed to Kaho, eyes tearing up a bit. “Do you really dislike my presence so much as to wish my absence?”
“I know you like it here, my dear. But you must return to Tomoeda. You must face what you have left behind and the feelings so also there, especially that Li boy. I also would really like for you to go to your graduation and prom my dear.” She explained gently.
“But those things don’t matter to me, Kaho-sensei! Prom, graduation it had little significance to what I want!” She objected strongly.
“That’s what you think now. I was you, once. And look at me now. Old and alone and living on a mountain with very few visitors. You will regret this decision as long as you live. It is not a fate I would wish on anyone else, least of all you.”
“But-“ Kaho held up a hand to silence her
“I have already arranged for your mother to pick you up form the Tomoeda Airport tomorrow.”
“Yes, Kaho-sensei.” Sakura replied, eyes downcast.
“Come, you must pack. You flight leaves in an hour.”
The Airport.
“I will miss you terribly, child.” They were standing in front of the terminal and a flight attendant was announcing her plane ready to leave. The two women held their hands as they would never let go.
“And I, you.” Sakura mumbled through tears. “I will come to visit after graduation, as soon as I can, I promise.”
Kaho nodded and hugged the girl tightly. “Go now, child. Take care.”
Sakura nodded and strode to where the people were lining to get onto the flight.
Tomoeda, The Next Day
Syaoran had grown close the new transfer student, whose innocence reminded him so much of Sakura that he had to keep her close, just so he could have a piece of Sakura with always. He knew it was a crazy thought but that was just how much he missed her. Everyone had grown to like her, even Katana, who was most suspicious of her because when she looked into the girl’s eyes, she could see a blazing fire, bright and angry, until she blinked and it was just a trick of the light.
“I was wondering… nah nevermind.” Kiaki said to Syaoran after school.
“what? What is it?” He coaxed playfully.
“Well, you know that the prom is coming up, right?” Syaoran nodded. “Well since I’m new here and don’t really know anyone I was wondering, d’you want to go with me?” She blurted all in a rush, her face getting redder and redder each minute, just like his Cherry Blossom. He thought of her again, for the millionth time that day as he had ever since she left. He acted like he didn’t even care about her existence on the outside, but on the inside he was bleeding profusely. It was like a poisoned would that refused to heal at all.
He thought of her, knowing that if he had chosen her they would be going to prom together, stay for about five minutes just for the picture and ditch, to go somewhere much more fun. But she wasn’t here, and that wouldn’t happen. He looked down the Sakura doppelganger; who was staring with pleading eyes.
“Sure,” He replied easily. He smiled at the expression of pure joy that crossed her soft features. Inside, she was smirking wickedly. ‘Hook, line and sinker.’
There was a sudden commotion around the entrance to the school. He thought it was just Tomoyo and Mei Lin, they were supposed to be here for his graduation and Tomoyo was making the girls their dresses. They walked closer and could see that, Yes, Tomoyo and Mei Lin were there. But they weren’t the center of attention. Some girl was linking arms with his half-sister and her best friend, smiling happily. Katana and Ayisha were close by, bombarding the girl with questions. She turned to look directly at Syaoran, like she knew he’d been there all along but of course she did because it was…
“Sakura…”
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