Chapter 28: Sakura's Second Journey to the Past

Disclaimer: I don't own CCS.

It was the Age of Gold… it was the Time of Darkness…

Rya strode into the living room, his black coat billowing behind him. At his heels were Kenji, Hiroko and Kaori looking just as serious and tired as him. Akira was sitting in an armchair, looking out the windows, lost in thought. The sun was setting. The sky was ablaze with orange and yellow clouds and it was a brilliant sight. If Toshi were there, he would be up against the window, nose pressed to the glass as he tried to convince him to go for a walk where they could have a better view. Even in the first life he was like that - always yearning to be outdoors.

"Just as I suspected," said Rya. "He's hiding himself from us."

Akira glanced back at him.

"I can see him but I can't place where he is," said Rya, his dark eyes shining like steel. "Without my full powers, it's useless."

Akira was not surprised by this news. Toshi had taught Rya to see through time and space. Of course, he would be able to hide himself. The Card Mistress had great seer potential from what Toshi had admitted but he could not waltz up to her and ask her to find his brother.

Kaori stroked her cat-ears headband idly as she sat on the sofa. They seemed to wiggle as though they were a part of her. Hiroko lay down on the couch and Kenji sat near her feet.

"We'll go out again later," he yawned. "It's been hours."

"What if we don't find him before the Card Mistress realises who we are?" asked Hiroko, twisting her neck to look at Akira. "She'd never capture the force then."

"She will," said Rya, darkly. "When we peel the flesh from the bones of her family and friends, she will."

"Damn Rya," said Kenji. "You really used to do that?"

Rya gave a half-hearted smile.

"I have many fond memories from the first life."

"When you saw Hitoshi in your visions," said Akira, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window. "What did you see?"

"He was looking up at the sky."

"Like what I'm doing now?"

"No," said Rya. "He was looking straight up. Like there was something right above him. But all I could see was sky."

"And what did you feel?" asked Akira, hands shaking slightly.

"Longing."

"Does that mean something?" asked Kaori.

Akira remained silent.

It did.

Sakura placed the last strawberry on top the white-frosted cake and stood back, beaming at her creation. She then pulled off her apron and hung it on its hook on the kitchen wall. Taking a white box she had already put together, she carefully placed the cake in it and shut the lid.

She ran upstairs to shower and when she came back down, dressed in one of her favourite sundresses, she nervously went to the basement and opened the door. Her father was sitting at his work desk marking his students' essays, a cup of tea set down on the table, close at hand. When the extra light flooded into the room from the hallway as Sakura pushed the door wide, he looked up.

"You look beautiful, daughter," he remarked as she walked into the room. "Are you going out with your friends?"

She shook her head, no. And fiddling with the charm bracelet on her wrist, her gaze fell to the floor as her heart started to pound.

"Ano… I baked a cake for Syaoran-kun. He gave me this yesterday," she said, showing him the bracelet before quickly pulling her hand back, "and I thought it would be a nice gesture since I didn't give him anything."

"I see."

"So I'm going over to his apartment to give it to him."

Sakura felt silly. She had never been so nervous to tell her father she was going over to a friend's house. Her cheeks warmed. But then, Syaoran was not just a friend anymore, was he?

"What time will you be back?" asked Fujitaka.

"Well it's after five now. So around seven?" she asked, hopefully.

Fujitaka nodded his consent and looked back down at his essays. She took a step forward, still anxiously playing with her bracelet.

"Ano…"

Fujitaka turned in his chair, opening up himself to her completely. He smiled.

"Something else?"

"Hai," Sakura said, slowly, feeling the tiniest bit of apprehension over what her father's reaction would be. "Yesterday, when Syaoran-kun and I were at the festival…"

"Go on," prompted Fujitaka, when she faltered.

"He told me - well -" She sighed, the basement with all its books and slight mustiness, suddenly feeling quite small. "Is it okay if he and I are... boyfriendandgirlfriend?"

She flushed deeply, the last words having been hurried from her mouth so fast, she did not have to hear herself asking her father what she just did. She looked down at her bare feet mortified with embarrassment and yet hoping that her father was fine with it all.

"No father ever really wants to see his daughter date, Sakura-san," said Fujitaka, making her heart break. "But I'm happy that it's him."

Her gaze flew up to Fujitaka's unperturbed expression. Instantly, she could feel the cracks in her heart sealing shut.

"You are?"

"Hai."

A huge grin appeared on her face and she had to hold back a squeal.

"Thank you, thank you Otou-san!"

She was about to turn around and race out the room when a thought occurred to her. She moved even nearer to him.

"Otou-san," she said. "I was wondering. Can you talk to onii-chan?"

"About?"

"Well he always acts mean to Syaoran-kun and I don't want him to do that anymore. I don't want Syaoran-kun to feel bad or anything like that."

"Well he acts like that because he loves you and he doesn't want anyone to take advantage of you."

"But Syaoran-kun would never take advantage of me. He always helps me and he's always on my side."

Fujitaka, in a rare moment, removed his glasses.

Sighing, he pulled open a drawer of his desk and took out a square piece of cloth. He cleaned the lenses and put the glasses back on his face. Sakura noted the serious shift in the atmosphere and took a cautious step back.

"Boys are very persuasive when it comes to the girls that have feelings for them," said Fujitaka, and he looked slightly pained and his voice sounded just a little forced. "Touya-san knows this. And he does not wish for there to be any inappropriate touching and actions to arise between you two. I'll admit. I do not wish that either."

Sakura's face was on fire. Hoe. Was she getting 'the talk?' She had heard about this and she had laughed at her friends' tales but it was finally her turn. Oh. No.

"Syaoran-kun is not like that," she said, softly, hands clutched behind her, eyes trained on the floor.

"Most teen boys are like that," said Fujitaka, grimly. "It's normal. At that age girls are quite exciting to us. But you're a young lady and you're my daughter, so I expect you to behave in such a manner."

"Hai, Otou-san."

"The truth is I do trust Li-san which is why I don't mind you going over to his apartment, especially with his cousins there. Just promise me you'll stick to common areas of the apartment. No bedrooms."

Sakura would have gladly be swallowed up by the ground then and there.

"I've been to his apartment a lot of times before. Nothing's ever happened..."

She winced slightly at the white lie remembering how Syaoran had jammed her against the wall when he was under the influence of the Insomnia.

"You've been there as a friend. Not as his girlfriend. It will be different. You'll see."

"Okay. Then I promise."

"I don't want to keep you back," said Fujitaka. "You can go now. I'll speak with you later. Li-san too."

"Otou-san!"

"It's necessary," said Fujitaka with a smile. "Do you want me to drop you off?"

"NO." She giggled, thoroughly ashamed by her loud protest. "I'll be fine."

"Then have a good time."

Sakura went back to the kitchen to collect her cake wondering if her brother ever got that talk too. Somehow she could not picture it.

As she approached Syaoran's apartment minutes later, she regretted not calling him first. What if he was not there? What if he did not want company? She had sent him a good-morning text and he had replied. Then they had exchanged a couple more texts but they were nothing special. She knew like herself, he was new to the dating thing but she felt like talking to him every single second now whereas he did not seem to feel the same way.

She looked at her bracelet as she walked up the steps to his apartment, cake box in her hands. Maybe it did not matter that he was not a big talker or extremely sentimental. He showed her how he felt yesterday and he had professed his love so she should give him a pass and not base their newfound relationship on TV dramas. He had said himself that he was not good at the mushy stuff. She smiled as she rang the doorbell. She would accept him as he was - her quietly passionate little wolf.

Moments later, the lock turn. Her breath caught in her throat as Syaoran stared down at her, dressed in brown slacks and a dark blue t-shirt. His penetrating eyes had her heart fluttering in seconds. This was her boyfriend. She finally had a special someone and it was this handsome, kind creature before her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

Her face fell.

"I… ah… are you busy?"

"Somewhat," he said, stepping aside and gesturing for her to come in. "Did you text me you were coming over?"

She knew she should have text.

"No. I wanted to surprise you."

"You didn't walk over here by yourself, did you?"

She slipped her ballet flats off her feet, not answering and held out the box in her hand.

"This is for you. I made it myself. It's a gift for yesterday."

She saw his cheeks colour and it made her smile. She would bake him a cake everyday if she got such a pleased and appreciative look like the one he was giving to her now.

"Thanks," he said, and he walked to the kitchen, Sakura following closely behind. He rest the box on the counter and opened it, revealing the white frosting, lightly whipped and perfectly spread around the entire cake. The red strawberries sat tantalizingly on top, bordering the edges. "Pound cake?"

"Hai."

"It looks delicious. Should I have some now?"

"If you want to," she told him, averting her gaze but celebrating inside.

He walked over to a cupboard and pulled out a small plate, not noticing how much she was beaming at him. She wanted to lunge on him the same way Nakuru would jump on Touya but unlike the guardian, she could contain herself.

"Do you want a slice?" asked Syaoran.

"No. It's all for you. Well, you can share with Meilin-chan and Li-san."

"Meilin stepped out to buy some snacks," said Syaoran. "And Liquan's in his room right now. But I'll definitely share with them later."

Sakura grabbed a knife from the knife holder.

"Do you want me to cut the slice for you?"

"Sure," said Syaoran, stepping out of the way so she had full access to the cake.

Eagerly, she cut the cake and put it on the plate he was holding in his hand. He took a fork from the dish drainer and ate a piece. He licked his lips.

"It tastes even better than it looks."

Sakura clasped her hands in front of her and grinned.

"I'm glad you like it," she said, and forgetting about all the self-control she had, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek to his chest. She held on tight, loving the feel of his warm body against hers.

"Ah… Sakura?"

She looked up at him, bright in the face. He was frozen still, fork in one hand, plate in the other, and there was an awkwardness in the way he peered down at her.

"You don't want to hug?" she asked.

"Well, it was a little sudden. That's all. But I don't mind."

"I would have hugged you to greet you when I got here but I had the cake in my hands."

He rest his forearms lightly on her shoulders.

"Is this my minute hug for the day?" he asked.

"Yup! Decreasing stress and increasing happiness. Isn't that what a girlfriend's supposed to do?"

He shook his head in amusement and returned her embrace.

"And what's a boyfriend supposed to do?" he asked.

"He protects his girlfriend and always treats her nicely."

"That shouldn't be too hard to do," said Syaoran. "If she refrains from leaving the house alone, that is."

She pulled back and smiled smugly.

"I said I wanted to surprise you," she told him.

Syaoran placed his fork on his plate and rest a hand to her cheek, stroking it with his thumb.

"It's a nice surprise."

Sakura felt a burning desire to have his lips on hers again but he did not make a move. Instead he broke their contact completely.

"Do you want something to drink?" he asked, going over to the fridge.

"Some water please."

He poured her a glass and she sipped on it while he finished eating the cake.

"That was great," he told her, setting the fork on the empty plate with a clink.

He leaned his head to the side, regarding her with curiosity. Even she looked down at herself to see if something was out of place.

"You look… are we supposed to be going on a date today?" he asked, a light flush in his cheeks.

She needlessly adjusted her dress.

"No. I just wanted to look good. For you. Don't you like that?"

Syaoran's gaze moved up and down the length of her body. Moving over to the sink, he said, "Yeah."

"I'm glad," she said, moving across to him as he washed his plate.

"Do you want to stay here for a while?" he asked, which really had been her plan all along. "We can watch a movie. Or you can wait for Meilin to come home. Do something with her."

"I want to do something with you," she said.

"A movie it is then."

They sat on the living room sofa and Syaoran flicked through the channels, looking for something that had recently started. In the end, he settled on an action/adventure movie. Sakura shifted closer to him and laid her head against his shoulder. From the corner of her eye, she saw him look down at her but she determinedly watched the television screen, slightly sheepish by her own need to be so close to him.

He leaned away from her and for a terrible moment she thought he was recoiling but then he was back, and his arm draped across her shoulder, and the tips of fingers lightly brushed her forearm. Grinning, she rest a hand on his chest and gazed up into his deep brown eyes and he smiled down at her, softly.

"Is this okay?" he asked.

"It's perfect," answered Sakura, going starry-eyed.

"You didn't tell Meilin, yet," he said. "About us. She hasn't mentioned it to me."

Sakura did not know what it was but she just needed to have more contact with him. So, she raised her legs and placed them over one of his knees, turning into him.

"I was going to do that yesterday," she said. "But we were having so much fun at the festival I forgot. And then when I remembered, I wanted to keep it a secret for a little while. To enjoy it by myself and with you."

Syaoran was staring at her legs with a slight frown between his brows.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Maybe you shouldn't sit like that," he told her.

She glanced down at their legs.

"Why?"

"I don't think it's right," said Syaoran, slowly. "I realise you're very affectionate but if your brother was to see us right now…"

"Oh I told Otou-san to talk to him," she said. "And I won't let him be nasty to you anymore."

A look of shock was sprawled all over Syaoran's face.

"You did?"

"Hai."

"That was brave. But you're wearing a dress right now and it's slipping down so…"

Sakura flushed. She did not think about that little fact! She brought her legs down to the floor and crossed them at the ankles.

"Sorry."

"It's fine," said Syaoran. "We're very conservative and traditional when it comes to dating in my family. Hence the whole fiancée thing with Meilin when we were younger. If we were back in Hong Kong we'd probably be chaperoned. Everywhere."

Tilting her head in amazement, Sakura asked, "Really?"

He nodded.

"We're more into courting than dating," he said, glancing away. "If you're going to meet someone, the idea is that you're going to see if you're interested them. See if they have... wife potential."

Sakura's face heated up.

"So…" she said, fiddling with his t-shirt front. "In your mind, are we dating or courting?"

She peeked up at him but he was staring at the television show. When he did not answer she laid her palm flat against his chest, rising up slightly. He looked down at her, eyes dazed.

"I…"

And Sakura thought that it would be wonderful for him to say she had wife potential. Suddenly, dating sounded wispy and childish and she wanted to be courting. In a few months, she would be sixteen. Her mother married at sixteen. So could she. But did Syaoran want to get married so fast? Where would they live? Would she be a stay-at-home wife while he continued his studies at university? He was smart enough to go. Light-bulbs started flashing in her mind. She would make sure he ate well everyday so he could do his best and would keep things neat and orderly like she knew he liked it. And when he started working, she would make him baths and press his uniforms…!

As her face drifted closer to his, she wondered, how many babies did he want?

"Xiao Lang."

She and Syaoran sprang apart, breaths ragged, hearts pumping painfully in their chests. Liquan was looking down sternly at them and Syaoran jumped to his feet.

"We were just-"

"Elder Bojing called me," he interrupted Syaoran. "We need to talk."

He glanced down at Sakura.

"All of us. Kinomoto-sensei included."

Getting to her feet, she asked, "What do you need to talk to Otou-san about?"

"Just get ready," he said to Syaoran.

Syaoran folded his arms, not moving an inch beyond that. Liquan, who had made to leave the living room, paused and looked back at him.

"Didn't you hear the urgency in my voice?"

"Didn't you hear her ask you a question?"

Sakura stared at Syaoran, astonished by the hostility in his voice. For a minute, he and Liquan stared at each other in an obvious power struggle neither seemed intent on losing. Sakura was about to put an end to it by telling Syaoran that it was okay, when Liquan gave an amused smile.

"Well about time. You two are an item now?"

Sakura expected Syaoran to back down because of how sensitive he was when it came to his feelings but he stood his ground.

"We are, but Sakura isn't just my girlfriend," he said, making her flush. "She is the Card Mistress. The most powerful magician alive. If you can't respect me, respect her. And respect that I would intervene in another way, the next time you're rude to her. She asked you a polite question you could give her a polite answer."

Liquan's gaze slid to Sakura, examining her thoughtfully.

"You are the Card Mistress," he agreed. He gave a wry smile. "Your father recognized symbols he said Hiiragizawa Eriol drew for him. One of the Li Clan's Elders has made a headway on such symbols, and small as it might be I would like your father's thoughts on them. Are you satisfied with that answer, cousin?"

Syaoran said nothing.

"Good," said Liquan. "Now get yourself in order."

Sakura looked back at Syaoran who was silently fuming.

"You didn't have to do that," she told him.

"I did," he said. "It wasn't all about you. But you should command some more respect you know. He would never speak to or ignore Clow like that."

"Yue-san said that to me once," she admitted. "He said Kero-chan should be more respectful."

Syaoran's face cracked into a small smile.

"That's true."

Troubled as she recalled a certain moment, she said, "He also told me, well kind of told me… that he had strong feelings for me."

Syaoran stepped forward, his expression turning serious.

"Now it makes sense. He's been acting strange around me. Glaring out from Yukito's eyes."

He heaved a deep breath, blowing it out past his lips.

"I haven't formally rejected his feelings yet, but I will soon."

Syaoran nodded stiffly and she fiddled with her fingers.

"You're not... jealous? Are you?" she asked, following him anxiously as he started walking out of the living room.

Syaoran shook his head.

"No. Don't worry. You're easy to like. A lot of guys are going to like you."

She blushed, coyly.

"Syaoran-kun..."

He stopped outside a door.

"It's true," he said with a smile.

He opened the door and she was about to walk in with him when he stopped her.

"I prefer to change my clothes alone," he said, colour spreading across his cheeks.

Her face reddened as she realised they were outside his bedroom. She turned and hurried back to the living room.

"Right! Sorry!"

Fujitaka set a tray of tea and crackers down on the coffee table and Kero immediately stuffed a whole one into his mouth. It poked out of the sides of his face as he eagerly held up one of the teacups on the tray. Fujitaka, smiling, filled it to the brim. Swallowing the cracker, he downed the tea and burped loudly.

"Ahhh," he sighed. "There's nothing like tea and crackers in the afternoon…!"

Across from Sakura, sitting beside Liquan on the sofa was Syaoran, who was looking at the guardian in mild disgust, making her smile. Every little thing he did made her smile now. She stared at him, willing him to look up so they could meet each other's gaze but instead, he looked at Liquan, who she was startled to realise was watching her intently. Syaoran scowled at him but politely accepted the cup of tea Fujitaka handed him.

Her father handed Liquan's cup to her and balancing it carefully in her hands, she handed it to him.

"Li-san," said Fujitaka, after everyone had drank a little of their tea and eaten whatever crackers Kero had left back. "Would you like to tell us now of the news you have."

Liquan set his tea-cup on the table. He pulled a book from behind his back, flipped through it and rest it open on the table so they could all see into it. There were what appeared at first glance to Chinese characters but they were not at all.

"You said you saw characters of these nature Kinomoto-sensei. That the other half of Clow's incantation drew them as well."

"Eriol-kun?" asked Sakura, looking to her father. "If he drew this and it's important, shouldn't we call him?"

"He's busy with others things," said Fujitaka. "Li-san, please continue."

"The Elders have been helping me to research their origins along with the more experienced archaeologists and lineage scholars in our family." He looked at Sakura. "I had asked your father to show me the symbols Hiiragizawa-san drew. I faxed them to these scholars. The same symbols were found on a stone basin unearthed in Japan 115 years ago. It was being held in a museum vault for archiving before it was put on show. It mysteriously disappeared. But one of my family members who had been on the committee noted a very strong magical presence surrounding it."

He turned back to Fujitaka.

"I was wrong when I said we had not made headway on the symbols. Apparently, one of my great-aunts came across a manuscript buried beneath the remains of what appears to be an ancient temple, in a remote village in China. The manuscript was a Rosetta stone of sorts. It was short and difficult to decipher but she managed to get a lot out of it."

Syaoran sat up straight, eyes fixed on his cousin more attentively than ever.

"The characters Hiiragizawa-san drew were the ones on the basin." He pulled something from between one of the pages of the book, to reveal a faded, black and white picture of the basin. Everyone leaned in for a look. "These characters read, "Empty your cup. Bare your soul. You will see." She believes it is a divination basin, for an oracle."

"An oracle?" murmured Sakura.

Liquan leaned back on the sofa.

"My aunt was able to date the manuscript. It was from a time even beyond that of the basin. Approximately 200 years older. The characters on the basin were a more stylized form of that on the manuscript. Whoever wrote it tried to improve on the language."

"Did she find out who the monks were?" asked Syaoran. "Do we know if the enemy is their descendents?"

"No. But it's possible," said Liquan. "The monks most likely were a small, isolated group. Since the basin was found in Japan it is possible that some of their members relocated here for whatever reason. The Elders believe that it would be best for Sakura to use the Return-"

"Absolutely not."

All eyes snapped to Syaoran. He folded his arms.

"The Return is dangerous."

"I've used it before," said Sakura.

"You went back to Clow's time, " he said. "And even that was dangerous. The Elders want you to go back way beyond that. It's ridiculous. You could get stuck."

"You don't even know how far they want her to go back," said Liquan, not looking too happy that Syaoran was going against him.

"Fine. How far?" asked Syaoran, fire in his eyes.

Liquan paused for a moment.

"Japan's Heian Period."

"That's 12th century!" exclaimed Kero.

Syaoran's cheeks puffed out. He looked round at Fujitaka.

"That's too far for her to go. She won't come back."

Fujitaka gave Syaoran a look of understanded but he addressed Liquan next.

"Why do your Elders want Sakura-san to go back to this era?"

"Your wife's ancestor, Amamiya Noboru was a powerful seer. He lived around the time the basin was dated. If anyone would know about other powerful magicians in Japan at that time, it would be him."

"I read about him," said Sakura, remembering the day she had spent at the museum, looking up her lineage. "He was a descendant of the Chiyo clan. A samurai."

"It's imperative you find him and speak to him," said Liquan. He stared at Kero. "It is possible for her to make contact with him?"

Syaoran leaped to his feet in anger and Kero peered up at him from his seat on the coffee table.

"For once I may have to agree with the kid," he said. "It's dangerous to go back so far. When you went back to see Clow, Sakura-chan, he knew you were coming and I knew where he was going to be. The same can't be said of your ancestor."

"See?" said Syaoran, feeling the camaraderie.

"But Amamiya-san was very powerful," said Sakura. "Shouldn't he be able to see that I am going back to meet him?

"It's possible," said Kero, slowly. "He could be waiting for you."

"Sakura," said Syaoran, his voice as authoritative as a headmaster. "You're being reckless."

"This is important," stressed Liquan. "Those people - your enemies - were able to hold this guardian and the other guardian with ease. They don't even appear to be at their full strength. It's imperative we find out who they are before that happens."

"And you want her to risk her life to do it," said Syaoran.

"That's the only way."

"Syaoran-kun," said Sakura quietly. "I trust you to bring me back even though you think you won't be able to."

Syaoran stood transfixed by her compliment and declaration of complete faith in him. He shook a blush from his cheeks and turned to Fujitaka, imploringly.

"Kinomoto-sensei. This isn't right. She doesn't appreciate how dangerous this is."

Fujitaka looked around at all their faces, deliberating within himself. He sighed.

"Sakura-san, I will leave this decision up to you."

"What?" asked Syaoran, wide-eyed. "Kinomoto-sensei-!"

"Syaoran-kun," said Sakura, rising to her feet. "Please don't worry. Everything will be alright. Like always. I'll be there and back again in no time. I have to do this. For all of us."

"You should do it as soon as possible," said Liquan, speaking like the word was going to blow up in a minute. "Today would be best."

"We have to go to the cherry blossom tree at Tsukimine Shrine and use its spiritual energies like last time," said Kero.

"It's settled then," said Fujitaka. "We will do it now. Eriol-san and I, though we have not said it, feel very uneasy about this threat to you Sakura-san. We prefer to deal with it in a more proactive way. The sooner. The better."

"Hai, Otou-san."

They could have walked but Fujitaka drove. All the while, in the back-seat of the car with Sakura, Syaoran sat silent. She glimpsed him through the corner of her eye. He was mad at her. Only a day into their relationship and they were in disagreement. She wanted to do as he desired but she knew that if he was not scared for her, he would see that what she was doing was the best thing. She knew that if he was the one going to the past he would do so in a heartbeat. But then she would be the one waiting and the one who had to bring him back. She did not trust herself with his life like she trusted him with hers, so she could not even suggest that he take her place.

When they got to the Tsukimine Shrine, Sakura released her Star Wand and stared up at the tall, cherry blossom tree. It was not in bloom but it stood with all the regality of an empress. A cool wind blew, swaying the branches and rustling the leaves.

She turned around and came face to face with Syaoran. His jaw was clamped shut and he was not looking at her. Rather he was glaring at a point past her head. She raised her right hand and held out her pinky.

"I swear to you I'll come back."

His brows turned up and she could see that he was struggling to not lock her in a basement somewhere until she agreed not to go. And as selfish as it was, she was happy that he cared so much it hurt to see her go. He took a swaying step towards her and a moment later, his arms were around her in a tight hug.

"Why do you do this to me?" he whispered into her ear.

She smiled softly.

"I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm leaving to find a way to protect you. Everyone. Remember. You'll bring me back. You'll save me. You always do."

He pulled back, his hands clutching hers arms tightly.

"I will," he promised, face set.

She pulled the Return card out of her dress pocket.

"Return," she said, rounding on the tree. "Take me back to the time of Amamiya Noboru. Release!"

Heavy gusts of wind whipped about them and a swirling portal of black mist materialised in the tree's trunk. She looked back at her father and Kero.

"Be careful Sakura-chan," said her guardian, above the roar of the thunderous winds.

"We'll wait eight hours for the most," said her father. "Then Li-san will retrieve you."

"Please make sure he rests Otou-san," she said, making Syaoran's eyes go wide. "He's going to be using all his energy to get me back."

Fujitaka nodded and she bowed her head in thanks. She nodded to Liquan and at the last moment, when she saw how deeply upset Syaoran seemed, she threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. He gripped her waist in surprise. She pulled back and glanced with embarrassment at her father.

"See you soon!" she exclaimed and she dashed into the portal before Syaoran could stop her because she would have definitely stayed if just one more time, he had asked her to.

Hey Tomodachi! Thank you for reviewing signed reviewers and Guest. Hope you liked the follow-up to the confession. What kind of job would Sakura have in your opinion? I see her as either a housewife or a preschool or elementary school teacher. Lol. Can you imagine 'cop Sakura?' She'll probably let all the bad guys go if they showed remorse. hehe. Anyway, Read and Review. Until next time, ^_^