“Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan, did you hear about the autumn field trip? I’m so excited! Since we are in middle school now, we get to go on the camping trip to the mountains!” Naoko exclaimed, clasping her hands. “Wouldn’t it be so spooky in the night time?”

Sakura sweat dropped. Touya still teased her for being scared of ghosts. A bad thing about Touya regaining his powers was that he had the power to communicate with spirits, and he teased her endlessly about it. One would expect that he would be more mature, since Yukito and he finally entered college. But, no. Her brother still teased her recklessly. After all, he was Touya.

She didn’t know exactly how much Touya remembered about the Clow Card business. Though Yukito showed no sign of remembering it, she knew that Touya still had some remembrances. Not that he showed it. Was it time that Yue-san should awaken once more? No, Yukito was finally relaxing now that he forgot his true identity. I thought that all my troubles ended from Eriol-kun, but that’s not true. Sigh. It’s not an easy thing being a Sakura Card Mistress. Staring pensively out the window from her seat, she did not feel any joy from the news of the field trip.

Just then the class room door burst open. In came Meirin, panting and dragging Syaoran with her. “Made it just in time!”

“Good morning Meirin-chan, Li-kun.”

“Good morning!” Meirin said. “Syaoran over slept again!”

“Did not! You were the one who took so long getting dressed!”

Tomoyo and Sakura laughed. Then Sakura exclaimed, “Oh yes, Li-kun, this is your sweater. I washed it since it got wet last time. Sorry I forgot to give it back for several weeks…” Actually, Touya had been suspicious of it and stole it. Luckily, Sakura sneaked it back when Touya was out. He would have donated it to the charity or burnt it if she hadn’t. “Thank you, Li-kun.”

“Eh?” When Sakura handed back the neatly folded green sweater, he said “Oh! I totally forgot about it.” Syaoran sweat dropped when Meirin narrowed her eyes. Luckily, this sweater was one that he bought himself. Somehow, he had bad luck concerning lending clothes to Sakura, since Meirin always showed up at the most inconvenient times. It didn’t help that Meirin’s first meeting with Sakura was when she was at his house and wore the t-shirt that she had bought him. Out of all the shirts that he had, Wei had to give her that one. What a life.
 
“Class,” the sensei announced. “As we know, our grade will be granted an autumn field trip.” Immediately, the class bolted up. “Next week, we will take a hiking trip to the mountain and camp out.” A murmur ran through the class and everyone started whispering and cheering. They were all excited after the endless weeks of hard studying.

Syaoran muttered, “Oh no, not again.”

Curiously, Meirin asked, “Why, what’s the matter? Aren’t you excited about the field trip?”

“Excited? Yes, very excited. Don’t you even know that every time we go on a field trip, some sort of trouble occurs?”

A bead of sweat ran down the side of Sakura’s head. Syaoran’s words reminded her of the skating trip, the courage testing and every other imaginable trip.

“Ohohoho. Maybe I should bring costumes and my video camera. Do you know? My mother finally bought me that mini, microchip video camera,” Tomoyo exclaimed enthusiastically.

The sensei tried to continue over the noisy class “… so, the first day we arrive on the bus and find a camping spot and prepare our tents. Then we will have some fun activities. The next day, you will be assigned hiking groups of five to trek the mountain and record specific nature assignments. Finally, on the last day, we will pack and the bus will pick us up…” By this time, nobody was listening to him. He smiled at the excited class.

“Hoe-e! What if there are ghosts in the wood!” Sakura cried.

Naoko’s eyes glinted, “Don’t you know, Sakura-chan? Many years ago, a class went to the same camping trip. Well, they started off all right in the beginning. But in the end, one group ended up missing. They searched everywhere for that missing group, but they were found no where. Not even their bones were found. It was concluded that they got lost and wondered off until they faded without any trace into the forest, and became…” By this time, the usual crowd of people had gathered to listen and they all tilted forward at the pause. “… And those students who were tired and worn out, faded into GHOSTS!” A gasp rang out. “Some people who stopped by the forests claim to have seen the ghosts. Some say that they were dressed in rags and called out ‘save me’ while others say that the ghosts take other people who stay overnight, to get revenge for not being saved. Well, it is true that people go to that mountain and never come back.”

By this time, Sakura’s teeth were clattering. Meirin clutched at Syaoran’s arms saying, “Syaoran, let’s not go. We can get notes saying that we are not allowed to sleep out doors, or something.”

Naoko muttered, “Hmm… this story has better effect if it is told at the mountain, in the nighttime.”

Takashi was nodding, “Yes, a great story. It’s almost good as my story of how…” Before he could continue, Chiharu bonked him on the head. “Ouch. I have a story of a bad tempered old witch who could not accept the fact of the existence of a genius.”

Sakura smiled at the usual chattering of her close friends.

Tomoyo then murmured, “Well, I hope we get to choose our own camping partners.”

Syaoran groaned; he could just imagine the amount of privacy he will get in the next few days.
 

Finally, it was the day before the camping trip. The sensei read, “Well, we have arranged the groups for the tents and also for the hiking groups. It is possible that the same people might be in both of them. We tried to include friends, as well as other students who you would be able to get closer with.”

Another sensei started to read out the list. Some students cheered when they heard their name, others groaned. The classes downstairs wondered what the commotion upstairs was.

“Kinomoto Sakura, Daidouji Tomoyo, and Li Meirin.” Sakura and Tomoyo squealed. They were so lucky to be camping partners. Meirin sighed in relief because she was stuck with people that she knew.

“Yamazaki Takashi, Li Syaoran…” Syaoran was about to sigh in relief, “and lastly, Chang Eron.” Syaoran’s heart dropped to his foot. God, no! Not with that creepy prince addict.

The sensei continued, “Well, I hope you all get along with each other. Now, we will read out the hiking groups.” He started reading out the list. The last group he called out was, “Daidouji Tomoyo, Li Meirin, Chang Eron, Chang Erika, and Li Syaoran. Wait, we have one left over person, Kinomoto Sakura. It can be a group of six.”

Tomoyo felt so glad that she would be able to tape Sakura at all times. Hmm… Syaoran versus Eron, how about Syaoran and Erika? Eron and Sakura? The twins had settled in with the class almost surprisingly fast and were quite popular now. Eron and Erika certainly had some sort of knack in charm.

Double bad luck. Eron in two groups! Syaoran started to doodle on his paper.

“That’s very good, Li-kun!” Tomoyo exclaimed.

Sakura examined the sketch, and said, “Yeah! I never knew you could draw!”

Syaoran raised an eye. He had sketched out a wolf. “Eh? Thanks.” Eriol had been better at drawing than he was. Of course, Eriol wasn’t Eriol, but Clow Reed. Still… He broke his pencil lead. He had been pressing it too hard. Of course, it was the past, but when he thought about those times… Syaoran glanced side ways at Eron. Great. Now I have a second Eriol. At least Eriol didn’t mean bad. I know I’ve seen Eron some place else, but where? Syaoran didn’t know about the spell cast on him that veiled him. It would be ages before he finally figured out Eron and Erika were the legendary figures that his very father had to fight off.

* * * * * *

“No, Kero-chan, you can’t come. I’ll love to take you, but there is no place for you to hide.” Sakura was busily packing the night before the camping trip, into her hiking bag. “Next?” Kero-chan was reading out the camping check-list for her.

“Flashlight, sleeping bag, water bottle…”

Just then, Fujitaka entered the room. Smiling as always, he gently asked, “Do you need any help packing?” Kero-chan quickly dropped into the bag.

“Un! I’m fine, Otousan. Thank you though. I’ll miss you while I’m away.”

Carrying the water bottle in, Touya asked, “Will you miss me? Here kaijou. You’ll get thirsty if you scream there as much as you do here.

“I’m not a monster!”

Fujitaka smiled, “Of course you aren’t.”

“Hey, kaijou, aren’t you too old to be taking dolls to camp?” Touya help up Kero, dangling him by one leg.

“Uh… I put it in by mistake…” Snatching Kero-chan away, Sakura hid him behind her. Kero sighed in relief.
 
“Well, don’t get lost in the mountains. I did when I was in middle school.”
 
“What happened?”
 
“Nothing. Really; no ghosts. Of course, we thought there were ghosts at that time…”
 
Just then, the phone rang. Sakura didn’t get to ask how they were found.

* * * * * *

 
Finally, the classes were on the buses, on their way to the mountains.
 
“Hmm. Did I bring everything?” Tomoyo pondered as she rummaged through her bulging bag.
 
Sakura, who sat next to her as usual laughed, “What would we need? We have to make the ‘best use of the natural surroundings.’ Rika-chan, you look happy.”
 
“I am.” Rika smiled. Terada-sensei was now teaching in middle school, so he was one of the teachers supervising the trip. Too bad he wasn’t their class teacher. Maybe next year…
 
Meirin wailed from across the aisle, “Wai! I don’t want to go!”
 
Naoko, who sat next to her said, “Don’t worry. The ghosts won’t come out unless you are lost. Just make sure you don’t get lost.”
 
“Hoe-e! No ghosts!” Sakura wailed in unison with Meirin.

 
The students filed out of the school bus and climbed up a part of the mountain. The sensei then announce, “Here, we are going to set up our tents first. Go into your groups and try to set up the tents on your own. If you have any trouble, come to me or any of the other teachers in charge.”
 
Soon, they were all busy at work.

“Meirin, grab that end. Tomoyo, steady it. Here I got this,” Sakura said as she hammered in the pole and pulled it tight. She brushed her bangs out of her face.
 
Finally, Sakura’s group set up the tent, but after a few seconds, the tent poles wavered, then collapsed again. “Oh no!” They all sighed in exasperation. They had to start all over again. At least the others were having as much trouble.

Syaoran scowled fiercely. Eron was getting on his nerves as he continuously flashed smiles at everyone. He didn’t even want to think about sleeping in the same tent as him. He hammered down on the poles so hard, that the tent tilted over and collapsed over him. People around him tittered and Eron laughed and offered him a hand. Untangling himself from the canvas, Syaoran brushed it off and stomped off to the woods. There, he climbed up the tallest tree and stayed there for privacy. Of course, Meirin searched for him, as usual.

At last, everyone’s tents were set up with all their sleeping bags snugly inside. The sun already sank low. Several groups combined to sit around a fire. They were roasting marshmallows as they chattered. Sakura patiently turned her stick around; round and round and round so that the marshmallow would not burn. Hmm… Mizuki-sensei hated marshmallows. Suddenly, her marshmallow caught fire and Sakura was pertrified. “Hoe-e! My marshmallow’s burning!”
 
“Shake it. Hey watch where you wave it, stupid!” Syaoran dodged as Sakura waved it dangerously near his head. Sakura instantly shook the stick and the fire died off, smoking.
 
“Look at my marshmallow! It’s all burnt and black and I can’t eat it!”
 
Eron offered Sakura a perfectly browned marshmallow on his stick and said, “Here. You can have mine. I don’t really care for sweets, anyway.”
 
“Arigato, Eron-kun.” Sakura blissfully ate the marshmallow, crispy on the outside and gooey inside. Syaoran was fuming so much, that he did not even notice that his own marshmallow had burnt crisp until the whole stick fell apart.
 
“You burnt yours! Here have mine!” Meirin said and shoved a burnt one into it into his mouth. Syaoran choked and burnt his mouth.
 
“Water,” he gasped. Quickly, he grabbed a water bottle and gulped it down.
 
“Hey! That’s mine.” Erika exclaimed.
 
Syaoran choked again and spit the water back into the bottle.
 
“Ew!” Everyone exclaimed.
 
Takashi began to clear his throat, “What we are doing here will be a very valuable experience. In the ancient tribal day, boys coming of age were sent off to the wilderness with nothing, absolutely nothing to survive for a year. If they did survive in the wilderness, they were accepted as respectable and courageous men, and if not, they were failures left to die. It was almost like how family clans sent their boys to accomplish a mission vital for their family, and if they failed, they were disgraced as the black sheep.”
 
Syaoran groaned inside. He had experience. Of course his mother didn’t show it, but she had been disappointed in his part of getting the Clow Cards. I am not a failure. Or so I think... I am a failure. Was all that training in vain? Whatever would my father think of me?

You have helped Sakura. That’s all, but it may amount more than anything. Fiddling with the zipper of his khaki jacket, he stared into the crackling fire. The boys had khaki jackets made out of weather proof material, white shirts, and tan pants. The girls had similar khaki vests with white shirts, tan shorts and white knee socks. They all had matching hats and bags. Takashi was about to continue of family honor, but Chiharu said, “Lies! Stop making things up!”
 
Just then Eron interrupted, “Nope, it’s all true. My family used to have things like that.” Looking at Syaoran he asked, “You’re from a Chinese family, aren’t you. Don’t you have missions like that? If I know correctly, you are from the ancient lineage of the Li clan.”
 
The ancient lineage of the Li clan, descendant of Clow Reed. Syaoran sighed again, staring into the depts of the blazing red. Sakura shot him a look of sympathy. She would have gladly given him all the Clow Cards, but he would not accept it, and it was not possible.
 
Takashi exclaimed, “Wow, I think I’m gonna like you, Chang-kun. There was nobody who understood me since Eriol-kun left.”
 
By that time, it was getting late in the night and it was completely dark. Naoko said, “Now, let’s tell ghost stories.” She held her flashlight underneath her face, creating goulish effects.
 
“No, let’s play truth and dare,” Tomoyo said. This was more agreed on, since most of the girls shirked from the idea of ghosts, especially in the mountains, during the nighttime. “Does everyone agree.” They nodded. “Li-kun?”
 
“Whatever,” he mumbled.
 
“Who goes first?” Rika asked.
 
“How about doing rock, scissors, paper?” Chiharu suggested.
 
They did it, and it singled out on Meirin. “Nooo. I don’t wanna go first.”
 
“Nope! You gotta. Now everyone, who tells a lie or does anything dishonest will be haunted by the ghosts of this mountain. I’ll ask first,” Chiharu smiled devilishly, “Truth or dare?”
 
“Truth.”
 
“Okay. What do you most want to say to Li-kun? Remember the ghosts.”
 
“Hey, that’s stupid!” Syaoran exclaimed. He hoped Meirin wouldn’t make a fool of him as always.
 
Meirin quivered a moment. Long ago, it would have been something like, I love you Syaoran, but now? She murmured, “Syaoran, do not hide yourself from the truth. You try not to be a fool, but you are fool. She has a name, you know.”
 
“Hey that’s not fair,” broke in Naoko. “You are making no sense.”
 
Chiharu said, “It is fair. She did say it. Syaoran, do you have any clue what she’s talking about?”
 
Syaoran said in a soft but deadly tone, “Yes and no. This is a stupid game.”
 
This tone kept anyone from badgering on the issue.

Meirin said, “Okay, now I said it. I pick Chiharu-chan to go next.”
 
“I pick dare,” Chiharu said.
 
Tomoyo said, “Hmm… Go up to the one you like and tell him you love him.”
 
“I-I don’t like anyone.”
 
Sakura said, sitting on the damp ground and hugging her knees, “That’s kind of harsh. How about just saying why she loves him, without saying who its is.”
 
Everyone agreed.
 
Chiharu turned red and stammered, “Ahh, I love you… because…” She looked down and said, “Though you don’t look me as anyone but an annoyance and pain in the butt, I still like you because you were my friend for a long time and you were always there. I like you even if you have so many odd faults…” she added silently, and I like you even if you named the bear I gave you Suama, and not “Chiharu.”
 
Sakura sighed, as clueless as ever, “Oooh, that’s so sweet. Who ever it is, will be warmed if they hear it.”
 
“Yamazaki-kun next!”
 
“I take dare, also,” Takashi said. He opened one of his rarely open eyes to look at Chiharu who was really red, then smiled one of his innocent smiles.
 
Eron smiled, “I dare you to go up to the girl around this circle that you like the best and kiss her.”
 
Syaoran muttered, “He’ll never do it.”
 
Takashi laughed and said, “I’ll do it.” He went up to the surprised Chiharu and gave her a peck on the cheek. She turned into a tomato. Takashi then said, “In France, they kiss friends every time they meet each other and they think it’s normal; so I just chose Chiharu-chan because I knew her the longest.”
 
Chiharu felt a trifle disappointed, but still was blushing.
 
Eron murmured, “I meant to kiss on the mouth…” No one heard him.
 
“Sakura-chan’s turn!”
 
“Hoe-e! Do I have to?”
 
“Yes!” Everyone shouted, except for Syaoran, who was absentmindedly drawing Chinese letters on the soft ground with a brittle stick, muttering, “Fire, water, wood, earth…”
 
Rika asked, “So what should Sakura-chan’s dare be?”
 
Takashi asked, “What is your deepest, darkest secret?”
 
Dismayed, Sakura stammered. Of course, her biggest secret was the business about being a Sakura Card Mistress and all… but there was no way that she could say that. Also, she couldn’t lie because maybe it was superstition, but if one lied around the campfire, they would be cursed. “Hoe-e…”
 
“Isn’t that intruding privacy?” Tomoyo asked to defend Sakura.
 
“No, she must say the truth. Everyone’s supposed to,” Erika said.
 
Being at loss of what to say, Sakura held her breadth. Then she gazed at what Syaoran was writing in the dirt. To her surprise, she could still read the Chinese characters because of the spell he had cast on her before. When she read it, she gasped. That was it! He was trying to help her out and had written, tell something about Yukito-san. It is a part of the bigger secret.
 
Taking a breadth, she began, “Well,” she cleared her throat. “There was this older guy that I used to imagine I was in love with. I liked him for several years, though I did not know why. I found out that he was more than who he was, but I still liked him. Finally, I confessed my feeling for him, and he rejected me. He said that my feeling for him was only like the feeling for my dad; he said that there would be someone else who would be my first one. At first, I was crestfallen, but after a while, it didn’t matter anymore, because… because someone was always there for me and helped me feel better.” She broke off strongly. It had been so long since she thought about that incident. At least she hadn’t been lying, since the whole thing was a part of the bigger secret. Yet, I didn’t mean to say the last part. It hurt her since she said it so strongly and uncaring. I guess that it is a big secret still. One I will always remember. In a flash back, she remembered about Syaoran comforting her when she was crying so bitterly about her rejection from Yukito-san… No, Sakura, stop thinking about it.
 
“So, did you find who your first one was?” Chiharu asked.
 
Sakura smiled sadly, “I don’t know. I used to think that I did, but I am totally clueless now.”
 
“Of couse you’ll find someone, Sakura-chan!” Tomoyo exclaimed.

“Well, Li-kun next.”
 
“Eh? Do I have to do it?”
 
“Yes!” Everyone exclaimed. “Truth or dare.”
 
“Ah…” Syaoran thought. Absentmindedly, he rubbed out his writings on the ground with his foot. Sakura better thank me; I saved her from a great deal. Also, I saved my own butt. She is so innocent she would not lie about the Clow Card business. Then, where would I be? Well, now… he had so many secrets, he would never be able to admit anything. “Dare.”
 
“How about making him confess his love?” Erika asked.
 
“I don’t have any love in my life, currently,” Syaoran interrupted.
 
“Did you?”
 
“Umm…” He was going to deny it, but… “Maybe.”
 
Eron grinned wickedly, “I know. You see that single flower up there on the top of that tall tree? Well, go up and pick it for that person you used to love.”
 
Everyone gasped. That was too hard, since the straight tree was one of the tallest and thinnest in sight with hardly any branches. “Are you too scared to do it?” Eron sneered.
 
Snapping Syaoran said, “I’ll do it.” First, he took off his jacket, then took a deep breadth. Climbing trees for him was as natural as going to sleep. He then grabbed the frail trunk and started up. The whole group watched him. Starting to sweat Syaoran looked down. Everything seemed so far away. This was hard work, since he had to sort of wriggle up with nothing to grasp in the darkness. Finally, he was almost at the top. He saw the white blossom, pure and bright against the dark sky speckled with millions of stars. As he reached out, the trees swaggered. The trunk was weak and the branch, which had the single blossom, was just out of reach. Syaoran reached further. The tree swayed. What am I doing? Am I actually picking this for a person that I used to like? Or is it because I don’t want Eron to patronize me?

In the bottom, a spectacle had gathered. The sensei called, “Li Syaoran! Come down at once!” Syaoran was oblivious to this all. He never gave up. Shifting slightly, he put one foot on a weak branch and leaned a bit further out for the flower. Just as he grabbed the flower, the branch snapped, with a crack! Sakura shrieked, and everyone covered their eyes. Meirin gasped.

Yet, Syaoran wasn’t the pride of his family for no reason. He didn’t even lose his head. Swiftly, with his suppleness, he jumped off that tree to the branch of a lower one beside it. From there, he did a flip and landed on the dirt ground on his feet, with perfect coordination. Everyone was awed and clapped their hands. Not for the first time, girls sighed romantically, including Meirin and Erika. Eron just frowned. Syaoran brushed the dirt off his clothes and suddenly felt a power of wildness soar inside him. Then he cringed. He hadn’t meant to jump off like that. After all, what normal junior high student could jump from tree to tree? God, now people would think I’m weirder than I already am.

Terada-sensei was angry and scolded, “What were you doing, Li Syaoran? Don’t you know it’s dangerous? You could have fell and broken bones, or died!”

Syaoran stared back with grave amber eyes clouded, “I’ve faced greater and more perilous death before. I can deal perfectly well with the beauty of nature, unmarred from the evil forces. I’ve been climbing trees since I learned to walk. I apologize if you were worried, though.”
 
For some reason, the sensei felt compelled and shuddered. Ever since he had known him, Li Syaoran was not an ordinary kid. He knew too much; seen too much for an average boy. “Well, don’t do anything like that again.”
 
Soon, the crowd wandered off, and the original group gathered by the fire again. They were silent for a while.
 
Meirin said reproachfully, “That dare was too dangerous.”
 
“I’m fine, Meirin. It was nothing,” Syaoran said carelessly.
 
Erika asked, “Well, what happened to the flower?”
 
Syaoran unclenched his fist to reveal a crushed, yet beautiful, pale flower.
 
Tomoyo asked significantly, “So, who are you giving it to?”
 
“I told you I don’t like anyone, anymore.”
 
“You said you will give it to the person you used to like, “ Eron murmured.
 
Looking up, Syaoran stared into Sakura’s eyes, which reflected the flickering flames. His lips curved in a sad, whimsical way, though Sakura found it hard to see exactly in the dark. Then he threw the flower into the fire. They could see the dark outline burn and crumbled into ashes. Suddenly, Sakura shivered. Briefly, Syaoran stood up. “Well, I’m tired. I’m going.” Something had happened during that past few minutes and everyone sat silently for a moment. The wind howled. Snuffling the fire, they headed back to their own tents. The game wasn’t finished.

 
That night, Sakura was sleepy and snuggled inside the sleeping bag. An owl hooted and bats fluttered about in an uncanny way. She squirmed in discomfort.
 
“Are you guys sleeping?” she asked.
 
“No. I hate this place. I can’t sleep because of the noise,” Meirin grieved.
 
“Meirin-chan, what were you talking about in truth or dare?” Tomoyo asked.
 
“None of your business.” Man what did she say? Syaoran is a fool? “Oooh, I wish I’m home or that Syaoran was here. He always makes me feel better.”
 
Eventually, they all fell into sleep. Sakura tossed and turned.
 

The next morning, Sakua woke up just before dawn. Scrambling to put on her shoes, she walked out of the tent. She heard some distant whacking and panting noises. In the dim light, she walked through the forest as she pulled her hair back from her face. There, as she thought, Syaoran was practicing kicks and punches against a sturdy tree trunk. Quietly, she watched from under a shaded tree.

Syaoran continued to punch the gnarled tree truck with his bare fist. Without turning around, he asked, “What are you doing here?”
 
Instead of answering, she said, “That must hurt.”
 
“Not if you get used to it, like I have.”
 
“Do you always do this? Practice? You must be very diligent.”
 
“Well, not exactly. I’m just trying to keep in shape.” Wiping his head with a towel he turned around and walked towards her.
 
“You’re lucky you’re so good at fighting. I never learned.”
 
“Do you want to learn? I’ll teach you sometime.”
 
“Really? I would love to learn.”
 
“Well at your service, anytime.”
 
“Thanks… How’d you know it was me?” Sakura asked curiously.
 
Almost chuckling, he said, “Don’t I always know? Anyway, what are you doing up so early? It will be hours before anyone wakes up.”
 
“I just felt like it.” She smiled. “Maybe it’s the mountain air.”
 
“Mountain air indeed. I didn’t sleep one wink last night.”
 
“You did too. You dragged your sleeping bag out and slept outdoors.”
 
“How’d you know?”
 
“I heard you. I couldn’t sleep last night, either.”
 
“Did ghosts haunt you?”
 
“Hoe! Of course not. I just couldn’t. Oh yes, thank you for helping me in truth and dare last night. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t write out that thing about Yukito-san in Chinese characters.”
 
“It’s all right. I had to help you or else my own identity would’ve been ruined as well. Or you might’ve been haunted by ghosts forever if you lied. Somehow, you’re business became my business, whether I wanted it or not.”
 
With that last sentence, they remained silent for a while. Resuming his practice, Syaoran started doing push-ups. Sakura started to stretch, also. There was to be a long walk ahead of that day so she wanted to get ready. Suddenly, she stopped and blinked. She was certain she felt a flash of power. Maybe she was mistaken. Shaking her head, she brushed it aside.

“100!” Syaoran finished his push-ups and sprang up. Mysteriously, he said,

“What trouble will await today?”
 
“I hope there is nothing. Not here.”
 
“Who knows?” Syaoran tied his shoelace again. “Hey, you said you wanted to learn how to fight. How about right now? There’s still an hour or so before the others wake up.”
 
“Sure! What do I do?”
 
“First, tie your hair back and roll up your sleeves. You better take off your vest as well; it slows down movement. Take a deep breadth and get into position.”
 
So, Sakura began her first lesson in hand to hand combat. Syaoran was an impatient, yet good teacher. Sakura probably learned more about fighting in an hour than most people did in a month.

“No! When you punch, you have to have to make a fist with you thumb out. If you tuck it in, you might break it when you hit someone hard. See, look at my fist when I punch.”

Demonstrating, Syaoran showed a thunder-punch with a tight fist. Shaking the damp hair out of his eyes he said, “Repeat!”

“Hoe-e!”
 
Panting, Sakura repeated the punching straight drill for the hundredth time. Boy, did she have respect for others who could do it for hours. Her arms were aching, and she was already beat.  Luckily, she was already athletic and nimble from the before. Even though her arms were throbbing, she continued the drill, for she did not want Syaoran to think that she would give up after the first lesson.

“Again! Punch with your knuckles and hit straighter and with more force.” Maybe I’m driving her too hard. Still, Syaoran was filled with respect for Sakura’s ability to go on. She was pretty good for a beginner. Finally, he said, “Okay, that’s enough for today.”
 
“Wow, I didn’t know this was so hard.”
 
“Well, you did say that you wanted to learn.”
 
“I don’t regret it. Well later on I won’t, but right now… I do!” Sakura shook the glossy bangs framing her face and retied her hair. She looked up uneasily at the sky, with grayish clouds swirling together. The birds had ceased to sing and the forest was unusually silent. With a sudden draft of forceful wind, a tree branch started to creak.
 
“Watch out!” Syaoran shouted.
 
Sakura stared up just to see that a great tree branch was crashing down right above her. Paralyzed, she was rooted to the spot.

Quickly, Syaoran jumped up and knocked her down with him, and they rolled over together to the side. The branch crashed with a thud on the spot Sakura had stood just a moment ago, arousing a cloud of dust. If it had been a second too late, she would have lain there, crushed underneath the force. For a moment, Sakura lay on the dirt floor to catch her breadth. Her heart was thumping, but she couldn’t get up because Syaoran was entangled with her. The dust settled over them. Without realizing it, she reddened. He’s holding my arms so tight. I can’t move or breathe. Why doesn’t he let go? He doesn’t even care for me…

Syaoran sighed in relief since they were both safe. To his annoyance, his head was mashed against Sakura’s hair, which smelled like the sweet fragrance of spring flowers. He was still gripping her arms tightly, and he felt as if he had been holding his breadth. He had an impulse to just close his eyes and lie on the soft ground. Nature suited him. Wait, why am I still gripping Sakura so tightly? She’s safe now! Why isn’t she moving away? But I can’t let go. I feel as if I let her go, I’ll never see her again. It’s been so long since I’ve been this close to her, held her in my arms. God, I have to get up.

“Syaoran!” A cutting voice rang through the forest, Meirin emerged from the trees, to see the shocking sight of Syaoran entwined with Sakura, on the ground.

“Li Syaoran! What are you doing?” More like “what are you doing with her?”

Abruptly, he sprang up with a half blush and straightened his shirt. Sakura sat up, still dazed at what had happened. Frowning, Meirin circled her.

“Meirin, it’s not what you think. I – the branch,” Syaoran broke off. Meirin glared at him, warily. “You see, the branch, it cracked, and I—uh—she was under it, and I, and I kinda saved her. Yeah, that’s what happened.” Wait, why do I have to explain the story to her. I did nothing wrong or bad. This is so stupid.

“Am I supposed to believe that?” Meirin asked. If it had been a different situation, she would have been inclined to laugh at the blushing and stammering Syaoran. It was funny to watch him get all flustered; he managed to be so cute.

“Do I ever lie?” Syaoran was back to himself again and the ‘angry scowl look’ took over his face. He was almost composed, now.

“Yes, you do. You never tell me anything and do things without me.”

“It’s ‘cause you never wake up early enough.”

“Forget it. But what am I supposed to think when you are with her, holding her in the middle of the forest…”

“Meirin, don’t get hysterical.”

“WHY AM I GETTING HYSTERICAL? WHO JUST DISAPPEARED--“

“Meirin-chan, it’s true that Li-kun saved her from being crushed under the branch,” Tomoyo slipped out from behind a tree. “I videotaped the whole scene.” Then she blushed, “See, now that things are back to normal, there are so many things to video-tape! I’m so happy!” Oh, what fun it will be to record Sakura fighting from now on! Especially with Li-kun as a teacher.

Syaoran muttered under his breadth, “Oh great. Now this whole scene is video taped. Why didn’t I let her go immediately? Ahh… as always, I’m a fool.”

Meirin turned her head, “Hmmph. Whatever. But, you, Sakura-chan, don’t go near my fiancé. I don’t understand what you two are doing here in the first place.”

“We were exercising. Training… whatever you call it. Wait a minute. Why am I saying ‘we.’ She invaded my privacy. I came here by my self.”

“Anyway what I came to say was come have breakfast.” Meirin stomped back to the tents.

Weakly, Sakura smiled up, “That was a close call with the tree branch. My head is still swirling. Well, thank you, again, Li-kun. You always manage to save me at the worst times. Sometimes, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
 

“Okay,” the sensei announced after breakfast. “Get into your groups and choose which track you want to follow. Remember to keep in mind that you have to follow the trail. Don’t wonder off into the woods and get lost. Well, have fun!”

Sakura’s group gathered. Tomoyo, Meirin, Erika, Eron, and Syaoran. “What trail do you want to follow?”

“What about Trail C?” Tomoyo asked.

Everyone agreed. As they started up the mountain path, Sakura was jumpy with all the beautiful surroundings. They were supposed to collect nature items and write about them in their notebooks. Sakura kneeled down and picked a swaying violet flower from the ground. Tomoyo taped her. Meirin just stood, wrinkling her nose at the nature. “Disgusting! Look at all those bugs crawling around!”

Erika joined, running a finger through her fluffy, wavy hair that curled on her shoulders. “I know! They’re creepy.”

“Oh! That flower on the tree is so beautiful,” Sakura pointed and was awed by the nature. Immediately, Eron tip-toed and plucked the vivid blossom for her with a smile. Sakura accepted it with a blush. From the background, Syaoran clenched his fist and glowered. Then he stood alert.

The ground rumbled for a moment.

“Is it an earthquake?” Tomoyo asked.
 
“I don’t know,” Sakura cried out. “Look, the sky!” The sky was starting to get overcast and dark clouds massed together. A deep rumbling of thunder echoed through out the woods.
 
“A storm! Is there time to get back to the tents?” Erika asked. Great. A storm.
 
“No! We have to run for shelter or something before we get all soaked.” Syaoran said. Few rain drops started to plop down on them. “Come on!”
 
They all started to follow Syaoran. Rain started to pour harder. They blindly ran down any path. “Look, is that a cave up there?” Tomoyo asked.
 
“Yes! Let’s get there,” Sakura said as she squinted through the rain.
 
Meirin said dubiously, “It’s awfully steep. Do we have to climb up?”
 
“There’s no other choice.” Sakura took a lead and started to climb up the slippery rocks. The others followed. Erika cautiously climbed up as well.

“What kind of state are we in,” she nagged. Suddenly, she slipped on the slippery stone.
 
“Ow!” Erika slumped on the floor. Everyone gathered around her. “My knee!” Syaoran pushed his way through and took out a handkerchief. Quickly, he bent down and dabbed gently at the blood and bound Erika’s knee up tightly.
 
“Here. I tied it up so that it won’t bleed until we get to the cave. Do you think you’ll be able to walk up to there? I’ll put some medicine on it when we get there.” Syaoran looked up at Erika through the damp chestnut bangs that hung into his eyes. Erika blushed and sat with her heart thumping. A new type of feeling flooded through her as she sat on the wet ground. Her bright eyes gazed up starily as she stammered.
 
Clearing her throat, Meirin said, “Ahem. Let’s go before we are all completely soaked.” Sakura and Tomoyo helped Erika up and let her lean against them as they walked towards the cave.
 
“Achooo! I’m all wet!” Erika slumped onto the dry cave floor. Meirin plopped down next to Syaoran and squeezed the water out of each side of her soaking hair. Syaoran rummaged through his bag and took out some ointment and bandage. Gently, he untied his handkerchief and rubbed some ointment on Erika’s scraped knee; then he bandaged it with white gauze. Erika gazed at his supple hands. That hand wielded the Li clan sword.
 
Meirin was disgusted by the way Erika was flushing over Syaoran. Not that she said anything. After he finished, Syaoran lay back and gazed out at the pouring rain. Sakura crept to the end of the cave and sat there. Luckily, it was one of those caves with a shallow back. If it were one that had a dark, endless back… she shuddered at the thought. Another thunder rumbled and she clenched her eyes shut and covered her ears.
 
Tomoyo said worriedly, “I hope it stops raining soon. We’ll have to get back.”
 
Eron said, “Do you think that is our only problem? We are lost.”
 
“Lost?” Sakura squeaked.
 
“Yes. In our hurry to find shelter, I believe we ran out of the trail. I have no clue where we are right now.”
 
“Lost! What are we going to do?” All the stories about ghosts flooded her.
 
“There’s no need to panic. When it stops raining, we’ll find a way out.”
 
“Oh my gosh! We’re lost after all those warnings! Oh no!” Sakura trembled at the consequences. Lines cleaved on Syaoran’s forehead as he pondered.
 
Erika frowned, Eron, what do you mean by saying we are lost?
 
Don’t worry, sister dear. We’ll find our way back, Eron replied.
 
Cursed storm. Out of all times, there has to be a storm just now.
 
It’s all right. We’ll still send one of our powers out. Then we can always find out way back.
 
Let’s raise the level one step higher today. They are improving.
 
Sure. Whatever you wish, sister. So what should we send out today?
 
What about the…
 

Around the blazing flame,
The hour has struck,
That they will call each other’s name.
Bestowed from the star is all the luck
To lean on each other with the bond of trust,
And conquer the evil that will leave their hopes in dust.

Wish-chan: Okay, so this is yet another strange chapter. There is Part 2, which is still to come. I think my chapters are far too long, but I really can’t help writing. Hmmm. Erika and Eron are starting to blend into Sakura’s friends. Lots of competition ahead. Sigh… Meirin is as bratty as ever. Didn’t mean to make her like that. What’s with truth or dare? I don’t know… well, the title happens to be “around the campfire,” so they have to do something around the campfire. How’d’you like Chiharu-chan and Yamazaki-kun’s little sweetness? I guess not much happened yet. The next chapter is where the action starts taking place. Well, I don’t know what happens in the end of the CCS manga yet… that’s sad. But I sorta figured that Syaoran does admit he likes Sakura. (Don’t know for sure!) But anyway, that complicates things… That’s why I’m trying to make it as if they are starting over again. There I go again, blabbing on… So, what’s up with the poetry… is it retarded? It was just a sudden motivation. Its supposed to have some meaning in it if you read carefully, That poem is continued in part two…Well, comments welcome at hopeluvpeace@hotmail.com. Also, any suggestions of what Syaoran’s father’s name might be? I have to write about the past, but I don’t even know his name. Well, keep your eyes open for Part 2: Around the Ashes, To the Light… Syaoran and Sakura finally… you’ll see.