White Cloud's Quest
Syaoran smiled as his opponent, an[other] London boy named Edward, was being forced slowly to the edge of the rink by his sword blows. With one final swing, Edward sidestepped over the line.
"PWEEEET! And the winner of this tournament is Syaoran Li, all the way from China! Let's give him a big hand folks!! a commentator in a far up box broke Syaoran's concentration, and he promptly put away his sword and put out a hand to help up his opponent. But he refused the hand, springing up on his own. Li shrugged, too used to it. This boy had been particularly cold.
"That was a good match," said Li, silently thanking London-boy (Eriol) again for an automatic Chinese- English translator spell. "You are a good fence man. More practice will make you perfect." Edward looked at Syaoran with dislike.
"It's practice makes perfect. You really are hopeless. It's a wonder you even speak English. I should have won that match. I've been practicing ever since I was 6."
"Well, I was started on a sword at around 2. My life was like a training camp 24/7. That is, until I met this girl, Sakura."
"Well, well, well? The boy has a girlfriend. Well, does she walk around all day in a kimono?" Edward started walking around, depicting a stereotypical Chinese girl.
This was too much for Syaoran. No one insulted his Sakura and got away with it. Eyes narrowed, he said, "Keep your mouth shut, London boy. *English accent* That way I can serve you a cup of tea. Or maybe we can go for a rather ravishing stroll through the gardens, and then play a lovely game of cricket? I really don't know, and I must be going. See you not soon!" Li walked away in a huff, a piece of paper flying out of his jeans pocket. Edward, boiling mad, picked it up and was about to rip it when he spied the writing on the slip.
"Sa-KOO-rah? <> And a number for his girlfriend. Let's see. I have a plot cooking."
Later, in his room, Syaoran was packing feverishly.
"Damn it! I am supposed to be back in Japan by April 1st, for Sakura's birthday! I'd better hurry." All his stuff packed less-than-neatly in his suitcase, he reached absent- mindedly into his shirt pocket and took out a once smooth velvet box. The top and sides worn down from many openings and closings, Syaoran once again opened the box.
Nestled in the plush pillow was a small gold ring with a diamond cherry blossom on top. The one thing that he had been most hesitant to give to Sakura. He was sure she would accept, right? Then why was he so nervous? Making up his mind for the millionth time that week to present it, he put it back in his pocket and called a cab.
Back in Japan, Sakura sat by the window in her room. A knock on her door drew her attention away.
"Come in." It was Tomoyo.
"Konyannichiwa Sakura-chan! Tomorrow is your birthday! Why are you so glum? Wait. I know. It's Syaoran- san, isn't it?" Sakura nodded.
"First he seemed so somewhere else for weeks, then he decides to go to some tournament in England. What's up with that?" Tomoyo smiled. She knew, of course. Her boyfriend (Eriol) had caught Syaoran in a cherry tree with the ring, but the two of them had decided to let Syaoran work things out on his own. Mostly Eriol's idea, of course. But this meant Sakura couldn't be told.
"It's okay Sakura-chan, he'll be back for your birthday, I know he will!" she said, while thinking, 'If that boy doesn't present that ring soon, I'm going to take action, no matter WHAT Eriol- kun says'.
Sakura nodded, a smile now on her face. "Thanks for the prep talk Tomoyo- chan. Let's go somewhere! Shopping!" Sakura got up, already cheerful. Tomoyo smiled. Even still, her friend's happiness was hers.
-next day-
Author's note: I know this breaks up the story string, but 2 things have to happen at the same time. So next will be these two things. I'll try to explain more as we go on. Gomen.
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Edward picked up the phone and punched in the number. After 3 rings, a bouncy female voice picked up.
"Moshi moshi!" she said. Edward took a deep breath, thankful for his knowledge of the Japanese language.
"Sakura- chan?" he said, "Konyannichiwa!" At the other end Sakura was beside herself with joy. Who cares what her Onii-chan was calling her for? It was Syaoran- kun! (note: phones change your voice. I sound like a parrot with a head cold on one.)
"How are you Syaoran- kun? It's my birthday, you know."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remembered, happy birthday. But I have something more important. My parents came to watch the tournament, and they've found me a bride, a really nice girl. And, well, our relationship has gotten stale, don't you think? So, I'm breaking it up. To tell you the truth, I've been thinking about this for a while, and with the arrival of this new girl, this is a perfect time. And-" Edward was cut off as Sakura hung up the phone.
Tears steaming down her cheeks, she flung herself onto her bed. In between her sobs, she choked out, "I wish *sob* that I *sniffle* never existed!"
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(At the same time)
Syaoran walked towards Sakura's house, the ring in his pocket. Arriving at the door, be was greeted by none other than the King of Trouble, i.e. Touya.
"What do you want, gaki?"
"Can I see Sakura?"
"*laugh + smirk + scary eyes* And why should I let you see my kid sister?"
"Er, because I need to tell her something important!"
"Can't you yell it to her?"
"No, because then you would hear it!"
"Then I'll get her to come down here, so you can tell her." Touya walked inside a bit, and then put his hands on his hips.
"KAJIU! Come down!" Touya stood there, waiting for some movement from Sakura's room. After a while, when there was none, he turned back to the kid, thanking all his lucky stars that this meeting was avoided. <>.
"I can't get her to come out of her room. What's wrong?" As he walked towards Syaoran, he suddenly felt magic gathering upstairs. The same magic that Sakura had caught many years ago. Clow Magic. Syaoran must have felt it too, for he bolted into the house. Before Touya could stop him, he had flung off his shoes and was going upstairs.
Upstairs, Sakura was in a corner of her room, looking in half fright at her Sakura book, which had opened of its own account and was now hovering in her room. Suddenly, a card came out. As the front caught the light, Sakura saw which one it was.
The Erase.
It released itself and surrounded Sakura. Just as she screamed, Syaoran burst into the room, the ring box landing on the floor. And then the unthinkable happened. As Erase went back into the book, which went back into the drawer, Sakura started to disappear. She faded away, her aura fainting with each passing second. Touya was up in her room in a second, just before Sakura vanished.
"NOOOOO!" he yelled. That was the last anyone in that room heard, as the world around them began to morph. The ring box, which had tormented Syaoran for weeks, began to disappear into the light. And then the room was still.
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Me: So, what do you think? Yes, the timing of the last part was particularly horrible, but that's anime! Along with endless storage in dresses that don't have any pockets, fourth graders that can sneak out of their window in the middle of the night, and loud people not getting heard downstairs. NO FAIR! (starts to pout and talk at a high speed complaining voice about how her life sucks compared to Sakura's, mentioning that I DON'T OWN CLAMP [my way of a disclaimer^_^] in her ramblings) *stuffed animal comes and drags her off by her ear*
Stuffed animal: Konyannichiwa! I am NOT a stuffed animal, I am Xiana, the hopeless girl's guardian. We are experiencing some, um, difficulties, so we are very sorry.
Tasty (^_^) Card: You forgot about M's other lines.
Xiana: You can TALK?
Tasty: Yes. Am I on the air?
Xiana: Well, not the air, but yeah, you could say so.
Tasty: Really?
Xiana: Yes.
Tasty: OH MY GOD! I'M ON THE AIR! *runs close to camera* HI MOM! HI DAD! *sticks out tongue* NYAHH, ONII-CHAN! I’M ON TV! *runs around like a maniac until pulled off by security*
Tasty: You can't take me!
Myself! CHANGE TO PAIN OF PUNISHMENT!
*candies start appearing and guards grab them, forgetting about Tasty* YEAH! I'M ON TV!
Xiana: (with 'some' difficulty, owning to Tasty running everywhere, spewing candy) Well, just R&R! My master said something about 'not' continuing of she didn't get any reviews. Ja ne for now, if we have a studio next time! *runs as beam comes crashing down*