Chapter Four

An Unrealistic Amount of Events

Sakura sighed as she waited for Syaoran and the rest of her group members to report to the assigned canoe. They had canoe # 13. Sakura wasn’t a superstitious person, but it just seemed to fit with all the bad things happening lately. She saw Syaoran a few canoes away walking with an electric lantern, holding some life vests. Rika followed close behind, half dragging a pair of oars.

When they arrived, Sakura started packing the canoe. She tried to start conversation with Rika. "Have you ever canoed before?"

Rika smiled. "Actually, I used to canoe alot with me dad when I was younger! It was the one of those things that stuck. This canoeing should be very easy, it’s standstill water. How about you?"

Sakura nodded. "I haven’t done canoeing, but I have done alot of kayaking."

Rika smiled again. "Kayaking gives you some basic knowledge, but canoeing is very different in many aspects. Basically, it’s all in the team work. As long as we all cooperate with each other, we shouldn’t have a problem." Rika looked at Syaoran, who was untangling the life jackets. "Have you canoed before?"

Syaoran looked up. He gave the same emotionless look at Sakura and looked back at Rika. "A little bit."

Rika nodded. They continued packing quietly, then sat themselves evenly through the canoe. Rika sat with Syaoran towards the back, and Sakura sat next to Trent. She looked curiously at him. I never really payed attention to anyone. I wonder what Trent is like? I always seemed busy waiting for something to ever look someone’s way. I should try talking to him. Sakura didn’t admit to herself the realy reason for talking with him was to stir up some jealousy with Syaoran. "Hello! Have you canoed before?"

Trent smiled shyly. "Only once." He said quietly.

I guess he’s a shy kid? That’s almost cute. Sakura looked up to meet a glance with Syaoran, who looked back up at her. She tried to read his emotions, but he revealed none, keeping the same distant look.

"I think we can push off shore now!" Rika said, watching the other canoes. Sakura nodded and pushed her ore against shore, moving them into the deeper water. The canoe seemed unsteady at first, but settled into the water.

"Alright, canoeing is all team work. When I say left, Trent and I will paddle, pushing the water backwards. When I say right, Sakura and Syaoran will paddle. Got it?" Rika commanded authorically.

Sakura smiled and nodded. It figures me and Syaoran are stuck doing this together. I didn’t really mean to make him like this...Why does he have to be so cold? Isn’t he overreacting just a bit?

"Okay. Right...Left...Right....." Rike continued on at a steady pace, following to where the canoes were grouped.

The teacher raised a flashlight and shouted the instructions. "This isn’t a race, despit what some of you might think. Go at a pace you are comfortable with and can keep up for another hour and a half or so. Stay on track. If you find moving water, you’ve gone the wrong way. I have given each group a walkie talkie so you can contact me if you get lost. Work as a team." The teacher smiled. "Okay, have fun. Go the route you were told last night." The teacher and his canoe of chaperones began turning down to the directed course, cut off by some over eager students ready to go.

"Come on guys, what are we waiting for! Tomoyo’s group is ahead!" Rika started paddling enthusiastically.

They quickly gained on the lead canoe and took over, passing all their classmates. Tomoyo and Meilin waved as they glided by, but Syaoran and Sakura were too busy concentrating to notice. The kept the quick pace for a while, then slowed to look at the scenery. "This is so beautiful!" Rika exclaimed, shining her flashlight around the shining dark water world.

"Yeah! Can we stop for a moment please?" Trent spoke for the first time, pulling out his camera. The camera came to a halt, and Sakura extended an ore to the floor to use as an anchor.

Mark charged up his flash and took a picture, blinding everyone with the light. He apologized then fumbled it into his bag. Still, the affects of the lght still made circles of yellow and green in his eyes, and he accidentally dropped the camera off the side. Sakura gasped in sympathy.

"No, it should be okay, it’s waterproof." Trent said as he fished through the water trying to find the small camera. "I know it’s down here somewhere." Trent said to himself.

"Here let me help." Rika said, turning the canoe to try and get a good lighting into the water.

Finally they spotted a bobbing box in the water, and as Trent had said, the water hadn’t done any damage. They faced forward again, ready to go. They looked around, a bit disorientated.

"I think we turned this way, so we should be heading north." Sakura said, trying to estimate how far they turned. The water had several different paths, all of which looked very simular.

Syaoran sighed and yanked a compass out of his pocket. "The exit of the tunnel is North East, so we should be heading that way." He pointed a bit to the left, towards one of the path choice.

They smiled appreciatively at Syaoran, then started the turn.

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"We really left them in the dust!" Trent said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

They had been canoeing for almost another half hour, through the same similar surroundings. Rika agreed with Trent’s comment. "They probably stopped and fooled around. It doesn’t matter, we will win anyway."

Sakura smiled. She looked down at the smooth black water. It was smooth and swift as it sailed around her ore. It also seemed to be moving slightly, She figured nothing of it, but did find it a bit odd. "Does the water seem to be speeding up at all?" She asked everyone.

Trent and Rika nodded. "I noticed that a few minutes ago. I figured it was just a small decline in the cave or something, but it’s still getting faster."

Trent laughed nervously. "Maybe we should check with the other groups, just to be safe."

Sakura nodded and started through the items packed under her seat. A bump to the canoe unbalanced her enough to make her stop. She looked around, watching the water start to swirl. "Maybe we should turn around or stop while we call, this water is getting fast. I really think we are off course!"

Rika nodded quickly in agreement and pushed her ore against the water, but it just splashed and wobbled the boat. "The currents getting strong! We need to all pull at the same time!"

They all nodded, and waited for the signal. "Now!" Rika shouted over the water. They slowed dramatically, but continued to be pushed with the water. "Quick Sakura, get the radio out!"

Sakura nodded worriedly and started frantically through the bags under the seat. I should have packed that on top! I am always safe! Sakura thought about her paching job. No, Syaoran packed under this seat. What, he gave up on killing me alone so he staged a huge murder scene like this?

A few more small rapids bounced the boat back and forth, knocking things out of Sakura’s hands. She tried to catch them from going overboard, but her efforts were useless. Sakura looked up at the water and gasped. They were rushing through a large room, dark and empty, with a rock formation on their right, watching them as they went by, slightly grinning with satisfactory. She looked at Syaoran, feeling very pale and scared. He had noticed too, but he only scowled at Sakura. Sakura gasped yet again when she looked down into the water, hoping what she and Syaoran had seen the previous night was not really there. "You guys! The water has chemicals in it! It might erode through the boat!"

Rika looked very frightened, and had lost her calm leadering composure. "Sakura! Get the radio! Now!"

Sakura nodded and felt tears form in the corners of her eyes. Nothing can ever be fun for me. Everything is life or death. I can’t have friends without endangering their lives. She grabbed a peice of cool black metal and yanked it out of the bag, yet another rapid pushed the boat aside. The radio slipped out of her hands, landing in the center of the boat. Syaoran quickly reached down to get it, but was thrown down from another swipe of water. His uneven weight made the boat wobble all the more.

"Syaoran! Get it!" Sakura yelled at him in frustration, trying to keep her seat on the swaying bull of a canoe.

Syaoran looked up at her with visible pain. "I’m trying Sakura!" He got a hold of it, but lost it once more. Sakura looked down at her ore and screamed with surprise.

"The water is eating away at the ores! Who knows how long the boat will last!" She yelled over the streams roar, but much of it was not audible to the others.

Rika got the general idea of what Sakura was saying, and looked at her own ore. The end of it was mostly gone, a skeleton of metal and plastic.

Sakura felt a breeze swipe her hair away from her face. She frowned and looked at the others. There is no way the water is making that much of a breeze! That means there must be an...exit! Anything to get out of this before the floor of our boat’s gone!

The others looked ahead of them, seeing the glow of real light start to show through the cave. Sakura smiled ecstatically. "An exit!"

The canoe was shoved around the bend, where the cave turned very bright. A light at the end of their watery tunnel was now visible. They rushed closer and closer to the hole that would let them out into freedom. Syaoran looked at them with concern. "The ceiling’s very low! We’ll have to duck! Maybe lay out on the bottom of the canoe!"

Sakura nodded and started to let herself on the cold alluminum floor when the floor began to give under her, very soft from the chemicals. Sakura jumped back to the safter of her seat, free of any erosion so far. "We can’t touch the floor! It’s going to fall out!" Sakura yelled. Syaoran, Rika, and Trent nodded, and quickly ducked down as low as they could go on the high up seats. The low ceiling hole approached them quickly, and their boat seemed to sink lower and lower each second with it’s soft flimsy floor.

They flew threw the exit, out into the open sunlight, outdoors again. The cave brook widened into a large and deep clear river, slowing it’s pace. Sakura looked at the floor as it progressed into the water. She looked with dismay at Syaoran.

"We’ll have to bail! The chemicals in the water shouldn’t hurt us now that they’ve combined with this river." Syaoran instructed. He nodded at Rika. "You go first. Swim toward bank and stay there. Sakura, you go once she’s halfway there. Trent, you go last. I’ll try and get the radio to the bank." He looked as they slowly followed the river’s path. "There’s not much current, it should be an easy swim. It will be very cold though."

Rika nodded, about to ask a question, but feeling the boat give underneath her, hurled herself into the water. She shivered and gasped as she came out of the water, and swam as quickly as she could manage toward the bank. Sakura waited a few second, then followed suit. Trent came out after, proving himself a quick swimmer.

Great. Now I have to get the radio which sits in the middle of the boat, without touching the floor. Syaoran wiggled his weight to the edge of the chair, but found it was no good. He figured he had one option left. He stepped quickly and lightly into the middle, grabbing the radio up with his right hand just as the boat bent in half to the small amount of weight that had been put on it.

Syaoran struggled to keep the radio up out of the water, and finally in a steady swim, threw the radio as far as he could, which just managed to land on the bank. He sighed with releif, and continued swimming towards the three figures who sat shivering on the bank.

He shivered with shock as he pulled himself out of the freezing water into the freezing air. The other three held their knees in an attempt to keep themselves warm. Syaoran shook out what water he could from his clothes and hair, then walked over to retreive the radio. He walked back over to the group and sat down.

Let’s hope this works! Syaoran thought as he flicked the transmit button on the radio. A light flashed on and a fuzzy noise buzzed, much to their releif. He pushed down on the transmit button and started a revised mayday call.

"Is anyone there? Can anyone hear us?"

Fuzz responded, but was broken apart with a few sounds, possibly someone trying to respond. The buzzing noise started to clear away and they could hear the other voice easier. "Roger that group two. What are your coordinates?"

Syaoran looked around for any landmarks. "Well we are downstream on a big river, out of the cave."

It was silent for a few seconds. "A river?"

"Yes, a rather large one that conjoined with the brook in the cave." Syaoran said.

"Okay. Head upstream and look for a big opening. That should be our campsite." The fuzzy noise returned.

Syaoran turned it off and sat shivering with the others. "I wonder how far we are from them."

Trent looked up, obviously still frightened from the sinking canoe. "I looked over the cave map and all the surroundings. The map didn’t even show a river. I have no idea how we ended up here."

Rika looked at him nervously. "You mean Mr Smith might not even know where we are?"

Trent shook his head. "That’s not what I mean. Look at these trees! They are much different then the ones at home. They look....foreign."

Sakura frowned. "We didn’t cross an ocean or anything. We are still in Japan."

Trent shrugged and looked around once more. He spotted a large fat tree that branched out, very picturesque. "When have you seen a tree like that in Japan?"

Rika looked very unnnerved. "How in the world can you say a thing like that! We just are downstream right? Isn’t that what you said Syaoran!?"

Syaoran looked at the scared girl and thought out his words. "Yes, that may be all. But we have to take Trent into consideration...this does look very... different. But I do disagree, we must still be in Japan."

Trent glared at Syaoran. "So we decided to start planting these odd looking forests around Japan? I never heard about it on the news."

Syaoran frowned back. "When the hell did you see us go through an ocean? huh? Japan is an island. That means we are surrounded by oceans. So if A=B and B=C, then we must still be in Japan." He looked at the two girls shivering and quite scared of the heated arguement. Syaoran forced himself to calm down. He walked over to Trent and talked quietly to him. "Listen. Those two girls are scared enough as it is, and we need them to stay calm if we want to get back in one peice. I agree with you, this is foreign landscaping, but we can’t go telling the girls that. You know they would go hysterical. Stay calm, alright?" Syaoran looked Trent in the eye.

Trent looked down sheepishly and nodded. "You’re right."

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"It’s really cold." Sakura said to Rika as they walked upstream. The river beside them had many waterfalls, which meant hills for them to climb.

Rika nodded. It was late Semptember and the air was very chilly. "If we could have dry clothes it wouldn’t be that bad. I am sure we are going to catch a cold."

Sakura agreed. "Except our stuff sunk with the canoe."

The two boys were leading quietly, but shivering a bit to themselves as well. They reached the top of another waterfall, a particularly pretty one, and Syaoran motioned to stop. "We’ve walked for almost an hour. We can rest for a few minutes." They’ll need these breaks if I want them to keep going. Syaoran felt like he could run another eigth miles, but knew better than to expect that of them. He walked over and sat on the edge of the water, watching it swirl down the few feet of dropoff.

Sakura spoke up. "Can we try and find something to eat?" She shivered again, feeling awful and cold.

Syaoran got an idea. "How about a fire?"

Rika looked up and smiled. "That would be wonderful!" Trent nodded with her.

"Alright then, collect some sticks. Stay in sight of the river." Syaoran instructed. Rika and Trent ran off into the woods to get some, and Sakura stayed near the edge of teh water, finding plenty of sticks. She looked up at Syaoran, who was closeby. She took a deep breath. Why not now? I think I am over the "he’s trying to kill me" thing. I better apologize sometime. "Syaoran?"

He looked up at her while continuing to collect the sticks. He kept his cold gaze at her. This is going to be hard. "I don’t know how I could have thought that you...It was a crazy thing for me to say. All the fear got to me and..." She lied a bit, because before then she had suspected him.

Syaoran looked coldly into her eyes. "I understand. You had thought this for a long time haven’t you?" He walked over and faced her. The monotone sound of his voice scared Sakura, and she stepped back.

She forced her fright away and looked him in the eyes. "I shouldn’t have. I am not afraid of you."

Syaoran frowned. Let’s just see about that. He stepped closer, and Sakura hesitantly slid back. Syaoran scoffed. "Don’t apologize. You still suspect me, don’t you? It doesn’t bother me. Get your friends and foes straight Sakura. If you don’t, you might make another enemy." He turned and walked away, back to his small pile of wood.

Sakura swallowed. Another enemy? Does he think he’s my enemy? She felt tears welling up on the bottom of her eyes. How can he be so heartless? I know I completly burnt what trust we had, but he won’t even let me apologize. Can’t he understand? It’s not my fault I have to suspect him! I have to suspect everyone! He should apologize to me!

Sakura shut her eyes tight, forcing the tears back, and continued to collect the wood. Rika came back a few moments later with a large pile stacked to her chin of sticks, and Trent came seconds later with another stack.

Now they had to start a fire. Rika came up with a suggestion. "Try hitting some rocks together for a long time. It will be hard, but it could work."

Sakura nodded and took the job. After a while her arms began to ache. Nothing but a few small sparks had come. She sighed and looked up at the three talking. If only Syaoran would use his cards. But he won’t. Because he is heartless.

Syaoran looked over at Sakura, who still consistently slapped the rocks together. He felt a wave of sympathy. I’m not doing this because I like her, I am doing this because I am smarter than she is. Syaoran put a spell onto the rocks, and a small flame shot from their friction, spreading to the other wood.

Sakura looked up at Syaoran, confused and grateful, and gave him a smile. He scowled at her and rolled his eyes, looking away. Sakura sighed and looked at the fire. So what if he started the fire. It’s here, I should enjoy it. I am so cold! She placed herself upwind from the fire and sat close, happy to feel the cold stiff camp clothes she was wearing turn softer and warm. Rika and Mark sat beside her, so Syaoran didn’t have to worry about sitting next to her.

Sakura began to feel a bit sleepy from all the walking they had done that day, and the warmth of the fire lulled her into a dreamy state. She curled up on the ground and closed her eyes for a few minutes, trying to forget Syaoran’s cruel anger.

A rumbling sound made her open her eyes. She frowned in curiosity and looked at Rika. "What was that?"

Rika bit her lip. "I hope it wasn’t what I think it was."

Another distant rumble confirmed their suspiscions. "Oh no." Sakura forced herself up away from the fire, finding her clothes almost dry. She walked out to the side of the river and looked at the distant sky. She gasped. "You guys, look at this!"

Trent walked over and followed her gaze. Deep purple and black clouds crept towards them, the speed of your average storm. Rika sighed with exasperation. "My clothes are almost dry!"

Syaoran came over and evaluated the storm. "We should go into the woods a bit, we wouldn’t get as wet."

They nodded. Rika looked around. "We should look for a nice sheltering tree. Something."

They nodded and started jogging into the woods, jogging around the trees and overgrowth in the woods. They jogged without sucess for a while, when Trent noticed something. "Look! A clearing in the trees!" He said excitedly, having the same hopeful thoughts the others were thinking: maybe it was the campsite!

They sped up unintentionally, reaching the clearing quickly. They stopped at the woodline and looked. A yellow haired girl was standing with her collie dog, looking up at the clouds. She stood next to a classicly built log cabin, looking very warm and inviting. Sakura looked at Trent and Rika, who seemed to be having the same thoughts. Before they could walk over, the girl noticed them.

The girl frowned from a distance at the strangers, wondering if they were good or bad. She bent down and gave her dog a command, and the dog ran over to the four with remarkable speed. Sakura jumped back when the dog reached her, thinking it may bite, but it licked her hand and sniffed them, seeming to be scoping it out. The dog barked and turned, running back to the girl.

The girl waved and motioned them to come over. "Hello! Howdy!Bonjour! Hola! Ciao! Ummm How!" She laughed and walked over to greet them. "What are you guys doing out in the middle of nowhere? This storms gonna be a bad one, you know?"

Rika smiled and stepped forward. "Hi! Sorry to bother you like this, but could we possibly get some shelter from this storm? We don’t want to get wet again."

The girl smiled unsurely. "Um, I guess so. I just have to be careful who I let in, you understand. Alot of weird things going on lately." She laughed and looked up at the clouds. "We better get in then!" She turned and walked over to the door, unlocking it and letting them inside.

Once she had them all seated by the fire, she talked again. "My name is Amy. Me and my parents spend time out here in this cabin alot, but my parents are going to be gone a couple days to some business matters. They have never let me stay alone like this, but they said this year I have ‘matured’ enough."

Sakura smiled. "My name’s Sakura."

"My name’s Rika."

"My name is Trent."

"My name is Syaoran." Syaoran spoke a bit quickly and quietly, he didn’t enjoy introductories. He frowned and quickly glanced at the girl. She doesn’t look familiar, but...Something seems familiar here.

Amy widened her eyes when she looked at Syaoran, then looked down at her feet. Do I know him? She bit her lip. He is really cute.

Sakura frowned as she watched Syaoran and Amy look at eachother. What are they doing?

Rika talked, oblivious to Syaoran. "Do you know where Pack of Wolves cave is? Is it anywhere nearby?"

Amy looked up and frowned. "I have never heard of it. Are you guys going camping or something there?"

Rika shook her head, about to tell their story, but Syaoran cut her off. "We are from Tomoeda. How far is that from here?"

The girl frowned even more. "Tomoeda? I haven’t heard of it. You guys are in the Wabash Valley. Far west part of it."

Rika frowned. "I have never heard of it. Wabash?" She looked confused at Trent. He shook his head.

"In Japan, right?" He said carefully.

The girl widened her eyes. "Japan!? You are in the United States!"

Sakura gasped. "No, we can’t be! Our radio works and we were talking to our teacher in Japan, and it doesn’t work overseas!"

The girl cowered from Sakura’s shouting. "Wabash Valley, Indiana, USA, 2001." She said quietly.

Trent scrunched his nose. "Indiana? Is that a state?"

Amy looked at Trent with frustration. "Yes! It is a state! The middle of the country. Crossroads of America!"

Rika shook her head. "No! We were in the middle of a cave, canoeing, in JAPAN, and went the wrong course and ended up on a river. We did NOT go over any OCEAN!" She shouted angerly.

Trent grabbed her shulder. "Calm down, Rika. It’s not her fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. If we could get here, we could get back."

Rika put her head in her hands, trying to hold back the sobs.

Rain started patting on the roof. Amy got up and walked to the windows, making sure they were tightly shut, then came back to sit again. "Do you want anything to drink? I’ve got milk, water, apple juice, some root beer..."

Sakura looked up at Amy. Something about her seemed not normal. Not bad, but something different. Something to do with magic... "I’ll have some milk, thank you." Sakura smiled.

Amy nodded and looked at Trent and Rika, who was recovering. "Root beer and water, thanks."

She looked at Syaoran, her hostess smile fading into intent wonder.

"Water." He said returning her gaze with a glare.

She nodded and walked over to the small camping size fridge and began pouring drinks. She looked out the window and gasped. "Here’s your drinks. I will be right back, I forgot something outside!" She whistled for her dog and ran out the door, stepping into some oversized rubber boots.

Sakura frowned and watched her running outside. I wonder what that was all about?

Syaoran got up and walked to the door, following pursuit. He yanked one shoe on and started on the other. Sakura walked over to the door. "Where are you going?"

Syaoran looked up at Sakura. "Nothing that concernes you." He yanked on his other shoe, stood and faced Sakura for a moment, and then turned out the door.

Sakura frowned at Syaoran. He won’t get rid of me that easily. Sakura ran out into the pouring rain after him, who was already almost out of site. She squinted in the rain and started sprinting in the mud. She turned the corner of the cabin and saw Syaoran again, running into a big red barn. Sakura frowned and slowed into a jog, trying to sneak in without Syaoran noticing her.

She slipped through the large open door, finding herself in a stable filled with horses, all well kept and in very nice condition. She heard voices caming from the aisle, and glued herself to the side of the last stall.

"You lived in Tamzia, didn’t you?" Syaoran’s voice echoed through the barn.

"H-h-how did you know that?" Amy stammered.

"I know you. We’ve met before, right?" Syaoran asked.

The girl coughed nervously. "I thought so, too."

Sakura heard something jingling. She carefully looked around the corner, seeing Amy holding the chain lead rope to a dripping wet, rather old looking horse. Syaoran stood with his back to Sakura, facing Amy.

"Moondust. You owned Moondust. You worked at the Li stables. That’s where we met." Syaoran said, a bit excitedly as he remembered who she was.

"Yes! I miss that horse so. She was so sweet, she tolerated your horrible riding habits. I remember now. We were about four or five at the time. And you had the black haired girlfriend. What was her name...umm..." Amy said.

"Meilin?" He said a bit dully.

"heheh Yes! Meilin! Do you still see her?" Amy asked.

"Yes, she lives in Japan with me." Seeing Amy’s raised eyebrow he added, "As my cousin."

Syaoran frowned and looked back at Amy. "Do you use magic?"

Amy widened her eyes, taken aback. "I-I..." She hesitated. "My parents didn’t teach me how to use it. You showed me how to do simple things when we were little, right? I think that was you. You look much different."

Syaoran held back a blush. "Yes, as do you. I didn’t recognize you at first, but seeing you in a stable brought back the memories." His eyes got a bit darker. "Why did you sell Moondust to such rotten people? They threw her in a field with no barn or shelter. The only reason I get to see her anymore is because I moved to Japan, and she is kept a few miles away."

Amy frowned painfully. "I couldn’t stand losing Moondust. The elders of your clan accused my father of fraud, killing a horse or something. We had no job nor money, so we had to move away immediately. We sold Moondust to get some extra money. We offered her to the elders, saying they could keep her free, but they said they must ‘erase all memory of us being there’ or something. I don’t know. But that feels like a different lifetime."

Syaoran sighed and they stood silent for a second. "Why in the world did you move to some no-name state?"

"Lots of horse business for my parents. I even have a job here. This stable is half ours half our neighbors. They do alot of jumping and things. Not that I really get that much time to ride."

Syaoran nodded and looked behind him. "I better get going, they are probably getting worried. You better get the other horse in before it starts really lightening."

Sakura bit her lip. She had just found out a large portion of Syaoran’s childhoo, unintentionally, which wasn’t a good thing to do. If he caught her eavesdropping, he’d kill her for sure. Sakura quietly snuck out the open door, sprinting as hard as she could through the wooded path to the cabin.

She closed the cabin door quietly behind her, trying not to wake Trent who was sleeping in his chair. Rika sat quietly reading a book. She looked up when Sakura came in.

"I didn’t think you were ever coming back!" Rika said, smiling.

Sakura laughed. "They have a stable out back. Looks really nice."

"How cool! Maybe we could ride our way back to the old cave entrance and..." Rika’s voice trailed off as she though about the trip.

Sakura sighed sympathetically. "We’ll get back. I just know we will. Even if we have to get airplane tickets."

The door swung open, and Amy came in, followed by Syaoran, both dripping wet. A nearby bolt of lightetening struck down, encouraging Amy to hurry and shut the door. She smiled and walked over to the fire, trying to shake any excess water out of her hair. Syaoran stood at the doorway a minute, and then met eyes with Sakura. Sakura looked down quickly, not wanting to stare into his blank eyes.

Amy turned and faced them. "You can camp out near the fire if you want." She looked around. "I’ll bring some blankets in, and two of you can sleep on the couches."

When Amy was out of the room, Rika addressed the group. "I want to sleep on a couch. I say girls get first dibs!"

Trent sighed but agreed. Syaoran made no response.

Amy came back in with a few thick comforters and helped them lay the blankets down on the wood floor. She gave Sakura and Rika one blanket each, then left them for the night. "The storm is still loud, but I am sure it will passover soon. It’s not really that late, but if we go to bed now we can get an early start on trying to get you guys home," Amy said as she went into her room.

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"Why won’t you talk to me, Sakura?"

Syaoran woke up in a cold sweat, staring up at the log ceiling. He looked over at Sakura, who was sleeping quietly on the couch. He sighed. Times like this I wonder why I was ever mad at her. I promised myself that I wouldn’t like her ever again. And now I am reconsidering. I am weak willed. Syaoran fought in his mind. No. I am immature. A wise person would swallow pride for more important things. I am so thickheaded, I lied to her. I flat out lied and told her I was her enemy. Of course she is cautious about who she trusts. It’s a step up from being friends with everyone. Maybe someday she’ll accuse Mark of planning a murder plot. Syaoran sighed, watching her eyes flicker in a dream. Tommorrow I will apologize. I have to.

He looked over at the fire beside him, glowing with it’s last bits of heat. The room was getting a bit chilly. Syaoran pulled his blanket tight around him. Maybe tommorrow Amy will take us riding. That would be fun. Syaoran forced his eyes closed and back into sleep.

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"Good morning! Rise and shine!" A cheery voice jolted them awake. Amy stood near the door, pulling on her boots.

Sakura sat up groggily, yawning and squinting around. Early sunlight poured in through the windows. Sakura sighed and forced herself out of the warm covers. She looked at the empty sleeping bag on the floor. "Did he already get up?"

Amy looked up. "Yeah, he went outside at some ridiculous time in the morning, said something about trying to get your radio thing to work. I’m sure he’ll turn out soon."

Sakura walked over to the sink and poured herself a glass of water, feeling more awake by now. She looked over at Trent and Rika who half sat, trying to wake up. I wonder if we’ll get to see her horses before we leave?

A loud knock on the door made Sakura hop. Amy walked over and opened the door, happily greeting the visitor. Another blonde haired girl stood smiling pleasantly. Amy turned to face the group. "This is Samantha. She is a friend of mine."

"Hi," She said, looking at the three kids sitting half asleep around the cabin’s main room.

Amy spoke again. "That is Sakura, that is Trent, and that is Rika. They got lost in the woods just before last night’s storm, so they stayed over here."

Samantha nodded. "The storm took out the big oak in our front yard. I was really disappointed. That was some storm, though. Fun to watch."

Amy nodded, then turned to Sakura. "I am going out back. You can stay here if you want, it doesn’t matter. I will be back in an hour or so, then we can go to Samantha’s and use your phone."

Sakura nodded. Rika stood up. "I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t really want to sit around here longer than we have to. Can’t we just get a phone now?" A sound of urgency tipped Rika’s voice.

Samantha gave her a sympathetic look. "It’d take us about two hours to walk to my house, but my mom is picking me up in one hour. I would’ve told her to wait but I didn’t know that..."

Trent sighed. "It’s alright, another hour can’t hurt."

Amy nodded trying to be sympathetic, then turned towards the door and left quietly. Sakura finished her glass of water and then put on her shoes, planning to meet Amy and Samantha in the barn. Maybe I could ride before we leave? Something tells me Syaoran was riding this morning. I’ll go check it out.

"I’m going outside." Sakura said to Trent and Rika, then walked out of the door, shivering from the morning’s lingering chill. She walked along the slightly frosted path towards the red barn, taking in the scenery.

A galloping horse in the pasture caught her eye. Amy had hopped on a horse in the pasture, and was speeding along, whooping and screaming happily as she ran out of control towards the gate. How can she stay on like that? If a horse took off with me...I’d probably freak out and be crying for help.

Samantha laughed from the gate, holding a halter in her hand. Sakura walked over to Samantha. "Are you guys going riding?"

Samantha smiled over at Sakura. "Amy gives me lessons every now and then. They have an indoor ring over there, it’s not owned by Amy’s family, but we are allowed to use it. I am kind of scared of riding that horse though, it looks really fast."

Sakura smiled and agreed. "Riding looks like so much fun. I have never done it, though." She changed subjects. " All these nice facilities and not even a phone?"

Samantha shook her head. "They want this to be like, I don’t know, fronteir land or something. No communications with the worlds. So they can slow down."

Sakura nodded. "Times like these it’s a pain in the butt."

Samantha frowned. "Where are you guys from, anyway? No offense but you guys have kinda odd names. Sorry if that sounds mean."

Sakura smiled and bit her lip. This is gonna be a hard explaination. "Well-"

"Charm is ready to go. Since I am the teacher, I say you put the halter on and take him in. I am gonna show Sakura around. You can tack up if you have time."

Once Samantha had walked off with the horse, Sakura scrunched her nose. "Tack up? What is that?"

Amy smiled. "Putting the saddle on and stuff." She locked the gate and started walking, expecting Sakura to follow.

Sakura jogged to catch up. "oh." She looked around the pasture next to them. "Horses are so beautiful, I always wanted to ride one." I hope that didn’t sound to self inviting. Hopefully she will get the hint.

"Do you want to? Now, I mean?" Amy said, lighting up at the idea.

Sakura smiled widely. "I’d love to! If it’s not a problem?"

Amy shook her head. "No, not at all. I have been teaching Samantha in that boring old ring, it’d be fun to go out on a slow trail ride. I’ll come along too. We’ll just walk, don’t worry the horses are well trained."

Sakura felt a bit nervous, but thought it would be great to try. "Sure, okay!"

"Alright, come with me, you can help me lead a horse. You see that gray-" Amy stopped her sentence and looked at the horse and rider jumping over some freshly cut hay bales in a far field fenced with trees. Amy laughed. "So that’s where Syaoran snuck off to. Out riding my horse!" Amy started to realize she had made that sound too obvious, like she really knew Syaoran. Sakura doesn’t know that I knew Syaoran as a child. I better try and cover it up. "I didn’t know your friend knew how to ride."

Sakura watched, dazzled with the display of horsemanship. "I didn’t either." But I am happy he does!

Amy laughed and let out a peircing whistle. It caught Syaoran’s attention, and he whipped his head around in the direction. Amy waved her hands in the air, and her started cantering towards them.

About twenty feet away Syaoran realized Sakura was with her, and immediatly slowed his horse to a walk. He looked at his horses ears, a bit embaressed.

"We are going for a short trailride. Seeing as you have already stolen my horse, you are free to come along if you’d like." She glared at him jokingly.

Syaoran shrugged and mumbled something like ‘sure’, and hopped down off his horse. His horse had a western saddle, rough and worn, with all the extra little straps and stuff. The horse was rather large, and wasn’t enjoying standing so still. He pawed at the ground, wanting to go again.

Amy looked at Sakura. "We have to go find you a horse."

Syaoran looked up, surprised. "She’s coming too?"

Sakura frowned. He’s so inconsiderate. He’s thinking; Oh great, I have to go along with a beginner and this ride will be so boring.

Oh no! She just saw me riding! I have to be more careful! She’s going to think I am such a loser. Why do I do such stupid things? Syaoran fiddled with his reins as he thought. Why did I say that? Now she is going to think I am such a jerk.

Amy looked at Syaoran with a bit of surprise. "Yes, of course she’s coming. Samantha, my friend, is coming too."

Amy smiled at Sakura and motioned for her to follow along. They headed to a smaller pasture with a few nice looking horses inside. Sakura started walking to the horse Amy had just told her to get. What if I fall off with Syaoran with us? He will think I am so stupid. But that doesn’t matter, I don’t care. Right. I do not care what Syaoran thinks about me.

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Sakura pulled at her reins. Her horse stopped immediately as they waited for Samantha on Charm. She cantered over to the open gate and smiled at the group of riders.

"Are we going for a trail ride?" Samantha asked.

Amy smiled and nodded. "Nothing fast though. Just a nice leisurely ride okay?"

Samantha nodded and looked at Sakura, who looked a bit nervous on the horse’s back. "Don’t worry, Shade is the coolest for trails. He never does anything stupid."

Sakura smiled meekly. "Do I look that scared?" She laughed.

They started walking towards the trail, wide and bedded with pine needles. The trees filtered much of the light, providing a very mysterious atmosphere.

Syaoran walked at the back, behind the three riders riding parallel in front of him. This is boring. I should have just stayed out in the field and ridden. He watched Sakura smile and talk. She has a real natural seat on the horse. I bet she could be a fast learner. His horse fidgeted, not liking his back position. He pulled at the reins in Syaoran’s hand, begging to move faster. I could say I need to go back for something. Hmm..

"Do you want to try anything faster?" Amy called over to Sakura.

Sakura thought for a second then answered. "Sure. Not too fast though." It can’t be that bouncy. Syaoran, Amy, and Samantha sure seem to stay put in the saddle. If all else fails I have some mane to hold on to.

The horses liked the excitement and started trotting, wanting to go a little more. Shady was very bouncing at the trot, and Sakura held a bit of mane to keep her down. The small saddle provided little security, but Sakura managed to stay balanced. Her horse switched into a faster gait, jostling Sakura around a bit more. Wait, I know this beat. It feels like the waltz. One, two, three. One, two, three... Her seat immediately fell into rythym, and her riding was impressively good. She sat smoothly as her horse rocked beneath her

Syaoran cantered along behind, surprised at Sakura’s wonderful adjustment into the quicker pace. Her hair bounced up and down behind her, making Syaoran sigh in awe. Why was I mad at her...? Amy signaled to slow down from the front, and Syaoran reluctantly went back into a walk. The scenery had taken a slight change, and now they had the classic picture of a brook next to them, quietly babbling on it’s way.

The trail narrowed, holding only room enough for two side by side to walk. Sakura’s horse got cut off by Charm, and Sakura rode awkwardly next to Syaoran. It’s not fair. He gets the nice saddle with a horn and a really comfy looking seat, and I get a dinky little peice of leather with flimsy leather straps holding some iron. Of course he looks like a good rider, who wouldn’t in that saddle?

Syaoran coughed nervously. I should apologize. I am so stupid for being so crude. She is just being cautious, that’s why she suspected me. I should be happy she is using her head for once. Syaoran looked over at Sakura. How should I start this? ‘Hey Sakura, sorry about being so mean and distant the past day and a half.’ Syaoran started to open his mouth when Sakura broke the silence.

"So how long have you been riding?" Sakura asked.

Syaoran sighed. I’ll just see where this conversation takes us. "Not long. You have ridden before too?" You must have, you could canter like a pro.

"No, I have never been near a horse since today. The gray horse at that barn where you fixed the tractor was the first live horse I had ever seen." Sakura smiled.

Syaoran frowned. "Oh." He pushed his horse away from where it had been drifting, closer and closer to Sakura. His horse didn’t like the distance Syaoran had forced between them, but reluctantly accepted.

The horses in front started to prance around wildly, stopping any hope of conversation between Syaoran and Sakura. The fear passed into their horses as well. Syaoran tried to keep the horse calm, and looked around the trail to find the cause. His horse shivered under him, wanting to run away from the invisble fear. Syaoran patted his horse and lookd around again. taking time to scope out every possible hiding spot for any predators. The horse continued to dance around, refusing to go forward any slower then a run. A cold wind stirred up leaves around them, sending the horses into a ballistic frenzy. Samantha’s horse cut in between Sakura and Syaoran, and ran out of control towards the barn. Amy’s horse rushed to follow, but Amy kept her experience as fuel for control. She looked worriedly around, then looked after Samantha.

"I hope she’s alright!" She yelled. The slightest distraction of speech gave Amy’s chance to get the bit between his teeth and take off, running towards the barn.

Sakura held on for her life as her horse lurched the other direction, and kept a firm pull back on the reins. Syaoran seemed completly involved in concentration with his high spirited horse to help Sakura.

Shade (sakura’s horse) hopped sideways, then started running wildly away from the barn. Sakura grabbed his mane tightly and yanked at the reins, but had no affect. He ran down the narrowing trail and soon was accomponied by fellow hoofbeats. Syaoran tried to stop his horse behind her, but the horse ran with fear that couldn’t be contained.

The leather straps to the stirrups pinched Sakura’s innerleg sharply, adding more pain to the obvious hurts of her butt, tightly gripping legs, and tightly gripping fingers. She leaned close to the horse’s neck in an effort to miss any stray branches and continued jerking on the reins. A flash of white to the side of the trail caught Sakura’s attention. Her horse seemed to move in slow motion as she looked over into a pair of awfully familiar eyes, eyes containing evil and hate. With a blink she was gone, disappearing as most ghosts do. Shade began to slow rapidly, hot with exhaustion. Soon she was back to a trot, which she bounced sloppily. She was tired as well, and her legs ached with pain. She was glad to see Syaoran slowing beside her, looking tired not from physical pain but from worry.

"Are you alright?" He asked Sakura, who sat shaking with fear atop her horse.

Sakura tried to smile and nod, but tears sprung into her eyes immediately and releif flooded through her. She sobbed and leaned over to cry into her horse’s mane. "I saw her. I saw the ghost. I know I did." She sniffed and looked up with a tear streaked face. "That’s what scared the horses."

Syaoran nodded quietly and slid down off his horse. He walked over to Sakura’s horse and grabbed it’s reins. "We should get off and take a break. We ran a long way real fast." He held her horse still. He looked up at her. "Take your right foot out, throw it over and slide down."

He half smiled but forced himself away, tying their horses to some nearby trees. Not the safest tying job but it will have to do. Syaoran walked over to where Sakura sat on the ground and knelt beside her. He gulped down the fear rising up his throat. Now or never. "I have been trying to apologize today. I was really crappy to you, but you had a right to be suspicious of anyone. I am a jerk sometimes, I guess, and...." He looked up from the ground into Sakura’s eyes, looking for any signs of forgiveness.

Sakura’s eyes teared up again, and she stared back into his eyes. She looked back to the ground and started to cry again. "I just don’t understand why this ghost has to follow me. What did I do to deserve this?" She let her tears fall to the ground.

Syaoran looked sorrowfully at the ground. The right thing to do is to hug her and tell her everything is okay. The stupid thing to do is to get up and say ‘i dunno sakura.’ The other thing to do is to help her up and say ‘I love you Sakura, I won’t let anything happen to you’. "I don’t know, Sakura," Syaoran said as he got up and offered a hand to help Sakura up. She looked up at Syaoran with a trace of hurt, and got up without his hand. Syaoran frowned and looked down. I have no hope with relationships. "We need to get back. It will take a while, but we’ve got all day. We’ll just make our horses walk. They will be tired from the run, no need to worry."

Sakura looked very scared about getting back on the horse. There I go being very vulnerable, and he just throws it away. He could’ve hugged me or something...Did I want him to hug me? She innersighed. He looks very good in jeans and...What am I thinking? He is inconsiderate and is asking me to get back on the cause of my near death experience! "I don’t want to go yet."

Syaoran frowned. "We have to leave now, people are worried about us in Japan."

Sakura shook her head, planting her feet. "I don’t want to ride."

Syaoran bit his lip. "Well....Will you ride if I am here walking your horse?"

Sakura hesitated but nodded her head.

"Alright then. I will walk your horse until you feel comfortable. Deal?" He held out his hand to shake, but Sakura ignored it and nodded, turnnig to get back on Shade. He laced his fingers and held them next to Shade’s left side. "Here, use this as a step."

Sakura walked over and grabbed Shade’s mane, preparing to jump up. She put her foot in Syaoran’s hands and lightly sprung up. She jumped a bit too high, landing hard on the horse, causing him to startle. Shade jumped away from the weight, throwing Sakura down. She fell onto Syaoran, both toppling to the ground.

Shade galloped away from the startle, further and further down the trail. Sakura looked down the trail after him, then collapsed onto Syaoran. She started crying into his chest, burying her face in his shirt. Syaoran blushed slightly, but fidgeted under the weight pinning him to the ground. He gently wrapped his arms around Sakura’s waist and set her up into sitting position. Sakura pulled her head away and looked at him with glistening eyes.

"I’m sorry for crying like this, but...," She looked towards the ground, sniffing consistently. She prepared herself to say what was coming next. "I hate being so distant with you Syaoran. I just don’t know who’s doing all this to me. I can’t, I mean, I can’t keep going like this and..."

Syaoran looked sympathetically into Sakura’s eyes. How could I have not hugged her before? She is completely open to me and I can’t just sit here. I have to do something. Syaoran pulled her tight, closing his eyes with pain as he rested his head on her shoulder. "I just don’t understand how you could suspect me. I mean, have I done something to cause that much distrust with you? I don’t want you to be afraid of me Sakura."

Syaoran is so sweet. How can I tell him I am not afraid of him killing me, I am afraid of him hurting my emotions? "I am not-"

Syaoran’s horse broke the connection while going wild trying to break free from its tie to the tree. It threw it’s head around trying to pull loose. Syaoran jumped up and carefully approached the horse, trying to keep it as calm as possible.

He slowly reached up for the reins and slowly untied them, keeping a tight grip. When the horse knew it was not anchored by the tree, it started pulling away, trying to jump out of Syaoran’s grasp. Syaoran held tight, knowing this horse was their way home. The horse gave in after a few struggles, hot from the fight.

Sakura walked over, recovering from her breakdown. We can’t bring that conversation up again now. Wow this is akward. "One horse isn’t going to get us home."

Syaoran looked at the horse for a moment. "Here, you ride and I’ll walk him. Fair enough?"

Sakura frowned. "What about you? You have to walk all that way?"

Syaoran shrugged. "Nothing else to do. Come on, get on."

Sakura had an easier time getting on with the sturdier saddle, and they started walking immediately. After about a half hour, they hit a fork in the road. Syaoran frowned. "This wasn’t here before. We went on one path, a complete straightaway."

Sakura looked at the two choices worriedly. "Maybe during our gallop we just didn’t notice."

Syaoran shook his head. "No, it wasn’t here. I am sure of it. Positive."

"Maybe we have been walking the wrong way." Sakura said.

Syaoran gritted his teeth. "No. We are going the right way, on the same one way path, and it has changed. Maybe the ghost did something. Who knows. All I know is we wanna get somewhere soon."

Sakura nodded. "So which way?"

Syaoran looked at the two paths through similar scenery. "Left. It is always the better direction. The road less taken."

"That one looks safer. The right way is the right way, right?" Sakura said jokingly.

Syaoran rolled his eyes but glared up at her. "I vote left. Is that okay?"

Sakura frowned back at him. She reconsidered thoughts and scenarios in her head and shrugged. "I go where you take me."

Syaoran turned around and pulled the horse along down the left side. The path quickly drew parallel to a brook, a very fimiliar one. "We are going the right way, downstream with the brook to the barn." Sakura called down to him.

Syaoran half smiled over his shoulder. "I knew I was right."

They rode along in silence for a very long time before Syaoran halted the horse. "Let’s take a break." He said, clearly exhausted from pulling the horse along. Sakura bit her lip guiltily. He was pulling her ride along. He insisted.

Syaoran walked over to the left side of the horse, ready to help Sakura dismount. His eyes started to weigh. There I go again, being so sleepy. It can’t be from the walking. Syaoran leaned against the horse, trying to fight the sleepiness. He closed his eyes and sighed, then looked back at Sakura, waiting for her to hop off.

A wind started up, electrical and cold. The horse jittered, pulling at Syaoran’s grip. Sakura went unbalanced and sat back into the saddle. The horse danced around nervously, eyes showing the whites. A nearby cracking sound sent the horse into a frenzy, and Syaoran held on as tight as he could to the flapping reins. The sound took a second to register to Syaoran’s mind. A tree is falling! The corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the tree behind him, seeming to fall towards them in slow motion. The horse pulled hard, taking off into a gallop away from the tree, toward the brook on the side of the trail. Sakura screamed, hanging tight to the saddle.

Syaoran had not let go of the reins with his left hand, and was being dragged, pulling on the left rein. The horse turned the direction of the pull, heading into the brook. Syaoran realized he was still holding on to the reins and let go, aching with pain. He heard a loud splash behind him. Syaoran forced himself over on his stomach and looked up, seeing Sakura floating in the creek, trying to swim across without being pulled by the current. The horse was halfway across the creek, all submerged except for it’s head which it held desperately out of the water to keep breathing.

I have to help her! Syaoran tried to get up, the pain in his back from the short drag keeping him from standing. I have to get over there. Syaoran pulled himself toward the steep bank. He slowly forced himself up, walking and falling stiffly the few feet to the bank. He threw himself into the icy water, swimming with determination and quickly reaching Sakura, who was struggling to move in the cold water. He grabbed her in one arm and struggled to keep himself and her above water, creeping sideways through the current toward the dry bank on the other side. Sakura kicked hard in the water, trying to help the rescue effort.

Sakura shivered through the water as she tried to function in the unbearable cold she was in. Her foot grazed a solid underneath her. We can almost stand! We’re almost out! After a few more feet, they were able to walk, climbing out of the water onto the more shallow bank. The horse stood dripping a few feet away, inside the woods where more heat was contained. Syaoran collapsed on the bank, laying on his back and breathing hard. Sakura did the same, closing her eyes and trying not to shiver.

If only we had some sun...A recent overcast had just happened to cloud away the small source of heat in the cold fall day. Sakura lay silent for a few moments, the turned her head to look at Syaoran, who had his eyes closed. Sakura forced herself into a sitting position, gasping when the cold wetness of her clothes touched her skin. She looked across the brook where a large tree lay cleanly across the trail. She frowned and looked closer, towards the break in the tree. A split second she thought she saw a white dress, a firgure smiling as she drew a fimiliar sword out of the tree, where it had been used as an axe. She looked over at Syaoran worriedly. Of course he’s tired; he just swam across a small river in freezing temperature to save me. But...

"Syaoran, have you ever found your sword?" Sakura asked, looking over at him as he still lay with his eyes closed. He opened one eye and looked at Sakura sleepily.

"Well, I haven’t really looked for it. I haven’t needed it." He frowned. "Why do you ask?"

Sakura shrugged in response and wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to keep warm. Syaoran sighed. She’s right. She’s absolutely right. I felt tired right before that tree fell down. And as I do every other time. What is going on? Syaoran looked at Sakura, wondering if he should voice his thoughts. "What your thinking, about me having something to do with all this stuff, I don’t know. You might be right. I’m not trying to kill you Sakura, I promise you that. But still, every time something happens, I get really tired after or before. I felt tired right before that tree went down. I’m not sure what it is..." His voice trailed off.

"I knew something was going to happen. I felt magic, electricity, something. My first impulse was to rush off the horse, but I decided I felt somehow safer on him, and luckily I stayed on. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t of gotten out of the tree’s way in time." She looked at Syaoran. "How did you get out of the way in time?"

Syaoran didn’t want Sakura to worry. "I just did."

Sakura sighed and stayed silent in thoughts for a moment. "Well we could have a warning sign, then. When you get tired, we know something is going to happen. We have a defense, we should use it."

Syaoran tried to nod without having to pick his head up off the ground. "Yes, we should definitely use the advantage where we can. This force is exstremly strong, stronger than anything we have ever faced before. It doesn’t give you a break. Clow Reed tested your magic. This force is willing to kill you."

Sakura bit at her lower lip. "It wants to kill me. It called me Aruka, remember? It’s solepurpose is to kill me. It’s not a force, it’s a ghost using magic." Sakura shivered with fear.

"Maybe it’s just a test. Don’t talk nonesense about ghosts, they don’t exist. Even if they did they wouldn’t use magic and..." Syaoran bolted up into sitting position quickly with an idea, then regretted it with the pain that shot through his body. "It’s using my magic! That’s why I am sleepy!"

Sakura gasped with his theory. "Is that possible? I mean, does that mean it can used your magic to do anything?" Sakura frowned with thoughts reeling through her mind. It does make perfect sense. "Could it use too much magic from you? So much you couldn’t handle it? Could it kill..." She left her sentence unfinished. They both sat quietly in the cold for a moment, thinking of the unsaid Sakura had just spoke.

Something is trying to kill me using Syaoran, and could kill Syaoran in the process? Who would want to? This is so confusing! So unrealistic! But then, my life has an unrealistic amount of events in it.

Alright I did it, I finished chapter four! I couldn’t help but notice that I put Sakura and all the characters in like an unbeleivable amount of disasters. I mean in two days Sakura goes through some acid stream with a canoe. has to swim across river in like freezing cold water, is completly angry at Syaoran, then makes a fire, goes to some girl’s house, hears stuff about Syaoran’s past, goes on a trailride and has her horse take off, gets under control and makes up with Syaoran, falls off and makes up some more with Syaoran, and swims across yet again another brook and almost gets hit by a tree. What a life she has! Anyway, it’s late and us writers need our sleep. Look forward to chapter five oh faithful writers.

-SyaoranFan4Life