Chapter Six-Big Trouble

Georgie looked around, panting. I know we ran by this tree. I remember it. But where did we go?

Georgie frowned and kept running straight. I don’t remember turning. We probably ran straight.

Georgie heard noise, clashing of some sort. She ran harder in that direction. Finally she could see a fimiliar large tree in the distance, with three small figures moving under it. Georgie gasped for another breath to keep her going, and stretched out her legs into full speed. Her ankle throbbed, but she ignored the pain and kept running.

Once within earshot, Georgie yelled. "I have it! I have your bookbag!"

Sakura and Syaoran looked up from the place they were holding Amy down. Syaoran got up and met her halfway, quickly taking the bookbag out of her hands. Georgie collapsed onto her knees and tried to catch her breath.

Syaoran was rummaging through the bag, but having no luck. Sakura motioned for him to come over where she was desperately trying to hold Amy down by herself. "Let me look! Come help me, quick!"

Syaoran ran over and put a stick down on Amy’s arm. They found the wood kept the dark spell from reaching them, so they gladly used sticks instead of their own hands.

Sakura frowned as she pulled clothes out of the bag. She looked over at Georgie with sorrowful eyes. "This isn’t mine! This is Jenny’s bag!"

Georgie looked up, horrified. "But that was the only one in the car! There wasn’t any other bags!"

Sakura frowned and then realized what was happening. My bookbag was on the boat when it sank! My cards are UNDERWATER!

Sakura doubled over her stomach, petrified to tell Syaoran how careless she had been. "Syaoran, we don’t have any cards. They were on the boat."

Syaoran looked up and released his grasp on Amy’s arm. "On the canoe?" His eyes frowned daggers straight into Sakura’s mind. Sakura nodded resentfully. "You mean the only cards we had left-The ELEMENT cards are in a RIVER somewhere!?"

Sakura bit her lip and leaned back from his anger, staring at the ground, tears springing to her eyes. Her words stumbled. "I-I know I shouldn’t have been so careless. I just wasn’t thinking about that when I jumped off the boat and-"

Syaoran threw his arms up in the air. "Great. This is perfect Sakura. You might as well blown the whole world up by now. Those element cards are so strong, if they help the other released cards, the whole world could be destroyed." He turned his back to them and looked into the distance, thinking.

Sakura sighed. He didn’t have to tell me what I already knew. Sakura looked up at Amy, who was struggling to get to her feet. Sakura jumped over and grabbed two sticks, trying to get a good grasp on her arm. The sticks wouldn’t work without something like the ground to support them. Sakura tried again, but Amy pulled out of her reach and stumbled away, fear overtaking in her eyes.

"Syaoran, quick, come here!" Sakura followed Amy, trying to keep her from running into anything.

Amy’s eyes turned, looking into Sakura’s eyes with a creepy hint of satisfaction. Amy grabbed Sakura’s arm. Sakura shreiked, but opened her eyes into complete blackness. She looked around, desperate for an escape.

This is just like before. I just need to get her to let go of me, and I will be alright. Sakura tried to connect with her physical self, the one Amy was holding onto. Her thoughts made no effect, and Sakura remained in the darkness. She turned around and looked through the whole dimension, seeing nothing but the dark that surrounded her.

A cold wind blew around her, bringing the smell of decay and death. Sakura started to tremble with fear. "What do you want from me!?" She cried out with the small amount of courage she had left.

"Aruka..." A voice echoed through, monotone and hypnotic. A figure appeared in front of Sakura.

"Amy! Amy we are trying to help you, we just can’t find my cards, that’s all." Sakura said calmly and happily to the girl in front of her.

Amy smiled, with an eerie sense about her. "I do not need your help Sakura. You need help for yourself, Aruka." The eyes continued to stare, blinking rythmatically.

Sakura frowned and looked at Amy with confusion. "Why are you calling me that? You are not really Amy, are you?"

Amy frowned innocently. She slowly pulled a sword from her back, but Sakura was unaware. "What do you mean Sakura? I am your friend."

She aimed the sword with lightning speed and swung it at a deathly angle towards Sakura’s throat. Sakura screamed and tried to dodge the speeded sword threatening her life.

Another object, something invisible outside their dimension, deflected the sword, barely keeping it from hitting her. Sakura felt the edge glaze across the right of her chest. Sakura jumped back and stared at Amy, horrified. "What are you doing?"

Amy smiled and spun away into the air. Another figured rose up from the black dark that Sakura was standing on. Sakura gasped.

"Aruka..." The voice said, no longer with Amy’s youthful health, but now raspy and more of a growl.

Sakura shuddered and stared down into the blackness, refusing to look at the ghost in front of her. "You were in Amy, weren’t you?"

"I can be anyone..." The voice said.

Two eyes appeared at Sakura’s feet, resembling the dead, but masked with the living. Sakura shut her eyes but still looked face to face with the dead. "What do you want from me!?" She shouted again.

The voice laughed and deepened into another familiar face. Sakura frowned. "Kero-berus?"

The large lion extended it’s claws and smiled. He threw his paw toward Sakura, who sheilded her face with her arms. The razor sharp claws resisted with her skin and broke through, pushing deep into her arm. She screamed. "LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE! THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!"

Kero-berus laughed and disappeared in a cloud of fire. A line of people appereared around Sakura. Touya, father, Tomoyo, Meilin, Rika, Trent, Syaoran... Sakura looked away, knowing the same eyes were on each of them. She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed in frustration.

A heated light went around her, like before, and she opened her eyes and found herself looking into concerned amber eyes. Sakura closed her eyes shut and opened them again, looking back into the deeply concerned eyes. "Am I alive?" She asked groggily.

Syaoran laughed softly and slowly set her down on the ground. "Yeah, you’re alright. I think Amy is coming around."

Syaoran left her and walked over to Amy’s side. She was unconscious, but the possession in her eyes was gone. Syaoran got up and walked over to Georgie, who sat, breathing more regularly now.

He looked at her ankle. "You aren’t going to be able to walk tommorrow."

Georgie looked down at her ankle, which was swelled about twice it’s normal size. "I know. I’ll be fine though." She gave a weak smile. "I think I caught it in a hole on the way there. It went the wrong way. I have really weak ankles."

Syaoran shrugged and limped back over to Sakura. She was sitting up and looking around, traumatized. She held out her arm for Syaoran to see. Four parallel scratches were slashed across her forearm. "Kero-berus scratched me." Sakura said, trying to make sense of her own words. "Amy tried to kill me with a sword, but it missed."

Syaoran nodded and covered the large deep cut on his stomach. He had been trying to get Amy to let go of Sakura’s arm, when he saw the knife card appear, ready to hit Sakura. Needless to say, he managed to deflect it, but only at his own expense.

Sakura examined her sword cuts from the first attacks. Her leg still stung a bit. She spit on it in an effort to keep it clean. Sakura looked up at Syaoran. "We need to get Amy to a doctor, fast. She’s got tons of cuts. They could get infected."

Syaoran nodded. "But can you even walk?"

Sakura nodded as if that was a foolish question. "I just got cut. The question is can you walk?" She nodded at the slash across his leg.

He stared at her incredously. Sakura sighed defensively and looked away. Just being concerned.

Georgie hobbled over. "Between the three of us, we can get her back. On the way here, I noticed an old river bed. It had really smooth walking. I starts and ends at about the same points."

Syaoran nodded. "We’ll need easy ground. Let’s go then."

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"I have an idea." Syaoran whispered to Sakura as they walked towards the river bed. Sakura looked at him questioningly.

He pulled out his water card, a bit bent, but still working. "We can fill it up, and get it to go the way we want it to. We just need to make a raft."

Sakura frowned uneasily. The past few times I’ve been in the water, it hasn’t been good. I don’t exactly feel like building a raft either.

Syaoran tried to persuade her. "Do you really want to walk for another mile? We have hardly walked 100 feet yet. Amy is getting really heavy to carry, and Georgie’s ankle gets worse every step."

Sakura reluctantly agreed. "Let’s stay out of the water, though. I hurt enough to have to be cold as well."

Syaoran nodded and backed away. He spoke quietly yet demanding to his cards. "Element water! Come to my aide!" The water flew out of the card, waiting for directions. "Fill the river bed and make the water move north, so we can use your waters for travel." The water obeyed and filled the old bed with crystal water, flowing smoothly but rapidly towards their destination.

Georgie spun around, half dragging Amy, and stared at them. "Did you just do that? This river was empty when I came by. It was empty a few seconds ago. But now all the sudden it’s full, and moving North!"

Syaoran shrugged. "Maybe it was a different river. Besides, you have been getting alot of rain lately."

Georgie frowned and sighed. "I know you guys use some sort of magic. I saw it. There’s no other explanation for this. You don’t have to hide it from me, I won’t tell."

Sakura slowly smiled and looked at Georgie admittingly. "You are-"

Syaoran cut her off. "Wrong. I don’t know what you have been seeing, but we definately aren’t some magic freaks. I don’t know where you came up with that. We are just lucky, that’s all."

Georgie let out a breath of frustration, and turned around, walking to the side of the river. "So where’s the raft?"

Syaoran looked around, surveying the trees around them. The trees in Asia are much more suitable. These trees will hardly get us anywhere. I don’t know how these American’s survive. He walked over to a young tree, and pulled at a flexible branch. He yanked it off and held it up. "We need about 25 of these at least. Strong flexible branches."

Sakura and Georgie nodded. Georgie gently lay Amy down, where she moaned as she rolled her head across the hard ground. Georgie looked at her sympathetically and then hobbled over to a promising tree.

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After about a half hour, Syaoran had collected 20 branches. Georgie had collected eleven and Sakura had collected twelve.

Syaoran went to work quickly, taking twine out of his pocket. Sakura looked at him, a bit bewildered that he would have such a strong rope stored away in his jacket, but she shrugged the thought away and tried to help where she could.

After another twenty minutes of feverish toil, they had a creation that somewhat resembled a boat. Sakura looked at it with exacerbation. "Bob the bug could eat this thing apart in about five minutes."

Syaoran shuddered and glared at Sakura for mentioning the beasty little bug’s name. "Bob the bug would die before he ever reached the wood on that raft." Syaoran had a short satisfying image of a knife being thrown cleanly across the little catterpillar’s body.

Georgie frowned at the inside joke, and stepped on the raft gently. "It only needs to take us for about ten minutes. It’ll do."

Syaoran smiled at Georgie for the compliment on his woodwork, then dragged it over the water’s edge. He brushed the cold sweat off his forehead and looked up at the three girls waiting to be lying down in a warm bed, all pain gone. "Alright, let’s put Amy in first. Easy about it, get her in the center." Syaoran directed them as he held the boat tight to the side of the water.

"Now you Georgie." Georgie nodded at his instructions and slid down onto the barely floating wood. Syaoran looked up at Sakura. "Alright, get on the other side." Sakura nodded and hopped over, slightly unbalanced, and landed as softly as she could on the bobbing contraption. Syaoran waited for Sakura to be completely balanced before he pushed off and hopped on at the last possible moment. His weight sent the boat bobbing a bit, but he quickly settled it so the boat was gliding smoothly.

Sakura looked worriedly behind her. The water disappeared behind them as the floated along, knowing it’s purpose was needed in front of the boat, not behind. She looked at Syaoran, softly motioning at the water. Syaoran responded with a shrug, telling her to quit looking. Sakura sighed and looked back ahead.

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Sakura sighed for the millionth time in her life. It seems we’ve been waiting for this service to get over for about an hour now. Are the sermons really that long? Sakura looked over at Amy and Georgie. Georgie looked exhausted, and Amy was still going in and out of conscienceness. They were wating outside the church to get Samantha. At Georgie’s request, they were hiding behind the church, making sure to not be seen by Georgie’s parents. Syaoran was near the door, waiting to sneak in and grab Samantha before anyone else noticed him.

"Syaoran looked pretty beat up." Georgie said, resting against the brick wall.

Sakura looked up and nodded. "Yeah, he had some scratches." Nothing the usual Syaoran would be too concerned about.

"The cut on his stomach looks like it could be infected." Georgie said.

Sakura frowned. "Oh, I didn’t see that one."

Georgie widened her eyes. "You didn’t see that? It was the only one I was worried about. He really took that blow for you."

Sakura frowned in confusion. He didn’t block any attacks for me. What does she mean? I think she’s just saying that in general. I don’t know. I don’t want to bring it up now. Sakura just smiled and nodded.

The sound of gravel crunching broke their attention. Samantha and Syaoran walked around the corning of the building. Samantha took one look at Amy and then rushed to her side. She looked up at Syaoran, Sakura, and Georgie. "Is she gonna be okay? What in the world happened to her?"

Georgie, Sakura, and Syaoran looked at each other sheepishly, each not wanting to have to tell through the whole story again. Syaoran spoke up. "Amy was out in the woods when we found her. She was possessed, she ran into a tree, and tried to cut us up. We helped her, and now she’s here."

Samantha looked at them, very skeptical, and shrugged. "When you guys want to tell the real story, let me know. We just need to get her to her house, fast."

Syaoran nodded and looked around. He spotted a nice black car, and started limping over. He pulled at the door handle, and was happy to find it open. He looked at the group. "Give me cover for about ten minutes."

He ducked into the car and started working. Sakura looked at Samantha in exasperation. "He’s going to steal a car?"

Samantha’s eyes widened. "At CHURCH?"

Georgie tried to calm the arguement. "Guys, don’t worry about it. We’ll return it. We need this more than anything."

Samantha frowned at Georgie’s reasoning. "Well we could at least get a ride with someone. Your parents would take us home!"
Georgie frowned at Samantha. "As of right now, I officially disown my parents." She looked down and fought back the threatening tears. "I just have to run away first."

Samantha softened, but looked at Goergie a bit skeptically. "Sorry."

Syaoran stepped out of the car and waved at them wildly. "Come on! Hurry up, we can leave!" He sat back down, starting the car.

They piled in, setting Amy down first. Samantha set herself in front next to Syaoran, and the other three sat in the back.

Syaoran looked at the car and then frowned angerly. "I am sorry guys, I can’t drive this. It’s a stick shift, and I-"

Samantha pulled open her door. "At least I have my liscense, not like you middleschoolers. Hurry up and let me drive. I don’t like this, driving a hotwired car."

Syaoran quickly switched seats and sat back, thrown back with the momentum of Samantha’s wild driving. Once on open road, Samantha looked at them apoligetically. "Sorry, I just didn’t want anyone in church seeing the car." She turned up another country road, windy into the falling leaves and bright colors that lay ahead. "You know we can’t leave a stolen car right out in the middle of her driveway."

Syaoran fidgeted in the passenger seat, not enjoying the lack of control he was getting. "So hide it in the barn. Drive it back to church one night, park it in the same spot, and pretend like nothing ever happened."

Samantha sighed and turned in to a long driveway, leading into the wide expanse of woods that was Amy’s yard. Samantha turned toward a storage shed near the wood cabin. Sakura almost jumped out of her seat remembering a very obvious fact. "Are Trent and Rika here!?" She asked.

Samantha hopped out of the door and opened the large shed door, leaving Sakura’s question unanswered. She ran back and sat in the car, turning it so she could back into the shed easily. "I think so. They were talking about going to the airport. They really didn’t know when they’d see you again. I don’t think they would’ve left yet."

Sakura nodded and stiffly exited the car once it was stopped. She waited for Georgie to get out the other side and help her carry Amy. Samantha came over to help with Amy’s carraige as well.

Syaoran slowly got out of the car. He stayed bent over his stomach, finding it hard to straighten out. He winced at the shot of pain that came freshly through his nervous system. It has got to be infected. I need to clean this cut out, but I can barely move my arm. Besides, I don’t want to scare the girls. He shook the long hair out of his pained eyes. Yes, I have to be here to help them. This pain is no worse than sparring in ju jitsu. Nothing to it but blocking the hurt. Syaoran took a limited deep breath and stood up straight. The pain shot through him was very great, and sent him bending over his stomach again. He sighed and forced himself as straight as he could make himself, then walked after the girls, who were starting towards the house. Each step took debate in his mind, but he forced himself towards the goal; Amy’s log cabin door.

After an eternity, they reached the door, and Samantha took out the keys, quickly whipping open the door and allowing them to walk right into the living room, warm and dry. Sakura and Georgie dropped Amy on one couch, and sat themselves down on the other. Syaoran looked despairingly at the hard floor. He sighed and walked over, standing next to Sakura and Georgie’s couch. No one was inside, and Trent and Rika left no signs of presense.

Samantha walked over to Amy’s phone and played the messages on the phone. Rika’s voice talked loudly. "Hi, Amy. We just wanted to thank you for letting us stay. We are on our way to the airport, we have a flight in two hours. We will send you a card or something when we get home. Let us know if you see Syaoran and Sakura. Bye!" The message beeped off.

Syaoran tried to hold in a groan as he stood painfully next to the couch. He had only heard bits of the message, and was too busy dealing with the pain in his stomach to notice Rika’s voice. He shut his eyes and lowered himself to the floor, sitting on the cold wood. The sitting felt very good to his tired muscles, but the pain in his gashed stomach still persisted.

Sakura looked at him with concern. "Are you okay?"

Syaoran leaned over his elbows trying to releive some of the pain. "I’m fine." He said in a pained voice, a very unsuccesful try at hiding the hurt from his voice.

Samantha took Sakura’s attention away from Syaoran. "You all need a good soak in the tub. But right now, we have to focus on getting Amy better. Syaoran, I think you should lay for a while, but Sakura and Georgie, you guys seem healthy enough to help me. I know you are tired, but I have an idea for what we can do after we get Amy better. Alright, now let’s get to it. Let’s get her in her bed. Georgie-you can get a clothe with some cold water on it, and some peroxide with several towels. Sakura, you help me bring her in."

Sakura nodded and struggled against Amy’s weight, carrying her awkwardly. Amy mumbled a few things, but remained in the dazed state. The dragged along into Amy’s clean room, and gently layed her on her small water bed.

Samantha sighed and gently patted the side of Amy’s cheek. Amy’s eyes flickered, then closed back over. Samantha smiled. "Let’s get to work!"

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Syaoran sighed as he lay on the couch. He was a bit offended that Samantha would doubt his ability to deal with pain, but was happy enough to be left alone. Even laying on the couch, the pain brought him close to unconsciousness. He groaned inwardly and rolled over onto his side, curling up into a ball. His slashed stomach throbbed still, but the exhaustion of the day allowed him to find rest. He closed his eyes and fell immediatly into a deep hallucinating sleep, the rare sleep pertained only when the body has truly been worked to its limit.

Sakura walked into the small living room/kitchen combination. She put the two cloths in the sink and turned on the faucet, putting the lukewarm water onto the clean cloth. She looked over and noticed Syaoran, sleeping soundly on the couch. She quietly walke over, trying not to wake him. Once she was close enough,she realized he was already in a deep sleep. He looks unconscious. We should check his temperature or something.Sakura gently laid the back of her hand on his forehead. Heat radiated into her hand, and she immediatly pulled it away. He shouldn’t do this to himself. He’s going to kill himself one of these days, overworking himself when he’s so tired. Sakura looked up at the filling sink. There’s nothing I can do now but help Amy. He wouldn’t accept my help, no matter how much he needed it.

Sakura walked away, her concern heavy in her mind. He needs a good three days of rest, and he’s going to get it whether he likes it or not. She grabbed the cloths and went back into Amy’s room, where Samantha and Georgie sat on the sides of the bed. Samantha took a cloth from Sakur’s hand and placed it on Amy’s forehead. Amy’s eyes began to flicker, slowly being forced open.

Samantha continued to press the cloth on her forehead. "Amy, can you hear us?"

Amy’s eyes made their way to meet Samantha’s. She gave a weak smile, then her expression froze. Samantha noticed.

"Amy, what is it? What’s wrong?" Samantha looked into her eyes for an answer.

Amy cleared her throat and coughed a few times, preparing herself to talk. Her voice had a rasp to it, and was much quieter than usual. "I had just put Shade in the barn and then I saw Alley in the woods, walking home, without you guys around."

Sakura frowned. "Who is Alley?"

Samantha looked at her a bit glaringly for interrupting the story. "Her horse. The one your friend Syran was riding."

Georgie frowned and interrupted. "Syaoran-your brother Syaoran?"

Sakura looked down sheepishly and nodded. "He’s not really my brother."

Samantha glared at them and then gave Amy the clear to finish her story. Amy tried to sit up a bit more in her bed and looked down at her scratched hands as she spoke. "I walked out there to get him, when some coyote or wild dog came out of no where. I got scared, and Alley already had a saddle and bridle on, so I hopped on, just to be safe." She paused to cough and clear her throat again. "Alley spooked, and then I remember being in the woods, and by a river...I don’t know. I woke up here. That’s about it."

Sakura frowned at her story. I know she’s hiding something. No one ever tells the story that easily. I think the g-ghost is in charge of this. Somehow, someway we have to stop this ghost before it kills someone. It almost killed me...And Syaoran.

Amy closed her eyes than shot them open again. "Is Syaoran ok?"

Sakura frowned again at the girl. How does she sense anything’s wrong with him? Why does she care? "He just got some scratches and bruises, he’s fine. How about you, how are you feeling?"

Georgie sighed and fiddled with her shoe lace. Her ankle had swollen up even more, and it throbbed with pain even when resting. She wanted to lie down, but she knew that would be slefish of her to ask. They are all getting along just fine with their cnoversation. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if I left. Even if they did, it’s my choice. "Excuse me." She said politely to the three girls. They barely nodded in response and continued with their conversation.

Georgie quietly walked into the living room. What have I gotten myself into? I saw some strange things out in those woods. I know Sakura doesn’t like me, why I don’t know. Syaoran is okay, but he seems a bit hottempered. Do I really want to leave my family and home that I lived in for 14 years to run away with these people? They don’t really care about me. Georgie walked over and sat in front of the fire, leaning on the couch Syaoran lay sleeping on. My family never really cared for me either. Georgie frowned at herself for thinking such self centered thoughts. I am so self pitying. Who knows what can happen next if I stay with these kids. This is a change I need. She turned to look at Syaoran, laying quietly and breathing evenly on the couch as the fire crackled beside him. Jenny wasn’t completely wrong about him. His deep amber hair fell in strands across his closed eyes, looking very loose and soft. Georgie sighed again and looked down at her ankle. But I know he likes someone else. No one ever liked me. Georgie frowned and tried to rid her head of the overwhelming self pitying thoughts flooding her mind. Her thoughts were gratefully interrupted by Sakura and Samantha, who came walking in.

Samantha smiled at first, looking at Syaoran who lay so peacefully. Then she addressed Georgie. "We are going to just nap for the rest of the day. Amy’s going to need a while to recover, and Sakura said she is tired as well. Syaoran was obviously worn out. I’m sure we can all use a little rest. We’ll have something to do tommorrow."

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Syaoran opened his eyes. He was sure he had just heard something moving. True darkness covered the room, except for the quiet glow from the dying fire. The orange glow gave light only to that portion of the room, and anything beyond the couch was invisible. He tried to sit up, but his muscles refused to obey. The intense pain from his deep cut to the stomach made him double over in agony, trying to keep himself from getting sick. He forced himself to recover and looked around again. The room was silent, except for the steady rythmatic breathing around him. He looked and saw Sakura sleeping quietly on the adjacent couh, with Georgie sleeping in a pile of blankets next to her.

Syaoran sighed to himself and turned back over, facing the fire. Warmth still radiated from the glowing embers, feeling very nice against Syaoran’s cold body. The energy drained from the cuts and bruises trying to heal drained his energy-particularly his body heat. He shivered and straightened his covers as best he could. When he couldn’t find sleep, he opened his eyes and watched the fire flicker its last few times. Something disturbed the flame, a wind blowing from the other side of the room. Seconds later Syaoran heard footsteps followed by the closing of the door, then silence. Someone must have felt like going outside. But who? Sakura and Georgie are right here, and Amy is hardly even conscious. It must be the other girl-Samantha. I don’t like Samantha. She is too bossy and underestimates me too much. She doesn’t scare me one bit with her tomboy attitude. Syaoran rolled over again and tried to look towards the window in the door. The strain on his muscles was quiet near overbearing, and he groaned unintentionally. The noise he made was the least of his concerns at the moment, as he struggled yet again with the overwhelming pain.

Georgie awoke from her stiff spot on the floor. She looked over at Syaoran, who seemed to be sitting up and rocking himself as his face held a pained look. Georgie looked away, a bit surprised and embaressed she had caught him at such a vulnurable time. I didn’t think he ever felt pain-or at least showed the pain he was feeling. Georgie took a breath and broke the silence with a soft question. "Are you alright?"

Syaoran frowned from where he half sat on the couch. Is she talking to me? Damn why did I have to groan like that? Now I’ve woke the household. "Mhmm." He said quietly, trying to keep the silent air. They sat silent for a few moments.

Wait a minute, she might have saw who left. Syaoran thought. "Did you hear anyone leave the house just a minute ago?"

Georgie shook herself back awake, surprised he was still talking to her. "Yeah, I think it was Samantha. She was probably checking on the horses or something." Georgie saw Syaoran’s shadow against the remaining fire light nod in agreement. She bit at her lip then prepared herself to continue the conversation. Why is he so intimidating? "Are you sure you’re okay? I saw you take that hit for Sakura. You must really like her." Georgie felt like covering her mouth for what she had just said. How could I say that?

Syaoran sighed and went back to a laying position. "Why does everyone say that? I just did what I thought was right. The knife could have killed her. I just stopped that from happening. Does saving someone mean I like them? In that case, I like alot of people."

Georgie frowned and tried to defend herself in a more polite manner. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, I was just trying to compliment your bravery. It looked truly painful. I am sure Sakura is very thankful." But she doesn’t even know that he deflected that for her. She doesn’t even know he’s in pain. But...I noticed it from the start. It seems I always notice these things, but no one notices me. Why can’t I admit to myself I am truly jealous of what Sakura has? What devotion he must have to be willing to put himself near death and never even expect her to notice his deed of courage?

"It’s too bad we couldn’t get the light card-I mean...too bad we didn’t get the right bookbag." Syaoran scolded himself for his loose words. Everyone out here in Indiana ville are going to know about clow cards. I am such an idiot.

Georgie fought at the tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. He has to remind me that I failed. I don’t have enough self esteem as it is. Why can’t I ever do anything great? Someday I am going to do something that will have an utmost importance. But for now, I am stuck as a failure. Why can’t anyone notice, I am capable of so much more than boarding school!

Syaoran though about his choice of words and reconsidered them. "I mean- too bad you ran so hard for nothing. I know you must have been exhausted."

Georgie smiled to herself and to Syaoran. She sighed appreciatively. "Yeah." I shouldn’t think so selfishly until it’s all said and done. She layed back down and rolled over, her back to the fire. "Well, goodnight then. Try to rest well." Syaoran made no response, but it didn’t hurt Georgie’s feelings, for she was practically asleep already.

Sakura blinked from where she was lying. The noise of footsteps had woke her up long before the conversation beside her, but she had remained quiet as she tried to fall back asleep. Thoughts flooded through her mind. What was that supposed to mean? I thought- I mean...I don’t care what I thought! He is so confusing. So maybe he is so brave and such on the outside, but he is truly a coward. He cannot even admit his true feelings. Sakura softened her feirce arguement. But then-he took a hit for me? I didn’t notice anything. I know he was really beat up, and was running a fever, but I didn’t know he took a hit for me. Sakura sighed and pondered on these thoughts as she slowly fell into sleep.

_______________________________________________________________________

Samantha threw open the door. Sunlight streamed in from the cold outdoors, and she was releived to come back into the warm living room, well heated with the barely glowing fire. Sakura sat up from her spot on the couch and looked over at the open door. Samantha smiled and greated her. "Good morning!"

Sakura yawned and stretched her arms. "Hardly." She finished her yawn and opened her eyes again. "It can’t even be past six in the morning. Are you kidding? We went through a exhausting catastrophic event, and you wake us up at six in the morning?"

Samantha grinned evilly and closed the door. "You guys will love this." She ran out of the room for a few moments. Sakura looked down at Georgie, who was just waking.

"Do you know what she’s talking about?" Sakura asked her.

Georgie took a deep yawn and then laughed at herself. "I am like a dinosaur when I wake up. I didn’t know my mouth opened that wide." She laughed, then addressed Sakura’s question. "I have no clue what Sam’s talking about. She’s crazy. Evil on the inside, I know it."

Sakura laughed and then looked over at Syaoran. She could see him shivering, slowly waking up. She smiled. "Hard time waking this morning, Syaoran?" Only in the morning would I be in such a good mood to say that. I am so slaphappy I completely forgot what they were talking about last night. Sakura sighed at herself. But that’s irrelevant. It’s a new day now.

Syaoran groaned from where he lay. "I am fine," He said crabbily. Sakura held back a laugh at the sleep still evident in his voice.

Samantha came running back into the room. Her arms held a few peices of suspicious clothing. She threw one to Sakura, Georgie, and Syaoran.

Georgie looked at it, shocked. "A bathing suit!? It’s the middle of October, and we are recovering from exhaustion. What are we going to do with a bathing suit?" Georgie eyed her suspiciously. "I know. You were thinking to yourselves-how better a way to torture those three then to make them put a bathing suit on. With their sore muscles, it should be a good half hour of hard struggle leading to failure."

Samantha laughed. "No, you’ll love it, I promise!" She laughed again. "You’re right about one thing. You will have to put them on. Those are Amy’s, they should fit. Syaoran, that’s a pair of Amy’s dad’s trunks, they are mysteriously small. You can go change in the bathroom, but for your sake, I’d advise you to hurry it up!"

Sakura groaned and waited for Amy to leave the room. She thought about it reasonably for a while, then decided to follow Samantha’s odd orders. She walked to the bathroom, tired and sore, but much better than she had been expecting, and closed the door. She sat down on the closed toilet and inspected the bathing suit. A two peice. I hate these things, I don’t want to wear one now. She held back the true fact from herself that the real reason was because she was afraid of what Syaoran might think. She forced herself to put it on, then looked at herself in the mirror. It doesn’t look that bad, and it fits pretty well. Sakura fiddled with a strap, then agreed with the figure reflected in the mirror. She picked up her tshirt and put it on over the suit, then walked back out into the room.

Georgie looked at her doubtfully, then hobbled her way to the bathroom. "Samantha better have a good reason for this humiliation..." She grumbled as she went into the bathroom.

Sakura walked over and sat down on her couch, pulling the covers over her bare legs. She shivered and then looked back at Syaoran, who was now sitting up and looking at the fire, his eyes lost in thought. Sakura broke the ice. "You really need rest. You had a horrible fever last night, and you can hardly stand because of the pain."

Syaoran continued to stare off, then finally drew his eyes to Sakura’s. "It’s nothing but some cuts. I’ll be fine."

Sakura sighed and looked at him, letting her concern show through her eyes. "Yes, but-"

Syaoran stood up a bit uncertainly, steadied himself, then started walking to the bathroom from which Georgie had just exited. "Don’t worry, Sakura. I am alright."

Sakura sighed and leaned back on her couch. Georgie offered a small smile. "He is driving himself too hard. The only person that can stop him is himself." Sakura nodded and looked down worriedly. Georgie shrugged as she sat herself down next to Sakura on the couch. "Don’t worry, he’ll take care of himself."

Sakura nodded and stared blankly into space for a moment, then forced herself back into a good mood. "I’m sure whatever Samantha has planned will cheer us up." Georgie nodded in agreement.

Samantha came into the room, grinning widely. "Alright, almost ready?"

Sakura and Georgie nodded.

Samantha smiled again. "Alright then. You’d better put on your shoes and be ready to run. It’s pretty cold out there in a bathingsuit."

Georgie gawked. "You mean we are going OUTSIDE? No way am I going out in this! It’s gotta be at least 30 degrees outside for goodness sakes, and you are making us go out in little two peices?"

Sakura laughed. "You got one too? I don’t like two peices." Georgie nodded with her in agreement.

Syaoran opened the door and stomped out, green swimming shorts on with his tshirt reaching to almost his knees. He eyed them and glared at Samantha. "What do you want? Why are you making us wear these? Are you going to make us swim in this weather?"

Samantha smiled and shushed him, then jogged to the door, motioning for them to follow. "You are just gonna have to trust me on this one. I know you’ll like it. But for now, I suggest you run after me, so you don’t notice the cold."

Sakura jogged after her, while Georgie did her best to hop on one foot. Syaoran walked stiffly and quickly aways behind. They stepped out into the misty air, the sun not yet risen. The pink dawn sky was beautiful against the bright fall leaves. Sakura shivered and crossed her arms as she jogged, bounding with curiosity of what Samantha was going to do.

They turned left after the large horse barn, and there, steam rising high, was a large pool of hot water. Samantha stopped and turned around. "Water is great for sore muscles. Georgie and these people run a water excersise program for horses. Last night I got this great idea to fill it up with warm water-since it was already emptied for the winter-and then bring you guys over for a swim."

Georgie smiled and clapped her hands. "That’s great! I am getting in before I freeze to death out here!"

Georgie ripped of her clothes and jumped into the water, screaming with glee. She swam back up to the surface and smiled up at the three still on the side of the water. "It’s great! Honestly! Wonderfully terific on my ankle!" She splashed around and then dove under the water, swimming in circles.

Sakura laughed. I am such a chicken. Who cares how the bathing suit looks, just go in! Sakura yanked her tshirt off and ran full force off the edge, making an effort to make a splashing wave on her descent. She came back up and brushed the sticking hair off her face. The water stung a bit at first, such an exstreme change from the freezing cold on her face, but she quickly grew use to it. "It’s like bathwater!"

Samantha smiled and sat down, untying her shoes. Syaoran walked over to the edge and sat down, dipping his feet in the water. Samantha noticed him. "Why don’t you take your shirt off and get in?" She said, almost forcefully.

Syaoran frowned, but didn’t turn to face her. "I don’t have to if I don’t want to."

Samantha laughed. "Whatever you say." She snuck up behind him, ready to push him over. Syaoran sensed her standing behind him, but a bit too late. He unsucessfully grabbed for her ankle as she pushed him into the water. He popped up out of the water after a while and glared at her.

Normally I would throw her face in the dirt. She is lucky I am so sore. Hell I am hardly even keeping myself swimming. I better get to shallow water. After a few seconds of being in the water, his muscles started to sting. The cut in his stomach ached horribly, but the water kept it contained to a point. The shirt he was wearing clung to his skin above the surface, but below it floated safely away from the open wounds. He swam up the ramp until it was shallow enough to sit, and then planted himself down.

Sakura watched him swim over, then decided to go over and talk. She swam underwater, reaching him with lightening speed. She smiled greetingly then sat next to him. "Are you feeling any better today-honestly?"

Syaoran shrugged and looked off into space. They stared blankly for a while, when finally Syaoran looked at Sakura brightly with an idea. With Georgie swimming closeby, and Samantha standing a few feet back, Syaoran moved closer to keep their conversation private.

"With all this water, you could put a potion in it or something. Something to heal cuts and bruises. Use the Create Card." Syaoran said.

Sakura nodded quickly at the idea, then stopped, crestfallen. "I don’t have any cards, remember?"

Syaoran sighed loudly. He winced slightly but tried to hide it. "I forgot."

They sat quietly for a while, then Sakura sighed and swam over with Georgie, enjoying the relaxing heat in the water. Sakura dove into the water and did a handstand, straight and tall. She came back up and looked at Georgie competitively. Georgie smiled and did one just as nicely, if not nicer, and then laughed. "Let’s just lay around for a while. We are supposed to be resting our muscles. This water won’t stay hot forever."

Sakura nodded in agreement. She flipped over and laid on her back, shivering a bit from the cold that tickled her body half out of the water. The two elements-fire and ice-blending into a perfect temperature. Sakura closed her eyes and fell into a quiet sleep, a day dreaming state.

I looked away, not wanting to see his eyes, filled with rejection. I knew I had done something horible to him. I didn’t know what, but I couldn’t speak to him. He would die if I spoke to him. Let him live without you rather than kill him with your words. I am running away now. I don’t know why-probably just because I couldn’t stand those peircing eyes, questioning me, fighting for me. But why? He had a right to question me, I did something horrible to him. What I do not know. I cannot let him think of me again. It will hurt him, and I don’t want to do that. Yet I just did that, I did something horrible to him.

Sakura opened her eyes and squinted against the blinding rising sun. The vivid dream disoriented her, and she sunk into the hot water. Realizing where she was, she went back to tredding water, and didn’t give much thought to the odd jumble of thoughts in her dream. It was just a dream, after all.

Samantha broke Sakura’s train of thought as she jumped into the water, making waves throughout the large pool. Sakura smiled and dove under water, spinning around in the soothing heat. Her cuts and sore muscles did not hurt at all in the water. She surfaced and looked over at Syaoran. He sat grumpily, not swimming or moving. I hope his stomach doesn’t hurt too much, I can’t beleive he took that hit for me. Sakura smiled at her old foolish thoughts. He was willing to take that hit for me, so that completely disporves my theory he is going to kill me. I can’t beleive I could have ever thought that. Sakura thought back to when he had hugged her and begged her to trust him. She blushed a bit, worrying someone else might see what she was thinking. She brushed the memories away and swam over to Georgie and Samantha.

Samantha started talking. "Is he alright? Why won’t he swim with us?"

Georgie hushed her. "Don’t let him hear. He is so beat up, its a wonder he was able to walk out here at all. Did you see him trying to keep up?"

Sakura sighed and nodded. "I know he took that hit from the sword for me. I wish he would just rest like we tell him to. He is overworking himself."

Samantha nodded. "Yes, he is. I am going to go settle it once and for all." Samantha went underwater and swam swiftly over to Syaoran’s side. He watched her approach srupulously She surfaced next to him.

"Okay, buddy. We are going to clean that cut out. You are going to do if you don’t take care of your wounds!" Samantha said.

Syaoran frowned at her. "I am just fine, I can take care of myself. If you are so worried about my life, let me go back to the cabin by myself."

Samantha frowned back. "No way. Not by yourself, you aren’t." Samantha turned around and looked over at Georgie and Sakura who listened closeby. "Georgie, come take Syaoran back to the house. We’ll be after you in a second."

Georgie nodded hesitantly and swam over, standing up next to Syaoran. Once she was standing, she shreiked and fell back into the water. "It’s freezing out there! I can’t walk back in this! Do we have any towels?"

Samantha’s eyes widened. "Oh no!" She said horrificly. "I forgot them!"

Syaoran glared at Samantha. "It’s below freezing out here, and you expect us to run all the way back to the house, wet?"

Samantha shrugged. "I thought you were tough enough to handle it."

Georgie interrupted. "We’ll be alright, it’s not that far."

Syaoran crossed his arms. Samantha looked away.

Sakura shivered from thinking about leaving. "We don’t need to leave, just yet. The water’s still warm."

"But Syaoran has that cut-" Samantha protested.

"So why don’t you take him back yourself? You are the one that’s not hurt at all." Georgie said, a bit feircly.

Samantha glared at her. "It was your choice to go and beat yourselves up, playing in the woods or whatever you were doing. I was just trying to help." She said through her teeth.

Georgie sighed and held back a response. I am normally so mild tempered, why did I say that? I think I have been around these kids for too long. I don’t know if staying with them is such a good idea...but I can’t go back with my parents now...

It went dark outside, noticeably so. Sakura and the others looked up to see a cloud passing over the sun. Sakura sunk deeper in the water, trying to stay out of the cold wind that blew. "Is it going to rain? again?"

Georgie sighed looking up at the dark cloud. "It seems like its rained alot more since you guys have been here. I don’t think the sky has any water left."

Syaoran inspected the clouds. "If it does precipitate, it’s gonna snow. If its anything like the rain storms we had before, you could get alot of snow."

Samantha scoffed. "Its not like it would stick to the ground."

Syaoran shook his head. "I would normally agree, but it’s very cold, and the ground has cooled down alot."

Sakura contemplated the idea of running out of the water into the house. It’d be freezing cold, sure, but I won’t notice it if I run fast enough. Someone needs to go first, and it looks like I’m the one to do it. Sakura swam over to the shallowest possible depth before standing up. She shreiked as Georgie did, but she forced herself to keep running. She quickly stopped to grab the tshirt that was laying on the ground, then continued towards the house.

Samantha shrugged and followed her, making a bigger deal out of the cold wind. "This is so cold!"

Georgie sighed and stood up, trying to move as quickly as she could with one working ankle. She slowed down at the stairs so she wouldn’t trip, and then went into an awkward jog. She stopped and sat next to her clothes, yanking on her shoes over her barefeet. Syaoran still sat in the water, watching her leave. She frowned. "Aren’t you coming?"

Syaoran nodded. "In a bit."

Georgie shrugged and grabbed her clothes, slowly struggling her way to the house.

Syaoran sighed with releif when he saw her disappear around the corner. They would have had a fit if they saw all the bruises on my back. He got up stiffly and slowly limped his way to his clothes. He pulled his shirt on over his wet skin, and continued walking, shivering, to the house. A horse inside the barn whinnied at him. He smiled back inside, but didn’t slow down to see who had neighed at him.

After an eternity, he reached the door and entered the cabin. It was warmer inside, but since the fire’s death, there wasn’t the same inviting heat as before. He sighed and walked over to the bathroom to change.

Sakura came out of Amy’s parents room with a sweatshirt and jeans on, still shivering. She threw Syaoran a green sweatshirt. "It’s Amy’s dad’s, but I’m sure he won’t mind, or notice, that we took it from him. He’s got a mall full of clothes in that closet there." Sakura laughed and walked over to Samantha. "Do you know where their woodpile is? We need more fire."

Samantha nodded. "Yeah, let me go change and then we’ll go get some." Samantha went into the parents room to change after Sakura. Georgie stood shivering, the last one to change. Sakura smiled sympathetically.

"You are going to catch a cold!"

Georgie nodded. "But I am sure I’ll be okay. It’s poor Syaoran who needs some medical attention."

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, he does."

Samantha hopped out of the room. "This feels so much better!" She smiled and jogged to the door. "Alright, come on Sakura!" She opened the door and waited for Sakura to catch up. Sakura gasped as she faced the outside.

Samantha saw her marvelled face and looked around the door. She gasped as well. Snow was already coming down heavily. The snow was not coming down feircly with lots of wind, but quietly and gently, a thick snow that you would expect for December.

Samantha’s eyes widened. "Quick, we have to get the wood before it gets too wet!" She leaned forward against the snow and ran towards the log pile. Sakura spotted the pile quickly and ran after her.

The grabbed four big peices and walked quickly back to the door, sliding a bit from the slick surface the bit of snow was already creating. The reached the door and slammed it shut, then stumbled over to the fireplace and set the logs in the best possible order to get a good fire going. Samantha looked around, then hopped up and ran to the counter, grabbing a newspaper. She jogged back over to the fireplace and knelt down, then started to rip the newspaper into even peices, throwing them onto the logs. Sakura’s eyes widened when she spotted a headline in the living section. She grabbed it out of Samantha’s hand and read it a few times over, trying to make sure it was what she thought.

The headline read ‘Antiquers Go Nuts After This Watery Find’. Beside the headline showed a picture of a man next to a boat, holding a very fimiliar rectanglular peice of paper. The card in his hand said ‘The Jump’ and held the same symbols as your every day Clow Card. Sakura started reading the article rapidly.

-Yesterday evening, while skin diving in the Wabash River, lucky diver Danny Martet discovered an old backpack, settled at the bottom of the water. Since finding such items in the river isn’t that much of a rare event, Danny didn’t think anything of it, until he brought the bag up to surface to identify.

Sakura covered her mouth, feeling sick. What am I going to do now? The cards are being so conveniently distibuted through the world, and then...The cards are going to escape and manifest the world. And it will be all my fault! I have to get back home and gat Kero Berus and Yue together.

Syaoran walked into the room, stiffly, but looking a bit more lively then the day before. Sakura folded the paper quickly and stuffed it into her pocket. I have to tell him, but...Who knows what he’ll do. He’ll take the cards for himself and...

Syaoran frowned at Sakura’s worried face. He sat down next to her, in front of the now roaring fire. Samantha took the burnt match over to the trash. Sakura bit her lip. Now’s my chance. She looked hesitantly at his eyes. He frowned back questioningly. "What is it?" He asked quietly.

Sakura bit her lip and grabbed the crumpled article out of her pocket. She handed it to him and looked away, tears glazed in her eyes. She watched him read it, his eyes gaining momemtum as he read on towards the end. When he was finished, he looked up at Sakura, his eyes glaring with urgency. Sakura looked back, helplessly. We are in for some big trouble.

alright. Big trouble huh? I know. This chapter is kind of boring, really. I don’t know, it just wasn’t as much fun to write. I am getting bored with this whole Indiana thing, I think they need to get back home. I have just been dragging it out too long. Please forgive me, I’ll try to get some real excitement going on in the next chapter. And of course, the S & S-what the story is made out of! So more action-and my friend told me I need more humor. I know, it’s not hilarious, but I am having a hard time getting all of these elements into the story, okay!?!? *takes deep breath* anywho, gotta get going on chapter seven now. Hope you all like the story so far! Email me *PLEASE* at [email protected] CCS 4EVA!