RECAP: Syaoran got stuck with the stupid play part, and he had to kiss Alexis (poor kid), but then he got summoned to the elders and got his ‘mission details’. He ended up going on the boat with Sensei Wanti’s family to protect the Senator. Sakura was on the same boat for different reasons, and ended up seeing Syaoran while she was singing karaoke (how embaressing), so they end up meeting. Syaoran got caught spying on the guy that was a potential assasin, so they are in boiling water there...let’s see, Alexis’s hamster Benny gave Sakura a breif scare,...Then she and Syaoran decided they could use the Libra card to get a confession out of the guy (assasin).

Chapter 30 - Still Out at Sea

"Alright." Syaoran said breathlessly, jogging over to where Sakura was standing inconspicuously at the food table, eating some chocolate cake stuff. "The DJ said he’s still accepting karaoke people, but only until twelve."

"What time is it now?" Sakura asked, looking breifly over at the dark deck, where the moon’s light was no longer present.

"About ten thirty." Syaoran said absently, looking around. He tightly shut his eyes as he sneezed again.

Sakura grimaced. Why. Why!? This is probably the only spa in the world that uses coconut oil, and this is the only time in my life I have ever visited one, so why? Am I just a magnet for these things or what? She looked towards the table nervously, where the leader of the gang stood, looking darkly around. It would only be a few moments before he’d spot Syaoran and Sakura. "Well how are we going to get him to that microphone without him noticing us?" She asked sensibly.

"We’d have to get..." He started to say, looking around the room again.

Sakura sighed. He wasn’t very intelligible when he was concentrating on something else. He was working out a plan in his head, she could tell, but she was clueless to what the plan was going to be, and he wasn’t filling her in.

Syaoran tried to block out the headache he was getting, but having Sakura standing a few feet away wasn’t helping the situation. Where’s Alexis? It figures, the one time we need her. And she should take this stupid hamster, I’m sick of holding it. Syaoran searched through the crowd for the millionth time, not having success. He spotted a shorter brown head and quickly walked to it. "Teller!" He said loudly over the loud and over modulated music.

Teller turned around curiously, then smiled as he recognized Syaoran. "Are you having fun? I saw Alexis blabbing her mouth off to you earlier, she’s a real-"

"Teller have you seen her anywhere?" Syaoran asked impatiently.

Teller’s expression changed as he recognized the business-like tone in Syaoran’s voice. "Yeah, uh, she was over by the stage, with mom." He said.

"Thanks." Syaoran mumbled, already hurrying off.

Sakura watched with curiosity a few feet back as Syaoran exchanged a few words with a smaller boy that looked about eleven. I wonder who that is? Syaoran seems to know so many more people all of the sudden. She blinked and realized he was walking purposefully in another direction, and she quickly tried to catch up though the heels she had put back on restricted her. He’s probably enjoying the fresh air away from me. No coconut oil to prohibit his breathing. She glanced over her left shoulder at the table where the suspicious character stood, exchanging words quietly. So we’ve got to get that guy on stage for a public confession...

Syaoran was stopping ahead, and Sakura sighed inwardly as she saw he was approaching a girl with red hair. So the girl hadn’t done anything to offend Sakura yet, but she was getting bad vibes. What if...what if she’s Syaoran’s girlfriend? No, he ... he wouldn’t. Definitely. How could I think so wrongly about him? Sakura stood quietly a ways behind him, wanting to listen to what he was saying.

"Came to join our English fiesta?" Alexis asked, smiling, lounging next to an older woman who strongly resembled her, and of course this sentence was said in English.

"Will you do us a favor?" Syaoran asked, his voice impatient still.

"Us? Who’s that?" She asked, easily switching languages.

Syaoran sighed with impatience. "Me, the whole clan, the Senator, however you wanna think of it, just, come on."

Alexis sighed heavily from her chair and reluctantly got up from her seat, facing Syaoran. Her eyes then shifted to Sakura, who was watching from the backround. "Oh, I see." Alexis muttered, then looked straight at Syaoran. "What do you want?"

Syaoran half turned as he spoke. "Come on." He grumbled, already irritated with her attitude.

Sakura walked uncomfortably in front of them, leading the way unsurely to the back of the room, where she figured she could at least look belonging to the plate of food she had. She slowed to a stop and turned to Syaoran, waiting for him to say whatever he was going to say.

"See that guy over there?" Syaoran asked, nodding in the direction of the table.

"Yeah. The main guy, the leader is the fat one, and then the rest of them are the back up gang in case he should mess up." Alexis said nonchalantly, as if reciting a school script.

"R-right." Syaoran said, a bit surprised she already knew this information. "But, he’s about to do something, and we’ve got to stop them."

"You, me, and her?" Alexis asked, looking at Sakura, who shrank away from the girl’s glare.

All of Syaoran’s friends are so possessive. She’s just like Meilin. What have I done? Sakura thought.

"And your father." Syaoran said, holding a threatening glare at her. "You’ve got to get him on stage, she’ll use her cards to get him to confess."

Alexis smiled quizzically at him. "Oh, yes, of course. And how exactly?"

"By, uh..." Syaoran was scratching his wrist in thought, and unconsciously blinking twice the normal amount because his eyes were bothering him through the whole allergy thing. "Ask him to do a duet with you or something."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Right. Like that would work. First of all, there’s no way I’m singing, and second, I’m sure he’d be just as thrilled to do so."

"I don’t see you coming up with any better ideas!" Syaoran growled back, irritated at his own blank mind.

"Why me? Why not her? She’s the one using the cards on him." Alexis asked, pointing at Sakura.

Sakura stepped back from Alexis’s accusing point. "M-m-me?" She stuttered, afraid that she might actually have to do it.

"He already is suspicious of her. We can’t even let him see us." Syaoran said, holding a steady glower at her for even letting the thought come by that they should put Sakura, poor innocent Sakura, in danger.

"I’m am not going to sing." Alexis said firmly.

Sakura’s thoughts drifted to her own ideas. It’s too bad we can’t blindfold him. Then we could just lead him up there. But...but maybe we could... Sakura bit her lip, pondering over this thought. My Dark card, of course, I could just use it on his eyes, then we could lead him up there, use the Libra on him, and then they’d be in the security’s hands. Peice of cake! "I have an idea, guys, I’ll be right back." Sakura said, quickly ripping off her heeled shoes so she could run faster to her room where her cards were. She turned and hurried away, before they ever had the chance to ask any questions.

Touya is going to be really crabby if I barge in again. I hope they woke up alright. I’m sure him and his two dates are enjoying themselves in the jacuzzi, they probably won’t even notice me walk in. Sakura hurried across the deck, though she would have rathered to stop and enjoy the nice breeze and calmer atmosphere. She jogged faster now that there was no one around, and lept down the stairs once there was only four left. Sakura hurried down the hall to her room, and quickly slipped the key card in, then more hesitantly opened the door.

Touya and the other two girls looked very relaxed sitting in the jacuzzi, and Touya hadn’t even noticed Sakura’s entrance. Only when he saw the girl looking at the doorway did he turn and look. "What are you doing?" He asked, clearly irritated.

"Chill out, onni-chan. I’ve just gotta get something..." Sakura mumbled, already heading into her room, quickly pulling out her bag.

"Maybe you should leave your key here this time." Touya called from the other room.

Sakura fished out the cards and found the Dark at the top of the pile, being one of her few working cards. She stepped out of that room, the card hidden away in her pocket, and looked incredously at Touya. "It’s my room." She said simply. "I’m going back to the party." She said, already walking to the door.

"Knock next time!" Touya grouched after her. Sakura waved her hand at him in response as she shut the door behind herself.

Alright. Syaoran hadn’t even thought of this. I hope they haven’t moved from where they were standing. I won’t be able to find them in that crowd... Sakura hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and then hurried across the deck. She stopped momentarily at the entrance of the room to put her heels back on, then returned to her hurried off-balance walk. She walked around the crowd in the back and quickly spotted Syaoran and Alexis, who both stood with their backs to her, talking about something.

Sakura paused in her step, just to look at the side of Syaoran’s face that she could see. His glare was steady as always, but his eyes seemed a little brighter with the party lights reflecting off of them. Sakura sighed and forced her step onward, shifting her focus back to the mission she was trying to help him with.

She didn’t even say anything before Syaoran had turned around, he must have sensed her before seeing her, and Alexis followed suit. He watched her with perplexion, seeing as she had just suddenly ran off without explanation.

Sakura smiled and held up her Dark card.

By the look of sudden understanding, she could tell Syaoran knew where she was going with the card. "Are you sure it will work?" He asked.

"What? What is that card?" Alexis asked, looking at the card with a frown.

Sakura figured she might as well be nice to that girl- maybe they could be friends after all? "It’s a magic card- like- it’s like a spell, only, it’s specialized for what it’s named for. This one is the Dark, I think I can get it to blind that man, so we can lead him onto stage."

"Why’s that stuff written in English?" Alexis asked.

Sakura blinked and looked down at the card. "Clow Reed wasn’t totally Japanese, I don’t think." She said.

"Well good. If he’s blind, he won’t see you, so I guess I’m not needed here." Alexis said, starting to turn.

"You still have to help!" Syaoran said, glaring at the back of her head.

"Why?" She asked, turning. "Are you too lazy to do this yourself?" She asked accusingly.

Syaoran flushed as he tried to bite down his anger. "No, I just accepted the fact I could use some help. Don’t you feel any obligation to your family to help-?"

"Maybe if it was my real family." She said, tensing just as he was. "But they don’t seem to acknowledge me as a member. I really don’t feel obligated to anything."

Syaoran thrust the hamster out of his pocket and at her. "Take your rat."

Alexis took Benny gently from his hands but didn’t walk away. Syaoran waited for her to explain herself, and she finally shrugged. "I’ll still help if you need it."

Syaoran, confused, glared at her, being the natural reaction. He didn’t like it when people confused him and made him uncertain, because then he felt unsteady. He, flusterd, turned to Sakura. "Use the Dark now." He said, meeting her bright green eyes for a second before looking away, hiding his confusion.

Sakura nodded and looked for a secluded place to follow his orders. She spotted a place behind one of the pillars near the table, and pushed herself into a fast walk. She crossed the back of the dance floor and then went into a more hurried walk, knowing that time was always of the essence. She quickly walked behind the huge pillar and called out her staff, clear of people’s sight. She pulled the Dark card out, and quickly ordered it. "Take his sight! Nothing else!" Sakura commanded. The Dark twirled out and evaporated into the air, going to do the task she commanded.

It returned to her card and she quickly put everything away, hurrying back into the room to check out the reaction. Syaoran and Alexis were hurrying across the floor to the table, so obviously they had seen a distinct change in the man. Sakura looked over to the table, where the man had his hand over his eyes, and the guys around him watched with concern. Alexis reached the man and grabbed his arm, getting a startled reaction from the other men. They were asking things undertoned to Alexis, who was being watched by Syaoran on the sidelines.

Alexis ignored them and pulled hard on the guy, dragging him along in a stumbling walk. She slowed to a stop at the desk where the dis jockey was sitting, and exchanged a few words with him. She then continued to drag him up the stairs, stopping frequently to let the man catch his step. He was frowning intensely, but his eyes were blank, and he could only look in the direction he was being pulled. She dragged him to the middle of the stage, where the single microphone stood.

Alexis stepped up to the microphone and addressed the crowd. "Sumimasen (excuse me), but this man has a startling announcement to make."

I hope Syaoran told her how this card works. She hid herself around the pillar. "Libra! Make this man speak the truth!"

Sakura walked around the pillar again and headed over to where Syaoran was watching. She stepped next to him and he glanced sideways only for a second before returning his attention to center stage.

Alexis had just said something, but she was behind the microphone now, and was waiting for the man to answer. He looked blindly forward with an intense frown and was trying to hold his mouth shut, but it did not work. "I...I am...planning to kill Senator Chanto." He said, against his will.

Alexis said something else, and he looked with pain into the crowd. "Tonight. In a half hour. I am going to shoot him myself."

Alexis stepped away and headed back down the stage stairs, completly unbothered by the horrible silence that had gone over the crowd with the startling news. Sakura looked around and then took notice to the table to her left where the rest of the man’s gang stood. They were breaking up and walking away. "Li-kun, they’re leaving." She said with urgency, not sure if this was important information or not.

Syaoran didn’t turn his head, but just watched ahead as the security guards captured the man who stood dumbfounded on stage. "They are still going to try and carry it out. I’m not done yet." Syaoran said, his eyes following the man as he was led down the stairs by a group of gaurds. He had to stop watching them momentarily, as his eyes watered and he sneezed twice more.

Sakura sighed and stepped sideways two feet. "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be bothering you."

Syaoran rubbed his eyes with irritation and then looked to her. "No, it’s alright. You just got the leader captured, after all." A small grin came across his lips. "Maybe you should take my place in the clan."

Sakura smiled shyly down. "Only if that means you’ll stay in Japan." She said, her smile fading a little as she looked up at him.

Syaoran blinked back at her for a second before looking forward again, though there was nothing really to look at. "Well, if I succeed in this, my mother’s bound to get better soon." He said, though his words were slightly slurred together, as it was still a touchy subject.

"You have no idea how much you owe me for that." Alexis said, finally breaking through the crowd and reaching them.

Syaoran turned only to glare at her.

She pulled Benny out of her pocket. "Benny was so scared, weren’t you buddy..." She cooed, petting the little animal.

Syaoran sighed and looked back around the crowd, knowing that his job was now done for the night. I might as well go back to my room and get some sleep. I’ll be working tommorrow to catch the rest of them.

"So now you’re going to party with us, aren’t you Syaoran?" Alexis asked, working Benny’s tiny little appendadges around in a dancing manner.

Sakura couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the little hamster tolerate such foolishness. She looked back up at Syaoran hopefully. "Do you have to spend this whole trip on your mission?"

"I should get to work." Syaoran mumbled, still undecided.

"That’s boring Li kid. All work, no play. Just like the elders. You’ll grow up to be some old fogie who never partied once in his life..." She complained, stopping as Teller had just approached them. She took notice to the sad look on his face. "What’s wrong, my fellow Chincawau?"

Teller looked with depression around at the crowd. "No one will dance with us English type." He said with dismay, looking with sad eyes at the pale black haired girl with the beautiful dress standing a ways back in the crowd.

Sakura went pale herself as she recognized Tomoyo. Syaoran seemed to see her too, because he also was turning a lighter shade.

"Oh, come on, Teller, you just don’t know how to ask." Alexis said, smiling at her little brother. "See this girl?" She asked, directing him to Sakura.

Sakura, involved at fretting over Tomoyo seeing them, only glanced to see what Alexis was doing. After she realized what Alexis might be starting to imply, she turned her head and again checked the younger boy Alexis was talking to. "This girl’s name is Sakura."

Teller blinked cluelessly at Sakura, then at Alexis. "And..."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "You’re hopeless. Go, dance." She ordered, shoving him to Sakura.

Sakura pitied the sad shy state of this younger boy; he seemed to remind her of someone, though she wasn’t sure who. He was blushing violently, obviously looking for an apology on behalf of his sister. Sakura smiled. Why should he apologize? He was just one little eleven year old who needed help. "Just don’t make fun of my dancing, alright?"

The boy was astonished for a moment, then smiled with releif. "You can definitely count on me not doing that."

Sakura led the boy through the crowd, feeling a bit comical to be taller than him, and wishing she wasn’t wearing heels, else she might have not had such a comparison in heigth. They stopped a ways up (a good way from Tomoyo) and danced kiddishly to the faster music playing.

Syaoran glanced side long at Alexis, who was still smiling at him. "What?"

"Now we can finally go swimming. You missed out, when me and Teller went the other night. Lots of lights, three different waterfalls, soft music playing...it’s really nice." She said persuasively.

Syaoran sighed with annoyance. "I’ve really got to go." He mumbled. Before Tomoyo sees me.

Alexis pouted mockingly. "Pa-lease? You owe me!"

He was already walking away. "I went through hell getting you that hamster. We’re even."

______________________________________________________________________

"Have you had enough, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked, leaning out the balcony to make sure Sakura had had her fill of pancakes.

"Yeah, I’m fine, thanks Tomoyo." She said, turning and smiling at her friend. "But you should look at this. These clouds are amazing!" Sakura said.

Tomoyo slid the screen door open and stepped out onto the tiny balcony space they had, looking up at the sky. There were tall anvil shaped clouds moving quickly across the open ocean sky, threatening something of impending power. The shadows were highlighted with deep purples and greys that rippled across the vast ceiling of clouds. "Definitely looks like an indoor day. No tanning today."

Sakura nodded, then tore herself away from the sky to address the dirty plate she held in her hands. "Oh well. Once we get these dirty dishes clean we can go venture to the bar they have under deck. I think they have a soda fountain, and the best thing is that our drinks are paid for!"

Tomoyo smiled in agreement and stepped through the screen door to let Sakura through. "Sounds cool!"

Sakura set her plate in the sink and began spraying the dishes. "Do you wanna eat in the commons tonight? I think they are having some type of fish fry."

"Sure! You can wear the backup dress I packed. But...You can’t rip the sleeve on that one, alright?" Tomoyo said.

"I won’t plan on it." Sakura said dryly. Besides. Maybe I will see Syaoran there tonight? Probably not, he’s too busy on his ‘mission’. Oh well. Maybe I will see him today when we’re walking around. I hope I do. He was gone when I came back with Teller. Probably Alexis asked him to dance, so he left. Sakura laughed to herself, then stopped, as Tomoyo was looking at her suspiciously. but I got to dance with him. Ha. But then, that was just part of his ‘mission’. Still... Too bad he was probably trying to hold off a sneeze the whole time, cause I had to go to that retarded spa. She suddenly glanced sideways at Tomoyo, who was quietly drying the clean dishes. I wonder...did she plan...No. I didn’t even know he was here. How could she have thought this far ahead? She hasn’t seen him yet, neither has Touya, hopefully neither of them will.

Sakura hurried through the rest of the dishes they had brought, stacked them neatly, then went to her room to put on a good pair of jeans and a nicer shirt. She figured if she was going to run into Syaoran, she might as well be well-dressed. She emerged from her room and found Tomoyo brushing her hair in front of a mirror, working intently. Sakura looked out the balcony window, where the clouds neared ever closer. "I’m going to go out on deck, alright?"

"Yes, alright. Should we tell Touya-kun where we are going?" Tomoyo asked.

Sakura’s father had gone to lounge somewhere below deck early that morning, leaving Touya in charge. "Nah. He’s probably talking to those girls on the room phone, we don’t want to interrupt their expensive conversation."

Tomoyo grinned and nodded. "You’re probably right."

Sakura grabbed her tennis shoes and slipped out of the room, glad to be in the hallway. It wasn’t really morning anymore, more like noon, because she and Tomoyo had slept late, then had a good hardy breakfeast of pancakes, so they had cleared out most of the morning. Sakura walked energetically down the hall, knowing now that every corner could potentially hold a good surprise. She emerged on deck and found the air clear and breezy, windier than it had been the night before. A storm was definitely approaching, but Sakura welcomed it with open arms, she didn’t mind a little rain to cool off with, because the heat was starting to show with their more southern climate.

Sakura walked across the wooden deck, glancing at the other people out and about, assessing the other kids her age, and walked to the railing, leaning against it and looking off at the distant clouds that blended into the deep sea far in the horizon. She glanced to her left, where a boyfriend and girlfriend just a little older than her were leaning against each other and staring at the ocean. Sakura’s first reaction was to look away and fake a gag, then to think they should be reprimanded for their public display of affection, but after she thought it over, she decided she was just thinking so hostilely because she held some type of inner jealousy.

But I have good friends. Or at least A good friend. But...Sakura turned at Tomoyo’s voice. "Hey, come look at these clouds!" Sakura called.

Tomoyo walked over quietly, always reaking feminimity wherever she went. "Those are pretty neat! We should probably get under deck before it rains!"

Sakura shrugged. "I suppose." She said reluctantly, not really wanting to leave her watching spot; the storm would be something to see.

She followed Tomoyo, quietly humming a Shiro Ame song to herself, through the large halls of the ship, to the well decored large areas of open room in the ship. They went to the soda fountain and bought themselves drinks, then sat on the bar stools watching the other people on the ship with general curiosity. They wasted an hour like this, only to break their watching as Touya came walking into the room, looking irritated. "Sakura-chan, tell me when you are going somewhere next time."

"I didn’t want to interrupt any dates." She said back, casually sipping the straw of her almost exhausted drink.

Touya gave her a harsh glare, then sat down on the stool, looking around. "You guys better get back to the room."

Sakura frowned. "Why?"

Touya gave his order to the man behind the counter. "Because, I’m meeting someone, and I don’t want you and your freako behavior to scare them away."

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Are you sure, I mean, I don’t want to be in your way when you try to borrow my room again for another jacuzzi social."

Touya bit his lip, as if thinking over her words. "You should go look for dad, he’s been gone for a while."

Sakura slammed her feet on the floor noisily as she slid off her bar stool. "Fine. I’ll leave. Come, Tomoyo." She ordered, as if she was a parade leaving the town.

Tomoyo smiled and got up, following Sakura. They marched with their heads mockingly high, then paused as they reached the dimly lit doorway. Tomoyo turned to Sakura. "Should we do some spy work?" She asked, grinning evilly and holding a little camcorder.

Sakura sweatdropped. "Tomoyo..." Sakura looked down the hall, where she longed to know how the storm was going. More than anything, she wanted a chance to clear her thoughts. "I wanna go check out the storm. Do you want to stay here? You can meet me on deck." She said, hoping Tomoyo would take the opporunity to put some space between them as they had been together nonstop for the past four days.

"Oh, I suppose, if you don’t mind. I’ll get you some good bribery footage." She said.

Sakura grinned. "I’m counting on it."

Tomoyo turned and they went their seperate ways, Sakura taking the chance to clear her thoughts. I’ll just go where I was standing earlier on deck. That’s a good thinking spot. She walked down the hallways quickly, not wanting to miss the storm’s start. She rushed up the stairs to the deck and found that it was darker and hotter now, a bit muggier too, the air filled with moisture and harder to take in. It was just a matter of seconds before the rain would start coming down. Sakura found most of the deck free of people, aside from the walkers and a few of the crew running around. She walked to a secluded part of the boat and leaned against the rail.

Now. What should I think about? My cards. And the ghost. And Clow Reed. And how everyone I know is messed up, their personalities are all switched around... Sakura sighed heavily, looking forlornly at the clouds. A misty sprinkle was starting to fall now, forming a web of droplets through Sakura’s hair and eye lashes. She blinked it away and continued to have this discussion in her head. What if everything Chindra said isn’t true? But it has to be. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Everything she said covers all the events that has happened. Clow Reed is playing with our families. Does that mean Eriol is causing all this card stuff? He did test me before, but that was different. He was making sure the cards had a proper owner. He was looking out for everyone. Not trying to cause trouble.

She exhaled slowly again, as she did when she was thinking hard about something. So why does Syaoran’s magic get taken away every time he is around me? And why is everyone so against him? Is this in Clow Reeds plans? He doesn’t want his descendant helping me? That would make sense, I guess. But... Sakura thought about the dream she had had a while ago, several times in a row. What was I trying to tell him in that dream? That I couldn’t tell him? Because...there was an arrow pointed to his head, or something like that. And if I told him, he’d get hurt. Was that what it was supposed to mean? I don’t understand. It was probably just nonsense. I don’t think it was prophetic, I’m probably just letting my imagination go too crazy.

Rain was starting to come down now, but it felt good on her hot skin, and she continued to lean against the railing. She absently hummed more of the Shiro Ame song stuck in her head. I wonder if I’ll get to see them in a concert again? I wonder if he’d recognize me? Sakura blinked away the water dripping off her eye lashes. Probably not. I won’t get to go to any concerts because my stupid cards will be wasting away my time, getting me wounded. She looked to the scar on her arm. Only because I can’t defend myself. She thought sneeringly at herself. I can’t depend on Syaoran anymore. That point’s proven.

"Someone told me you’ll get sick if you stand out in the rain." A lower voice said a ways away from Sakura.

She whirled around and faced Syaoran’s bright amber eyes. A slow smile spread across her face. She unconsciously brushed a strand of wet hair out of her eyes before speaking. "Li-kun! What are you doing on deck?" She asked. Wanting to keep a good friendly atmosphere, she added, "I figured you would be working hard on your mission."

Syaoran half smiled at the floor then stepped up to the railing a few feet beside Sakura, looking at the distant clouds, though he had to blink alot because the rain was blinding. "You don’t accomplish much when you can’t concentrate." Syaoran said. That was actually a white lie; he was sent on a mission to get some drinks from the vending machines, but this little detour wouldn’t be that long. The Sensei would understand.

Sakura turned back to the ocean, pondering over what he just said. I hate it when he does that. Is that supposed to be a double meaning? Why can’t he concentrate? Is that a compliment? "I see." She said, figuring that would be a safe answer. She glanced side-long at him, noticing in the dim daylight what two months had done for him for the first time. He didn’t look that horribly taller, but there was something different. She looked quickly back to the ocean, not wanting to be caught staring. "I was just thinking." She said.

"About your cards?" Syaoran guessed.

"Mhmm. But I’m not really getting anywhere..." She said with a bit of distress.

Syaoran was quiet for a moment. I should probably leave before I run into Tomoyo or Touya. But I can’t now. I started the conversation. "How many of your cards have changed to Clow Cards now?"

Sakura bit her lip, knowing this should be something she should know, though she wasn’t really positive. "Six I think. Maybe eight, I’m not really sure." She said, laughing nervously and hoping he wasn’t going to insult her lack of knowledge.

Syaoran just sighed. Sakura mistook it for an insult at first, but the mistake was quickly cleared up as he spoke again. "I tried to talk to the elders about it, but they’re not...not very personable."

Sakura smiled. "I got that impression." She said.

"But I’m still looking through books. There’s alot of them, though, and I don’t, don’t have alot of time. I’m sure I’ll get something soon, though." Syaoran said.

Sakura smiled. He was still trying to help out even when they were seperated by a very large waterway. "That’s really sweet of you." Sakura said, holding her eyes on him.

Syaoran glanced at her with irritation before looking back to the ocean, a set glare to hide any or all of his feelings. "I just don’t want to see the world end." He grumbled, quickly saving himself from, heaven forbid, actually looking like a good person.

Sakura looked back to the water, made silent for a while. I hope Bob and Kero aren’t killing each other back home. I doubt that sleeping spell I put on them lasted this long. I hope our house is still standing. "Your horse doesn’t seem to like me very much." She said after a while.

"How so?" He asked, shoving away some of his starting to drip hair from his eyes.

"She runs away from me, and, I don’t know. We just don’t get along very well."

"It will take a while to earn her over." Syaoran agreed.

"But..." She’s kicked me twice, tried to bite me, thrown me off more times than I can count... "I guess." She said, sighing. "But...how is your mother, anyway. Really, I mean." Sakura said.

"Better. I think she’ll be out of the hospital really soon. I think the only reason she’s still there is because they don’t know why she’s still having trouble breathing." Syaoran said.

"But...you’d leave when she came home? I mean, that’s kind of hard for you, isn’t it?" Sakura looked down at the ocean with her eyes frowning to keep her selfishness back. It’s not fair to do this to him. It’s his choice. "I don’t want to force you into a decision, Syaoran."

The harsh irony of Sakura saying his name aloud for the first time in a long while had a sting to it, and made him listen to her words. "You’re not. I...it’s my choice. I know that better than anyone." Syaoran said. Or do I? I let the elders run my life like I’m a puppet.

Sakura sighed shortly with releif, glad to see he hadn’t been feeling like he was in a trap because of her whining about wanting him to come back and help her. "The cards have been pretty quiet anyway. And I’m learning spells from those books you gave me. Don’t come back just because you feel obligated to help me."

Is she saying she doesn’t need my help? "If you don’t want my help, just say so." Syaoran mumbled, a bit offended by her. He turned and began to walk back across the deck.

"Iie! That’s not what I meant at all!" Sakura called after him. The rain started to come down a little harder, and Sakura found her clothes starting to be saturated by the water. She ignored it and went back to trying to calm the temperamental boy down. "I just..." She searched for the right words to say. "...Just meant that I hate making you take the position to defend me, you know? You have to keep the whole world’s welfare in mind, not just some whiney little girl." Sakura said, grinning weakly.

Syaoran slowly grinned. "I don’t recall hearing you whine."

"Well I would whine out loud, but there’s no one to whine to."

"Now you are whining."

"With good reason."

"I’m sure Daidijou would love to hear your complaints." Syaoran said, a darker look coming over his face.

"Tomoyo-chan whines more about you than Meilin. She doesn’t have time to listen to me." Sakura said, smiling, feeling a little guilty for making a joke at the sake of her friend. "You didn’t run into her last night, did you? You left so soon, I didn’t get to talk to you.."

Syaoran shook his head. "No. She hasn’t seen me yet."

It was quiet for a while, but not uncormfortably so, and Sakura just listened to the pattering sound of the rain. "Who are those English people?" Sakura asked.

Syaoran cringed, he was hoping the question wouldn’t come up. "They’re my sensei’s family. He came with me to make sure we succeeded, but he brought his whole family. They get in the way alot." Syaoran said.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo’s soft voice called from a ways away.

Sakura grimaced at that voice and turned around reluctantly to see Tomoyo running up through the rain, milliseconds away from discovering Syaoran, who just stood and waited. "Are you done, Tomoyo?" She asked glumly.

"I got Touy- Li-kun! I didn’t fancy meeting you here!" Tomoyo said, a weak smile on her face, one that didn’t hide her almost disappointed surprise.

"Same here." Syaoran said, holding a steady glare at her, right into her playing innocent gray eyes.

Sakura looked between the both of them, embaressed for them because of their obvious tension. Her thoughts quickly drifted to what she had heard of Tomoyo’s odd behavior at Mark’s party, then she felt a breif moment of jealousy towards her friend, then anger, then confusion. She quickly threw all that aside and tried to play peacemaker. "Um, do you guys want to get out of the rain?" She asked, noticing that her clothes were going from damp to soaked.

"Yes, you’re right. We should get another drink under deck, unless you’re too busy, Li-kun." Tomoyo agreed, though at the end she added a threatening type of glare with her smile.

Sakura smiled and nodded, thinking this was a good idea. She didn’t want to stop talking with Syaoran, not just yet. She faced him, meeting his eyes with her childish smile. "They have really good italian ice if you like that."

Syaoran only looked straight back at her before quickly looking away, afraid she could figure out how nervous he was around Tomoyo. "I don’t think I have-"

"Does it really take this long to get two cokes?" Alexis’s voice rang out, and she and her little brother approached the scene. She quickly recognized Sakura with a more snobbish look. "Or did you stop for a party?" She asked, recognizing the other pretty girl standing there, who was Tomoyo.

"Hey Sakura." Teller said, his eyes glued to her and smiling.

Sakura took her eyes down from Alexis’s accusing look to the shorter boy. She smiled with amusement. "Hi Teller." She responded, trying not to laugh.

"Yeah we were getting pretty thirsty, Syaoran. Wanti-san’s pretty ticked, but he’s always like that." Teller said. He looked up at Tomoyo, and new stars formed in his eyes.

"I don’t think we’ve been introduced." Alexis said, addressing Tomoyo. "But let’s leave introductions for under deck, shall we? This rain is awful."

Sakura looked at Alexis in agreement. "Yeah, we were about to go get a drink at the soda fountain. Do you wanna join us?" She asked politely.

"Wanti-san could use the patience test." Alexis said, grinning, and starting to make her way to the stairs that led down.

Sakura looked at the girl’s hair with bewilderment. The previous night it had been sleak and shiny, but now she had it in an impossible pattern of braids tight to her head, then curled the loose ends. She glanced over at Tomoyo, who was staring with astonishment. They followed Alexis and Teller down the stairs, then stopped to regroup now in out of the rain. Sakura shook her hair self consciously, knowing that it was soaked and that she probably closely resembled a drowned dog. I wish I could change or something. Oh well. I looked at least half decent when Syaoran first saw me, anyway.

They paused in the hallway, and Alexis faced the rest of them. "Are we walking any place in particular?"

Sakura nodded. "We were heading to the soda fountain. I’ll show you where it is, if you want."

"Go for it." Alexis said, smiling, though Sakura couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed by the girl’s fake politeness.

Sakura and Tomoyo walked side by side down the hall, turning down the broader one that led by the main hall. Sakura glanced at her friend and could see the obvious tension and worry in her face. Gosh Tomoyo, why did you do that to him? I don’t get it. That wasn’t really you, it must of been a double. But, but still...why do you act like this? The lighting became dimmer and more colorful, like a den, and they walked into the bar type atmosphere of the large ship’s resteraunt.

Sakura glanced around to see if Touya was still around, but apparently he had left. Of course. That’s why Tomoyo came back, she was done filming. Sakura led the way over to some free bar stools and sat down, looking with dissapointment as Tomoyo sat on one side of her and Teller the other. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Syaoran sat down a whole two stools away, both the Chincawaus between them. Sakura looked up at the attendant waiting to take their orders.

Sakura smiled at the man who recognized her from just an hour earlier. "I want a raspberry ice please."

The attendant nodded, then looked to Tomoyo and the rest of them for their orders. Sakura looked to Tomoyo. "So what did you get of Touya?"

Tomoyo grinned. "I’ve got him making his move on some girls, and then I got his rejection, and then, what’s worse, his second rejection."

Sakura grinned. "That’s some good bribery footage."

Tomoyo nodded, holding her grin for a little while longer, then started to fade, glancing momentarily at Syaoran, who was giving his order. "How long were you and Li-kun talking?"

Sakura blinked worriedly at Tomoyo, not wanting to talk about this, knowing where it would lead. "Oh, uh, not very long."

Tomoyo nodded then stayed silent, as Syaoran was addressing them.

"I’m getting a salad." He mumbled, then turned and walked towards the salad bar. Alexis hopped off her seat, quickly followed by Teller.

"I’m going too." She said, quickly hurrying off.

Sakura watched Teller and Alexis hurry off, then warily turned to see what Tomoyo was about to say.

"Who are they?" She asked curiously, keeping her laid back expression.

Sakura looked down at the dark countertop as she looked for a reply. "They’re, uh, the girl’s Alexis, and the boy’s Teller. They’re uh, the kids of Li-kun’s sensei. They all came to make sure the Senator- oh, uh, that’s Syaoran’s mission. He’s supposed to make sure nothing happens to him. That’s why that guy was on stage last night."

"So you talked to him last night?" Tomoyo asked.

"Y-yes." Sakura answered, afraid of what Tomoyo would have to say next.

"She is very pretty." Tomoyo said simply, looking towards the light salad bar, where Alexis was happily spooning out lettuce, talking excitedly to Syaoran.

"Yeah." Sakura agreed warily again, looking at Alexis, hoping Tomoyo would have no more to say.

"Be careful, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo said, again speaking slyly.

Sakura glanced crossly at her friend, then up at Syaoran. "Tomoyo I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself."

Their conversation was ended as Syaoran walked back to his stool, glancing momentarily at Sakura and Tomoyo because he could feel their eyes watching him. If Syaoran found it odd he said nothing, only went to stirring the lettuce around in his bowl before taking some on his fork and eating it. Alexis sat down cheerfully next to him, her plate almost entirely croutons she had picked out of the salad. As Teller sat down, his plate was the same way. He smiled weakly at Sakura before explaining. "I like croutons."

Sakura smiled and looked forward again, not wanting to address Tomoyo who was on her right. It’s not like she can keep me from talking to him. Sakura was about to start up a trivial conversation with Syaoran but was stopped by Alexis, who was already talking while rudely chewing up some of her ‘salad’. "You know it seems to me, Syaoran, you spend way too much time on this mission." She paused to swallow. "You haven’t been swimming once."

Sakura was a bit surprised. How could you go on a cruise boat and not swim? It feels like I’ve been swimming myself. I wish I could get out of these wet clothes. She leaned on the counter to see Syaoran’s response.

"I don’t think the Senator would appreciate me swimming while he is being hunted." Syaoran muttered, still looking down at the lettuce he was stirring.
"Oh come on. It’s not like they’re after him twenty four seven. They probably aren’t even going to do anything now that the lead dude confessed." Alexis reasoned.

Sakura decided to try and help Syaoran out by taking the girl’s attention off of him. "Have you been in the big pool yet?" She asked.

"Of course! Me and Teller went over there the other night at like eleven and swam around. Some child molester was staring at us, so I told him I’d beat him up if he wouldn’t stop his perverted stare. That kind of upset him, who knows why, and we had to leave rather abruptly. I’m sure he’s been caught by ship security now."

Sakura tried to figure out whether the girl was serious or joking, and she decided to go with neither and continue on her subject. "The pool will probably be quiet this evening. Are you going there?" This was Sakura’s pathetic way of indirectly inviting Syaoran.

"I’m game." Alexis said. She then turned to Syaoran, who was still obliviously playing with his food. He realized that she was expecting some type of response from him.

"Huh?"

Alexis sighed. "Pool. Tonight. We are going-"

"I’m not." Syaoran said, frowning for a second before looking back to his plate. "This is the last full night on the boat. If they’re going to try anything, it will be tonight."

"But they just got busted yesterday!" Alexis reasoned.

"Doesn’t matter. It’s the last full night." Syaoran repeated himself. He set his fork down and stood up off his stool. "I should get Sensei Wanti that drink." Syaoran said. He blinked at Sakura for a second, as if not done talking, then turned and walked away.

"But what about your drink!?" Alexis called after him.

Syaoran shrugged with his back still turned and continued walking.

"He’s such a jerk." Alexis said, leaning her elbow against the counter. She looked at Sakura. "Was he like this when you knew him?"

Sakura smiled shyly and nodded. "He’s different." She agreed, but wasn’t going to come right out and say ‘jerk’.

"So what were you talking about out there in the rain?" Alexis asked, popping a cruoton into her mouth and chewing loudly.

Sakura was a bit surprised at her rude bluntness yet again. "Oh, ah, just, just his mother." She said, lying slightly.

"You were talking about his mother?" She asked skeptically, looking around Teller to see Sakura’s face and make sure she was serious.

"Y-yes." Sakura said unsurely. "About her health, you know?" Sakura said defensively, taking a long sip of her second tall cup of italian ice that day.

"Oh, right..." Alexis said.

There was some silence for a while, and Sakura noticed with irritation that Tomoyo hadn’t said anything yet. Teller broke the silence after a while. "Have you ever been to Hong Kong?" He asked.

Sakura smiled with releif, finally at an easier subject. "Yes, once. I won a trip there, and I went with my family and Tomoyo." She said.

"Oh." He said, not sure how else to respond. "So, you uh, you don’t visit often?"

Sakura shook her head. "Not really."

"I just thought you visited your family or something, I don’t know..." Teller mumbled to himself.

Sakura frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

He looked up from his plate of three reject cruotons. "You know, I just thought, well, you’re related to Syaoran-kun, right?"

A slow smile of understanding came across Sakura’s face. "No." She said, laughing. "He, uh, he went to my school when he was in Japan."
"So you’re the love scandal Meilin is always talking about." Teller said, grinning now himself.

"What!?" Sakura cried, going a bit pale.

"You know you are very popular amongst Meilin and Syaoran’s sisters. It’s amazing to finally meet the woman behind the curtain, but I wasn’t exactly expecting someone like you..." Alexis said, and their was an obvious snooty air around what she had just said.

Sakura tried not to take that as an insult and began pondering over this new information. Are they serious? What do they mean, love scandal? Meilin wouldn’t talk about me, would she? Sakura glanced nervously at Teller and Alexis. So what exactly have they heard about me? Well they obviously haven’t heard that much disturbing information, they aren’t acting that odd around me. "I see..." She said, those being the only words she could get off her tongue.

"Do you do sword training like Syaoran-kun?" Teller asked.

Sakura smiled with releif to get her mind off that last subject. "No, the way Syaoran fights with magic and the way I fight is much different."

Teller accepted this as an answer. "So are you going to the pool tonight?"

Sakura nodded, smiling. She looked over at Tomoyo, who was watching a group of kids across the floor. "Is that okay with you?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, that’s fine." Tomoyo agreed. _______________________________________________________________________

"Sink the ship?" Syaoran asked unsurely.

"It’s possible. They’re willing to martyr themselves to ruin our ties with the Senator. They know there’s someone here against them, anyway, and they’d love to see us go down also." The Sensei answered.

Syaoran looked down at the table in front of him with the solemnity of the truth hitting him. "So we should start looking for them now, right?"

"Cautiously. They’re on the lookout for us as well."

"Where should we be looking?" Syaoran asked. "I didn’t get any lead on that guy’s room. Only that it’s somewhere on the fourth floor under."

"Fourth floor, rooms four hundred twenty three through thirty one." The Sensei answered. "But that’s not where to watch. Someone needs to be on deck, they are going to go for the captain’s room if they can. That will be you, I’d prefer to hold the under deck position."

Syaoran tried not to scoff, it figured he got stuck outside where it might rain.

"That means you can come swimming with us!" Alexis said excitedly from where she was nonchalantly painting her toe nails aside Benny’s cage. "Mookie get, you’re getting fur in this paint!" She complained, pushing the cat away.

"I’m not going-"

"Oh come on. What’s your excuse now? I think you’re a little shy of your Sakura friend, that’s what." She said, looking challengingly up.

Syaoran glared at her. "I’m trying to save your life and everyone else’s, I don’t have time to swim-"
"I think the pool would be an excellent ground for searching out suspicious characters. You have to walk by the pool to get anywhere on the ship." Alexis said, looking up and smiling convincingly.

Syaoran looked to the Sensei for help in this arguement. The Sensei was thinking before he was going to respond. "I suppose she’s right. That is a central grounds."

Syaoran collapsed with annoyance in his chair. "I’m not going swimming." He mumbled to himself. A brilliant idea came to mind. "I don’t even have a swim suit." Alexis set the polish aside and blew on her toes before looking up. "That’s not a problem. I’m sure Wanti-san or Teller will have some to lend you-"

Vivid images of being stuck with overly large shorts or rather short shorts arose in Syaoran’s mind, and he quickly thought with releif his own normal fitting pair. "Nevermind." Syaoran muttered, getting up from the chair.

"Back in here in fifteen, alright. We’re meeting Sakura and that Tomo girl at the pool at eight thirty."

Syaoran reluctantly dragged his feet out of their room and into the hall to head to his own. Well I could just not show up. But then I’ll have to survive questioning once they find me. It won’t be that bad. I won’t even have to swim. I’ll just show up and sit in one of those chairs and look around for those guys, watch her swim... Syaoran unlocked the door to his modest but still fairly spacious room. He dropped the key on his bed and continued to his suitcase, where he hesitantly pulled out his swimming trunks.

He slowly changed into those, sighing as he had them on. He left his shirt off for the moment and walked over to the desk where he had set down some information on the men’s profiles. He studied it carefully, going over every key point several times. Syaoran stopped breifly to glance at himself in the mirror.

The two scars from two different sword attacks were still across the lower part of his stomach, though they were a little lighter. Syaoran pulled his shorts up slightly, just enough to hide them, then sighed with annoyance as his shorts slid back down where they fit properly. Syaoran glanced down at his watch and saw that he should be getting over to Wanti-san’s room again.

Syaoran pulled his shirt back on and grabbed the key to his room, then walked out the door and down the hall to Alexis’s room, where the door was already being opened. He looked warily back at Alexis, who was wearing beach style clothes with her fire like hair amazingly changed from the braids of earlier to a loose pony tail. Teller had a slightly comical looking hawaiin shirt on, but Syaoran was easily able to keep from laughing about it.

"Let’s go!" Alexis said, smiling brightly at Syaoran, locking elbows with him and parading forward.

Syaoran pulled away with open irritation and fell back to walk with Teller as Alexis pranced in front. "Must be nice." Teller said, shaking his head.

"What?" Syaoran asked, looking sideways at the shorter boy.

"To have girls liking you all the time." Teller said, ending with a dreamy sigh.

"It’s not what it’s cut out to be." Syaoran responded glumly.

They walked silently the rest of the way to the deck, finding it a bit chillier now exposed to the ocean wind, but all in all, it was very agreable weather compared to the rain earlier that afternoon.

They rounded the corner to the pool and felt a misty wind on them from the waterfall being blown about by the breeze. Syaoran fell away from Teller and walked by himself into the pool area, quickly spotting a chair that would be perfect for a look out post. His thoughts were distracted momentarily as he looked across the long oddly shaped pool, where around the bend the diving board was the happening place to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That’s a horrible ending isn’t it? Sorry. I origanally had this and the next chapter combined, but it was 44 pages, so I split it. Now this one’s 17 and the next one’s 27. That’s why it took so long to get these posted up. Well that’s about it.

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Ja mata ne

~*Syaoran Fan 4 Life*~