RECAP: Last chapter ended crappily where Syaoran and Alexis and Teller were going to go swimming, going to meet Sakura and Tomoyo. Syaoran is there on the duty of watching for the potential ship sinking gang that might walk by. That’s about it I guess.

Chapter 31 - Still Still Out at Sea

Sakura smiled nervously and looked over at Tomoyo, who was giving a thumbs up from behind her camera. That was it, she was going to have to throw herself painfully off the diving board yet again- this time on tape. She grinned away her trouble and ran to edge of the board, springing off it and launching herself into the air. She tried to get herself to bend more- this being the previous problem- and tried again to complete a full front flip. She had gotten it once before, but she had had more mess ups than successions.

As she turned herself over in the air she could see the water coming up fast, and before she was able to completely rotate herself in the air, she found herself smacking painfully on the water with her flat back already sore from previous mistakes getting another beating. After Sakura managed to swim to the surface and crawl back out with the ladder, she looked with a grimace at Tomoyo. But her eyes caught something else.

Sakura’s face, with remarkable speed, turned the colder pale color she had into a bright crimsom red of embarassment. Two sparkling fiery eyes were watching her from across the pool, a slight look of amusement playing at Syaoran’s expression. That’s twice. Twice I have been an absolute fool, and Syaoran just happens to show up to watch. Great. Go ahead and laugh.

Sakura walked dejectedly around the pool to Tomoyo, who was turning her camera off. "You will need to rub some liniment on your back tonight, Sakura-chan." Tomoyo said jokingly.

Sakura smiled grimly. "Too bad you didn’t get the one good one on tape."

She looked over at Syaoran, who was setting his stuff down on a chair. Beside him now joined Alexis and Teller, who were stripping to their bathing suits faster than the eye could follow. Alexis, turning out to have very good form, and not ashamed to expose it with her flattering two peice, was the first finished, and quickly lept towards the water’s edge. Teller, who was close behind, savagely grabbed her arm to slow her down then hurled himself into the water, throwing his watch behind himself as he did.

As Teller surfaced, Alexis was just diving in. He waited for her to come back up with a smug look on his face. Once she did, he smiled triumphantly. "Beat you! I win!"

Alexis rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You cheated." She said in English, fast losing her Japanese accent.

Sakura looked selfconsciously down at her rather plain green swim suit, then at her own reflection in the water. Oh well. I can’t be perfect. Why should I try and compete with that girl, anyway? We have no reason to fight. Sakura looked back towards Syaoran, who was leaning against a chair with a glare that said he didn’t want to be here. Sakura put that aside and made her way over, crossing her arms over her chest slightly because of the breeze and slightly because of her self conscious mind set.

"They dragged you into it?" She asked after she was close enough.

Syaoran blinked, realizing he had spaced out, and looked over at Sakura, who, to him, looked very nice in her plain swim suit. "I’m the on deck look out." Syaoran explained.

"Oh." Sakura said, with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "No swimming then?" She asked.

Syaoran looked to the pool, a little guilty and a little sad, sort of wanting to swim now. He could show Sakura how to do a proper flip off the diving board. "Probably not." Syaoran said. I’d get distracted. It’s bad enough I even came here, I can’t let myself slide that much.

Water splashed Sakura’s feet, and she looked with curiosity to the pool’s edge, and saw that Teller and Alexis were aiming to splash Syaoran, not her. Sakura found this the perfect break to get out of the breeze and back in the water, and she quickly hopped into the water a few feet aside Teller.

"Come on, Syaoran, you can swim right?" Alexis asked challengingly.

Teller joined in. "Or are Li’s incapable of swimming?" He asked, grinning.

Sakura looked up with a smile, waiting for Syaoran’s reply, which was sure to be good, if he was going to uphold the honor of his clan.

Instead Syaoran surprised them by muttering something unaudible to them, his eyes looking somewhere across the pool at some older men gathering at the public hot tub. Alexis, annoyed with being ignored, gathered a load of water and sent it at Syaoran’s legs. Syaoran jumped back with the water hitting his skin and glared at Alexis with more fury than before.

"Do you want this ship to sink?" Syaoran asked her warningly.

Alexis rolled her eyes and ignored him as he walked further back, to ensure dry seating.

"The ship’s going to sink?" Sakura asked with worry in an undertone voice.

Alexis grinned and looked at Sakura. "No, it’s just some excuse Syaoran’s come up with to stay out of fun." She looked towards the waterfall, which was brightly lit with the pink and purple flood lights behind it. "Come on! There’s some cute guys over by the waterfall." She said, quickly swimming that direction.

Sakura, having no where to be, followed her in that direction, though she didn’t see what guys she was talking about. They stopped by the waterfall, no guys in sight. Alexis grinned mischeiviously at Teller, who had recently caught up with them. "Here’s the deal." She said, in English. "Teller, you fake a drowning. Or no...he’s more protective of you, isn’t he..." Alexis said, looking to Sakura. "You pretend like you’re drowning, then when he jumps in to save you, you’ve gotta hold him under for a few seconds, that will get him mad, then we can enjoy a fun splash fight."

Teller shook his head. "Right, like he’ll fall for that."

"I can’t do that!" Sakura said, thinking of the potential dangers of what measures Syaoran could go to to save her, particularly some excersizes she had seen performed in a life saving class.

Alexis sighed. "Well I don’t hear any better plans."

"Just pull him in if you want to swim with him so bad." Teller reasoned.

"I would, but have you seen him spar? He’s really strong, I’d need your help..."

Sakura sat back and listened with amusement to this conversation. After a while she sighed and figured she could help out. "The only way you’ll get him in is by challenging him. If that doesn’t work, nothing will."

"But I tried, it didn’t work!" Alexis complained.

Sakura sighed, thinking now on their side.

"I’ve got it!" Alexis said triumphantly. She looked to Teller. "You’ve got to talk to him, get him to stand up, and then, I’ll sneak up from behind and push him in. That will work!"

Sakura grinned, glad to be out of this plan.

Syaoran sat stone still in his chair and watched the people passing by on deck. No sign of them yet, but it was still very early. They’ll come by some time. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Teller was approaching him, but he paid no heed to it until Teller spoke.

"Syaoran-kun, can I ask you something?" Teller asked, his voice unsure.

Syaoran looked suspiciously at the boy, then looked around for Alexis. He didn’t see her anywhere nearby. Sakura was swimming by herself in the far part of the pool by the waterfall, keeping her eyes from looking that way. Syaoran looked back to Teller, who had stopped a ways away from his chair. "Yeah." Syaoran responded.

Teller twisted his fingers around the bottom of his shorts. "It’s kind of, um, embaressing, but, could you...will you look at this?"

Syaoran looked with high worry now, scared to death of what he could be getting himself into. Teller’s eyes were glued to the floor, not giving any indication of what he was thinking. Syaoran sighed and got up. figures. He walked hesitantly over to Teller, worried of what the boy could have him look at.

Teller glanced up. As Syaoran noticed with suspicion that Teller was looking over Syaoran’s shoulder, it was too late, and a rough set of hands pushed him sideways, sending him crashing into the bath temperature water. Syaoran kicked his feet off the pool’s bottom and sprung to the surface, furious anger rising as he scowled at Teller and Alexis, who were both laughing uncontrollably.

Teller abruptly stopped, looking at Syaoran with pity. "I’m sorry, but she made me do it, she threatened to-"

Teller was stopped, as Alexis easily pushed her little brother into the water as well. Her laughing was stopped, as Syaoran had agilely climbed out of the water and began running at her. She quickly sprinted away, running along the pool’s edge, terrified for her own well being. They ran blitzingly fast down the side of the pool up to the diving area, where Syaoran’s dominant speed had won over, and he reached her and sent her careening into the water, though he felt that wasn’t near the punishment she deserved.

Sakura narrowly missed being hit by Alexis’s body as she fell into the water, but she looked away from that to Syaoran.

He was wringing out the T shirt he was wearing, glaring up frequently at Alexis, and Teller, who had just joined them.

"I had my room key in the pocket somewhere." Syaoran said with annoyance. He made sure he enforced his glare at Alexis one more time before he pulled his shirt off and flung it on a chair behind him. He dove into the water perfectly, and continued on underwater towards the place where he fell in.

Alexis, who had made a squeak when he took off his shirt, sighing dreamily. "If only all guys looked that good with their shirts off."

Sakura blushed for no reason im particular- probably because she was innerly agreeing with her. "Was that part of your plan?"

Alexis smiled and began swimming after him. "Yes. Uncover Syaoran’s great body. Mission accomplished. Too bad he’s such a bad kisser." She said, then swiftly flipped underwater, rushing away before Sakura’s astonished mind had time to reply.

Sakura swam sloppily after her, moving much slower than she normally would. What does she mean by- Wait- how does she KNOW that? There’s only one way you could find out...no! what? Sakura finally reached the point of search, where Syaoran was searching the bottom of the pool for his key card, which was rather hard, as it was dark water since it was night.

Syaoran emerged, his dark hair dripping in his eyes. "Hope you’re satisfied. They could have walked by right now and started their plans, but wait, oh, I was too busy getting pushed into the pool." Syaoran said, glaring at Alexis.

Sakura couldn’t help but feel a little neglected. So Syaoran was busy, saving the ship, she understood, but it seemed the girl that pushed him into the water was getting a whole lot more attention than Sakura was. "Are you still looking after those same men?" She asked.

Syaoran had just seemed to remember Sakura was there. "Yeah. Assuming they haven’t already walked by." Syaoran said, adding a threatening glance at Alexis.

Sakura wished she was better at offering her help, but she wasn’t. He wouldn’t want it anyway. He can do this himself. He’ s being mean. I’m being over sensitive. "Are they still after my step uncle?" Sakura asked.

"They might do more than that." Syaoran said, clambering out of the pool with the key in hand.

"We might be going on a trip in a life saver boat." Alexis said dryly.

Syaoran glared at her before standing up, dripping wet and now at loss of his shirt. "I’m going to look around."

Sakura wanted to say ‘I’ll come too’, or ‘can I help?’, but she was prohibited by her shier nature, and found herself looking after him as he walked away. I wish I could help out. But...I’d probably just get in the way. He knows what he’s doing. Though I did help out in the last fiasco...

Alexis was floating on her back, splashing the water with her arms as she went. "He’s no fun." She said with dismay.

"I hope he’s not mad at me." Teller said, looking sadly down.

"He will be when he sees what an obsessive friend you are. You’re more independent than that, come on, you’re English." Alexis said.

Sakura wasn’t sure if she was friends with these people or not, or if they were annoyed with her presence or not, so she slowly drifted off by herself. She looked for Syaoran, but he was out of sight, his shirtless self somewhere far from where she swam. Sakura looked towards Tomoyo, who was filming something by the railing, which Sakura guessed would be some couple’s romantic moments.

Sakura tredded the water with boredom. All the stuff on this ship and nothing to do... it’s because nothing seems exciting anymore unless my life’s being threatened, or if I’m with... Sakura looked around at the water she was in with wonder, finding herself in a very gentle and almost unnoticeable current that pushed her towards the side of the water. For a fleeting moment she was worried about Watery, but her worries were consoled as Sakura found the current stopping. She frowned and looked around at the pool, finding that the wall opposite her had a lower water level then the wall she was near. She turned and looked at the waterfall, and saw that it was ever so slightly tilted to the wall behind it.

Could...it really be tilted? But how? By... Sakura went pallid as she began panicking about the things Alexis had taken so lightly. This ship could be sinking? Sakura looked around for Syaoran, then worriedly to Alexis and Teller, who were having a game of water wars. She looked up at Tomoyo, who continued to blindly tape her romantic scene. If this boat is sinking, I don’t care if it’s Syaoran’s mission or not, I’m going to stop it myself if I have to.

Sakura swam to the closest ladder and pulled herself up out of the water. She looked back to see if anyone was protesting her exit. Everyone else, so involved with themselves, did not notice her exit. Sakura continued to sneak out of the pool area, staying low though trying not to look suspicious. If I were Syaoran, where would I be?

She began walking across the deck, ignoring the fact that she was in only a swim suit, and the cool wooden floor of the deck sent chills up her legs, and continued on. They would sink the boat from the bottom. So is that where I should go? Sakura found herself going down stairs anyway. She gripped the key on her necklace and continued on confidently. If anything tries to stop me I’ll use a Bind spell. And...I know that fire spin spell. But that won’t do any good. What am I going to do? How do I stop a ship the size of an island from sinking?

She continued down the stairs, passing each floor number with more and more doubt. It’s a shame I can’t use a summoning spell to get Syaoran. Maybe I could, if mine wasn’t so weak. She slowed to a stop by floor sixteen’s door, where she heard shouting. Sakura peered into the barred window in the metal door, trying to see the commotion.

In the window was only the empty hallway, so Sakura forced herself to open the door and peer around. Down the hallway, a younger boy, whose golden chest was gleaming with pool water and sweat, was feircly fighting a much larger man, whose slower fighting style was getting the best of him. Sakura was a bit dumbfounded as she watched with dazzled eyes Syaoran fight so agilely.

He didn’t back away at any of the man’s attacks, only blocked and continued to advance, his face lowering as he continued to guess the man’s next moves. Sakura hadn’t seen him fight in a while, and watching now, her brain was a little lost for thought. Put...yourself...together...Sakura...Syaoran would appreciate some help. Stop standing here like a moron. She called out her staff and fluently continued into the Binding spell, sending the man tumbling to the ground as he was frozen from movement. Syaoran, breathing hard, looked down at the man, then turned swiftly around, amazement and confusion in his eyes. He quickly hid that look away. "What took you so long?" He asked, stretching one arm out sorely before walking towards her.

Sakura smiled unsurely, shifting her feet. "You thought I’d follow you?" Sakura asked, a bit offended of his assumption. He wasn’t entirely correct- she hadn’t been following him- only looking to save the ship.

"Just knew you’d help. Or thought you would. He almost punched a hole through my stomach." Syaoran said, coming to a stop in front of her. He quickly enfored that with a grin. "No big deal, though."

Sakura rolled her eyes, still stuck on previous subjects. "I wasn’t following you." She said.

Syaoran looked around at the narrower and cheaper hall they were standing in. "Just happened to visit floor sixteen, I see?"

Sakura grinned and looked at her feet, blushing, feeling a bit uncomfortable to be in this desolate place and totally alone here with him. "Yeah, well-" She paused to open the door and step into the stairwell. "I saw that the water went uneven in the pool."

"Very observant." Syaoran complimented, hopping down the stairs.

Sakura grinned and reluctantly followed him. He’s suddenly in such a good mood...? "Did they make a hole in the ship or something?" She asked, though even her own words sounded stupid to herself.

"Several." Syaoran said, not slowing as he continued down the stairs without heeding to tiredness.

Sakura was astonded that Syaoran could say this so casually. "You mean this is sinking!?" She asked, jumping down the stairs after him, unable to get beside him.

"For the moment." Syaoran agreed.

"You seem awfully calm about this." Sakura said, starting to get a little worn out from the constant run down the stairs.

They reached the bottom of the steps, and Sakura stepped onto a half inch of clear water. She jumped back to the step, as if the water was poison. "Is that...is that...ocean water?" She asked nervously, looking at the water with high fear.

Syaoran looked up at her, then at the door in front of him. "Cold ocean water." Syaoran said, his bare feet standing in the water. He pulled the door open, and a little more water came in, increasing it to the heigth that covered Syaoran’s toes. He looked down the hall, then at Sakura, who was standing and looking with worry at the water. And this isn’t even the deepest water. "It’s not that cold." He said, trying to convince her in.

Sakura glared at him for his poor consolation and stepped down into the very shallow water, shivering a bit and crossing her arms over her chest again. "I thought the Pacific was warm this South." Sakura said.

"It’s still early summer." Syaoran said, continuing down the hall.

Sakura swallowed hard, her breathing slightly shaky with nervousness. The water got progressively deeper, slowly covering her feet, then working its way up her ankles. She shivered and looked worriedly after Syaoran, who continued without heeding. "This is just like Titanic." She moaned, looking down a dimmer hall of the ship. She was a bit surprised with the way her voice was now echoing off the enclosed water.

"The Titanic sunk. This won’t." Syaoran said, not bothering to turn around.

"That’s comforting." Sakura muttered under her breath and continued on down the long hall. "What is this, the ship’s longest hall?"

"No..." Syaoran said, slowing to a stop a few feet in front of Sakura. "This one is." He said, turning and facing a larger hall, which had steps leading down to it’s floor, but the steps were buried in the Pacific’s clear water, and the hall surged with its own river. He bit his lip and looked to Sakura, who was just approaching. She won’t like this.

Sakura turned and gasped at the flooded state of the hall. "Just like Titanic." She muttered again. She turned to Syaoran. "We don’t have to go down that, do we?"

Syaoran looked at her for a second, then at the surging water ahead. He tried to reason with himself. Don’t pull her into this. "You don’t have to. I’ll be right back, stay here."

Sakura frowned with more fear, not liking this idea. "Matte!" She said, grabbing his arm as he stepped onto the first water covered step. She quickly looked at her feet for acting so childish. "W-what do I do, if you take really long...?"

Syaoran looked at the water, then at Sakura. "Then get Alexis to find her step father. Alright?"

Sakura slowly nodded, though her hand was hesitant to let go.

Syaoran smiled his heart melting Komai smile, making Sakura’s eyes go shiny. "Don’t worry." He said. Sakura weakly smiled back and let go of his arm, and he quickly dove into the current before anything more could be said. He found himself trying to slow down rather than swim, because the current of the cold water pulled him blindingly fast. He surfaced and looked for the next set of stairs, where he could come out of the water and approach the large stock room from out of the water, saving himself a long trip upstream.

He grabbed a bar overhead to stop himself, then struggled sideways through the strong pull of the water to the stairs, where he stepped out with exhaustion.

This hallway was short and dark, as apparently the gang had tried to put obstacles in his way. Of course. It can’t be lit, that would be too easy. Syaoran called out his sword and continued on cautiously through the dark hall. He shivered with the cold ocean water evaporating off his skin, and wished vainly for a nice warm towel. I should just hope I can find these holes before the entire level is flooded. I better hurry. Sakura’s probably getting impatient too. I hope she doesn’t follow, she’ll add to the problem.

Syaoran reached an opening in the hall and he turned to his right, finding himself stepping in knee deep water. There was no current in this water, but Syaoran could hear the rushing sound of a current somewhere nearby, so he knew there was still danger, and he didn’t let himself relax. At least no one’s chasing me. Syaoran stepped carefully down the knee deep water, watching his feet closely for any sudden drop offs that may occur. He followed a pattern of passageways he had memorized from the ship blue prints earlier that week, never doubting his own instinct.

This is taking too long, I’ve got to hurry. Syaoran attempted to jog through the heavy knee deep water, though it was an exhausting and noisy affair. He turned down the right hall, then found himself deeper, chest deep in the cold water, but there was no current, only Syaoran’s own current from his movement in the stand still water. This is too simple. I’m going to be to the main room any second. Where’s the difficulty? Where are the traps? The obstacles?

Syaoran picked up his foot as he walked with suspicion. The water was wavering under him, some type of current, but this wasn’t a normal current. It was like some type of undertow, though how it was here in standstill water, Syaoran was clueless. He carefully set his foot down and stood still for a moment before continuing on. The next few steps were as the first one, but after a few feet, the current was stronger, and Syaoran was swept off his feet into the water. Since it was so deep, he was able to swim on the surface, and evade the underwater current. Great. They put spells on the water.

A sharper jolt wrapped around his ankles and forced him to struggle to stay afloat. Syaoran paddled hard with his arms and legs until the force passed, and he, breathing hard, let himself float on the water for a while to regain his strength before hurrying on. It’s just going to get stronger. I’ve got to be more careful. But I can’t stay out of the water. Syaoran swam more purposefully along, then slowed, finding the current speeding up. He kept to the side of the hall and gripped on an overhead bar to hold himself steady, and reached the end of the hall, where it opened to the storage room.

The ceiling in this room was high, and the water still had a ways to go before it would reach the ceiling. But there was a major problem with the water in this room. Vortexes lined the bottom, twirling underwater tornados that set currents swirling into dangerous undertows that would pull any strength swimmer under for sure. Syaoran looked with dismay, seeing all the hardships he would soon be facing. He spotted the holes ahead. All the way from here he could see the tiny three foot holes that gouged the thin side of the ship, and Pacific water streamed down onto the lake already started within the metal of the ship.

They are going to have ship security down here. And when that happens, there’ll be trouble, because the gang will speed up the sinking process, and this whole ship will be in a grave within a few hours. Syaoran gripped the bar he was hanging onto and thought hard. How am I supposed to contain this? It’s not like I can put some tape over this. I need a shield to cover them up. I need Sakura’s help.

This realization annoyed him. This is too dangerous. I shouldn’t drag her into this... Syaoran couldn’t help but want her company anyway. I’ll keep her safe. I’ll just make sure she’s near me, that way she can use her magic with mine. Definitely. Syaoran was already diving into the water, his actions coming before his thoughts were finished. He was swimming downstream now, and the water hurried him along. Syaoran fought to slow down as the currents pulls him under, and he worked himself into exhaustion yet again, fighting against the strings of water that dragged down on his wrists and ankles.

I’m not going to have any strength left. How far are those stairs, anyway? The hallways swirled past him with a blur of wallpaper, and the current moved beyond his mind’s comprehension. Syaoran grabbed onto a bar and held on despite the sharp pain that burned through his hands at the sudden stop of momentum. He looked down the hall, whose river was now rising to dangerous heighths, and the lights were just barely holding their electricity. I’ve got to hurry. Syaoran let go of the bar and dove into the water with blitzing speed, going wrecklessly fast with the current, seeing his exit ahead in an open doorway. Syaoran prepared himself to grab the doorway’s edge, then reached out as he sped through underwater, jerkily stopping himself with his fingers’ persistent grip. Now was the hard part. Despite the fact that he needed to come up for air, it was near impossible to pull himself out of the current and into the stair well’s bottom. Syaoran grit his teeth and fought with all his arm’s strength, eventaully getting around far enough to where he dared to let go with his hands, then swam frantically.

The water, which had previously been only to their ankles, was deep enough to have Syaoran swimming underwater. Short of breath, he quickly swam to the surface and emerged, quickly gasping in the oxygen. He looked around, worrying breifly as he didn’t immediatly see Sakura, then saw that she was sitting on a stair out of the water, holding her knees in effort to keep warm. The moment she saw Syaoran she jumped up and hurried down the stairs, trudging through the water relentlessly until she came waist deep and standing a few feet away from him. She quickly looked him over to make sure he was alright, then spoke.

"Are you alright, Syaoran-kun?" Sakura asked, looking intently at him with concern.

Syaoran smiled just a little, always feeling hope around Sakura. "I’m fine, Sakura."

Sakura then looked down around at the water she was wading in. "This is so high! Did you fix it?"

Syaoran shook his head and looked towards the hall, then back at Sakura. "Iie. I need help. You know the Shield spell now, right?"

Sakura nodded.

"It’s going to take alot of work to seal it up, but we don’t have alot of time. Can you- are you scared?" Syaoran hadn’t been able to choke out the words ‘I need help’, so instead it came out as more of an insult, him in a round about way accusing Sakura of being a coward.

Sakura swallowed and looked at the rushing water she could see through the doorway, now too deep to stand in. "N-not r-really." She lied pathetically.

"I need your help." Syaoran said more collectively, though he couldn’t look her in the eye as he said it. "I promise I won’t let anything happen to you, but you are going to have to swim."

Sakura smiled grimly. "Relax. I’ve been alone fighting with a ghost. How much harder can this be?"

Syaoran weakly smiled and halfway turned to the doorway, his toes just barely holding himself down to the floor. "Stay right behind me, okay?"

Sakura nodded gravely.

Syaoran swam through the water to the doorway, glancing momentarily at Sakura and doubting himself for dragging her into it, then let himself into the stronger current. Quickly the need to swim was gone, and the only work was to keep yourself afloat. Syaoran could see that they were fast coming to the first turn, and this time around, it was going to be alot more difficult. "We have to stop!" Syaoran’s voice echoed with the water, but he wasn’t sure if she was able to hear him or not over the rushing ocean.. She’ll get the point when I come to a stop in front of her.

Syaoran grabbed the edge of the wall and held on tight as the rest of his body pulled against his fingers. He quickly turned to see Sakura, but she was already being pulled past him, despite her panicked efforts to stop. Her strength was no match for the powerful ocean that roared through the hall, and she was pulled past him. Syaoran quickly threw his safety aside and anchored one arm on the bar as he grabbed for her hand with the other. His hand slid down her watered slick arm, and he desperately tried to keep holding tight. Her hand locked on his, luckily, and he gripped the bar tightly as he hung onto her.

"Get that bar!" Syaoran called to her, even his strength wavering under this struggle.

Sakura looked at him through the spray that kept washing over her face. She then looked to see what he was talking about, and grunted and pushed her way through the strong water to the bar, pulling on Syaoran’s arm as she did, the only solid thing to hang on to. She sighed with releif and loosened her deathly tight grip on his hand, feeling the exhaustion that Syaoran had been feeling previously. We were going so fast. That water, it moves so incredibly quickly, like a river before a waterfall, you’re completly powerless. Sakura realized she was still gripping to Syaoran’s hand, and she quickly let go, a blush coming across her cheeks for a fleeting moment, before she was reminded of where she was.

"Try to be ready for that." Syaoran shouted over the ocean water. He pulled himself around the corner into the much easier water, where there was no current. He could touch the bottom with his toes, and he took the break to walk.

They swam through these easier passages for a while, silently, and Syaoran could see the water coming up, where the spelled water had pulled him down earlier. Now the water was higher, and more dangerous.

"How much more?" Sakura asked breathlessly, tip toeing across the floor as she tried to regain her strength.

"Not alot." Syaoran said back. Here in the quieter water, their voices seemed to echo endlessly, across the water and down paths into the unknown. He slowed to a stop in front of the swift moving water, tredding water now. "This water’s cursed." He said, gravely meeting her eyes. "If something starts to drag you down, shout."

Sakura was a bit taken aback with his solemn attitude, and looked warily at the water ahead. She continued after Syaoran into the water, it pulling her along so quickly that it was hard for her to think about spells or curses. After a few strides of swimming she did find that she seemed to weigh ever so slightly heavier in the water, and swimming had become the slightest bit more difficult. Sakura looked unsurely at Syaoran, who continued to swim strongly ahead.

He said not much more. Nothing will happen. I’ll get where we are going before it catches up with me. Sakura could see that Syaoran looked like he was preparing for a stop, and quickly grabbed a bar to their side as he did. Syaoran turned to her, then to the room behind him. "That’s the storage room." He shouted over the roaring water. "The holes are in there. But there’s all kinds of things in our way."

Sakura peered around him to see into the distant room. He was understating the truth. There were little tornados decouring the floor, along with numerous dark looking metal objects laid around. The water still had a good ways to go before it would reach this room’s high ceiling, but time was running out fast. She swallowed down her fear and thought like a Card Mistress. "W-what happens if you get sucked into one of those tornado thingys?"

"We’re not going to find out. We can stay clear of those if we follow the side of the room." Stupid idiot, why’d you drag her into this again? Because you’re too weak by yourself. I’m just trying to keep my mother alive, why do I have to badger myself all the time!? "Alright. There’s some bars off the wall, you can stand on them if you have to." Syaoran said, looking over the landscape of the huge room.

"Quit stalling. Let’s fix the ship before its completly underwater and the guy you were fighting catches up with us." Sakura said, talking like Syaoran would.

Syaoran weakly smiled and let go of the bar he was hanging onto, letting himself into the water’s radom currents. He swam to the wall and carefully hung on to it, keeping an eye on the tornados that were swirling a ways under them. He looked around the room, then back at Sakura, who was following him warily. She looked up curiously to see why he was turning around, but he returned to going forward without answering her unspoken question. Nothing’s happened so far. Just a little further, then we’ll be able to seal this up and forget about all of this.

Syaoran surveyed the watery room, looking for any hidden dangers. His eyes quickly went to the hallway to the side that branched off this room. A figure was hurrying down the hall, swimming quickly, holding something sharp haphazardly in his hands. Syaoran stopped swimming forward and watched him pass out of their sight with worry. He glared at the empty hallway for a few seconds, then began looking arounnd the room.

"What are you looking for?" Sakura asked, watching Syaoran look around like a hunter searching for the prey he was chasing.

"I know....must have done something." Syaoran mumbled, searching the ceilings frantically, knowing that something must be dangerous now that a suspicious man had just been visiting.

Sakura frowned, confused. "What?" She looked around the ceilings also, hoping to help out.

Syaoran spotted it. A wire hanging dangerously low, only a few dim sparks leaving it, showering onto the far corner of water. If the water level rose any significant amount, they were sure to be electricuted. "We’ve...we’ve got to hurry." Syaoran said, quickly looking back ahead of himself, starting to pull himself along the wall, ignorant of the water that swirled underneath them.

Sakura was hurrying after him when she felt something sprinkle onto her shoulder. Of course she was already soaked, but there was no water falling from above, and it baffled her. As she barely tilted her head, she quickly pulled herself with a short burst of speed over to Syaoran. "SYAORAN!" She shrieked, looking at the forming shape in front of her.

Syaoran whirled around, well aware that Sakura was gripping his arm with sharp fingers as she did whenever in mortal fear. His eyes met the enlarging water spout that was rising out of its previous watery grave. "Go under, towards the hall behind me." Syaoran said with a sort of undertone voice, as if someone may have been listening in ready to sabotage his plans.

Sakura gaped at the huge tornado of water for a few more seconds before letting his words register in her head. She took her hand off his arm and hurled herself under, began to frantically swim through the cold water with wide open eyes, trying to see if the tornado was following her, or if she was getting closer to another tornado thingy.

Syaoran, still above surface, called out the spell he had been trying to master. Energy went out from him and right at the tornado, though its power quickly decreased through the short distance. The bolt of energy sliced cleanly through the tornado and sent the top layer of water pouring down, quickly deconstructing the large water spout. He made sure it wasn’t going to follow them, then quickly swam above surface in the direction Sakura had gone. Syaoran looked over at the loose wire that continued to dangle down threateningly. The water wasn’t horribly near yet, but it continued to rise, noticeably higher than it had been a few moments ago.

Sakura surfaced and found herself being pulled into a current, so she quickly grabbed the bar on the side to steady herself. She looked to see where she was and realized that she had come dangerously close to another little tornado despite her hard efforts to keep safe, and she needed to get out before this water vortex decided to mutate. She looked for Syaoran and the other water thing and found that it had fallen back into the water, no longer a current of power, and Syaoran was swimming towards her healthily, unscathed from the breif scare.

"You’re too close to that." Syaoran called at her, staying at the safety of the hall’s edge and waiting for her to get herself out of the danger zone.

Sakura nodded. "I know." She called back. She let go of the bar and began swimming over to him, but the current became slightly stronger, and she found herself starting to drift into the water cyclone, so she yelped with momentous fear as she thought she might drown, then clutched the bar with safety, a little paler than before.

"Pull yourself." Syaoran said sensibly, watching nervously as the particular tornado Sakura was near was starting to rise.

Sakura quickly took him up on his advice and began to pull herself along the bar, but the current strengthened with a sudden jolt, and the one hand she had on the bar was not enough support to hang on. She quickly grabbed with the other hand and held on for dear life, watching this tornado start to rise in front of her. She couldn’t move, she was pinned. How was she supposed to run away now? She looked desperately over to Syaoran. "What do I do?" She called, her eyes glued to the tornado.

Syaoran looked at the tornado that was ready to engulf the poor innocent girl that wasn’t supposed to get hurt. He quickly went through battle tactics in his head. I can’t risk hurting her. I know, I don’t have control over this attack, I can’t use it. But what else can I do? Syaoran looked at Sakura’s frightened face, feeling horrible as she glanced hopefully at him between her staring at the tornado. She was obviously waiting for an answer.

Syaoran looked to the wire hanging down, watching the water start to near it a bit dangerously. He quickly looked back to the tornado scene. What really would happen if she did get sucked into one of those tornado thingys? Syaoran nervously pulled himself down the bar a bit closer, feeling the curent get stronger and stronger. Sakura was gripping the bar with both her arms, backed against the wall as far away from the tornado as she could be. She glanced sideways at Syaoran, who was watching worriedly.

"What do I do?" She repeated.

Syaoran glanced at the wire that was so close to the water. "You’ve got to pull yourself over." He said back.

Sakura glared with frustration. "I can’t!" She said with exasperation.

"You’ve got to, please, there’s no time." Syaoran said more hurriedly, seeing that the rising water was ever nearing the water.

Sakura looked back at him with shiny and frustrated eyes. So he had said ‘please’. Now she felt totally obligated to follow his wishes. But she couldn’t. She would be drowned here. She forced that away and tried to pull herself again, but the water jolted even more harshly at her, forcing her to grip back to the bar. "I’ll drown!" Sakura said back.

Syaoran looked at the tornado closely, then at the bar. He quickly got an idea, and followed through with it. Syaoran pulled himself up and planted his feet on the bar, then shakily stood up. He was out of the water, now putting his full weight on whatever type of pipe this was that ran the wall of the room. He walked, feircly concentrating on balancing, over to Sakura, and stopped a few feet from her.

Sakura looked doubtfully at the bar, then at the current that was starting to be overpowering. She quickly pulled herself up to sitting on the bar, then struggled to see how to get up. Syaoran’s hand was in front of her, and she took his offer and pulled herself up to standing, trying not to look at the water surging underneath her feet. "Come on, these might be electrically conductive." Syaoran said, turning and starting to walk back down the piping, where they could walk into the hall, whose steps were emerged with gallons of water.

Sakura wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but she quickly followed him, hardly able to stay on, and using his steady arm for dramatic support. She followed him down the bar to the hallway, where he abruptly stopped, sending Sakura offbalance and forcing her to grab the bar at her feet to keep from falling over. She stood back up shakily and smiled warily at him.

"Don’t touch the water, alright?" Syaoran asked, taking his hand back from her.

Sakura nodded unsurely. "Uh...alright." She agreed, looking at the water, then back to Syaoran. He lept across the remaining water emerged steps to the hallway, landing easily. He quickly turned to wait for Sakura to hop across.

I hate it when he does that. It makes me all self conscious. Sakura hopped across and landed in front of him, then turned to look at the water as well. "This hall is going to be under soon." She said dismally.

"We’ve got to shut those holes up." Syaoran agreed.

There was a breif moment of uncomfortable silence, then Sakura spoke again. "What did you mean, ‘electrically conductive’?" Sakura asked.

"See that wire?" Syaoran asked, pointing at the far wall.

Sakura squinted and thought she saw a small black dangling object, though it was slightly blurred into everything else. "I think."

"We can’t touch the water now."

"But I can’t do a Shield spell from all the way over here!" Sakura said.

Syaoran tried to think. "Well we’ve got to get rid of that wire."

"Can’t you blast it with whatever you did for that tornado thing?"

"That’s a much smaller target."

"So you’re saying you can’t do it?"

Syaoran didn’t respond, his obvious irritation showing through with his silent anger. Sakura sighed, wishing he didn’t take everything as an insult. She looked across at the little black thing, thinking vainly of what she could do to keep this ship from sinking. I can burn it away! With my fire spin attack! I was finally getting that down... She glanced sideways at Syaoran, who was glaring foreward at all the hardships for daring to get in his way. But if I screw up he’ll think I’m stupid. Sakura ignored that and called her staff out again. Syaoran looked over with mild curiosity to see what she was going to do.

Sakura tried to ignore his presence and only think about the task in front of her. Concentrate concentrate concentrate... She shouted the spell and spun her staff around, feeling the heat build up as it always did before she would slam her staff down and send random flames lurching out. She tried not to think about what could go wrong and only zeroed in on the tiny black wire dipping into the water across the vast storage room. The intricate Kanji type shape of the flame went weilding out and forward.

Sakura breathed in deeply then looked up to see what damage she had caused. The room looked the same. There were still tornados swirling around, and the water level was continuing to rise. She squinted to try and see if there was still a little black wire hanging down. "Did it...?" She turned to see Syaoran, and found him staring at her.

He blinked blankly for a second, then gave a slow weak grin. "Just had to show me up..." He said, starting to walk back to the water’s edge.

Sakura grinned widely with acheivement. So all that practice on the little tree in Moondust’s pasture had paid off. She would have liked to run around and sing with triumphant pleasure, but she didn’t want to rub it in Syaoran’s face that she had actually succeeded where Syaoran did not. "I’m sure it was a much easier spell than that thing you did." Sakura tried to console him, reluctantly stepping into the water after him.

At least that was true. That cheered Syaoran a little. "We’ve got to get to the other-" Syaoran stopped, feeling incredibly stupid. Of course this plan would work, why didn’t he think of it earlier? "Water!" Syaoran commanded his card. Without further vocal instruction, a long current spread across the room like a carpet. Syaoran stepped onto the water without hesistation, and, to Sakura’s bewilderment, didn’t sink. Syaoran walked a few steps, then turned to see what was taking Sakura so long. "Coming?"

Sakura stood at the water’s edge unsurely. "I...I won’t sink?"

Syaoran shook his head. "Not unless I make you." He said, holding his water card in one hand with a teasing grin.

Sakura grinned wanly and stepped onto the water, amazed at the floating feeling she had. She would have liked to stop and investigate this feeling a bit longer, but Syaoran was almost across the room now, moving quickly as he always did. Sakura hurried across the supporting current of the water trail till she was a few feet from where Syaoran was.

"Start using Shield spells." He said, stepping off their direct line to the side, so Sakura could use spells on the other one.

Sakura nodded and walked to the left, quickly spotting one of the tiny holes causing all this flooding. She shouted a shield spell and looked at the hole for a while. It seemed to have a rainbow-ish look over it, and it seemed like the incoming current had stopped. She looked with satisfaction to the next one. She said the same thing and watched the glazed looking shield appear over this hole as well. This is quite easy. Who would have ever thought that stopping a ship from sinking could be such a boring task? And clean up will be just as easy. Just a boring old erase spell. And I thought Syaoran went on life threatening missions of supreme danger.

Syaoran had sealed up five of the tiny holes in the side of the ship before he noticed their surroundings were starting to protest. The vortexes were all starting to group together and move in their general direction, and the metal things that had been dormant on the bottom floor were starting to float up, dangerously making a half circle around Syaoran and Sakura’s location. Some of them looked slightly similar to a hunter’s trap, ready to snap the sharp prongs shut on any victim, innocent or guilty. Did they put a moving spell on them? Are they able to move out of water? Syaoran watched warily as one began to answer his question by rising out of the water, as if on an invisible chain. He looked at Sakura, who was totally oblivious as she stood casting spells with her back turned to the monotonous water churning room.

The claw trap thingy seemed to be staring at Syaoran, as if challenging him. Syaoran welcomed the challenge. The claw changed things by tilting towards Sakura’s turned back. Syaoran’s face turned pale. The claw seemed to know what Syaoran wanted or didn’t want, a sure sign someone else was controlling it. Syaoran saw that the claw was ready to race out at any second and nail Sakura in the back before Syaoran could run over to her. So the showdown continued, each waiting for the other to make the first move- claw against man.

Syaoran decided to make the first move, and the second this thought crossed his mind he followed through with it, going into his fastest hardest sprint towards Sakura as the claw joined suit. Syaoran lept out to try and gain speed and dove into Sakura, pushing her out of harm’s way as the little claw went sailing full force into the wall over their heads. Syaoran’s pathway of water had diminished now, and they both fell into the water, Sakura totally freaked out and Syaoran very releived.

Now that they were in the water (needless to say now swimming very closely) the cyclones were taking charge and advancing in with a horribly flawless formation. Sakura looked from those to Syaoran, amazed at how things could suddenly change pace. "I just had one more left!" Sakura said, looking to the wall.

The current was already trying to take them, and they were pretty powerless to stop it. "We don’t have any time!" Syaoran shouted over the water’s roar, helping Sakura stay out of the current as he swam firmly in place, though soon this would not be the case. The current would take them in any second, and they would find out what really would happen if he got sucked into a tornado thingy.

"Syaoran, we’re trapped!" Sakura said aghast, realizing they were now completly cornered. There was no piping here to help them out.

Syaoran tried to think quickly of what he could do. His water wouldn’t be any match against these currents, and all of the shield spells plus his energy attack had left him next to powerless. He found himself clueless on what to do. All he was aware of was his promise of ‘I won’t let anything happen to you’.

Sakura, still recovering from being pushed into the water by Syaoran, had a spell in mind. "Erase!" She shouted the spell as fast as she could, knowing that both Syaoran’s and her own’s life were on the line. The cyclone was just starting to take them, despite Syaoran’s hard efforts to hold Sakura back, when the spell started. The water was just starting to dissolve, before Sakura realized her major error. Before she could do anything, she found herself and Syaoran plummeting through the now empty air down to the room’s dry floor.

With a painful crash, they landed painfully on the cold hard floor, Sakura even further in pain with Syaoran landing heavily on top of her. She groaned but stayed motionless, to sore to move at the moment. It took a second for Syaoran to realize what had happened, then to realize where he was, and he quickly rolled off of her then went to see if she was alright. He propped her up on his knee and his arm and peered worriedly at her wincing face, hoping she would say something.

"S-syaoran..." Sakura started, blinking her eyes open momentarily to meet his, which were full of concern.

Syaoran was a bit taken aback by meeting those eyes, be it for a second, and mistook it for something else. Perhaps she wasn’t wincing in pain. What if she was concentrating? Why would she do that? She was trying to say something. Dear God! What’s she going to say? Syaoran waited anxiously for the rest of her sentence, bitter hope waiting to hear three sweet words.

"I think..think I...broke my rib..." She said, cringing.

Syaoran, with slight dissapointment, pushed aside what he had been thinking and tilted her up further. "It hurts to breath?" He asked.

Sakura took a deep breath to investigate. "A little."

"You’ve only bruised it, then. It’ll hurt just as bad, but heal much faster." Syaoran said, starting to get sore from holding her up like he was.

Sakura attempted to sit up herself, already starting to get over the initial aches. She sat up and leaned on her knees, pulling out of Syaoran’s hold. "You’re heavier than you look." She muttered. Must be all that condensed muscle, She thought, glancing sideways at him, who looked perfectly fit in only his swimming trunks.

Syaoran, not generally a self conscious person, saw this as a direct insult. "Thanks." He grumbled dryly, getting to his feet and reluctantly holding his hand out for Sakura to use.

She took it gratefully, slowly straightening up. Her stomach ached, but she forced her own pain aside and stood in front of Syaoran, waiting for the uncomfortable silence to pass. She looked at him and found that she was eye to eye with him. She knew she didn’t have heels on. Had she grown that much taller? "We are about the same heigth now, Li-kun." She said, slightly grinning.

Syaoran looked from where he had been spacing out and saw that this was true with utmost disgust. He gave a short sigh of annoyance and turned around, starting to walk to the hall, not turning back.

Sakura watched him go with a wary grin. so touchy... "Leave me to seal up the last hole. I see how you are." She called after him, laughing. She found out that laughing wasn’t very comfortable with her bruised rib, hurt stomach, whatever it was. "Ow." She muttered, quickly stopping laughing. She turned to the last hole and shouted and shield spell, then hurried after Syaoran’s turned back. "Matte!"

That jacuzzi is going to feel wonderful, I’m so glad we’re not sharing a room with my father. Now he won’t notice me getting back so late. I wonder if Tomoyo, Alexis, and Teller are all still at the pool? Probably not. "What time is it?" She asked, following Syaoran down the now much quieter and waterless hall.

"Twenty three...ah...eleven ten." Syaoran said, looking at his clock.

"It really takes an intellectual to keep their watch on army time." Sakura said, grinning.

Syaoran, not really annoyed, just continued to walk silently down the hall.

"Will Alexis and Teller be looking for you?" Sakura asked, following down the long pathway leading to the stair well.

"They’re probably still swimming." Syaoran said, looking around at the water stained wallpaper with amusement. With Sakura’s erase spell, all the water was gone, but the aftermath was not.

"Wow." Sakura said. "I don’t think I ever want to swim again, except, maybe, a nice hot tub."

Syaoran just smiled to himself and kept walking. I wish I had a jacuzzi in my room. I could use it. Sakura may have broke my fall (poor her) but I am still worn out. That guy got a few hits on me when I was fighting him earlier. I wonder where they are now? Probably planning a last minute attack. I hope Sensei Wanti has chased them down by now. I don’t want to fight anymore. I’m tired. I need to sleep.

He walked reluctantly into the stairwell room and began to climb the endless stairs that would go on for eternity, only pausing momentarily at each floor where they would turn and continue up the stairs. Sakura was lagging behind him, finding that her sore midsection was very against stair climbing. Syaoran just continued on at the same pace, knowing that stopping and talking to her would show pity, and she’d be offended. He stopped by the time they finally reached floor sixteen, taking a chance to break for Sakura’s sake, who looked very red in the face from work. Syaoran peered in the door to look like he was doing something, though he really wasn’t.

"What are you looking for?" Sakura asked between her heavy breathes, holding one hand on her stomach.

"I was seeing if your Binding spell held out." Syaoran said absently, turning to address the stairs again. He started climbing them again, hoping that his short break would have given Sakura a chance to rest.

"Oh." Sakura said, though it came out quietly, as she continued to force herself up the stairs.

Syaoran tried not to think about how long he had been climbing, only about the cool breeze that would greet them on deck. And the night will be over. We’ll seperate, go to different rooms, and not see each other until we have to dock tommorrow afternoon. And then I won’t see her for months. Syaoran’s mind spaced out for a while, as he thought about his mother, about his family, all their welfare...The floors went by quickly. He reached the fourth floor and stopped, turning to the door and pulling it open.

Sakura, a ways behind him, clambered up the last few and hurried after him. She stepped into the hall and found that there were several official looking men, along with several police officers, crowding the hall around several of the rooms on this floor. Syaoran was walking over to a taller man, obviously fimiliar with the man as he stepped so comfortably to him.

He said a few things with the man, then looked a little happier, at least to Sakura’s eye. He turned and walked to Sakura again, a slight smile in his eyes. "My sensei got the officers after the men after he found a document stating their intentions." Syaoran said with satisfaction.

Sakura smiled back. "So you are done with this mission? And you succeeded?"

Syaoran nodded. "Now the elders will keep paying for my mother’s hospital bills." He said, a note of releif in his voice.

"That’s great." Sakura said, though she wasn’t sure all that was implied.

Syaoran nodded and stood through another awkward silence before clearing his throat. "We should get to our rooms." Syaoran said, feeling his sadness again as his breif sadness passed and he thought of the harsh reality impending on them.

Sakura followed him back into the stairwell and started going up the stairs, wincing ever upstep. Back to our rooms. This ship docks tommorrow, doesn’t it? He’ll be going back to Hong Kong...I wish...there’s still so much to talk about, but... "Do...do you want-" Sakura’s sentence was interrupted as they stepped onto the deck, where somehow Alexis had managed to see them coming, and was now loudly greeting them.

"Syaoran! Did the ship almost sink? Me and Teller were so worried!" Alexis said, grinning, invading on Syaoran’s personal space.

Syaoran dodged her with an annoyed look on his face, mumbling something under his breath. Sakura half grinned with amusement, and felt halfway teary eyed from getting interrupted repeatedly, but pushed both emotions aside as she followed Syaoran and Alexis towards the pool. "Are you and Teller still swimming?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah." Alexis said simply, not even turning her head. "But it’s getting cold up here." She said, crossing her arms over her bikini clad chest.

Sakura silently agreed, crossing her own arms. Her swim suit was cold and damp now, and the sweat of exhaustion she had worked up from walking up the stairs had cruely betrayed her to a freezing drip. How good the jacuzzi would feel! "Is Tomoyo still up here?" Sakura asked.

"She ran off somewhere after you guys disappeared." She said, looking at Syaoran. "Both of you left. Around the same time. On this dark starry night." She added, grinning suspiciously at Syaoran, who glared straight ahead, a very dark glower on his face.

"You better lock your door tonight, that guy is still running loose. It’d be a shame if he got you by accident trying to get Wanti-san."

Alexis rolled her eyes. "I’m sure."

They walked into the pool area and Sakura looked around for Tomoyo, not convinced that she wasn’t really hiding somewhere with her camera. She spotted Teller, who was talking to an Irish looking girl, smiling with his ten year old charm. Sakura could see it all the way from here, the shift of expression as the girl walked away, Teller’s bright face falling to rejection.

Alexis yawned noisily and stood at the edge of the pool, not planning to get in. "I think I’m going to go back to the room. Watch TV or something. Hey Teller!" She shouted.

Teller looked over and noticed Syaoran and Sakura, then quickly dove into the water, swimming quickly over to them, then climbing back out. "So you guys are finally back. We were thinking of leaving without you."

There was a moment of silence between all of them, then Sakura and Syaoran both spoke at once.

"I’m going-"

"Do you want-"

Syaoran, being the gentleman he was, glared at Sakura and waited for her to finish.

"Would you guys like to, uh, to go back to my room; we have a jacuzzi. Being the last night and all..." Sakura said, not daring to look Syaoran in the eye for she was feeling so pathetic at her attempts not to lose him tonight.

"You’ve got a jacuzzi in your room?" Alexis asked, astonished.

Sakura nodded, smiling now that she knew she was winning them over.

"Well we’re in our swim suits anyway, and I’m not tired." Alexis said happily. "Though I could use some food. Do you have any in your room."

"Uh, I think." Sakura said.

"We’ll have to stop by and get Benny." Teller said, excited about this idea as well.

"Huh?" Sakura asked, totally confused. Why would a hamster come along?

"He swims, you know." Teller said proudly.

Syaoran sighed. He had no reason not to go. The sensei had got the bad guys, he had stopped the ship from sinking with Sakura’s help, she deserved to have her wishes followed, right? It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go, it was just now he’d be stuck listening to Alexis and Teller ramble on, and didn’t Sakura share a room with Tomoyo? He realized he had been zoning out as he saw everyone was silent and looking at him.

"Are you coming?" Alexis repeated herself.

"Yeah go ahead, I"ve got to get my shirt." Syaoran mumbled, turning towards the diving board area and starting to walk. "I’ll meet you there." He said.

Alexis frowned. "Do you even know where her room is?"

"Yeah." Syaoran called. He then bit his tongue for so carelessly volunteering information.

Alexis, Sakura, and Teller continued on. "He knows where your room is?" Alexis asked, grinning.

Sakura squirmed, annoyed with Syaoran. "Uh, yes, he, ah, he had to get something from my brother, that’s all." Sakura said.

Alexis laughed.

"What?" Sakura asked cluelessly.

"I knew you liked him, but you took him back to your room with you? Is that where you two snuck off to?"

"N-no!" Sakura said defensively, getting unnerved. "He was doing what the elders told him to, he kept this ship from sinking!"

"He does take that very seriously." Alexis agreed. "I guess I still have a chance."

"What?"

"You are a very dense one, aren’t you?" Alexis said.

Sakura jammed her key into her door with rising anger, wishing this girl would shut up. "I’m not dense." She mumbled, pushing the door open.

Teller jumped into the room, his eyes looking around. "You have an awesome room!" He peered into Tomoyo’s room. "Who’s staying there?"

"My friend Tomoyo."

"Oh, right." Teller remembered.

Syaoran walked into the doorway, holding his dripping shirt. Alexis was smiling with amusement at him. "What?"
Alexis shook her head. "Oh, nothing." She said, grinning.

Sakura walked from where she had been checking on the hot tub back to the doorway. "I wonder where Tomoyo went?"

"She’ll show up sometime." Alexis said, rushing over to the hot tub and jumping in, a look of pleasure on her face. "I forgot what it felt like to be warm! My arms went numb on deck."

Sakura was feeling very cold as well, and knew the jacuzzi was going to feel very good. She walked over and stepped in, turning on the jets as she sat down. "This does feel nice." Sakura agreed, sinking low into the water.

Syaoran sighed. This was very uncomfortable. He couldn’t just walk over and sit down silently, because they would be staring at him and waiting for him to say something. What was the purpose of sitting in a circle of steaming water with nothing to do but sit? You’re spose to enjoy it. It’s supposed to be a relaxing experience. And I would enjoy some nice hot water, but not under these conditions.

"Are you boys shy?" Alexis called, seeing that Teller and Syaoran were just standing motionless.

Syaoran took the chance to go under Teller’s cover, and followed him into the hot tub. It was small, probably meant for about six people, but they fit alright. Syaoran found himself beside Teller and Sakura, luckily guarded from Alexis, who continued to smirk at him. Now they were sitting in the hot tub. What next?

Teller was gathering up some bubbles off the top and smearing them across his chin. When he had accumulated a beard, he sat up with pride. "I’m St. Nick!" He declared, the bubbles slowly smearing down back into the water, leaving gaps in his white covered chin.

Alexis grinned and piled some of the bubbles on her eyesbrows, looking comical. "I’m Sensei Kiota!" She said, laughing hard after she had spoke. Teller burst out laughing as well.

Syaoran found it funny, but didn’t laugh. "No wonder no one likes you in Hong Kong." He muttered.

Alexis stopped her bubble fest and glared at him, though she was smiling. "You Li’s have no funny part in your body, do you?" She said, laughing. She flicked some bubbles at him, which he evaded.

Sakura sat impatiently. This wasn’t what she wanted at all. She wanted to talk to Syaoran about when he was going to come back to Japan. But this wasn’t a good time. "You aren’t from Hong Kong, are you?" Sakura asked.

Teller shook his head. "No, England actually."

"Do you know Eri-"

"We have never met Eriol." Alexis cut in.

"Our mother met Wanti-san on a business trip, she works for some translating service. Then they got married."

"The elders allow that?" Saukra asked.

"Wanti-san is such a valuable member to the clan that they couldn’t get rid of him." Alexis said.

"Oh." Sakura said. It saddened her to see that these people knew more about Syaoran’s home life than she did. What kind of friend was she?

"Was Syaoran a genius at your old school too?" Alexis asked.

Syaoran glared.

"You are very smart." Sakura said, smiling at him.

"I might get better grades if the teachers liked me." Teller said with self pity.

"The teachers don’t like you?" Sakura asked, confused.

"The elders allowed it, but we are kind of outcasts since we aren’t Li’s. Stupid, I think. I never pictured asian people as prejudice." Alexis said.

"That’s too bad." Sakura agreed, feeling pity for them if they really were getting discriminated against.

"Your cousin keeps hitting me in that play." Alexis complained.

Syaoran bit back a laugh. Meilin had been hitting her intentionally when she was supposed to fake it.

"Meilin-chan?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah. Meilin. Little witch." Alexis said, her face now glaring.

"Meilin-chan can be difficult to get along with." Sakura agreed.

"You knew her? She was in Hong Kong when we got back, I didn’t think she was in Japan."

"She visited alot." Sakura said.

"Didn’t like you either?"

"Not for a while." Sakura said, slightly grinning.

"Just like her cousin." Alexis said, grinning at Syaoran. She addressed Sakura again. "It seems you’ve gotten into the Li family. Most of Syaoran’s family knows who you are."

"I visited Hong Kong once." Sakura confirmed.

"Oh I see." Alexis said.

Sakura figured it was now or never. "Are you visiting Japan any time soon?" She asked, though there was much more behind her simple question.

Syaoran glanced at her with a breif moment of worry, then looked back to the harmless swirling water in front of him. "In a month I think." Syaoran agreed.

"You’re leaving Hong Kong?" Alexis wailed.

"Only for a little while." Syaoran said, annoyed with this partially hidden conversation.

She addressed Sakura. "You should visit Hong Kong again to see the play our class is putting on."

"Oh?" Sakura asked with mild interest, though she doubted this would be possible at all.

Syaoran was staring palely at Alexis. She wouldn’t dare, would she? She had more evil in her than Syaoran thought.

Alexis saw the look Syaoran was giving her and she grinned. "Yes. Syaoran and I have the lead parts. That’s how we met." She said sweetly, knowing that she held sweet death in her hands. "Yeah, they have us doing some intriguing things. It’s an American play. You never know what those Americans are going to put in the play." She said, continuously grinning.

Syaoran sighed with releif, sinking deeper into the water.

Sakura thought breifly of the play she had been in with Syaoran, when Tamakazi hurt his arm. That had been nice. She shot a glare at Alexis. What would they have her doing in the play? It all made sense now. She had to kiss him in the play. So much of Sakura’s worry was releived. So it had been against Syaoran’s will. Now she was picturing herself in her dark house. Where was Chindra? Erased. But Sakura wasn’t sad, because Syaoran was holding her and telling her everything would be alright. Those bright amber eyes, only inches away, so warm and close...stupid Touya. I hate him. I hate every bone in his body! Sakura sighed and collapsed deeper into the water.

The door opened and Tomoyo surveyed the scene with a quizzical look on her face. She shut the door. "You guys do know that it is almost midnight." She said, walking over with her overcoat draping across the floor.

"Where did you go, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked, curious, seeing that her friend was still in her swim suit.

"I could ask you the same." Tomoyo said sweetly, though her words were more accusing.

"I- uh- the ship was sinking, I was helping Li-kun seal it off." Sakura said a bit defensively.

Tomoyo nodded, smiling, then walked over to the hot tub, shedding her overcoat on a chair. "Mind if I join?" She asked politely, stepping to the side of it. No one protested, so she stepped in, all too noticeably between Sakura and Syaoran, sitting down cooly.

"I can’t beleive this cruise is almost over." Tomoyo said, disappointment thick in her voice.

"It’s went by so fast." Sakura agreed.

"Are you all flying back to Hong Kong?" Tomoyo asked Alexis and Teller.

"Yeah." Teller answered.

"Hey you’re piano playing was really pretty, for that karaoke thing you did." Alexis said. "I used to play, but I haven’t played much since I have been back in Hong Kong."

Tomoyo glowed, this being one of her major interests. "Thank you! It took me forever to get the written music to that song, but I finally did! It’s such a gorgeous peice, and Sakura, you sang so well! Except for the end part, you kind of rushed through it."

Sakura sunk to her chin in the bubbles, hoping her face wasn’t red as it felt. Why had she done that karaoke thing again? "I remembered something." Sakura mumbled as an excuse. She hoped Syaoran didn’t think she was stupid for that. Then he saw me mess up on my diving flip. This has been such an embaressing trip.

Syaoran swirled his fingers around in the bubbles, annoyed with the other people’s presence. He wanted to talk to Sakura, but he couldn’t, not now, not with Tomoyo sitting awkwardly close to him and acting as a live barrier between Sakura and Syaoran. This wasn’t any good.

Teller’s eyes lit up. "I’ll be right back! I’m going to get Benny." He said, jumping out of the water and carelessly leaving watery tracks across the carpeted floor.

Alexis stood up and climbed out after him. "I might as well bring Mookie along. They’re so depressed when they don’t have each other around." She said, walking after him.

Sakura took the extra space and moved away from Tomoyo where she could stretch out her legs. As she did she accidentally kicked Syaoran’s leg, which caught his attention. Sakura cringed and took her legs back, blushing profusely. She thought about apologizing, but decided not to say anything, with Tomoyo around and all.

Syaoran was grinning ever so slightly, but said nothing as well, well aware that Tomoyo was watching them closely.

"How is Meilin-chan, Li-kun?" Tomoyo asked.

"She is alright, though she’s a little upset she didn’t get to come on this trip." Syaoran said.

"Was she not allowed?"

"She would of had to pay for her own ticket." Syaoran said, breifly meeting Tomoyo’s large and pretty purplish eyes, before glaring down again.

"That’s too bad. She left so abruptly from Japan, I didn’t get to wish her farewell." Tomoyo said.

Alexis and Teller came in noisily. "She’s your cat, you control her!" Teller said, defensively holding Benny in his hands while Mookie, in Alexis’s arms, continued to struggle for freedom.

"She just wants to play, relax Teller!" Alexis said, stroking the cat’s head Tomoyo was frowning, completly puzzled by the animal’s entrance.

"Teller said his hamster can swim." Sakura explained.

Tomoyo slightly grinned. "Oh...Lemme go get my camera for this!"

Tomoyo left the hot tub for a second, and for one moment Sakura and Syaoran were the only occupants. Sakura grinned at him for no reason but in hope to see him return a smile, and was honored by getting Syaoran’s full heart melting smile back. "She really doesn’t like me, does she?" Syaoran asked.

"Or she really likes you. She just has a strange way of showing it." Sakura said.

Teller literally jumped into the hot tub, sending splashes of water over Syaoran and Sakura. He grinned and stood. "You might want to get out of the way." He said to Sakura, preparing the hamster for swim.

Sakura smiled with bewilderment and slid around back next to Syaoran, Tomoyo not there to monitor them. She grinned at him for a second before looking back to the hamster.

"He’s not very good at distance, but this is small enough. If he starts to struggle, pick him up." Teller said, setting the hamster free.

Benny turned out to be a very agile rodent, and, fighting against the currents of the jets, he plowed through the bubbles and surged along, a little train. Sakura started laughing, this being one of the funniest things she had ever seen. "That’s hysterical! Oh my gosh you should tape this and send it to a television company!" Sakura said, not beleiving how willingly the hamster swam around.

"I’ve got that." Tomoyo said from behind, taping the hamster’s progress.

"He’s just getting warmed up." Teller said. "Can you pass me that paper plate, Syaoran?" Teller asked.

Syaoran looked behind himself to see what he was talking about then picked up the paper plate, handing it to Teller. Teller to it and carefully tore away a small square, then bent that tiny peice of foam ever so slightly. He scooped Benny out of the water and placed him on the peice of plate. He then set that on the water and gave it a push. Benny was now balancing boldly on this little peice of foam, going over the small rapids of warm water like no ones business.

Sakura laughed again, not beleiving it. She turned to Alexis after she had seen enough. "Does the cat swim also?"

Alexis, having a difficult time holding the cat still, shook her head. "She’s...never liked the water. Mookie quit!" She grouched, the cat clawing around and trying to break free. Mookie nailed her claws into Alexis’s arm, making her shriek and let go, then jumped out of her hold, flying into the water. A large splash of water went from the cat’s overweight leap, splashing Sakura, Syaoran, and Teller, and also the lens of Tomoyo’s camera. The cat was now swimming after Benny, drool coming out of her mouth as she madly chased the little rodent down.

"Mookie, no!" Teller shouted, hurrying after the cat. Benny had fallen off the plate with fear and was now swimming as quickly as his tiny little legs would take him, going aimlessly around the tub.

Sakura moved out of the way of the dramatic chase, accidentally bumping into Syaoran again, but he didn’t seem to mind, so she didn’t feel as embaressed. "Sorry." She muttered, her eyes still following the rodent.

"Watch out, Tomoyo may have to seperate us." Syaoran said, grinning. He stood up and reached out, easily grabbing the hamster out of the water. It was breathing rapidly in his hand. Mookie was trying vainly to bat at his arm and swim at the same time, but with her super heavy weight, it was near impossible. Sakura pushed the cat away and stood up as well, peering into Syaoran’s hand.

"Is he alright?" She asked.

Teller walked across the tub and took the hamster out of Syaoran’s hands, glaring at Alexis. "Your cat is the meanest friend I have ever seen. We’re gonna wind up finding Benny hidden in her mouth."

Alexis walked over with exasperation and picked up the dripping cat from the hot tub. "Do you have a bathroom we can lock her in?" Alexis asked.

Sakura nodded. "Yeah, over-"

"We should probably get going, anyway. Wanti-san’s probably grouching about us being out so late." Teller said.

Alexis reluctantly agreed. "I suppose. Are you coming too, Syaoran?"

Syaoran looked from Tomoyo’s threatening glare to Sakura’s hopeful eyes to Alexis. "Y-yeah." He said reluctantly, not looking at Sakura as he climbed out of the hot tub to the cold air of the room.

Sakura met his eyes with sadness. "If I don’t see you tommorrow, bye." She said, though this seemed so simple, and there was so much more inside she needed to say.

Syaoran nodded. "See you, then." He said dully.

They exited silently, then, Alexis holding the dripping cat, Teller holding the traumatized hamster, and Syaoran, holding in his deepest impulse to stay. Sakura sighed heavily as he shut the door, then sat in the hot tub, closing her eyes tightly.

"That’s odd." Tomoyo said, setting her camera down and climbing into the jacuzzi.

"Hmm?" Sakura asked, not bothering to open her eyes.

"They left so abruptly. Nothing good to video tape." She said.

Sakura cringed at her friends words, and suddenly felt the want for sleep, where at least she could temporarily flee her pains. "I think I’m going to get to bed." She said, standing up.

"I’ll stay in here for a while more. The noise won’t bother you, will it?" Tomoyo asked.

Sakura shook her head. "No, it’s fine." She said, the drone of the jets actually soothing her into sleep. "Oyasumi nisai."

"Oyasumi nisai." Tomoyo said back.

Sakura dragged herself into her room, now feeling the exhaustion of the day. The soak in the hot water had definitely helped out on her sore midsection, but hadn’t been a very constructive time as far as getting feelings straight. So if he goes back to Hong Kong, what does that mean? Nothing, really. Just that he cares about his mother. But... is he not...not helping me anymore? Sakura shed her bathing suit and pulled her soft silk pajamas tightly around her skin, collapsing on her bed. No. He’s not my second hand anymore. Because he’s busy with his own problems. Can’t I respect that? I cry like a baby because I finally have to be all alone. Not anymore. I should respect his wishes.

______________________________________________________________________

Despite her motivational speech to herself, Sakura was still glum in the early morning when she woke up, bleary eyed from lack of sleep. She stumbled into the kitchen and talked shortly with Tomoyo, not really in the mood for Tomoyo’s jabber about stuff always unrelated to the Li family.

I wonder if I could find his room? That’d be impossible. Unless I run into him on deck. Sakura realized Tomoyo had asked her a question, and she absently answered it. "Yeah." She continued into her thoughts. I could go look around on deck. Maybe I’ll find him. I’ll just try and sense his aura. That’s not that hard, is it?

"I’m going to get a drink." Sakura said quickly, getting up from where she had been eating breakfeast to hurry out of the room. She felt a slight pang of guilt as Tomoyo called after her, but continued on never the less. What does a ‘month or so’ mean? And what did he mean ‘only for a short time’? Is he only visiting Japan? Of course! It’s not his home. Why would he stay unless he had to? He’s being nice just visiting.

Sakura emerged on the deck after getting up the stairs (with a very sore stomach) and began looking through the many people that were out walking the railing on this beautiful morning. Her eyes could not go fast enough, as so many people walked by in large crowds. Eyes won’t work. My senses will. Sakura didn’t close her eyes, persay, only stopped using them as primary vision, and began using her mind. Something weak passed through her mind, but it was fimiliar, warm, and she quickly followed it.

As she continued on, it got stronger, and she sped up in return. I wish I could learn more psychic powers. I could talk to him now. Sakura found herself nearing the back of the ship, where she had only walked breifly through. She slowed, the aura very strong. She looked around with normal eyes now, through the less populated part of the deck. A mist was coming off the ocean, probably the reason for the more solitary state of this part.

"Looking for anyone in particular?" A fimiliar voice from behind asked.

Sakura whirled around with a large grin on her face. "Syaoran! I was looking for you." She said. She quickly looked around him for Alexis and Teller, or anyone else.

"They’re in their room watching television." Syaoran answered her unspoken question. "I was hoping I’d run into you."

Sakura held her grin, glad to see that he wanted to see her. "Yeah..." She said, not sure how else to respond.

"Well, I know it’s going to be more than two months, but I really think I’ll be able to visit soon. My mother is doing alot better." Syaoran said.

Sakura looked at the floor with temporary sadness, then back up at him. "That’s great! Really. I hope she’s completely better when you get back!"

"That’d be cool." Syaoran agreed.

"Don’t worry about me."

"You’ve got the fire spin attack down well, I see." Syaoran agreed.

Sakura grinned. "Well...maybe this time we’ll actually get letters both ways?"

"I really sent some." Syaoran said, meeting her bright emerald eyes. "If it had gone through you wouldn’t be on this ship."

Sakura was slightly taken aback but didn’t show it. "Well if it bothered you that much you should have called."

"I did." Syaoran said back, challenge in his eyes.

Sakura was about to protest when she realized some issues. "My handphone, right?" She asked.

Syaoran nodded.

"That was a victim in one of Bob and Kero’s fights." She said.

Syaoran cringed to hear of that butterfly.

"Next time use the house phone."

"My number would be blocked if Touya answered."

Sakura sighed, he was right. "Yeah..." She agreed.

There was silence for a while, but Sakura didn’t want to part just yet. Only one more month of protecting myself. "Well...tell Meilin-chan hello for me." Sakura said.

Syaoran nodded. "’kay."

"And...your mother, if she even remembers who I am." Sakura said, laughing weakly.

Syaoran grinned crookedly. Sakura didn’t know that she actually was well known in his family. "Alright."

Just saying goodbye and turning around would be stupid, wouldn’t it? She held out her hand, then realized how stupid she was being, but wait, she couldn’t take it back now. Syaoran hesitantly shook it. "It’s been nice working with you, Syaoran." She said, smiling.

Syaoran grinned crookedly again. His smile fell as he looked at her arm, the long scar down it. A slow frown of pain came across his face. He looked up from her arm to her eyes again, which were watching him, not letting go of her hand. "If anything happens, tell me, alright? I’ll be worried sick thinking you’re holding things back."

Sakura smiled weakly. "A-alright." She said. She was a bit nervous that her hand would start sweating soon. When would he let go? But she didn’t mind, did she?

A slow smile came back over Syaoran’s face, and he looked into her eyes again, playing with her fingers absently. "Your friend’s looking for you."

Sakura was totally unsure of what to do, and she tried hard not to stare at their hands and back at him. Once his words registered she looked worriedly around. "You see Tomoyo?" She asked, panick-stricken, trying to nonchalantly slip her hand away.

Syaoran dropped her hand and lost his smile. "She’s somewhere behind the captains room. Better get going before she’ll find us out."

Sakura grinned. "You better be back in one month." Sakura said, turning and walking hurriedly away.

Once she rounded the corner, Sakura stared at her hand, the one he had been holding, totally baffled by him. One minute he’s totally cold and distant, the next he’s... he’s... She smiled star struck and continued on. Does he like me? He’s acting like it. But what if he doesn’t? Then he’s leading me in the wrong direction. I should be careful... but it seems to me he’s leaning towards the like side, right?

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo exclaimed, taking her friend by the arm.

"Hello Tomoyo." Sakura replied.

"Where did you go, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked.

"Sorry I left so quickly, I just remembered I, uh, I forgot to pay for a drink I bought the other day." Sakura attempted to lie.

"But Sakura-chan! The drinks here are free!" She said, confused.

"Not the pop machines." Sakura said defensively.

"How did you ever forget to pay that?" Tomoyo asked.

"Oh, ah, well I borrowed money from this person the other day and I promised I’d pay them back the morning we docked." She explained.

Tomoyo wasn’t convinced, but was reluctantly accepting it as the only truth she’d get out of Sakura today. "I see. Were they there?"

"Yes." Sakura said, hoping this lie was over.

She looked at her hand once more, then dazed off as she followed Tomoyo back to the room. Only one more month. No more of these goodbyes. Except when he leaves to go back to his real home.

"We’ve better hurry and start packing, the ship docks at two!"

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

Tada. I finally finished this chapter. Not alot to write in the author’s note...let’s see...well the plot will continue once everyone gets back home. This whole cruise thing was just a little detour in my real plot, if anyone can tell. I always wanted to get them on a cruise. Next chapter *hopefully* will have alot of action in it, and I think Syaoran should be back then too. Who knows. Well I’ve gotta get going

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Sayanora!

~Syaoran Fan 4 Life