Chapter 3

Fighting with Failure

Syaoran looked around the clean house. The dose of magic he had given himself on Friday still held a bit of an energy boost, and Syaoran had put his energy to use and cleaned the long overdue messy stacks of clothes and books that lay in their "office" room. He sighed.

It was Sunday afternoon, and Meilin had went out shopping, so Syaoran could do whatever he wanted. Normally he took advantage of Meilin being gone and would rule the house as he pleased. Today, however, he found himself bored and a bit lonely. I think I’ll go out. I can go to the arcade or something! Syaoran liked this idea very much, but then remembered his hurting wrist. I don’t think I’ll get very far in Star Wars with one hand. Syaoran thought a bit about things he could do with one arm. Of course! Moon is probably feeling a bit lonely, and it’s rare for me to have all this extra alone time. I’m sure I’ll manage with one hand just fine, cowboys ride with one hand right?

Syaoran grabbed his pair of dirty jeans, threw on a plain green t shirt and headed out the door, locking it behind him. He walked energetically to the nearby busstop, his regular scowl seeming to vanish as he looked around the neighboorhood, seeming to play happily with the cool fall air and perfect weather. After standing for a bit too long, Syaoran got impatient, and sat on the edge of the bench. None than two minutes later passed when two familiar girls came laughing up the sidewalk towards him.

"Li-kun! What are you doing here?" Tomoyo said brightly. Sakura smiled at him, but seemed to be looking for something in him. Syaoran frowned at this but then addressed Tomoyo’s question.

"I am just going to the, um... I’m just going out." Syaoran mumbled.

Tomoyo smiled again. "This bus goes out in the country. You know someone out there?"

Syaoran bit his lip. "Yes. uh, friends of the family."

Sakura stepped out to talk. "Tomoyo is taking me to meet her aunt and her two favorite cousins. They live on a cow farm!" Sakura said all this as if it seemed she would be entering a fairy tale. "I have never seen live cow, I have always been stuck here in Tomeoda seeing no more than squirrels and family pets."

Syaoran smiled, thinking of his first encounter with livestock.

Sakura looked at him again. "Have you ever seen a cow?" She asked.

Syaoran was about to make a short reply, when the bus drove up, saving him from anymore conversation. Just hope they are one of the first stops. Syaoran thought to himself, starting to sit down in his regular front seat.

"Syaoran! Come sit with us!" Tomoyo waved from further back. Syaoran groaned and reluctantly agreed.

Syaoran sat across the aisle from them, drifting off into thoughts as Tomoyo and Sakura talked about cows, clow cards, and the spelunking trip. As they began to near Syaoran’s stop, he started to worry. They can’t see me get off! They’ll ask me why I am getting off in the middle of a bunch of fields, and then what will I say? I guess I’ll just have to be quiet and quick so they don’t notice me getting up.

The bus halted at a dairy farm, and Syaoran breathed a sigh of releif. This must be their stop.

"This is our stop." Tomoyo said, but not getting up. "Sakura, there is only two more stops and then the bus turns around. We could just stay with Li-kun till he gets off, and then we can get off as well. It’s only a quarter mile walk between the stops.It’d be good for us."

Sakura smiled brightly. "A walk in the countryside sounds very nice Tomoyo!" They stayed in their seats and stared out the windows for a moment.

Syaoran turned pale. So how do I explain this one? OH GOD! What if they want to see Moon? I can’t have them riding him with me! No way! Syaoran began to tremble nervously, racking his mind for excuses. After he thought of one that might pass, he relaxed a bit.

Sakura had been watching the whole ordeal, a bit confused. Is he using magic against me? He doesn’t look tired, he just looks nervous. Sakura bit her lip in terror. Nervous about killing me! What if he does try to kill me!? What will I do? I have no self defense except for the block and punch Kero tried to teach me with his little stick arms. Oh no I am going to die, maybe before I ever get to see a live cow.

Tomoyo frowned. Syaoran had looked horribly nervous for a moment, then relaxed. By the time Syaoran was calm, Sakura looked like a wretch. What was up with these two? She thought a walk with each other in the country side would bring out the passion buried under all the years of silence. Maybe.

The bus halted next to some fields, and Syaoran hopped out of his seat, rushing to the door. Tomoyo and Sakura rushed behind, pushing their way through the seats.

Once out of the bus, Sakura looked around. "Where are we Syaoran? I thought you were meeting some old friends? I find it hard to beleive they live in these fields!"

Syaoran shook his head. "I have to go fix a tractor, it’s a far walk from here. So thanks for coming along." He turned and hopped over the ditch seperating road from field, and began through the flat yet hilly field. I hope that excuse will pass! Syaoran thought.

He’s going to go plan something to kill me! I’ve gotta come along, so he can’t proceed in his plans! Sakura jumped after him. "I want to come too!" Tomoyo quickly followed Sakura, fixing her camera settings to the outdoor light.

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So now I have to look like I am fixing a tractor. Well, it can’t be that hard to do, I’ll just lay underneath and hit stuff with a ratchet. Syaoran looked around at the old barn. "This is it. This is what you followed me for."

Sakura and Tomoyo however seemed very fascinated by the old structure, and walked around it, looking at everything inside and out. "Tomoyo come here!" Sakura called from inside the barn.

"Where are you Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, looking around.

"Right here!" Sakura threw some old hay off the side of the loft, showering Tomoyo with bits of yellow grasses.

Tomoyo laughed hard, kicking the thick layer of hay all around her, and then ran for the ladder to climb up with Sakura. "This is amazing!" She exclaimed.

Sakura grinned mishcheviously. "Yes! Watch this!" Sakura threw herself off the loft, landing in the fluffy bedding of old hay. She laughed childishly. "Try it Tomoyo, try it!" Tomoyo shut her eyes tight and hopped off, landing squealing with delight. She looked at Sakura and grinned devilishly. She ran up to the loft and waved Sakura to follow. "Syaoran looks like he’s not having any fun." Tomoyo said, hiding her voice from Syaoran, who sat next to the tractor scratching his head and examining the old rusty tools on the dirt floor.

Sakura saw where Tomoyo’s idea was headed, and showered the hay onto Syaoran, completely oblivious (till now) of the hay fight above him. He shot up when the dusty hay fell around him, and glared at Tomoyo and Sakura, who stood giggling above him. He half grinned then ran for the ladder, sending Tomoyo and Sakura running to the edge of the loft. Syaoran reached them quickly, and with one arm and the help of his right foot, managed to throw them both into the hay below. They laughed and looked at Syaoran, who stood triumphantly at the top of the loft, holding his head high.

"Oh no you don’t!" Sakura said, half running halfcrawling out of the hay towards the ladder. Syaoran was ready for her push and stood strong against it, pushing back at her with all the strength his left arm would give him. Tomoyo stood below smiling as she taped the two at childish play.Finally, with a final surge of power, Sakura managed to throw him off backwards, but losing her balance, landed a ways beside him. She rolled over on her back and laughed until her stomach hurt. Syaoran even laughed a bit too, something Sakura didn’t ever recall hearing.

"I didn’t know old tractors were so much fun!" Sakura said, her laughter finally ceasing.

Tomoyo smiled, but then darted her gaze outside the barn. "Oh my gosh! He’s beautiful!" Tomoyo exclaimed, staring at the silver animal standing a few feet outside the barn.

Sakura sat up and looked towards Tomoyo’s gaze, seeing a gorgeous silver white horse, bobbing his head at them, asking for attention. "Have you ever seen him?" Sakura asked Syaoran, who’s face had gone back to a scowl.

"Don’t touch him. He’s a nasty brute. Will bite you for sure." Syaoran hated saying such lies about Moondust, but he felt a bit posessive of him, and didn’t feel Sakura and Tomoyo had earned his company.

Tomoyo walked a bit closer, still keeping her distance. "But he’s so beautiful! Aunt Claire’s farm doesn’t have any horses. And of all the horses I’ve seen on tv, hes by far the prettiest."

Sakura walked over beside Tomoyo. "He is so beautiful!"

Syaoran nodded. He longed to run over and jump on his sturdy back and gallop away, away from everything, but he couldn’t, not with the girls there. "Well, I still have to fix the tractor, and it will take a while. There’s no need for you to stay."

Tomoyo nodded and looked at Sakura. "We’d better get going, we going to be late as it is." Sakura reluctantly followed, waving bye to Syaoran and the silver horse as she left. It would be so fun to learn to ride! I wonder if Touya or Yukito ever rode? Sakura thought about this for a while, then returned her thoughts to an old dilema. The whole reason I went there was to get some clues on why Syaoran is using magic power. I think he is anyway, what else would make him so tired? Instead of finding some proof he is against me, we have a hay fight and play like kids. Why does he have so many sides? And what sides does he have yet to show me?

Sakura looked up at Tomoyo. "Tomoyo, I know this sounds crazy, but think about it carefully. I have been thinking that maybe, just maybe, Syaoran has something to do with the Clow Cards release."

Tomoyo looked at Sakura with interest. "How so, Sakura?"

Sakura looked at her feet as she walked. "Every time there has been an attack, a ghost appearance, anything like that. Syaoran becomes suddenly tired. Not just no-sleep kind of tired. Like collapse out of nowhere tired. The whole reason I followed him there was to see if he was up to something, which he’s not right now, I don’t think. But I can’t help thinking, what is he doing behind my back?"

Tomoyo nodded. "If he can hurt you once he can do it again. Is that where this is coming from?"

Sakura nodded, frowning. "I just don’t know what to think. He promises me he wouldn’t ever try to hurt me, yet he has done it before, on numerous occasions. Why not hurt me physically and get rid of me?"

Tomoyo frowned now. "You mean you think he is trying to kill you?"

Sakura looked up sorrowfully at Tomoyo.

Tomoyo stopped. "That’s enough. I can see the magic thing, but I am sure there is another explanation for that, he will tell you soon enough. If you think Syaoran went out to a barn to try to kill you, then that’s jiberish. I’m not quite sure why Syaoran is at an old barn, but I am sure we could find out." Tomoyo looked down at her handbag. "I think I put some black paint in here somewhere. We can blend in. Come let’s go."

Sakura smiled at her friends antics. "But you said we were late as it is!"

"I just said that to leave, I knew Syaoran wanted us gone, so I figured we leave while he was still a bit happy. We don’t need to be there till supper."

Sakura nodded and put herself in spy mode. They were on a mission.

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Syaoran poked his head out of the barn, not able to see Sakura and Tomoyo any longer on the far stretching road. Satisfied enough, he shoved the key into the tractor and turned into ignition. The tractor sputtered into life, and Syaoran carefully backed out of the barn. Moondust had grown impatient with Syaoran and galloped away, back into the field. That was fine, he wouldn’t be seen back there. Syaoran went up the hilly landscape on the bumpy tractor, finally spotting a silver horse, who’s head shot up at the tractor noise and ran up to Syaoran, who was hopping out of the tall tractor seat.

He threw his arms around Moondust. "I promised you it wouldn’t be very long, and it wasn’t." Moondust wriggled out of his grasp and pawed the ground. Syaoran smield and tied the rope around Moondust’s nose and behind his ears, then tied some extra rope for reins. "Alright, we are ready to go." Syaoran climbed onto the tall horses back, settled himself in, and allowed the horse to go into it’s smooth, flying like gait. He galloped in the directions of the red barn, before turning into a circle of a figure eight. Moondust ran it smoothly, switching it’s lead legs at the approiate place. He patted Moondust with his bum arm, and turned him away from the barn, and did a nice circle to the right. On his was by the barn, he was sure he noticed something. Out of place peices of black lay on the grass outside the fence.

Sakura and Tomoyo!? No it can’t be, they left! Syaoran squinted to try and see the odd objects unmoving in the grass. I better run away just in case. Syaoran pulled Moondust into a sharp turn to the right, and pushed Moondust into his quickest gear. Syaoran leaned up on his neck, leaving him free to run as he pleased. Once he reached the tractor, he halted Moondust and hopped to the ground. He patted the horses hot neck, thanking him for the wonderful ride.

I’m sure I had a carrot in this pocket! Syaoran dug through his right pocket with his opposite hand, finally finding Moondust’s prize. The horse yanked it out of his hands and ran off about twenty feet away with it, where he stopped and slowly ate the carrot, knowing he had all the time in the world. Syaoran watched the horse for a few minutes, then hopped back into the tractor towards the barn. He would inspect the mysterious black objects when he got there.

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"Well, who else would have been in the back of the huge pasture? We saw him go out with the tractor!" Tomoyo reasoned as she and Sakura neared the dairy farm.

Sakura, who was having a hard time beleiving Syaoran actually did favor an animal, argued a bit more. "But we didn’t see him for a long while, when he drove the tractor over the hill! He could’ve been picking up a friend or something."

"Listen, I had my camera on zoom, and it will show you a boy with amber hair and a green tshirt riding a silver horse with no saddle! I’m telling you, this boy knows how to do everything!" Tomoyo smiled, knowing inside Sakura was overjoyed Syaoran liked to ride.

"I guess so," Sakura managed, inside plotting plans to ride Moondust herself. A cold fall wind blew, stirring the leaves and dust up around them. Sakura pulled her sweat jacket tighter. "Let’s get to the farm before I freeze!" Tomoyo smiled and nodded, and jogged aside Sakura up the long drive.

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*What...What is this? Where......Is that Sakura?* A girl with emerald eyes stared at him coldly. He decided to speak. "Sakura, where are we? Are you alright?"

Syaoran bolted upright from his bed, something he seemed to do quite often, and thought the dream over. The pain and hurt had felt so real, it couldn’t have been just a normal dream. Syaoran looked over to his clock. It was 3:15 in the morning, but this morning he would be leaving for the spelunking trip at 7. Syaoran decided to set the alarm for 6, then layed back down. The words that were last spoken echoed in his head as he fell asleep, words with so much emotion behind them. What did they mean?

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Sakura jolted awake. She couldn’t remember having a dream, but she felt as if she had just done something horrible to Syaoran. Her eyes felt horribly dry. Sakura rubbed them and noticed she had been crying in her sleep. That was odd. She looked at her clock, and seeing that it was 5 oclock, figured she might as well get up and get ready.

She threw her covers off and ran to the bathroom to wake up in a nice shower. She squinted at the bright bathroom lights, then turned on the shower water.

Once finished, she brushed through her wet hair. She decided to let it dry down, and put her hair up later. She threw on her school uniform and headed for the kitchen. She threw a bagle in the toaster and then sat on the couch. Her thoughts ran rampid through her mind as she aniouxly awaited the adventures the cave held for her.

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"Alright class. We are almost to the hiking point, so gather your belongings and get situated. It’s quite a long walk from here to the cave, so make sure you’ll be comfortable carrying everything."

Sakura looked back to Tomoyo. "Did I tell you about my dream last night?"

Tomoyo looked at Sakura. "No, was it another ghost one?"

"No, the funny thing was I don’t even remember having a dream. I just woke up with tear stains on my cheeks and my eyes dry, and I had this awful feeling I had just done something mean to someone else." Sakura left out that the someone was Syaoran.

"That’s odd. Are you sure you can’t remember anything?"
Sakura shook her head. "Nothing, one of those nights you didn’t have a dream."

Syaoran, who was sitting a seat behind with Meilin, listened intently. The girl in his dreams had been Sakura, he was sure of it. But what had happened? And was Sakura connected in it? Did she take part in the dream as well?

The bus slowed to a halt off the side of the road, next to a wide woody trail. The kids jumped up and eagerly ran out of the bus, ready for the hike and the fun times. Sakura shrugged until her bookbag sat more comfortably on her back, then waited for the other kids. Once all the kids and adultes were off, the kids started down the trail, followed by the other chaperones who carried large portions of the camping gear. They walked for about a half hour before a large sign at the bottom of a large hill was visible. After a few more steps, they could see the cave enterance.

Sakura smiled at the kids skipping in front of her. She really felt like donig a cartwheel, but the tent and camp gear she carried weighed her down. Oh well. I’ll get plenty of chances to play once we start through the cave!

Sakura looked back at Syaoran, who grumpily carried his and Meilin’s gear. Poor Syaoran. Sakura looked around for Tomoyo, then noticed her off to the side, taping already in progress. Sakura smiled, and waved at the camera when Tomoyo moved it towards her. Tomoyo waved with her free hand.

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Dammit. Stupid Meilin. Why did she bring so much clothes? Why did she need her skirt if we are going to be in a cave for five days? For heaven’s sake, why did she bring her entire drawer of makeup!? It’s not like there’ll be enough light down there to see her! Syaoran looked at Meilin, who was gazing googly eyed at the basketball player walking confidentally next to them carrying his small load of bags. Meilin lit up with an idea.

"Syaoran, gimme the bags." Meilin ordered, roughly pulling them out of his arms.

Syaoran shrugged and handed her her bags, keeping his with him, and watched Meilin try her luck.

Meilin resumed position next to the basketball player, and started struggling with her bags. She limped along, ‘trying’ to carry her heavy load. It worked like a charm, and the basketball player next to her looked over with sympathy.

"Here, let me take some of that for you." He smiled charmingly.

Meilin looked up and gave him a meek smile, changing her grip on a bag. "No, ‘sokay, i can handle it." She used her I’m-tough-but-not-really- i’m-just-playing-hard-to-get tone of voice.

The boy completly fell for it. "No, I insist, I can’t stand to watch such a pretty lady struggle." He glared at Syaoran. "Unllike some boys. I think you deserve some royalty."

Syaoran rolled his eyes and walked a bit faster, leaving the conversation behind. He found himself behind Sakura, who handled the weight of her tent and clother quite well. Syaoran smiled to himself. Sakura was always different. He sighed, then looked past her to the cave. They were very close now, and they would take a break before entering the cave and eat some lunch. Syaoran found this a good idea, he was hungry.

Meilin ran up to Syaoran, throwing her arms around him like usual and throwing him off balance. "Don’t take that all wrong, Syaoran. I still like you more than anyone. Really, I do." Syaoran noticed Meilin seemed to be thinking about pecking him on the cheek, so he wriggled away.

"Yes Meilin. You better go stay with your stuff, we are almost to the break point." Syaoran said calmly. He looked at his watch. It was almost noon, and he hadn’t hardly slept nor eaten since his dream. He felt tired, but nothing out of the ordinary. Tonight I will skip out of the ghost story telling and sleep in my tent. I am sure I will find a way out of it. Syaoran thought.

He looked up and watched Mark approach Sakura. "You like a hand with your stuff? It looks a bit heavy, and all I have is this one bag."

Sakura smiled sincerely at his offer. "That’s okay, I packed pretty light, it’s no big deal. Thanks though."

Syaoran relaxed his tense scowl. Good job. Turn him down and shove his face in the dirt. He deserves some ego training.

Mark smiled at Sakura’s strength, but stayed next to her. "So, do you like hot dogs? I hear that’s the gourmet lunch we get to eat here in a few minutes."

Sakura laughed. "Always loved gourmet hotdogs. How about you?"

"Well, it’s not chicken terriyaki, but I’ll eat it. I’d eat almost anything right now!" Mark laughed.

Syaoran clenched his fists, hoping the teacher would call them to a stop and break up Mark’s horrible attempt at flirting with Sakura.

Mark moved closer to Sakura as they talked. "So who is in your tent? Tomoyo I’d suppose."

Sakura smiled again, that deep from the heart smile. "Yes, Tomoyo and I are good friends. We are sleeping in this tent." She motioned with her hand at the tent slung over her shoulder. Mark quickly swooped in at the opportunity.

Mark moved around Sakura and held the tent, looking at the label. He walked with one hand resting on her shoulder and one hand on the tent as he read. Then he backed away and resumed walking beside her. "Yes, we have the same tent also."

Syaoran hardly held in his boiling rage. Is Sakura blind!? Does she not see him taking advantage of her innocenct and cheerful spirit? He is bad news. I would go over there but....Last time I interfered...Vivid memories of jumping down rows of chairs in the movie theaters. I will just keep an eye on him. He can’t get alone with her.

Syaoran glared at the back of Mark’s head, who now walked silently along next to Sakura. Sakura was fiddling with her watch, obviously uncomforable with the whole thing. Syaoran sighed inwardly, wishing he wasn’t such a coward so he could go help Sakura, but his fear contained him. A cheery voice awoke him from his thoughts.

"Pretty pathetic, huh?" Tomoyo asked, smiling at Syaoran.

He frowned an nodded. "I didn’t think anyone else noticed, but he is such a loser. Is Sakura blind?"

Tomoyo glared at her friend, something Syaoran had never seen her do. "Yes, sometimes I can’t beleive how blind she is to reality." Tomoyo softened, but still held a glare. "She will get hurt, be shocked, and turn cold. That’s just what’s going to happen. Sad, really."

Syaoran was a bit alarmed by Tomoyo’s odd and almost cruel opinion on Sakura. Tomoyo was never like this. Syaoran stole a glance over at Tomoyo. She looked the same, aura and all. No magic is being used on her. I don’t sense it anyway. But then again, I didn’t sense a ghost trying to kill Sakura. Syaoran thought about that. Yes, my magic may be kind of down, I’d better keep an extra eye on Tomoyo, she’s not herself. Even if Tomoyo was ever moody, she’d never react this harsh? Well what should I know? I am never around her anyway. Still, I will keep my eye on her. Syaoran looked back up at Mark and Sakura. Sakura turned her head and looked back at Syaoran, looking a bit worried. Mark moved in a bit, noticing Sakura and Syaoran’s meeting gaze, in an effort to break the eye contact. Sakura looked back ahead. Mark too. He’s up to something, magic or not.

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Sakura looked up from her watch. She sensed something. Definitely. She looked around, particularly towards the dark opening of a cave lingering in front of them. A chill ran up her spine, the same chill that she felt in her previous encounters with the ghost. Sakura looked back at Syaoran, who was already meeting her gaze. He frowned with concern at the worried look at Sakura’s face. Sakura looked for Tomoyo, and spotted her on the side of the trail with her camera. I want to go stand next to Syaoran! He would know how to handle the stupid ghost! Sakura shivered with fear, rememering her terrifying encounters with the ghost.

"Are you cold Sakura?" Mark looked with concern. He pulled his overshirt off his uniform and pulled it around Sakura.

Sakura was about to refuse, but another chill encouraged her to pull it tight around her. She grinned sheepishly at Mark. "I’m sorry, I should have kept out a coat in case it got cold on the trail."

Mark smiled. "Nonsense! You had no idea it would be chilly out, all I ask in return is an I O U."

Sakura bit at her lip. To wear Mark’s coat, she had to promise him something? She was beginning to rather braving the creepy chills.

Mark laughed at Sakura’s concerned face. "I am kidding! I consider it an honor to be able to let a lady such as yourself wear my coat." Sakura smiled. Syaoran clenched his fist.

Sakura felt the magic leave, and frowned. Did Syaoran feel this too? Sakura looked at Mark, who finally stayed silent again. Sakura seized the opportunity. "I’ll be right back Mark. I just have to go ask a question."

Sakura quickly fell back beside Syaoran, who glared straight ahead, not doing a very good job at acknowledging Sakura’s presence.

"Did you feel anything?" Sakura asked. looking at his cold emotionless eyes. It looks like he doesn’t feel anything! She thought to herself.

"No." Syaoran said, staring straight ahead.

Sakura frowned in frustration, but continued to try and talk with him. "It felt like the....ghost. And it wasn’t in the cave, it was coming from..." Sakura closed her eyes and thought. I thought it was in the cave at first, but then I felt it coming strongly from behind me. And so I....I looked behind me! I felt it behind me! I felt it from near Syaoran! Oh no! Sakura felt sick with another clue that proved Syaoran was behind the whole ghost ordeal. She looked at Syaoran who stared ahead with cold eyes. No Syaoran! How could you? How could you do this to me?

Syaoran looked at Sakura, who seemed almost startled when he met her eyes. " Listen Sakura, I think...I mean..." He scratched his head and hesitated. "Something’s wrong with me. Not like getting sick, but...my magic is a bit weaker. I...I didn’t even sense the ghost when it was at your house." Plus I go deadly tired in the blink of an eye Syaoran added to himself. He looked at Sakura expectantly for an answer.

Sakura seemed to be containing a fear. Syaoran frowned. "What’s wrong Sakura?"

Sakura panicked at the question. I can’t confront him now! The whole trip would be awful! I’ll just stick this out. I am strong. I can handle the ghost. Sakura stopped herself from thinking how her last "handling the ghost" situation had left her unconscious on the floor with cuts and bruises of which were still clearing up. The big gash on her cheek was still visible. If a murderer thinks you don’t suspect anything, he will underestimate you. That gives me an upperhand, I know alot more then Syaoran thinks I do! "N-nothing’s wrong. I just thought I forgot to pack something. It’s alright, I think I have it."

Syaoran nodded. "Oh." He felt disappointed, he was hoping Sakura would say she noticed his magic lessening, or at least address the question, but she changed subjects. Syaoran didn’t want to bring the subject up again.

They reached the trail’s last decline towards the opening before the cave, and the class started bustling again. Rika and Chihura started rolling down the dirt path’s small hill, stopping themselves before the rocky bottom. They got up and laughed, brushing off their dusty clothes. Mark seemed fascinated with it.

"Sakura!" He yelled, running towards her. "Come, let’s roll down the hill!" He grabbed her hand and yanked her along.

Syaoran narrowed his eyes at Mark, then thought again. Sakura is hiding something. Why wouldn’t she listen to me? She always listened to me. And God! I am going to push Mark out of the canoe at a deep and dark point, and leave him there to harass the bats and cave mice, whatever it is that live in there. Syaoran smiled wickedly. I will set Sakura’s bug Bob loose on him. Then he will know true terror. Syaoran looked up at Mark, who was laughing and rolling down the hill, with Sakura running behind, laughing childishly. Yes, Mark will get his. And it won’t just be a little punch in the nose.

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"Alright class, throw any trash you might have left away, and get ready to go into the cave. Get your flashlights out, adjust your bookbags, whatever. Mr Terri, the man in the orange shirt, along with Ms Kinley will be our cave guides. Give them your utmost respect, they are the ones making sure we get to the other side of this very big, very scary, very dark cave. Any questions before we get started?" A group of kids flocked around the teacher, swamping him with last minute questions.

Syaoran took a quick look at Mark, who had finally left Sakura for a bit and gone to his group of basket ball friends. Sakura talked with Tomoyo, who seemed back to normal. Syaoran thought of the only missing person. Where’s Meilin? Syaoran looked around, then spotted her to the outside of the group, standing very close to one of the other basketball players, seeming very satisfied. With his mind at ease, Syaoran tightened one of the straps on his bag. He looked up at the person approaching.

"Need any help?" Tomoyo asked, smiling.

Syaoran looked up, a bit baffled. Tomoyo never used to talk to him unless Sakura was around. What was going on? "No I’m alright, thanks." He said gruffly. He stood up from his kneeling position and faced Tomoyo. "Is there something, er, wrong with Sakura? She seems distracted every time I talk to her."

Tomoyo nodded and leaned closer. "Promise not to tell anyone this?" Syaoran nodded. "Okay. Here’s my theory. Sakura has been showing all the signs: being distracted, always in thought, looking concerned and self concious. I think Sakura is in love."

Syaoran widened his eyes. "What do you mean? With who!?"

Tomoyo looked over at Sakura, who was standing beside Mark again. "With Mark Ford." Syaoran felt a wave of disgust at Tomoyo’s bold statement.

"No! Mark? But he’s...he’s so..." Syaoran tried to control his overwhelming jealousy.

"So... Yeah I know. He’s too...normal and I don’t like one bit. I am not surprised Sakura fell for him, he’s her type." Tomoyo said with a hint of satisfaction lingering in her voice.

He’s her type? I always thought that maybe...I dunno. I have a hard enough time dealing with my feelings without some outrageous statement like this. Who am I kidding? Sakura never would have liked me! I mean, our last conversation I stared straight ahead and hardly looked at her. Of course she doesn’t like me! No one will ever truly care for me, it’s impossible. I make it impossible. I won’t fall for Sakura anymore. I promise myself, never again.

"Helloooo!? " Tomoyo and Sakura stood in front of Syaoran, bright like always. Sakura laughed. "Come on, we are going in the cave now!"

Syaoran nodded and gathered his bags. Here they went, who knows what could change in the cave...

________________________________________________________________________

Tomoyo held back a giggle as she watched Syaoran turn red with fury as Mark flirted with Sakura once more. Those two, when will they ever realize that they are made for each other!? Syaoran’s not doing a very good job at hiding his jealous feelings, Mark is really living on the edge. Someday he will have to swallow his pride and face her.

Sakura excused herself from Mark and walked over to Tomoyo, who was videotaping everything in the cave with a little light on top of the camera. "It’s beautiful isn’t it, Sakura?"

Sakura smiled and looked at the amazing geological features around them. "The stalactalites and columns make it seem like an underground castle! And the pools of water are so mysterious, it’s like..." Sakura laughed. "I’m sorry Tomoyo, my imagination was just taking off a bit there. It really is beautiful."

Tomoyo smiled and looked at Syaoran, walking in front of them. I better get their conversation started. "So Syaoran, what do you think of it?"

Syaoran looked at them, then looked around, thinking. "Well, I find it kind of eerie, like unearthly. I don’t know, it has a mysterious kind of attraction I suppose."

Tomoyo smiled, partially agreeing. Leave it to Syaoran to make a beautiful cave seem scary and odd!

"Yes, it is a bit unnnerving isn’t it?" Sakura looked behind her, comforted by knowing there were more kids behind them, in case Syaoran tried anything.

"I’m sure it would be much more peaceful if there wasn’t all these kids making noise. The cave really makes an echo." Syaoran said, glaring at the talking kids around them.

"Yeah." Sakura said, looking down. If there’s such an echo, that means Syaoran will have to make extra careful no one can hear me screaming when he is trying to kill me. I am sure I can hold off long enough to get a good scream in, or at least I hope.

Tomoyo watched them walk in silence, both seeming to be in thought. Sakura looked nervous, which seemed to be her look for the past week now. She better not be thinking Syaoran is trying to kill her! That’s such a foolish thought! Those two are such children inside, and they both refuse to lose the game of pride. But what’s pride when they have each other? heheh romantic thoughts by Tomoyo Dadijou.

Syaoran looked back over at Sakura, admiring her glow through the flashlights around them. He smiled inside himself, but then froze with an off feeling. It’s been so long since I’ve sensed any magic, but I am sure something’s not right. He looked cautiously around the dark wide open cave. It could do anything. He looked over Sakura, who seemed oblvious to anything but her own thoughts. Then he saw it. A stalactite hanging loosely overhead, waiting to crash down on Sakura. Two more steps and she’d...

Syaoran moved himself by instinct, and pushed himself and Sakura sideways, just as the sharp rock formation that they had just been admiring came crashing to the ground. Sakura stared at it wide eyed with shock.

"Are-are you okay?" Syaoran asked, looking into Sakura’s eyes.

"Yes." She said a bit nervously. She stared back at him for a moment, but realized how close they were and that the other school kids were standing round. She moved away from him and walked over to look at the shattered rock that lay on the floor.

Mr Smith walked over to Syaoran. "Great instinct! You have reflexes like a cat, something me and I’m sure Sakura are very thankful for."

Syaoran half smiled, then started walking ahead. Mr Smith parted the group of spectators and got them moving again, and made sure Sakura was alright.

Sakura bit her lip and thought. This is not good. The cards are already at work. Syaoran saved me from the card, or so I think. Maybe he did that on purpose to make me think he is on my side. Sakura sighed. This is ridiculous. When did relationships become so difficult. I cannot even have a friend without suspecting him leading a plot to kill me. I need to straighten this out!

__________________________________________________________

Tomoyo yawned. After finishing the hike for that day, they were sitting a few miles in the cave, around a "campfire", which was more or less described as a portable grill. "Well I wouldn’t call it a real show. Everyone knows that stuff is staged." She reasoned with some classmates.

"It is too real! I had a cousin’s stepmom’s stepcousin that was on the show, and she said it was one hundred percent true!"

Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "You think that midget’s really do have their own secret underground society?"

"With all my heart." The boy said. "Listen, when you get out into the real world, I think you’ll find alot of weird stuff."

"Weird stuff was the rock that almost killed Sakura. Who planned that?" Meilin asked from her perch beside her favorite basketball player.

"Who cares, Sakura was so lucky to have Syaoran save her like that! I mean, he touched her! I can’t beleive Sakura was so-i don’t know, not amazed about it." A girl shreiked. "I think he likes you!" She giggled at the thought.

Meilin glared at Sakura. "Syaoran would save anyone in danger."

Tomoyo smiled at the whole scene. If only Syaoran was here to see it. Where is he anyway? hmmm. He’s probably out meditating in his solitary state of pure contentment. Tomoyo looked around quietly. Sakura seems quiet. She must be reconsidering her thoughts of "Syaoran’s trying to kill me!" I mean, after he just saved her from the stalactite of death, how could she suspect him?

"Tomoyo, I think I am going to go to bed. The cave’s so dark, it makes me tired. I’ll see you in a bit." Sakura whispered to her, getting up.

"Alright. Goodnight." Tomoyo smiled.

Sakura walked over to their tent, breifly looking over to Syaoran’s tent. She couldn’t see through the nylon, so she put her magic to work. She closed her eyes and thought hard. She felt his presence near, but his signal seemed scattered. She frowned but started unzipping the outerlayer of their small tent. She held back a startled yelp as she saw two brown eyes watching her from behind the tent.

"Syaoran! What are-"

"Come here, there’s something I need to show you." Syaoran whispered harshly, grabbing her arm. He pulled her behind the tents, away from the teachers and kids, until his flashlight was all the light they had.

"Syaoran, where are you taking me?" Sakura asked, horribly frightened of what he might do to her out here away from the teachers, out of screaming distance.

Syaoran stopped and faced her, his brown eyes looking intently into hers. "This might be, uh, a little scary. Don’t scream, you know the teachers would get the wrong idea of us um, alone and stuff." He turned forwards and shone the flashlight out. "Look."

Sakura’s eyes widened at the huge room, sparkling with the cave’s mystery. Right in the middle a small brook about knee deep ran frantically through, but made hardly a sound. Sakura bent over and looked into the stream. It bubbled a bit, as if at a boiling point. Syaoran bent down and looked at it as well.

"I think it’s some kind of chemical fed stream. I’m not sure though." Syaoran said.

Sakura looked around the large room in awe, but felt something unsettling. Something about the beauty of this room wasn’t right, and it frightened her.

Syaoran motioned for her to look where his light shone directly. Sakura looked and gasped. In the rock was an intricate carving filled with terror, all frightening things, and it glared into Sakura’s mind with unthinkable evil. Sakura felt a chill as she looked at the pale rock, shining from the dripping ceiling of the cave.

The rock formed a beautiful young woman in a flowing white dress, that hung down below her bare feet. Her skin was smooth and even, but looking into her eyes was the real fear. They stared back as the ghost had stared back at Sakura those nights ago. Sakura was sure it was her. As she stared into the ghost’s eyes, it moved as if taking a breath, and blinked slowly, eyes remaining fixed on Sakura. Sakura gasped and jumped into Syaoran, who watched with wide eyes. As quickly as it had moved, it stopped and went back into unmovable stone.

"Wh-wh-what? I mean, why is it?" Sakura shook with fear, holding Syaoran’s arm close. She bit back at the tears that began to well in her eyes.

Syaoran looked at her sympathetically, but turned serious. He looked into the brook, which now boiled wildly as it churned down it’s path. "We have to get out of here." Sakura looked at him questioningly. "NOW!"

He started running back the way they came, out of the large room and back through the hardly navigable halls of rock. An eerie song filled through the tunnels. echoing off the large room and back through again. The cave shook threateningly, and small rocks showered off the ceiling. Sakura tightened her grip on Syaoran’s arm as they stumbled through the dark.

Finally a tent was in sight, and Syaoran sprinted full speed towards the red spot in the dark, to find it only an illusion. A faint figure floated in front of them, shimmering through the flashlight’s light. The young woman and the decaying ghost combined, a horrible illusion staring at them as they ran blindly through the shaking cave.

Sakura noticed the ghost and freaked out. "Syaoran, stop!" She went into her hysterics mode, paralyzed from the fear that had taken over. "Syaoran!"

Syaoran tried to pull her along, but she stood solid, completely frozen with the fear. He felt so horrible to see the fear in her eyes. He pulled her close and let her cry, hoping the sympathetic gesture could get them back to the camp site.

"I am sorry, I just-" Sakura sniffed. "The ghost was everywhere, in front of us when we ran, in the cave walls, I can’t...But it’s only the illusion card right? Isn’t it only a card?" Sakura took her head of his shoulder and looked at him.

No Sakura, it’s only some satanic force with unimaginable evil trying to reek havic on you. "Yeah, it’s a card." Syaoran replied.

Thoughts reeled through Sakura’s mind, and something came together. "How could you!" Sakura shouted, pulling back away from him. "You have a twisted mind. That is sick. Just kill me if you are going to do it. Don’t waste time just laughing at my stupid reactions to fear. Just do it, kill me. I know that’s what you want!" Sakura shouted with such a hatred Syaoran never had felt coming from her.

He frowned and thought, trying to make sense out of what she was saying. One minute she’s crying on my shoulder, the next she’s accusing me of murder! "Sakura, wh-what are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? What am I talking about!? I’ll tell you! How many times have I come close to death lately? Too many. And every single time something life-threatening happens, you go tired. Not just stayed-up-too-late tired. Like suspiciously passing out tired. That’s what I am talking about. So you start bringing magic with you in case you go low. You think I didn’t notice? You think I’m that naive?" Sakura stared at him coldly.

Syaoran didn’t know how to take this accusation. It was such a shock, so false, but yet Sakura truely beleived it. His blood ran cold, something that never happened when he was around Sakura, and he stared back with her same cold glare. " I thought you knew me better then that."

Sakura looked around, seeing that the quaking had stopped. "I thought I did too." She said, and looked around to see where she was before starting to head of to her tent. Being very glad to see she was close and wouldn’t have to walk with Syaoran, she walked quietly to the back of the tents setup, holding her head high.

Syaoran stared off at her. Something inside him hurt uncontrollably, an old wound being opened again. Sakura won’t hurt me again. I gave her a chance. She hurt me like everyone else, but luckily she never knew I cared for her. And she will never know, because I will not let her hurt me again.

"Today we will probably get through to the other side of the cave, so we will set up our tents just outside. That doesn’t mean our trip is over. We will be collecting rock samples and water samples and be bringing them back to the camp site." The teacher said, listing the day’s agenda. "Now I know some of you are tired, which is sensible because we are used to waking to sunshine, but there is not light out here. However, you better be waking up soon, because we are near the canoeing spot!"

The kids started talking excitedly. Rika looked excitedly at Sakura and Tomoyo. "I hope Chihura and I are on your canoeing team! We would be a great team!"

"Quiet down, you will want to know your canoeing group. Here they are. Group one; Rika, Mark, Meilin, Tomoyo."

Sakura looked sadly at Tomoyo, realizing they were split up.

"Group two; Chihura, Trent, Syaoran, Sakura." Sakura went pale. She couldn’t be with Syaoran! Not after the other night. Sakura was starting to resent her accusation, and thought that just maybe he might not of been trying to hurt her at all. Still, her mixed feelings were no match for Syaoran. She was sure he hated her now. Who wouldn’t hate someone for falsely accusing them of murder?

Chihura jabbed Sakura with her elbow and smiled. "We are going to beat Rika! She is lucky though, she has Mark on her team. He is pretty cute, huh? I think he likes you Sakura."

Sakura smiled a bit and thought. Maybe I could still have something with Mark. Sakura thought about how uncomfortable she had been when he walked with her. I am sure I would get use to him. It’s not like I ever liked Syaoran right off the bat...She looked up at Syaoran, who was fiddling with his backpack. He glanced her way, holding a blank emotionless glare. It wasn’t like his usual I’m-angry-at-you-because-you’re-stupid glare. This was different. He was earnestly blocking her out. Sakura sighed. How in the world could I apologize when I am not sure I don’t suspect him...

"Come on Sakura! We still have to hike a ways before we can get into groups!" Tomoyo smiled and started walking after the teacher and following students. She continued her onesided conversation. "I am with Rika, Mark and Meilin. Who are you with again?"

Sakura frowned. She didn’t want to say his name. Finding an alternative, she motioned to the three kids standing next to her.

"Oh. You are sure to beat us! Your team has you and Syaoran on it, that’s a definite winner!" Tomoyo said.

Syaoran looked over at his name. Why are they talking about me? Sakura is telling Tomoyo about my ‘murderous plot’ probably. I can’t beleive she’d think...I don’t care. She means nothing to me. I should have taken the cards away and moved back to Honng Kong when I had the chance. Now I am a failure. I will never know what I could have become.

OKAY! I did chapter three finally! I went on a writing spree. Seriously. I wrote the first five pages of this chapter like last month, then didn’t write anything for a couple weeks. Then last night I had a surge of writing, and I wrote 10 pages! Then this morning I wrote 12 pages of the next chapter! wow! Okay well anyway, chap 4 is almost done. Waiting anxiously for comments at [email protected]!!!