A/N- Hiya people! It’s magical_critter (sakurafans) here w/ another addition to my story. Merry Christmas! Hope ya got lots of nice presents!! Um… nothing much else to say. Enjoy the chapter! Thanks to all reviewers, you’re comments help me immensely.
Flowers for My Girl-Chapter 3
Syaoran walked back to the hotel feeling very deflated. After running out of the cemetery and a few blocks he felt too tired to continue the rapid pace. ‘Why didn’t it work?! I did everything right! Oh Sakura… I’m sorry!’ Syaoran thought frantically.
Upon entering the outside door of his room, Syaoran smacked his head against the door in frustration. Then he walked in quietly. Seeing his room, Syaoran’s mouth flew open. All his belongings were scattered and Kero sat happily eating food on the center of the floor, grinning.
“What did you do to my room? And where did you get the food?!” Syaoran yelled to the doll.
Kero gulped down his food and replied, “Well… I was waiting for you to come back, but you took so long! And so I tried to find something in the room that would keep me busy. Geez, you’re so boring! All you have is clothes and books! So I called room service. The guy left the food by the door… so I got it when no one was looking. It tastes wonderful! Want some?”
Syaoran glared and after a few seconds said, “Get back into the book once you’re done eating. You can go back to sleep, because I guess I have to realize that Sakura… is gone… and will never come back.”
Kero looked sorrowfully at Syaoran and said, “Ya know, you’re not all that bad of a kid. I guess I can see why Sakura cared so deeply for you. But before I go back into the book, could you please give me back the cards?”
Syaoran nodded and reached for his pocket. It was empty. “Uh oh,” Syaoran said nervously. “I forgot to bring back the cards…”
Kero dropped his food and flew up to Syaoran. There he began his own search of the cards in Syaoran’s shirt pocket. “BAKA!!! How could you FORGET the cards!! BAKA BAKA BAKA!” Kero yelled. The he began hitting his tiny paws against Syaoran’s shoulder.
Syaoran picked Kero up by the tail and tossed him onto the bed. “I’ll go get them. Don’t worry so much! They are at Sakura’s grave. Be back soon!” Syaoran said, walking back out the door.
Kero shook his head. Then the words of Syaoran processed into his head. “Why did you leave the cards at Sakura’s GRAVE! What are you doing at her grave with them?!” Kero yelled to the door that Syaoran had just walked out of.
But Syaoran didn’t listen and continued on the hall of the hotel. He heard Kero’s tantrums for a few more seconds and sighed. ‘I don’t see why he is worrying so much. I’ll just go get the cards! No problem.’
But then his mind flashed to the thought that he’d have to go back to visit Sakura’s grave. He’d stand above the very soil that he cried on, the place where Sakura’s limp body would be right under him. Syaoran shuddered but quickened his pace. He figured that the sooner he got there to retrieve the cards, the sooner he’d leave and his ordeal would be over.
The cemetery was as eerie as when Syaoran left it. But something seemed different… the faint whispers of the willow trees made the hairs on Syaoran’s head perk upwards. To him it felt as if some sort of presence was there. The wind moved slightly different, the air seemed to be more holy. It was indescribable to Syaoran but he felt as though in this place where dead people lay there was something awakened.
Syaoran moved cautiously towards Sakura’s grave, which was not yet in his sight. ‘No doubt about it, there is definitely something here…’ Syaoran thought. ‘Maybe it’s just the power of the Light and Dark card.’ That was his desperate hope… that somehow everything was ok. But he knew that he was fooling himself. Every step that he took as he got closer to her grave, he felt more unearthly power.
Finally, Sakura’s grave was in view. Next to her grave stood a man in a tuxedo suit. The crispness of his appearance in such a dreary place startled Syaoran. The man appeared to be about 20 years old. His black hair swayed in the wind and his hands were in his pockets. Sunglasses that hid the man’s eyes, and made his appearance mysterious. There was no sign of color on the man, only the black and white of his suit, his hair, and his shades.
‘Creepy,’ Syaoran thought. He stared at the man. The man was staring at the gravestone of Sakura when suddenly his gaze shifted and his shades looked directly at Syaoran. Syaoran’s body froze and he felt he could no longer move. ‘Who is this guy? And what sort of mythical energy does he possess?’
Then the man spoke. He said in a raspy voice, “Come here…”
Syaoran nodded and started moving. For some reason he felt dread yet joy when talking to this man. The man did not smile, his lips were pursed in a tight line, as if he couldn’t decide whether he should frown or not.
Syaoran walked up to the man, looking at him curiously. Looking down at the grave, the two Sakura cards were no where to be seen. Finding courage in his voice Syaoran said, “Who are you?”
The man said deeply, his voice as raspy as before, “You called to bring back that person back from the dead, did you not?”
Syaoran nodded and said weakly, “I did. But I waited and nothing happened. So I left…”
“Something happened, boy. You have just got to be patient,” the man in the tux said.
“Where is Sakura? What is you’re name? Why did it take so long for something to appear after I called for her back?” Syaoran asked.
The man smiled at this and said, “You ask too many questions. My name is of no importance. I am from a world beyond this one. The one where your beloved is now. And your ingredients to the spell were mixed up which is why it took a little longer than necessary for it to work. You see, the spell wanted a proof of love for that person. Simply stating you love her does nothing. When you cried for her, that is when the spell really began to work. You loved her so much that you poured your soul out towards her. But you must have left really quickly because I came shortly afterwards and you were gone.”
Syaoran processed the information before asking once again, “Where is Sakura?”
“She is caught in between two worlds. A world of happiness and a world of pain and sorrow. Magic killed her. When a person dies by magic they are not allowed into what you beings would call heaven. Why, I don’t know. In the between there is a nothingness. The person feels… nothing… there soul simply sits there for all eternity. Unless someone like you comes along. Unless a person calls for a chance to bring the person back and out of the in between. But that has not happened in many years, and that person failed to pass the test. No one has ever actually PASSED the test and brought the person back from death.” The man started to laugh, his voice broken. “Heh heh heh…”
Syaoran glared at the man. “Are you saying you think I’m going to fail the test? I’d rather die myself if that was to be,” Syaoran said harshly.
The man’s eyebrows raised underneath the sunglasses to show an amused expression. Then he said, “My my my… aren’t you the courageous one. But I wouldn’t be talking about your wish to die, boy. Because that will come soon enough if you aren’t careful.”
Syaoran challenged him saying, “Is that a threat to me?”
The man laughed his airy laugh and replied, “I have no need to threaten you. I’m dead… I have nothing to lose or gain in any threats. I’m speaking the truth. Don’t wish for death, it does nothing."
Syaoran shook his head and said, “Is Sakura in pain?”
The man shook his head and said, “Silly mortal. Asking stupid questions. If a person is in nothingness, are they in pain? There souls are in nothing! They feel nothing! No happiness. No pain... they probably are even unaware that they exist.”
Syaoran nodded but in his heart was confusion. ‘What is this man talking about?’ he asked himself.
“You don’t need to know what I mean, just listen,” the man said as if hearing the thoughts that Syaoran thought.
“You can read my mind?” Syaoran asked.
“I can read your face,” the man said simply.
Syaoran nodded slowly and said, “When does my test start? Are we going to talk here all day?”
“You decide when your test starts. You may ask me any question that is troubling you. You may also turn back and decide not to go on this odessey. But be warned, once you start the test you are almost guaranteed that you can’t go back. Also, if you decide to quit now, you’ll never be able to ask again,” the man said in monotone.
Accepting his answer Syaoran asked, “What does this test consist of?”
The man replied, “There are five to ten tests. I’m not allowed to tell you the specifics of that until you get there.”
“Um… ok,” Syaoran said. “Do you have any advice for me?”
Almost smiling the man said, “Wise question. Advice? Always remember who you’re fighting for. The life of you’re loved one. Also remember that if you lose, then that person is lost forever in the between. You will be lost too. Life is beautiful, if there is something that you should treasure, it is life. Never give up and believe in the powers in you. Use your mind because without it you will get nowhere.”
Syaoran faintly smiled and said, “Thanks. One more thing. Am I allowed to call for your help or words during my test?”
“That depends on that test. It’s always worth a call to me,” he said. “I’m basically you’re host during the tests…”
Syaoran sweatdropped. The man seemed to make it seem as though his test that conquered death was a game.
Taking a deep breath Syaoran nodded and said, “Ok, I’m ready. Isn’t there anything I can call you though, as a name throughout my test?”
The man replied, “I have no name, like I said, It is of no importance. But if you feel that you must call me something, call me Shing.”
Syaoran repeated the named, “Shing… that means victory in Chinese…”
Shing replied, “Yes… a victory or death that you will aquire in the next few moments.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N- Hi hi hi! Like it? Hate it? Write a review and tell me what you think please! Actually, Shing does mean victory in Chinese (I’m pretty sure… correct me if I’m wrong.. that’s what my name book says! Lol)... and I thought that it kinda suit the person. And I have lots planned for Syaoran in the upcoming chapters… Sakura too (Yup! I’m gonna find a way to get Sakura in there so it is more of an S+S story!)! Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far! Thank you thank you! I’m thinking of doing the personal thank you’s for my next chapters coming up… yay! Bye! And.. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Love ya lots!