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"Eriol, do you know something about Dangyun that you can tell us?" queried Syaoran intently.

Eriol nodded his dark head. "I know the way he will attempt to fight Sakura with."

"The traditional way?" Shaolin inquired with a questioning voice.

"Yes, the traditional way."

"That might be very difficult for her--"

Shaolin was cut off when Sakura waved her hand between Eriol and Shaolin. She didn't like the way they were staring at each other; it disturbed her. "You know I'm right here, you can talk to me! What is with this traditional way of fighting? Is it like the test I had with Yue? Just more complicated, right?"

"No," answered Eriol, shaking his head. "It is nothing like the test with Yue. It is even stricter. Obeying the rules are key, although Dangyun has never really played by the rules. He bends them as far as he can, and that will make things even more difficult for you. Because you must play fair."

"Why?" asked Tomoyo, curiously.

"Because she is good and he is not," Eriol replied simply, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

When she meets Dangyun, he thought to himself, she will know him because she did feel something for him at one time, it might have even been love. Not the true deep love she felt--feels for Shaolin, Syaoran. But she will be attracted to him… she has always been fascinated by him. I think it's because she wants to change the world; she is so idealistic and naïve. But what worries me is that she'll do anything to protect those who she loves, she won't want to lose. I know the price he will ask. It will be the one she loves. And if she wins, I don't think he has even thought of that. Because it will hard for her to win fairly and if she doesn't win fairly she's his…

"Eriol-chan? What is the traditional way? Please tell me," she pleaded with heart melting eyes.

"The rules will be stated. And it will be agreed to. Then the fighting will start. You both--"

"What rules? Can you tell me about them?" Sakura asked, cutting Eriol off.

"There are no set rules, actually." There should be, though, he thought to himself. "Dangyun will probably make the rules, and if you don't agree… well he won't even have to play within some boundary of rules he makes. While this isn't good, the other alternative is not any better either. You'd have our help of course, but he wouldn't try to destroy us but the innocent people around us. So we will just have to wait and see what rules he sets."

"You said he bends these rules?"

Eriol glanced at Syaoran. "Yes, he bends the rules to his advantage. But he does so without breaking them totally. Sakura cannot even do that much because as I have already said, she is good and he is not." And if she does break them… she's his, he shuddered as he thought about it.

"Eriol-chan, are you okay?" Sakura questioned with concern in her friendly eyes.

He smiled warmly and nodded.

"How does he break them?" asked Syaoran, pressing Eriol for answers.

"He will try to use coercion, but he will deny it of course," responded Shaolin for Eriol. He met Eriol's astonished look with a shrug. "My onii-chan thought I was stupid enough to stay in the background as he fought what may have been his last fight. I was always there in the background in case he needed me. I didn't doubt his abilities, but I knew that Dangyun never plays fair fair's game. It's easy enough for him to use the dark powers to destroy Clow Reed because my onii-chan always plays by the rules. Of course, Dangyun would have his consequences as well. I didn't really know how deep his hatred for my onii-chan went. But it didn't go that far, it seems…"

So you never knew the real reason for Faa's death, did you Shaolin? Eriol thought with slight bitterness.

"Will Sakura be allowed to have defenders?" inquired Shaolin suddenly.

"I don't know," answered Eriol honestly.

"What are defenders?" Touya questioned.

"They are the people that she can choose to help her fight her battle," Yue replied with an almost eager expression on his face. "Usually only two are permitted."

"And of course, Sakura would choose Yue and me," piped in Kero, his face a bit smuggy with Tomoyo's chocolate cake.

"I think Dangyun may allow 2 to 3 defenders, and she should choose her guardians. She has worked well with them in the past and has experience with them," added Eriol, thought furrowing his forehead.

"I will be the third defender, if there is one," exclaimed Syaoran. His eyes were strangely lit with an intense fire. He squeezed Sakura's hand comfortingly as he said this. He would protect her from anything to his death.

Eriol shook his head. "No, you cannot be a defender."

"Why not?" cried out Sakura.

"Because I'm pretty sure that he will make a rule that says the prize cannot fight."

"The prize?" queried Touya, Tomoyo, and Syaoran at the same time.

"There may be multiple prizes for the winner or consequences for the loser," explained Eriol. "I'm sure that he will name Syaoran or Shaolin as one if not both of them. Touya, as her onii-chan you may also be named. I don't know if he knows Tomoyo is Sakura's best friend if not she may be named as well. It would be best that Touya and Tomoyo not show up that day."

"WHAT?!!" yelled Touya and Tomoyo in unison.

"If Sakura loses, there is a penalty of death for those he selects as his prize. And I'm sure she wouldn't want that to happen to you," Eriol stated earnestly.

Sakura nodded, agreeing what Eriol said. "Maybe he's right…" her voice trailing off.

"I don't care what happens. I'm your onii-chan, Sakura. I'll be there to help you if you need me," Touya said simply, strangely not picking on her.

"And so will I!" chimed in Tomoyo. "After all, what are best friends for?"

Sakura's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want either of you to get hurt for me."

Tomoyo shrugged. "It's not like that I would want to miss the excellent filming opportunities!"

Shaolin had a confused look and Sakura leaned toward him, whispering, "don't worry. I'll explain what that is later, okay?"

Shaolin smiled back gratefully. Sakura thought that Shaolin had handled the great timeline difference with remarkable ease. She knew if she was somehow sent to the future she'd be so confused, asking numerous questions. But Shaolin had picked up very quickly. The only think that seemed to faze him a bit was the T.V. because he had never seen anything like that in his time. The music coming from 'the box' as he said it, didn't appear that unusual when he found it could still play some tradition music without words.

Syaoran clenched his fist. He tried to stop the surge of jealousy he felt flowing in his veins. He hated feeling this way because he was sure that Sakura would stay faithful to him. Didn't she stay loyal to me even though I went away to Hong Kong all those years ago? What does that say after that many years? She loves me. I'm sure that hasn't changed, but could she love him more?

"I can't wait to start making you ravishing new outfits! You've got such a great figure that I'll be able to make even greater outfits than before!" declared Tomoyo with an enthusiastic smile.

Sakura, Kero, Syaoran, Yue, and Eriol all sweatdropped when they heard Tomoyo's announcement.

"Anyway," Eriol continued, breaking the horror filled pause. "I'm sure he'll ask for a battle between the elementals."

"Like between Watery, Firey, Earthy, and Windy? But that doesn't seem so hard," Sakura said with a frown. "All I would have to do is let him make the first move and use a counter card against whatever elemental he chooses."

"It's not that simple," responded Shaolin gravely.

"No, it's not. An elemental battle is a battle between the same elements. I'm sure that he'll want to battle all four of the elementals. Not only can he tests your strengths, but he can also know what you weaknesses are. Dangyun was always very clever. While each elementals have their strengths and weaknesses, since it's battling against it's own kind, that's not important. What is important is the strength of the master or mistress--you, Sakura. I'm sure that Dangyun will win with Watery and Earthy. Windy and Firey are probably your best bets for a tie--"

"Why is that?" inquired Syaoran. "I understand about Windy because she's one of Sakura's allies, and one of her strongest cards, but why Firey? The card is difficult to handle and dangerous. Sakura has only handled it successfully one time…"

"But," replied Eriol, "it is also Kero's strongest ally. If he does indeed allow two defenders or even one, Kero should be priority because of the help he can lend her in an elemental battle. While Sakura might not be able to control Firey well enough, Kero should. And with both of them focusing their power, it works out very well. While Watery is an ally of the moon, opposite of Kero, Yue would not be a big help unless Dangyun calls a battle of sides. The battle of sides is like a small version of the battle between light and dark. Light is not an original ally, but it is definitely one of your strongest cards because it is so close to your heart--a heart that is as pure as can be."

Sakura blushed prettily as his gaze rested upon her.

You must call upon all your strength of mind, Sakura of the Star power because Dangyun won't merely test you, he could destroy you if you aren't prepared…

But I am here to help you. And I--I wish that I could…, but I can't.

Part 6

"Excuse me?" asked a young gentleman. "Someone told me that you would know where I could find Nadeshiko."

The middle-aged man paused at the name of his beloved. It took him several moments to recover from his surprise before he was able to answer the inquirer, "don't you know? Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?" queried the young man kindly.

"She's--my wife, Nadesico has past away several years ago," he said hoarsely.

Their was visible shock written all over the other man's face. "I didn't know," he murmured. "I'm so sorry. I just knew that she had moved to this area for high school… I was a friend of hers, one of her closest friends when we were little. I still remember her sweet smile."

"Yes, her smile was sweet and beautiful. May I ask your name?"

"My name is--is Tooya," he answered.

"Why that's the name of my son! I'm Kinomoto Fujitaka, it's a pleasure to meet a close friend of my beloved wife," he responded.

"The pleasure is all mine," Tooya said, bowing.

"I'm going to lunch, would you like to join me?" Fujitaka offered.

"Could we go to a sushi bar?" he asked. "I haven't been to one of those in ages…"

"Of course, I know a good one nearby."

"Sakura? This is for you," Tomoyo said, passing the chiming cellular phone to her best friend.

"Arigato, Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura exclaimed as she reached for the phone. "Ohayo?"

"Moshi moshi!"

"Otousan!?!"

"Sakura, I have a close friend of your okaasan coming over for dinner…"

"No problem!"

"But I won't be there," Fujitaka continued where Sakura had interrupted him. "So can you greet him and perhaps have dinner for him? I'm sorry to tell you this at such short notice but the University has just called in a major meeting to discuss the guidelines and schedule so I won't be able to cook your favorite meal. I might not even get home in time for dinner. I'll probably be working all night."

"Don't worry, otousan! I can do it! You know me, I don't mind doing this! I even get to meet a friend of okaasan!"

"Arigato, I have to go now. His name is Tooya, by the way."

"That's the same as onii-chan!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, I think okaa-san named Touya after Tooya. They must have been really great friends-"

"Otousan?" queried Sakura into the static. "That's strange," she muttered. "My phone never has static!"

"That is strange," Tomoyo agreed. "That is the best phone you can get in Japan! I should know because I got it for you."

"What is static?" inquired Shaolin with a confused face.

Kero patted Shaolin on the cheek. "It's okay, little master. I was like that for a while, wondering, I mean."

"You weren't like that at all!" Sakura cried out.

"Well, as the guardian of the Clow Book, I couldn't very well tell you I didn't know about all those things you first spoke to me, could I?" Kero stated the question. "It's not like it was so complicated. I've been hearing about the world through the magical bindings of the Clow Book, it just took me some time to figure out what object went with what name. After that, it was all a breeze. The food here is even better, too!"

"Kero is always one to think with his stomach," Shaolin said fondly. "I remember when Faa first gave him his first bite of food. She gave him a piece of some sort of sweet thing. He was always asking questions of what food tasted like so she just popped one into his mouth while he was asking the question. The next thing Kero knew, he was eating! Then he just had the taste of food, and he nearly ate us out of house and home!"

"I don't eat that much!" Kero said indignantly.

"No, but you can eat a stack of pancakes with a heap of syrup!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes shining. "I wish I could meet Faa," her voice quieting with yearning.

Syaoran watched as Shaolin reached up to caress Sakura's cheek. He felt the jealousy surge with a ferocity when Shaolin murmured, "you don't need to meet Faa to know her. You are her--in every way. I've never met anyone as sweet or as beautiful as Faa, and you are her equal. You are Faa, love."

Eriol heard the incredible tenderness in Shaolin's voice and felt the intensity of Syaoran's envious gaze. His past self had made a big mistake by allowing Shaolin to come to the future. But I suppose I had no other alternative back then. I couldn't very well not let Shaolin go, especially since--especially since it I was… I still warned him that when the time comes he will have to give up her again. That will be even harder than the first time because it will be by his choice and not by the hand of fate. Will he be able to leave her a second time? Or will he stay and possibly mess up any future lives that they may have where they are utterly at peace to have their undeniable love?

"Eriol?" whispered Tomoyo softly. "Are you okay?"

He glanced at Tomoyo, a small smile surfacing. "I'm okay. I'm just worried about Sakura."

"We all are," she gravely replied. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do to protect her. She's my best friend."

Yes, he thought. She has always been your best friend too. Over the years, over the centuries, your friendship has always been a sustaining link. You two have always been together. You have been with Sakura as long as when Shaolin first came into the twining of fate. You two will always be best friends forever. Nothing will ever change that.

"HOE!!!" said Sakura loudly. "It's almost four already! And I have a dinner to make for my okaasan's friend!"

"Well," reflected Touya aloud, "I'm definitely going to be here for this. I want to meet this friend of okaasan as well. What did you say his name was, kaiju?"

"I'm not a kaiju!" yelled Sakura, stomping on Touya's nearby foot. "His name is Tooya, just like yours! I hope he isn't like you in personality though!"

"Owwwww!" yelped Touya. "There's no reason to be childish!"

"Hmph--"

"I think it would be best if we left," Eriol enunciated softly. "This will be more of a family thing rather than a gathering that even her closest friends should be in. Besides, it's about time that I had some real Japanese food."

"I know a good new place that's close by in case we're needed over quickly!" Tomoyo added.

"That'll be great," Eriol said, throwing a grateful smile at Tomoyo. "So who's coming?"

"I will," Yukito said eagerly, having transformed from his moon guardian form moments before.

"You two?" asked Tomoyo.

Shaolin glanced at Syaoran and saw the look of hatred. "I'm coming, too."

"I guess I will, unless…" Syaoran trailed off, hoping beyond hope that Sakura would ask him to stay.

"It'll probably be boring," Sakura uttered. "You should go."

"Alright," he said reluctantly. "Promise me you'll call Tomoyo if anything happens okay?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "What could possibly go wrong? Onii-chan is here!"

Touya glared at Syaoran, still not liking him all that much. Although he had to admit he did like Syaoran more than Shaolin, especially since the newer and older version of Syaoran was all over Sakura. He had to really try not to let his protectiveness show when Shaolin had reached for Sakura. "Don't you think I can take care of Sakura?" he questioned, seriousness in his voice.

"We will leave her in your care," Eriol said, trying to smooth out the tense atmosphere. "Are you coming Kero?"

Kero wiped his mouth off with a tissue. "You don't think I'd miss eating out would you? Will you let me order whatever I want?"

Tomoyo giggled and reached down to grab Kero. "I promise for him. You can order anything your heart desires!"

"Yeah!"

Sakura laughed, a sweet sound that filled the house with an unmistakable ringing joy.

"HOE!!!" exclaimed Sakura as she blew a piece of her hair from her face. "I don't think I've ever cooked this much before!"

Touya glanced at the messy and disarray kitchen and muttered, "you've cook enough food for ten Keros! What were you thinking? And why do you have so many different dishes? For three people you only need a fourth as much! And the quantities you cooked is far too much!"

"I just didn't want to disappoint Tooya, onii-chan. I just want everything to be perfect for him. He knew my okaasan and that makes him so special," murmured Sakura with slightly misty eyes.

"I know," Touya agreed. "I want to impress him as much as you, but still look at this mess!"

Sakura shrugged. "I don't mind cleaning up. I made the mess after--"

The doorbell rang with one solitary chime. Sakura suddenly had an eager expression light up in her eyes. She glanced at Touya with silently begging eyes that would have said 'please' if they could.

He shook his head with amusement. "You can go get it, and I'll try to clean this mess up a little. But you owe me one, kaiju!"

Sakura was so delighted with his answer that she didn't even notice that he called her 'kaiju.' She ran to the door without blinking an eye. She took a deep breath when she reached the door and tried to calm her excited nerves down. She unlocked the door and opened it. She nearly gasped, she had never seen anyone as beautiful as this young man standing before her.

"Ohayo," greeted Tooya politely. "May I come in…?"

"Yes! My--I'm Sakura," she said, stumbling over her introduction. "My onii-chan is in the kitchen getting things prepared, his name is also Touya!"

"So I've heard. It's a pleasure to meet you. Do you know where Fujitaka-san is?" he inquired.

"Oh! My otousan couldn't be here because they had a meeting for the professors at the University. I hope that's not too big of a disappointment for you. My otousan told me you were coming and told me that I should prepare a dinner for you. He was really sorry to miss seeing you again!" Sakura said apologetically.

"There's no reason for me to be disappointed. It's not very often I can see Nadeshiko in person. You look exactly like your okaasan. You are a very beautiful young woman. It's a rare privilege for me to meet you."

"Hoe!"

"Sakura does look like her okaasan," agreed Touya, entering the room carrying a small tray of food.

"You must be Touya!" responded Tooya warmly. "Fujitaka-san has told me so much about how wonderful both of you are! You resemble both of your parents to a degree. You would have made your okaasan very proud."

"Arigato."

"Can you tell me about okaasan?" asked Sakura excitedly.

"Of course," he replied. "Why else would I be here?"

"How did you meet her?"

"I met her when she was very young. She was actually older than I was if you can't tell that I'm younger than her…"

Sakura nodded.

"She was a few years older than I am. But I was her next door neighbor so we still got along very well. We were the only young children on the block. We met by accident, actually. My accident," he closed his eyes as if he was reminiscing. "I fell down on my knees, and she saw me. She invited me into her house to take care of my knee. She was very adept and very caring. Then she went away, and life was never the same for me. You could say that I was in love with her even at such a young age."

"Okaasan was very lovable," Touya stated.

"It's was too bad that I never got to know her better…"

An eery pause filled the room before the crashing roar of thunder filled it.

"Looks like a storm is brewing," he commented. "But I hope to get to know you, Sakura, much better…"

Part 7

"I feel so strange!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "I'm the only girl here!"

"Hey! Don't you remember that Syaoran was once a princess?" Kero reminded her.

"I forgot about that!" she cried out. "I can't believe what great photos and tapes I got from that affair! It was fabulous!"

"Princess?" asked Shaolin. "Why was Syaoran a princess? Shouldn't he be a prince?"

Syaoran grumbled and said nothing.

Tomoyo laughed.

Eriol averted his gaze elsewhere, trying to look like he knew nothing of what they were talking about.

"It's a long story," Yukito finally answered. "We'll tell you about it when we get to the restaurant. How far away is it? I'm starving."

"Not too far," Tomoyo replied.

"You're always hungry," muttered Kero.

"You are so different from Yue," said Shaolin with amazement. "I don't understand how you--you can transform into Yue!"

"Well, he can, so that's that. Besides, Yue only did it so he could sneak underneath my awareness and to keep close to Sakura. It worked too," Kero replied thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

"But why?" Shaolin questioned.

"Because Clow Reed made Yue the tester to make sure that Sakura was the one. But even then, Clow only did it so that Yue could go on. You know how Yue was… he didn't want to be without Clow Reed if he didn't have a purpose. So Clow Reed gave him a purpose, something for him. Boy! You should have seen the look on Yue's face when that purpose was taken away from him in the end," Kero blurt out. "I don't even want to know how he felt inside. He must have been pretty hurt. I would be too, if Clow Reed had done that to me."

"Well, am I that different?" injected Yukito all of a sudden. "I wouldn't know…"

"Trust me, you're different," Kero affirmed. "You're much looser than Yue, and you sure like food better than he does. He doesn't eat. He doesn't do anything that isn't necessary, wouldn't you agree Yue? I know you're in there watching me with those disdainful eyes of yours! I can just imagine how--"

"Kero!" Tomoyo reprimand sharply. "Be nice or no dessert for you!"

"Aww… you wouldn't do that would you?"

"I'm paying, aren't I?" threatened Tomoyo, her sharp eyes focusing on the stuffed animal in her palm.

"Is she paying?" Kero asked the other fellows.

"I'll pay," Eriol offered benevolently.

"No, you're a guest!" Tomoyo exclaimed. "I'll pay for this meal," she insisted. "This dinner will be a dinner in your honor!"

"We can have one later," Eriol murmured. "Someone's missing for that to be complete."

"Sakura…" Tomoyo whispered understandedly. "Do you think that this will be a hard battle? I'm worried that I won't be able to whip out the costumes as fast as I did before. I used up so many good ideas back in those days! I sure don't want to redo anything I did before! That would be a fashion disaster. I'll get to the drawing boards as soon as I get home and pour through my magazines! I'm sure I can find enough original ideas to make Sakura looked absolutely gorgeous as she fights! You did say this was elemental battle? That will be the theme then…"

"Tomoyo, be serious!" Eriol interrupted her. "Sakura may be the strongest magician in this time period, but she's never tackled anyone like Dangyun before. Not only is he dangerous, he's undeniably gifted in his alignment. He poses a threat not only physically but mentally. This will be the hardest battle she will ever face, much harder than I was."

"I can't help but want Sakura to look ravishing when she fights!" cried out Tomoyo. "I suppose for a fire…"

"Tomoyo!"

"He's right," Shaolin added. "Even my onii-chan had problems with fighting off the ritual challenges that Dangyun issued whenever he thought his newest spell, creation, or skill could possibly defeat Clow Reed and make him the unprecedented power in the magical world. He's a tough person to beat in anything. He's pretty much an all-round magician."

"Eriol," barked Syaoran.

"What?"

"Eriol--I'd like to be the third defender."

"You can't," replied Eriol. "I'm sure that Dangyun will pick you and Shaolin as the prize--price."

"He doesn't know about me," Syaoran said logically. "He only knows that Shaolin is here. What if Sakura hadn't met me yet?"

"True… but I'd be more of a help to her than you," Eriol stated. "Even at half my previous strength I'm more than a match for you. And I'm sure that Dangyun knows you're here. You forget he isn't a normal person that fights well. He's probably one of the strongest magicians of all times!"

"I'm not asking you," growled Syaoran, "or requesting this! I will be the third defender!"

"Let's have Sakura decided," Yukito said, popping his head in between Syaoran and Eriol.

"Yes, Sakura should decide," agreed Tomoyo.

"After all, it's her battle," uttered Shaolin with sadness tinged into his voice.

"FOOD! Lovely, delicious food!" screamed Kero in delight. "We have arrived! Ohhh! I can't wait to pick out all my favorites since Tomoyo's paying!"

"WE'RE HERE?" Yukito asked loudly. "I think I'd like a SUPER-SIZE order of shrimp sushi rolls!"

"Can all you guys think about is food?" Syaoran growled his question.

"I thought I was paying," Eriol said confusingly.

"I'm paying!" Tomoyo said not taking no for an answer.

"What does Japanese food taste like?" inquired Shaolin.

"DELICIOUS!" cried out Kero and Yukito in unison as they ran into the restaurant.

"The rain's stopped," Tooya commented. "How about we go for a walk and talk about things?"
Sakura smiled brightly. "Are you sure? I'm sorry, but I've just been so restless! We don't have to if you don't want to… It would be perfectly fine to talk here, you know. I'd like to know everything about you!"

He blushed slightly at her outspoken comment and cleared his throat. "I'd like to know everything about you."

"So would you rather stay here?"

"We could go on the walk."

"We don't have to!" she insisted. "I know you must be tired, since you just got here and all!"

"I'm not tired at all. It would be a real pleasure to walk with you," he said sincerely. "So, have you got a lot on your mind? Are things really busy now that you're going to be a high school senior next year?"

"That's an understatement!" she exclaimed. "Come on! Let's go!"

"Awww… so eager, to be that young and innocent," he said faintly, "I wish people never had to grow up. I remember that time long ago; I wasn't much different than you are."

"Well, you can be a kid with me again! You're just like my uncle!" she exclaimed.

"I hope I'm not that old," he said huskily, staring into her with shimmering golden brown eyes.

No, you're not that old, she thought to herself, and that's what I'm afraid of. You've got something about you that makes me feel for you so deeply that it scares me. It's the same kind of feeling that I get when I see Syaoran--Shaolin. It's like we were suppose to be together. But how can I feel this way about two different people? Or is Tooya just so close to my okaasan that I want to be close to him so I can have a part of her near me?

No, that's not it. It's something deeper than that. It's the same feeling I had when I met Syaoran for the first time, I knew him. I know this Tooya. Is he someone special from my past? If Shaolin proves anything, I'm suppose to be with Syaoran. But what if I made the wrong decision back then? What if the one I was suppose to choose wasn't really Shaolin or Syaoran? What if it were him--Tooya?

OR what if there is no right answer? What if anything I choose could turn out wrong because I don't have someone that right for me? No, I can't think that! I'm going to think positive! And if I had to choose right now, would I choose Syaoran? Yes--but, is Shaolin really the same person as Syaoran? He seems the same, but the intensity I feel when I'm around him--it overwhelms me. And now things have only gotten more difficult with--with Tooya here…

Why is love so difficult?

"Are you okay, Sakura?" he asked with a warm concern. He reached out to touch her face in a seemingly romantic caress but stopped short from actually touching her.

"Yeah," she replied absently. "I've just got too many things on my mind."

"You should let out the things that are on your mind," he advised her. "It isn't healthy keeping things to yourself all the time. It builds up something ugly--"
Sakura stared at him with incomprehending eyes, not knowing why he suddenly stopped talking.

"Well, your onii-chan is here. We can leave now. Is there anywhere special you'd like to go? A mall, a shop? Perhaps the local park? Choose the place and I'll follow you anywhere," he murmured.

"The park," she answered swiftly. "I haven't been to the park in a while."

"Figures, the kaiju can never get over that gigantic penguin," retorted Touya.

"Stop calling me that, onii-chan! You're the kaiju not me!" she yelled at him, trying to stomp on his available feet.

"Penguin?" asked Tooya with puzzlement.

"You've got to see it! It's such a great slide!" Sakura said enthusiastically.

She saw nothing. It crushed her.

Touya glared at Tooya from behind the older man's back. Whatever was going on with this guy, he didn't like him anymore than he liked Shaolin. This older man was getting way too flirty with Sakura. Talk about age difference, he thought with brotherly protection. If he wasn't okaasan's close friend I'd teach him a thing or two about flirting so openly in front of me with Sakura!

"Shall we go?" Tooya questioned, motioning with his other hand.

"Yes," Sakura tried to respond lightly as she felt her mouth water with disappointment and a keen sorrow.

Why do I feel this way? Sakura wondered.

Tooya's hand closed over Sakura tightly.

I feel strange with him near me.

He'd never let her go.

I don't want him to let me go.

Part 8

Touya's cellphone rang into the dewy air. He answered it with a warm, "moshi moshi!"

Sakura could tell by the pleasing smile that spread over his face that it was Yukito who was calling. He muttered to them, "it's Yukito."

"I thought so," she said quietly to herself.

Sakura and Tooya were walking on the edge of the park, slowly making their way to the penguin slide. Her onii-chan wandered over to the side to talk to Yukito privately. She was amused that her onii-chan still didn't know that she knew about their relationship. It was then that she saw a familiar dark head crossing the street to the opposite side of them. She knew exactly who it was. She started to wave her hands in the air to catch his attention.

What is Eriol doing all alone, she wondered. I thought that they were all going to go out and eat together. Is something wrong, which is why he isn't with them? Did something happen that I should know about? I've felt something for him, more friendship than anything, but still I worry about him. I wish he had someone like I had Syaoran so he wouldn't be so alone.

"Who is that that you're waving to?" asked Tooya, trying to make out the dark hair boy she was waving so frantically to.

"It's Eriol! He's a great friend of mine. I'm sure you'll like him as well. I wonder where the rest of the group went… I thought they were all going to eat out together. I hope Eriol doesn't feel out of place," she responded with a sympathetic voice.

"Why would he feel out of place?"

"Because--because, nevermind! It's a long story anyhow."

"I don't mind listening to your voice," he murmured.

Sakura blushed. "Hoe!"

She glanced down in embarassment, only to look up quickly when she heard Tooya state tightly, "your close friend, Eriol is coming toward us. He's waving."

"What is he saying?" she asked Tooya.

"I think he's trying to warn you about something," he replied matter of factly.

"I can't make out what he's saying. I guess we'll have to wait until he can catch up to us," she responded with a sigh.

It didn't take long for Eriol to get up to them with the speed of which he was running. Before Sakura could even blink, he had grabbed her away from Tooya. He glared at Tooya and quickly asked Sakura, "are you okay?"

Touya, who had just gotten off his cellphone with Yukito had seen the bizarre episode and had concluded Sakura had very strange friends. He called out to Sakura, "Yukito told me to tell you that they think that Dangyun is nearby. He tells me that Eriol felt Dangyun's presence as they were just about to order dessert; he sounded very disappointed. Anyway, Sakura… Yukito told me to tell you that we're all meeting at the house. Let's get going.

"I'm really sorry, Tooya-san. But do you know your way back to your hotel?"

Tooya glanced at him with surprised that he didn' tknow.

"TOUYA!" yelled Eriol. "That is DANGYUN!"

Touya stared at Tooya with sharp eyes. "I thought there was something strange about you."

"You should be able to tell," Dangyun muttered. "You do have some magic about you."

"Get away from him, Touya," shouted Eriol.

"That can't be Dangyun," cried out Sakura. "That can't be Dangyun!"

Dangyun smiled at Sakura sadly. "It seems that we are attracted to each other, but it just isn't right, is it?"

"You felt it too?"

He laughed bitterly. "Of course I felt it. And I will continue to feel it. You haunt me, and you love me…"

"Stop confusing her like that!" exclaimed Eriol.

"So you are Clow Reed's incarnation," murmured Dangyun softly. "But you haven't got all his power. Somehow you managed to split your power into two. That was very foolish of you, Clow. Did you wish for this to happen again? If I remember correctly you didn't stop it from happening last time. And so it will happen again. Is that what you want--for it to happen again?"

"What is he talking about, Eriol?" asked Sakura.

"I've had her and you lost her; your little brother now has her, at least his incarnation does. You have lost her a second time. Did you believe that this lifetime would be different? But it was… wasn't it? You finally got one Faa, but you had to split your power into two to continue to see her. Do you feel what your other part feels when he sees her? Since… you are the more intact Clow Reed?

"Have you let your bitterness of losing to your little brother seep into that half life of yours? Maybe you have because both of you bear a striking resemblance to each other. And I believe you had learned to hate your little brother haven't you? Even though he's not your little brother anymore is he? He is not related to you anymore because you have separated yourself from that bloodline and created your own in the hopes of--"

Attaining her love… thought Eriol. Yes, you bastard. I have wanted her just as much as you have wanted her. But maybe you were interested in what she could do for you than her actual love, although in your own way I do believe you loved her--still love her. And yes, I wanted something different this time. Now, I know that nothing will ever be different. Those two were made together. One without the other brings such unhappiness. Maybe we're just suppose to be her close friends, helping her.

But it still isn't enough. I want more. And I can't have more.

"What is he talking about, Eriol?" she asked again.

"Explain it to her," urged Dangyun. "You were always better at that."

"He's talking about Faa, Sakura--and you."

The look in her eye was of amazement and bewilderment.

Of course. She was never the type to actively seek other people's love of her. She's more of a giver than a taker. Dangyun's definitely a taker, and so am I. We are so similar; perhaps, that is why I grieved when he turned to the other side. And he turned when she came back to me only to fall for my little brother, Shaolin. But haven't I been happy? Haven't I been? I had her once, for a brief period of years as Nadeshiko. But Shaolin--Syaoran hadn't been reincarnated yet. I was lucky. Or did I make my own luck?

Is that why she died so early--so unexpectedly? Is it because I prevented her from being with my little brother, so she made herself be with him by dying on me--part of me? For she was reborn just in time because a soul can still overtake a soul that is similar if the other soul hasn't gotten a firm grip on the body, especially if it's an old soul contending with a newly born soul. And Faa is certainly an old soul.

He is right. I do hate my little brother. He took away from me what I held dearly. But was it my fault that she died in Dangyun's hands? If I hadn't persuaded her to come to me, to show her Dangyun's cruelty at times, would she have left him to come to me and fall for my brother and forever be his soulmate? Was it all my fault that Dangyun eventually killed her from a revenge so complicated that even I don't understand it--I, the closest person to him…

Yet, I suppose he had to do it. He is a taker as I am a taker and we both had destroyed two lives that only wanted to be together. But was it me that changed the destiny of Dangyun and Faa, which is why Sakura is drawn so closely to him? Was I the one that--that prevented them from being together and creating a new fate that is self corruptive unless--unless something extraordinary happens?

And even that doesn't change the fact I love her.

I always will.

Which is why I gave her the Clow Cards. My ultimate sign of mastery of the magical arts. I gave them to her because I failed to protect her. Was Dangyun right and I did cause her death because in the end I am the catalyst that started everything?

And how I loved her--still love her.

No woman has ever been loved by so many men.

Is it her magic that makes her so alluring, that draws those who have magic to her? That would include me and Dangyun and Syaoran and Eriol and Fujitaka... Does that mean the only one that really loved her was Shaolin because he contain no magic of any sort? I don' t know.

But I know she was loved by many and she is still loved by many.

"Shaolin has had her; you have had her. Shouldn't this Faa be mine?" asked Dangyun.

"Don't touch her," warned Eriol. "You are here to battle for something. What is your price or prize?"

"I was going to ask for the lives of both Shaolin's, but I have since changed my mind once I have seen the pain she brings to me. I would ask of her as the prize," replied Dangyun. "It is either she or them."

"Me!" cried out Sakura. "You can have me."

"If she loses, and that is no guarentee," remarked Eriol.

"I didn't come here to be defeated," Danygun responded. "She may have two defenders."

"Usually you ask for three, what has changed your mind?"

"She will have two defenders, and I will have none. That is the best I will allow. But you know," he said with a devastating grin, "I always have more than one trick up my sleeve."

"I know."

Dangyun swept toward Sakura and bowed on his knees in front of her, "I will see you again, my love."

He kissed her hand and disappeared before her very eyes.

A tingle went down her spine through the simple feathery touch of his lips on her soft skin.

"I don't know if I can beat him," she whispered faintly.

"You have to beat him," said Eriol firmly.

"It's hard to beat someone you love," she answered.

"So he has gotten to you?"

"Yes, he has."

I am not surprised, he thought. You love him; he loves you. But unlike you, he has no qualms in beating you if you are his prize.

I wonder what he wants by asking you to be the price.

I'm scared to ask what he means.

And I'm terrifed to know what he wants.

Because it may just be too much.