With all means, this is chapter 14.

~~~~~

"I'll fight till the end for the sake of your safety..."
CCS: THE LEGEND OF OMETIN

Chapter 14
~~~~~

Syaoran stretched as he woke up in the morning. He sleepily scratched his head, and looked around lazily. Rubbing his eyes, he slowly got off his bed, and went over to the window to open the curtain. The bright sun beamed its light into his eyes as he rested his head on the window bar, listening to the chirpings of the little penguin birds. Then came laughter from Dr. Boohig's house. Syaoran leaned forward to peeked into the window, and he saw Sakura chatting with Dr. Boohig.

"Is that really true? Tell me more about these herbs." Sakura asked. Dr. Boohig explained. "Well, these are the ones that I use to heal Syaoran's allergies. This is naison grass, this is beist leaf, and this is slielgn leaves."

Sakura picked one out of the basket. "You mean these?" Dr. Boohig shook his head wildly. "Oh, no no, those are bio herbs, they can make one really sick, it can even cause death."

Sakura looked at the tiny piece of herb. "I can't tell the difference." She rotated the herb in her hand, examining it carefully. Dr. Boohig took it out of her hand, and began comparing it with the slielgn leaves in his hand. "There's a slight difference. The slielgn leaves have seven spikes on each end of the leaf, but bio herbs have six."

Sakura made a face. "Wow...that's hard. What if you got mixed up?" Dr. Boohig looked at her seriously. "We can't get them mix up, it can kill someone." Sakura backed up a little. "That's tough."

Syaoran heard the conversation. He changed hastily, and ran to Dr. Boohig's house.

On his way, he bumped into Yoki. "Oh!" She said, looking at Syaoran. Syaoran looked back, and said. "You feeling better?" Yoki hesitated, and then answered. "I'm okay." She avoided eye contacts. Syaoran smiled. "That's good." Yoki was puzzled. "Why?"

"Why?" Syaoran repeated; it was a weird question. "Because I'm glad that you're healthy." Yoki made a face. "Oh?" She said, "Haven't you always hated me?"

"Um...no, I have nothing against you." Syaoran was a bit confused. He never saw her as an enemy.

"Oh, come on! With the tongue sticking out, and all the teasing." Yoki complained. She still remembered how he acted to her yesterday at the Aqua room.

"That was nothing personal." Syaoran said, his head had a sweat drop; clearly he didn't know how to handle her. "Look, I was just joking around, don't take it seriously. We were just having fun."

"Well! I...um..." Yoki couldn't continued, her face suddenly became hot, and it was hard for her to think. Syaoran let her had her way. "Okay, if it really hurt you that much, I'm sorry. Forgive me?" He said.

Yoki couldn't look at him; her face was red. He was waiting for an answer, so she nodded. She probably didn't mean it, but she just did it to get him out of the way. Syaoran giggled. "Great! Catch you later!" He went past her shoulder, and ran towards the room Sakura was in. For a whole minute, Yoki just stood there; she couldn't understand what was she feeling at the time. Her heart was beating faster than usual, and her head was a blank. [Why do I have this strange feeling? Don't I hate him? He teased me, I hate his guts...so why?] Yoki shook her head, trying to clear her mind. [But...he's one of the legendary heroes! He must go!] She tightened her fist, and then turned to the direction Syaoran ran to. [He shall go first...]

"Now this is for cuts..." Dr. Boohig was still showing Sakura different kinds of herbs when Syaoran came in to the room. "Sakura!" He yelled. The two looked at him surprisingly. He bowled. "Oh, good morning, Dr. Boohig." Dr. Boohig smiled. "Why, good morning Syaoran." But he wasn't really the one Syaoran wanted to talk to. Syaoran eyed Sakura, she made a mad expression, then turned her head the other way, making a "Humph" noise.

Dr. Boohig knew it was time to act. "Um...I'll leave you two alone." He got up, and then walked out of the door. For a second, none of them talked to each other. Syaoran kneeled down beside her. "Sakura..." He said softly, but Sakura shift her body to the opposite direction. Syaoran lowered his head a little, eyes still looking at her. "Are you still mad?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer. Sakura didn't say a word, puffing her cheek; Syaoran took that as a "yes".

"I told you that I didn't mean to do that, you were screaming, so I got worried, I didn't do it on purpose." Syaoran said. "I said sorry last night, didn't I?"

Sakura remained silence. She knew he didn't do that on purpose, she believed that he'd never do that. It wasn't that she was mad about, she was mad about what he said when he came to apologize last night. "There wasn't much to see..." The words still ring in her head.

But how could Sakura ever tell him that she's mad because of that? It'll just make things even worst. What does she expect him to do, be grateful that he actually saw it? "I..." Sakura began, Syaoran leaned closer to listen, but Sakura ended the sentence with. "I just...don't want to see you again! Ever!" And slapped him in the face. She stumbled out of the room, leaving Syaoran confused. "What...?" He ran after her, "Wait, Sakura..."

Dr. Boohig came into the room. "Oh, Syaoran, it's time for your treatment." Syaoran looked at him. "But..."

"Come on, no time to spare." Dr. Boohig pushed him out of the door. "Now, we'll have to treat you. Let's find Yoki and we'll all go to the Aqua room together. Syaoran was forced out of the room. "But I...but..."

~~~~~

"Then he said, 'there wasn't much to see'!!" Sakura was rephrasing Syaoran's words to Blossica while she watered her flowers. "He said that?" Blossica asked.

"Yeah!" Sakura said. "I mean, how could he, after what he did to me!" Blossica smiled. "I think you're thinking too much, things might not be like that at all." Sakura looked at her with self-pity eyes. "Blossica~ you're supposed to be on my side!" Blossica shook her head. "I'm neutral." Sakura puffed her face. "But it's his fault!"

Blossica stood up, and grinned. "I don't think Syaoran will ever have the courage or the heart to peek in the dressing room while you're dressing, and I don't think what he said last night was exactly what you rephrased either. He might've said, 'The light was dime, so there wasn't much to see.' He meant that the light was dime, so he couldn't see anything, so don't worry." Blossica giggled. "He just did a bad job of saying it, that's all."

Sakura had a flash back, and thought to herself, [Well...he did say something about the light...]

Blossica saw her face; she knew Sakura was beginning to understand. "He's slow sometimes, doesn't really understand a girl's feelings, I agree, it's frustrating sometimes, but Sakura, isn't that why you like him?"

Sakura blushed. "I...I don't like him!"

Blossica giggled again, she likes it when they do that. "Just don't over react over small things, I think you should apologize." Sakura lowered her head. "How could I...after what I said..." Blossica looked at her. "What did you say?" Sakura looked up. "A lot of things, mean and nasty, too. But what's worst is that I said I don't want to see him again, ever." Blossica smiled, she didn't think it was that bad. "Sakura, people get mad, and they say things that they don't mean to. I'm sure if you apologize, he'll forgive you."

Sakura made a mad face again. "Why should I be the one who apologize? It was his fault, too!" Blossica kneeled in front of her. "But didn't he already apologize?" Sakura looked away, Blossica continued. "Look, this fight will never end if you don't back up. You'll have to know having a relationship with someone as slow as him will never go anywhere unless you take the first step!"

"We're not having a relationship!" Sakura yelled, face furiously red. Blossica turned around and walked away before she even finished. "Well, my part is done, it's up to your for what to do." She waved, and walked back into the house. Sakura lowered her head. [How can I begin...? How do I even talk to him after what I said?]

~~~~~

Yoki stepped on the three-steps ladder, and collected herbs Dr. Boohig needed in to a basket, she was grabbing herbs out of the tall shelf while Sakura came in. Sakura seemed blue, so Yoki stopped what she was doing, and asked her what's wrong. "Boy, you look down. Are you worried about him? It's just allergies, it wouldn't kill him." Sakura sighed. "No, I'm not a bit worried about that, it's something else that I'm worried about."

"Not even a bit?" Yoki asked, with a face. Sakura blushed a little, and then answer madly, "Alright fine, maybe a bit. But that wasn't why I was so down!" Yoki couldn't help but laughed. "Oh, come on, be honest with yourself for once."

"I...I..." Sakura didn't know what to say at the moment; she sat down at the steps on the ladder. Yoki smiled, "Doesn't it hurt you to hide the truth all the time?" Sakura shook her head. "No, sometimes it's better if the truth never reveals." Yoki sat down next to her. "You're not planning to tell him?"

"How could I, I'm not even sure myself!" Sakura stated. Yoki lowered her head, "If you don't say it now, you might never be able to." She said quietly, thinking of what she was planning to do. "Hoe?" Sakura looked at her curiously. Yoki jerked. "Um, nothing, what I mean is that...um...what if someone...says it first?" Sakura went in to a deep thought for a moment, she never thought of it this way before. She snapped out of it. "No one would like him, he's not...that nice." She said, trying to bend the truth. Yoki looked at her closely. "Nice enough to capture your heart." Sakura blushed again. [What am I doing?] She thought to herself. [Why do I even BOTHER to have this conversation? I like Yukito...don't I?]

Yoki sighed. "Oh, come on!" She was getting impatient. "Make up your mind!" Sakura was surprised by her action. She never knew she was so concern. "I...I'm not going to do it, at least not yet."

Yoki sighed again. "Fine, I'm going to treat him, why don't you come? Since you care so much for him?" Yoki teased her. Sakura blushed. "I don't...I'm not coming, I need time to just...clear my mind."

"Be my guest." Yoki said, she started to walk away, but she suddenly stopped, and looked around. "Hey, Sakura?" She said. Sakura looked up. "Yes?" Yoki lowered her head. "I'm...sorry."

Sakura was confused. "For what?" she asked. Yoki looked at her in the eyes. She didn't say the thing she wanted to say. "I wasn't much of a help on your relationship problem." Sakura smiled, and replied her. "That's alright." Yoki walked away, knowing that wasn't the reason she apologized.

"Sorry, Sakura." She whispered to herself. "That was your only chance. You'll just have to live with out ever telling him how you feel." She looked at the bio herbs in her hand, and put it into the basket. She hates herself. She likes Sakura, but Sakura has to be the one, she can't even think about killing her. Syaoran, in the other case, is not a problem, she figured that if she gets rid of Syaoran, the legend won't be the same, and fate will change. She also thinks that Sakura could never handle her people all by herself, so getting rid of Syaoran can be good enough.

~~~~~

"Yoki, what took you?" Dr. Boohig said as she entered the Aqua room. Yoki looked tensed, she could make eye contact with them. Syaoran was sitting of the treatment bed, waiting for her. "What's wrong? Do you still feel sick?" He asked. Yoki blushed. "I...I'm fine, you don't...have to worry." She turned away. [Why is he being so nice to me? I...I've got to get rid of him soon!]

"Well, let our treatment begin, then. Yoki, hand me the medical herbs." Dr. Boohig commanded; he stretched out his hand, waiting for her.

"Um...yes." She hesitated, and then obeyed. Her hands were shaking, and Syaoran realized that, too. He thought that she might still be a little uncomfortable from yesterday's incident, so he decided to ignore it.

The treatment had begun. Yoki handed Dr. Boohig the herbs he needed. One by one, he inserted them into the black hole. Syaoran never knew, as Dr. Boohig inserted more in, he was getting closer and closer to his death...

~~~~~

Sakura was still sitting on the ladder, feeling uneasy, as if something's happening. She shifted back and forth on the steps. [What's going on?] She thought to herself. [What is this feeling?] Then she remembered the words Yoki said, and the way she acted weird around her. She still didn't understand why did Yoki tell her to make up her mind. She still has plenty of chances if she ever decides to tell Syaoran how she feels. Was there something wrong?

She shifted again. Then something caught her attention. A piece of herb was left on the top step of the ladder; Sakura figured that Yoki must have dropped it when she was collecting them into the basket. Sakura picked it up, thinking that it was slielgn leaf that they used to treat Syaoran's allergies. But as she examined more closely, there were six spikes on the side of the leaf, she remembered what Dr. Boohig told her. 'Slielgn leaves have seven spikes on each side, and bio herbs have six.' She also remembered the other part. 'Bio leaves can kill someone...'

Sakura gasped, then leaped up. "Syaoran!" She yelled to herself. Charging out of the room, she called for Chocy, who arrived within 3 seconds after she called. She jumped on, and commanded him to run to the Aqua room as fast as he can.

[Yoki mixed the two herbs up!] Sakura thought. [If she uses that to treat Syaoran, Syaoran will die!] Wind blew on her face as Chocy raced for the life of Syaoran. Something hit Sakura's mind, the way Yoki said make up her mind, it sounded as if it was now or never. She thought to herself. [She...didn't mix it up...]

[She did it on purpose!]

"Faster, Chocy!!" She cried. Chocy ran until there were veins shaping on his head. "Syaoran...Syaoran..." Sakura's heart was beating fasted than ever. She prayed for Syaoran's safety. "Please...for god's sake...please be okay..."

She swept by Blossica, "What the..." She cursed as she watched Sakura and Chocy charged full speed towards the Aqua Room.

~~~~~

"Okay, next, we need slielgn leaves. Yoki?" Dr. Boohig reached out his hand. Yoki wasn't exactly listening. "Ye...yes, doctor." Instead, she handed him the bio herbs. Hoping that Dr. Boohig wouldn't notice that she switched the two, she handed it to him. She looked at Syaoran; he was staring at the ceiling, lying on his treatment bed that will fast become his deathbed, never suspected a thing. [You might have to suffer a little before you die.] Yoki thought. [But don't worry; the pain would be over very soon...everyone would think that this is an accident.]

Dr. Boohig brought the leaves in front of the black hole; he didn't know the herbs were switched. Concentrated on the treatment, he released the herbs into the black hole. Everything was suddenly in slow motion to Yoki; she just hoped that this could be done with quickly. She stared at the bio herbs, as they twirled around the black hole counter-clockwise, and slowly drained into Syaoran's body. One by one, the herbs disappeared at the end of the portal. Yoki watched as the last bio herbs was sucked into his body, she took a deep breathe, wasn't sure that she did the right thing.

It was funny how she thought that she might misses him when he's gone. She stared at him sadly. A mysterious stroke of pain suddenly stroked her heart as the thought came to her mind. Never see him again, is that was she really wants? She shook her head wildly, there was no turning back, he going to die now, he must die!

Sakura charged through the door. "Yoki! Don't do it!" Everyone was shocked by her sudden appearance. Three pairs of eyes stared at her curiously as she was choking for air. Yoki knew that she found out about her plan.

Syaoran lifted his head up. "Sakura? What are you doing..." Then a burning pain attacked his chest, he couldn't speak, and something was burning his throat so hard, that it was even hard for him to breathe. He put his hand to his neck, and started coughing, trying to get the pain out of his mouth. Every breath he took was like burning fire; he was in deep pain. He took big breaths, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Sakura ran forward, and kneeled beside him. "Syaoran! SYAORAN!!!" But no matter how hard she yelled; Syaoran couldn't hear her anymore. Tears began to roll down her face. "No...NO!!" Sakura screamed. Syaoran was dying, and there was nothing she could do.

"Ahh...AAAAHHH!!" Syaoran yelled painfully, sweats formed on his face as he struggled to breath. Dr. Boohig was stunned when he finally realized what was going on. "Bio...herbs..." Then he looked at Yoki. Yoki was shaking, she didn't know what to do at the moment, and she ran out of the Aqua room, trying to get out of the Aqua Stream. Just then, Blossica came in. "Sakura, you here?" she asked. Behind her was Chocy, staring furiously at Yoki; he even lowered his head, to make a prepared to attack position.

Yoki knew she was trapped. She didn't know what to do. Then Sakura came out of the Aqua room, a though came across Yoki's mind. She snatched a pointy crystal from the wall, and ran towards Sakura with it. Before Sakura know what was going on, Yoki put her arm around Sakura's neck, and pointed the crystal at her neck. "Don't come any closer!" She threatened. Blossica stopped at where she was, and Dr. Boohig stayed around the exit of the Aqua room.

Dr. Boohig looked calm, too calm. Blossica looked at them, a bit confused. "Yoki? What are you doing?"

"Quite!" She put the sharp crystal closer to Sakura's neck. "Or the girl gets it!" Sakura looked bad, she looked at Dr. Boohig, and spoke with tears in her eyes. "Doctor...please...go help Syaoran, don't worry about me...you'll have to...save Syaoran." It was hard for her to speak because Yoki was choking her. Yoki looked at her. "Why don't you worry about yourself, at a moment like this, you can still be worrying about someone else?"

"Syaoran...is everything to me..." Sakura said; more tears came down her face. "I'd give up my life for him...as long as he...is fine."

Yoki didn't know why, suddenly she felt a stream of pity flowing across her heart. She looked at Dr. Boohig; her eyes were filled with sadness. "Sorry, doctor, I'm not the pupil you think I am...I...am a missioner, a missioner from hell!"

Everyone gasped, except for Dr. Boohig, who stood there calmly. Yoki continued. "I was just working for you to repay you, to thank you for saving me when I was wounded. But I knew this day would come...when I carry out my mission."

Blossica was frightened, she asked. "What...was your mission?" Yoki looked at her, then looked back at Dr. Boohig. "As a missioner, our mission is to destroy the legendary heroes, and to mess up human civilizations. As a mission in flowerville, my mission was to destroy the water source!"

Again, everyone gasped but Dr. Boohig, who still stood there. Yoki looked at him, and yelled. "Why weren't you surprised at all?" Dr. Boohig couldn't be calmer. He answered slowly. "I knew."

Yoki was surprised. She stared at him regretfully. "You...you do?"

Someone tapped Blossica from behind, Blossica turned around, and that person told her to cover him up, he's going to save the girl. Blossica nodded, and tried to block him. Chocy seems to know that person.

"I knew from the start." Dr. Boohig continued. "From the time I saw your tattoo on your upper arms when I was treating you, I already noticed."

Yoki shook her head. "Then...why didn't you tell? Why did you have to save me?"

"I'm a doctor." Dr. Boohig said. "I live to heal. No matter what kind of person becomes a patient, I will heal them, even the ones that are bound to bring the world to an end."

"Is that so..." Yoki said; her eyes were getting watery.

"I also saw the good side in you. All those time you studied with medical, you weren't faking it, I can tell. You weren't that bad. I though I can change you, get you away from the missioner business forever."

"Well you thought wrong."

"No, I didn't. I still believe you can change; it's not too late. You can still turn back, we can heal Syaoran together!"

"No! I can't!" She shook her head wildly; tears were flunked out, she ripped the sleeve on the right arm. The tattoo appeared. "I can't live a normal life like you people! Sometimes I wish I could, but I can't! Do you know what this is?" She showed him the tattoo.

"The...missioner's tattoo, one's symbol of a mission and one's weakness..." He said.

"Yes, but it's not really a weakness, it's a tracing devise. They can trace me all the way from the south peek of Ometin from where the base is. Once it's destroyed, the head can't trace us anymore, in order to keep up in tracks, the missioners die with the tattoo, to make sure we don't get away from the organization..."

Blossica covered her mouth, "That's horrible."

"But is this what you really want? Flowerville all dried up, Syaoran dead?" Dr. Boohig said.

Yoki thought of Flowerville, the place she loves, always happy and filled with wonderful flowers. Then she thought of Syaoran, he teased her and joked with her sometimes, but deep in, she really cared for him.

"...No..." she cried. Dr. Boohig expected that answer. "Then give me the crystal, we'll heal Syaoran together." But Yoki refused. "No...I'll still have to finish her off! I can't turn back! If I kill the hero, my mission would be complete, and Flowerville and Syaoran can be saved!" She raised her crystal, and was about to stab Sakura...

"Yoki! Don't do it!" Dr. Boohig and Blossica both shouted.

Sakura closed her eyes, [...at least...at least Syaoran can be saved...then I won't have any regrets...]

Syaoran...

Suddenly, Yoki dropped her crystal. Something hit her hand, when she turned back to look it what it was, it looked like a wallet. "What?" she said. Sakura slowly opened her eyes, couldn't believe that she was still alive.

"Alright! I got it!" Jon jumped up and down behind Blossica, Chocy charged forward to get Sakura away from Yoki. Sakura was surprised at how it turned out. Jon didn't forget to do his job. He ran forward, and put Yoki down, he drew a weapon out of his pocket. "Going down, little girl." But instead, he drew out a golden necklace (stolen). "Oops, wrong one." He put it back, and drew out a knife shaped like a banana. "Freeze." He said.

"Let her go." Dr. Boohig commanded. Jon looked at the hundred years old man. "But..." Jon wasn't sure what to do. Dr. Boohig looked Yoki in the eyes. "I still believe that you can change, the only thing left, is do you believe in yourself." He walked closer to her. "Help me save that child's life."

Yoki cried harder. "...Yes...yes...I will..." She couldn't believe that Dr. Boohig would still give her another chance after what she had done. Dr. Boohig smiled; the treatment began.

~~~~~

Sakura and the rest waited outside as Yoki and Dr. Boohig treated Syaoran in the Aqua room. For the whole time, Sakura was shaking. Blossica and Jon went over to her, and tried to calm her down. "Don't worry." Jon said. "That guys tougher than you thought, he'll be out of that room in no time." He winked to her; Sakura forced a smile, showing that she appreciated the support. Her heartbeat was fast; the treatment went on for an hour, though it seems like a year to Sakura.

Finally, Yoki and Dr. Boohig came out. Sakura ran up to them. "How is he?" She asked. Dr. Boohig looked at her seriously. "We did everything we could, it's up to him now." Dr. Boohig looked at the room. Sakura was ever so disappointed at the answer. Yoki came up to her. "I'm sorry..."

Yoki was the last person Sakura wanted to see, she was the one who made Syaoran's life hangs on a thread. She couldn't even look at her. Yet deep in, she knew Yoki couldn't really help it, Sakura said, "That's fine." But it didn't mean that she forgave her for doing such a horrible thing.

Yoki can sense that, too. She knew it was all her fault. "I...I'll try to find some more anti-biotic leaf." She ran out of the cave.

Sakura looked at Dr. Boohig. "Can I see him?" She asked. Dr. Boohig nodded. She ran into the room, Syaoran lied there lifelessly; each breath he took was weak and small. His face was pale, compare to his blushing face whenever he sees Sakura smile, the face he had looks dead. "Syaoran...wake up." She whispered. "Everyone's getting worried, Chocy, Jon, Blossica, Dr. Boohig..." She paused, and then went on. "Even Yoki was worried. You're always mad at me for getting you worry, so how come you're doing this to me?"

Syaoran just lay there; no responds to her voice, Sakura put her hand on his cheek, his face was cold. She smoothed the cold skin as she went on. "Come on, wake up...we still have to save Ometin, then go back to Tokyo, and continue our date, remember? You can't die now...you can't..."

Still, Syaoran was motionless. Sakura couldn't help it anymore, more tears dropped down her cheek. "You can't..." She said, even louder now. "You can't die now...I still haven't tell you how I feel yet...Syaoran...I...I..." She shook her head wildly, and then looked at him emotionally. "I love you..."

Sakura waited, hoping that was the magic spell that can wake him. But he stayed still, eyes closed. Sakura wrapped her arms around his cold body, and cried harder.

Yoki came in moments later. Sakura heard footsteps behind her; she turned around, and saw Yoki. "Oh..." She said. Yoki avoided eye contacts. "I...got some more anti-biotic leaves...I...hope this would help."

Sakura nodded, then went out of the room, leaving Yoki there to treat Syaoran. Yoki looked at Syaoran, she went closer, and brushed his hair. "I'm sorry..." She whispered. "I don't know what I was doing...I just wanted to get rid of my identity as a mission and live a normal life." She looked in to his shuteyes, and leaned closer. "But sacrificing your life for a normal life is the hardest choice I ever made." She lowered her head. "I chose a normal life over you. But if I can choose again..." She lifted her head up again. "I'd choose you."

She stood up, wiping the tears in her eyes. "That's why, I'll do anything to save you." She sprinkled some black hole dust on him, the black hole formed, and she started to put in some anti-biotic leaves.

~~~~~

"This is bad..." Jon said. Walking around the Aqua Stream, he felt helpless. "This is really bad."

"Yeah..." Blossica said. "And Syaoran is not the only problem...if Yoki's allies come to find her, Flowerville would be destroyed."

"But..." Dr. Boohig said. "Do we really have to give up Yoki? She's really not a bad girl."

Sakura tried to think, but all she cared about was whether or not Syaoran can make it. Yoki came out of the room. "The perfect solution is for me to leave Flowerville." She said. Her eyes told them that she made up her mind. "I can't stand hurting more people, I must go!" After seeing what happened to Syaoran, Yoki felt so guilty, feeling that she doesn't deserve to be around such a nice village.

"Yoki, that's no way to solve matter!" Blossica stood up. "Is there anyway to remove her tattoo with out killing her?"

"Well." Jon said. "There is one way." Everyone turned his or her attention to him. "But I'm not sure it'll work." He said. "All it takes it my stone on my wrist, and Sakura's Angle wing crystal."

"Really?" Sakura exclaimed. "Then let's begin!" Yoki was so happy that she was thinking to herself. "A chance to become a real human...? I never knew I'd live to see the day."

"But, there's a catch to it." Jon said. Yoki knew it wasn't going to be that easy, she was ready to give up whatever it takes. Jon continued. "My mother said, that if a mission has a change of heart, he or she can remove the tattoo, which is his or her soul, without dying if that missioner has a new, decent soul developed in her body." Jon pointed to Yoki. "So if you really have changed, there'd be a new soul in you. Then we can take out your old one, and you can live with the new one."

Yoki nodded, "Okay." Jon put his hand down. "However, if you aren't really changed, then there'd be no new soul. So if we take away your old one, you will die." Yoki nodded again, she understood the risk, and she was going to take the chance. "I'm ready." She said.

"Okay." Jon said, he gave Sakura a nod; Sakura nodded back, and took out her necklace. Jon lifted up his right arm, and Sakura lifted the necklace up with her left. Yoki stood in the middle; she was ready for anything.

Jon started to say the spell. "Power of our ancestors, help our people find the light. I, Jon, here to beg you, HELP THIS LOST SHEEP FIND THE WAY, GRAD HER A NEW LIFE!!"

Both the stone on his wrist and Sakura's crystal glowed brightly. The tattoo on Yoki's arm was pulled away from her skin, forming a soul, and was sucked into Sakura's crystal.

The light went away, Yoki collapsed on the ground. Dr. Boohig and Blossica ran up to her. "Yoki!" They yelled. Dr. Boohig lifted her head up. "Did she make it?" Blossica asked.

Just then, Yoki slowly opened her eyes. "Doctor?" She said weakly. Dr. Boohig was so happy, that a slight spark of tear came across his face. "Oh, Yoki, you made it!" She nodded, Blossica went aside to leave the two alone. They all watched the two happily as they hugged like a pair of real granddaughter and grandpa.

~~~~~

It sun is setting, and Syaoran still hasn't wake up yet. Dr. Boohig said that if he still doesn't wake up, he might not make it. The idea almost crushed Sakura. She went to his room back and forth, every time she goes in, she comes out with a pair of watery eyes.

"Is there anything that we can do? Are there any cure for the bio herbs?" Sakura said. Yoki and Dr. Boohig looked at each other, and replied. "If there is, we'd use it by now, don't you think?"

"Not a plant in the world can cure it?" Sakura asked. Dr. Boohig sighed, "Well, if you must ask...there was a plant that can cure it, the Life tree. Its leaves can heal the most toxic-filled patient, but that tree already extinct three hundred years ago."

"Life tree?" Sakura asked. She saw a line of hope, and ran out of the cave. Blossica asked. "Where are you going?" Sakura turned back, and answered. "To find the Life tree!"

"Silly girl, that thing is already extinct! You can't find it even if you go all over Ometin!" Dr. Boohig said.

"I'll find a way!" She ran out, leaving them confused. But Jon and Chocy already knew that Sakura can do it, she can find the life tree, one way or the other.

Sakura went to the back of the cave, making sure that no one was around. She took out her key. "Release!" She commanded; the little key chain turned into a staff. Then she took out the wood card. "Please...please let it work...you're my only hope!" She took a deep breath, then dispelled. "Wood, get me a Life tree!!"

The Wood card formed into a huge tree with leaves of shape of a star, the tree bark was silver, yet the leaves are golden, it was the most beautiful tree Sakura ever saw. But there were no time to spare, she grabbed a few leaves, and called back the wood card. Then with her full speed, ran back to the cave, and show the leaves to Dr. Boohig.

"Where on earth did you get this? This is the leave of a Life tree." Dr. Boohig was amazed. Sakura, however, didn't have time for this. "There's no time! Quick! Save Syaoran!"

~~~~~

Where...am I...?

Sakura...?

Chocy...?

Anyone...?

Syaoran was floating in a dark space; he couldn't move a mussel. His body was in deep pain.

Am I...

Dead?

What is this place?

Why can't I move?

Just then, he saw a light; it was warm and bright. His body automatically floated closer to the light, he can feel the warmth, his pain was gone, he felt relieve.

It's...

Very comfortable...

What is this...?

He was getting closer, his hand can almost reach it, when a beautiful woman appeared in front of his face, and started to push him away.

Go away...

Turn back...

You can't come...

It's not your time yet...

Sakura needs you...

You can't die...

The woman kept repeating the same phases all over, Syaoran could barely see her, she had green eyes just like Sakura, and her gray hair was silky and long, it was curling around the wings at her back.

Before he knew what happened, he was pulling away from the light, and was sucked back. [What...?]

He opened his eyes, he saw Sakura, crying. He opened his mouth to speak. "...Sakura?"

"Oh, Syaoran!" Sakura through herself around him, he slowly got up, head still a bit painful, he looked around. "Jon...? Blossica...? What happened? I remember Yoki and Dr. Boohig was treating me when Sakura charged in...then the rest..."

Jon smiled. "It's a long story."

~~~~~

Everyone was getting ready to leave. Sakura was packing in her room when Yoki came in. "You didn't tell him." Yoki said. "About my true identity, about what I did...why?"

Sakura looked at her, she didn't really want to answer that. She kept on packing, and said. "It was for the best of Syaoran, I don't him to know that he almost die yesterday."

Yoki smiled. "You really care a lot for him." Sakura blushed a little, Yoki was about to leave, but she turned back, and said. "One more thing. I hope this can be a lesson for you."

Sakura stared at her madly. "A lesson for ME?!?" Yoki nodded. "Anything can happen at anytime, he might not die yesterday nor today, but that doesn't mean that he won't be in danger again in the future." She moved her head. "Tell him before it's too late."

Sakura lowered her head, she know that what she said is true. "I will." She nodded. "...Thanks."

Yoki smiled, and then left the room.

Blossica heard everything from outside; she walked up to Yoki. "Feeling better?"

Yoki nodded. "Never been better."

"It's always hard to give up your love, especially your first."

"What can I do, I tried to kill him." The two giggled, and got out of the house.
~~~~~

Everything was finally backed on track, Yoki would stay and work with Dr. Boohig, and Blossica will continue to plant flowers. And Jon...well...Jon will always be Jon.

Sakura and Syaoran continued their journey on the back of Chocy. They walked for three miles, and then Syaoran asked. "Hey, Sakura, did I really got unconscious because Yoki accidentally dropped a sleeping grass into the black hole?"

Sakura jerked. "Yeah...why?"

Syaoran scratched his head, "Oh, nothing...I guess...just that you were crying, and Jon said it was a long story..."

"It was a long story! Yoki was going to give you medical herbs but she accidentally mixed it with the sleeping grass she had. Because, you see, she has sleeping problems, you have no idea, she have to count three thousand chocobos in order to go to sleep, so she has to take those..."

"Okay, I got it!" Syaoran said, he's afraid of never ending stories. Sakura sighed, glad she pulled it off, but Syaoran asked another question. "Sakura...do you know anyone with...long curly gray hair, green eyes just like yours, and about the age of twenty?" Sakura looked at him. "That sounds like my mother that passed away when I was three."

"Passed away?" Syaoran said; a sweat rolled down on his head. Sakura tilted her head. "Why'd you ask?" Syaoran shook his head. "Oh, nothing really." But then he thought to himself. [Did I have a near death experience? Because of sleeping grass??]

Sakura, in the other hand, was thinking something more realistic. She remembered the words Yoki told her. She has to tell Syaoran how she feels before it's too late. She leaned a bit closer to Syaoran...afraid of losing him again...she tried to get the words out. "Syaoran?" She said, almost whispered.

"Hmm?" Syaoran replied ever so softly. Sakura's face turned red, then she ended up with. "Nothing..."

Syaoran smiled, and paid his attention back to the road.

[Oh well...] Sakura thought. [Maybe tomorrow...]

to be continued...