~Remember~
A young boy stood at the edge of a forbidden forest, his mind racing, his heart pounding. His clothes were tattered and he was defenseless.
There was a strange aura around the boy, probably a spell to cover his true power. His clothes, though in rags, were still royal in a way.
His chocolate hair was messier than usual, from being chased and thrown around, and his amber eyes were full of terror and lost hope.
He cursed under his breath when he remembered that he had forgotten to bring his weapons. The boy's mind nagged him that he should have listened to his friend's advice.
"Get back you brat!" a voice yelled from a distance. Immediately, the boy looked up in fear and without another hesitation, he jumped into the mysterious forest.
Being lost was the least of his problems. Though he didn't know the forest and its environment, the young boy knew that it was better than being tortured by his pursuing captives.
His legs were tired, his strength and his hidden magic was becoming threatening low. But he continued to run, for no apparent reason at all.
Suddenly, he halted to a fork in the road, and there was no telling which path was the better choice. Looking back and forth to both paths on his sides, he became extremely confused and worried.
But. his mind didn't even have time to make a decision.
The boy felt a sharp pain in his back as he was pinned to the ground, his arms being held back behind him by a rebel. Though he squirmed and shook in the grasp, it was futile and useless.
"Let. GO!!! I swear you'll die!" the boy managed to hiss. The man laughed, to the boy's annoyance, and his band soon joined in as the boy gritted his teeth.
"You're in no position to talk or make threats. PRINCE!" he said in between laughs. The boy only clenched his tied hands, shaking in anger.
All of a sudden, a load and thunderous howl could be heard and then, many yells could be heard. Confused, the boy slowly looked up, finding that he was free and that a massive beast was attacking the rebels.
Before he could react to all of this, someone took his hand and dragged him to a different place as he continued to watch the battle until it was out of sight.
When he could no long see the commotion, he turned his gaze to the person who lead him away and realized it was only a young girl, probably a year younger than him.
Angry at the thought of a young girl yanking him away, he pulled away, stopping them both in the middle of no where. The boy distanced himself between the two, suspicious of the girl in front of her.
The young girl, hidden in some darkness to the boy, was somewhat surprised at his action but then smiled warmly.
The young boy took up a defensive stance and glared at her. But she continued to smile. Annoyed at her act, he growled and shook in rage as he heard her giggles, but soon found him mesmerized by her laugh, as if it sounded like angel bells.
Realizing what he had just thought, a blush appeared on his cheeks and he shook his head vigorously to erase the latter contemplation. Seeing the blush, the girl giggled again.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded boldly. The girl ceased her laughing, looking curiously at him with large eyes. "What do you want with me? Are you with THEM?" he interrogated, pointing behind him.
The young girl stepped lightly where he could see her, bowing slightly. He gasped when he saw her.
She was an angel.
She had short, chestnut hair with two pigtails at both sides with daisies in each. Her delicate feet were bare and her eyes were a dazzling emerald, a rare eye color, the boy thought.
Unlike most girls he knew, she wore a simple, silk, seafoam green dress that reached her knees that left her shoulders and neck bare, revealing a strange necklace.
"My name's Sakura, princess of the Clow village," she introduced, breaking the boy's thoughts. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Li, Li Syaoran, prince of Ryu Kingdom," he finished for her, carefully choosing his words. She may seem nice but I better be careful, Syaoran contemplated.
"Ryu Kingdom?" she repeated. The prince nodded. "Isn't that the place out of this forest?" Syaoran nodded once more.
There were so many questions filling the prince's mind but before he could ask a single one, the girl's smile turned into a serious frown.
Suddenly, the same roar could be heard. Sakura lifted her head into the air, as if sensing trouble and then grabbed his hand and fled.
"What's going on?" Syaoran yelled, trying to keep up the fast pace. Sakura continued to run but hastily answered.
"We're being followed."
"By who?"
"Those friends who were chasing you."
Without another word, the young princess stopped abruptly, with the prince behind her, wondering what was happening.
She narrowed her eyes. "I know you're there! Come out!" she yelled to the shadows. Thinking she was crazy, Syaoran was about to comment but then also sensed a presence with his remaining magic.
It was another goon of the rebels.
He appeared from the shadows, laughing at the two children in front of him. "Hand over the prince, little girl, and no one gets hurt," he threatened.
She didn't budge. The guard became furious, his patience wearing away. "I said hand him over, wench!"
Sakura smiled sweetly when a large beast with white wings came out from no where and pounced on him, knocking him unconscious.
Immediately, she jumped onto its back and reached out her hand. "Take my hand, Syaoran-kun!"
Syaoran was so confused. What was happening? He didn't even know if he could trust her!
But.
Something was telling him to go with her and grasping her hand, he also jumped onto the beast's back.
And leaping into the towering tree branches, the guards came running to their location only to see a large beast with two children getting away.
~*~
Syaoran reluctantly hopped off the large beast after Sakura as they arrived at a clearing where a pot of soup was boiling and some food. The prince also noticed a stack of glowing, strange cards by a set of clothes.
He turned his gaze to the large beast. It was like a lion yet it had large white wings and it's fur was both ivory and coffee. Syaoran had to admit that he had never seen something like it before.
Sakura kneeled by the pot, serving three bowls of delicious chicken soup as Syaoran took a seat on the other side of the fire, shivering.
"You must be cold," she said, startling him. "If you need another set of clothes, its right over there."
The prince nodded numbly and managed a small "thanks" before leaving to change. But not before flashing an unknown smile to his new companion.
*
When he got back, in a new grey-green outfit, he took a seat by Sakura, who was petting the beast, waiting for his return.
Taking a bowl of soup, he hungrily ate three bowls, Sakura eating two while the beast ate six.
"Who's he?" Syaoran asked as he finished his meal, putting things away in a pack. Sakura turned to his with curious eyes.
"Hoe?"
"The large beast."
"Oh! You mean Kero? He's my guardian and my friend!" At the sound of his name, Kero opened one sleepy eye from his slumber.
"I see."
Sakura continued to put her things away, preparing for sleep, taking out two blankets. Syaoran watched her, wondering.
"Um. Kinomoto-san?" Again, Sakura looked at him but this time being finished with her work and sat next to him.
"Sakura," she corrected. "I would much prefer that."
"Do you live her all alone?"
Sakura shook her head. "Iie, I just camped her for fun when I was training. My Tribe actually lives in the middle of the forest."
"Well, Sakura, I was wondering why I've never heard of the Clow Tribe?"
Her emerald eyes looked distantly at the winking stars above her, lying back on the ground. "That's because we live secret." She turned to him and winked. "So don't tell, okay?"
"'K" he answered confidently, smirking. Then, he looked at her curiously. "Did you know I was lost?"
"Nope. Kero sensed you in our forest and so we saved you. We can't let bad guys here."
"To protect your secret Tribe?"
"Hai!" she said. "Who were those people?"
"Rebels."
"Rebels?"
"Yeah; there are few people in my kingdom who oppose our system so they chased me and I got lost."
"Oh. I understand," she replied with knowing eyes.
Syaoran joined her gaze at the stars. "But. how can you trust me? We're strangers!" Syaoran remembered his own life, how it was natural to not trust others.
"'Cause we're friends!" she exclaimed, as if it were obvious. He smiled at the comment. She was so. so innocent and kind.
'Friends'
A large yawn escaped his lips and he found himself sleeping contently under the stars with a new friend by his side.
~*~
The bright and radiant sun awoke the young prince from his sweet slumber. Opening his sleepy amber eyes, Syaoran noticed that Sakura was gone.
"I'm over here." Syaoran turned to a figure in front of him and saw that it was only the young princess, smiling.
But then a frown replaced her brilliant smile and it almost broke Syaoran's heart to see her so sad.
"What's wrong?"
"Come with me." She walked to an area moments away from the camp to the edge of a cliff, Kero and Syaoran at her heels.
Syaoran finally caught up to her and gasped to see his castle at the bottom of the cliff. Relief washed over him but then it was changed into sorrow.
Then he realized why she was so sad; he had to leave and they would never see each other again. He wouldn't be let out of the castle alone nor could Sakura be permitted out of the forest because of rules.
It was impossible for them to meet again.
"Kero will take you down to the palace." Sakura trailed off, almost in tears. She rubbed them away and smiled, taking out two gifts.
"This is a sword with great power," she explained as she put a Chinese sword in his hand with a sheath. "I know you have magic so don't deny it. Please train with it and you will become stronger." Syaoran nodded.
"And take this." Sakura put one of the strange cards in his other hand. It was a card with a heart and wings in the middle. "It's a card from our village. Please take care of it, Syaoran-kun."
She wanted to cry. He was one of the few friends she had from the outside and now, he was leaving.
He then pulled her in a tight embrace, stroking her hair and comforting her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I promise. I promise that we'll meet again somehow and that we'll always be friends. I could never forget you!" he told her.
When they parted, he took off a necklace with a gold charm of a grey wolf and the symbol of the Li Clan and put it around her neck.
"I want you to have this, so that we'll always be together." Sakura nodded and gave him a final hug before he jumped onto Kero's back to return to his kingdom.
And till he landed to the palace, Syaoran Li kept his eyes on his first true friend and his first true love until he could no longer see her.
And.
And he vowed to never forget her, and to use her gifts, keeping them and using them well.
And he vowed to always keep the girl, Sakura of the Clow Tribe, close to his heart.
Forever.
~*~
Hope you enjoyed it! It was only the prologue.
Next chapter: Ten years after the incident.
Please review!
JA!
Aya-chan
A young boy stood at the edge of a forbidden forest, his mind racing, his heart pounding. His clothes were tattered and he was defenseless.
There was a strange aura around the boy, probably a spell to cover his true power. His clothes, though in rags, were still royal in a way.
His chocolate hair was messier than usual, from being chased and thrown around, and his amber eyes were full of terror and lost hope.
He cursed under his breath when he remembered that he had forgotten to bring his weapons. The boy's mind nagged him that he should have listened to his friend's advice.
"Get back you brat!" a voice yelled from a distance. Immediately, the boy looked up in fear and without another hesitation, he jumped into the mysterious forest.
Being lost was the least of his problems. Though he didn't know the forest and its environment, the young boy knew that it was better than being tortured by his pursuing captives.
His legs were tired, his strength and his hidden magic was becoming threatening low. But he continued to run, for no apparent reason at all.
Suddenly, he halted to a fork in the road, and there was no telling which path was the better choice. Looking back and forth to both paths on his sides, he became extremely confused and worried.
But. his mind didn't even have time to make a decision.
The boy felt a sharp pain in his back as he was pinned to the ground, his arms being held back behind him by a rebel. Though he squirmed and shook in the grasp, it was futile and useless.
"Let. GO!!! I swear you'll die!" the boy managed to hiss. The man laughed, to the boy's annoyance, and his band soon joined in as the boy gritted his teeth.
"You're in no position to talk or make threats. PRINCE!" he said in between laughs. The boy only clenched his tied hands, shaking in anger.
All of a sudden, a load and thunderous howl could be heard and then, many yells could be heard. Confused, the boy slowly looked up, finding that he was free and that a massive beast was attacking the rebels.
Before he could react to all of this, someone took his hand and dragged him to a different place as he continued to watch the battle until it was out of sight.
When he could no long see the commotion, he turned his gaze to the person who lead him away and realized it was only a young girl, probably a year younger than him.
Angry at the thought of a young girl yanking him away, he pulled away, stopping them both in the middle of no where. The boy distanced himself between the two, suspicious of the girl in front of her.
The young girl, hidden in some darkness to the boy, was somewhat surprised at his action but then smiled warmly.
The young boy took up a defensive stance and glared at her. But she continued to smile. Annoyed at her act, he growled and shook in rage as he heard her giggles, but soon found him mesmerized by her laugh, as if it sounded like angel bells.
Realizing what he had just thought, a blush appeared on his cheeks and he shook his head vigorously to erase the latter contemplation. Seeing the blush, the girl giggled again.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded boldly. The girl ceased her laughing, looking curiously at him with large eyes. "What do you want with me? Are you with THEM?" he interrogated, pointing behind him.
The young girl stepped lightly where he could see her, bowing slightly. He gasped when he saw her.
She was an angel.
She had short, chestnut hair with two pigtails at both sides with daisies in each. Her delicate feet were bare and her eyes were a dazzling emerald, a rare eye color, the boy thought.
Unlike most girls he knew, she wore a simple, silk, seafoam green dress that reached her knees that left her shoulders and neck bare, revealing a strange necklace.
"My name's Sakura, princess of the Clow village," she introduced, breaking the boy's thoughts. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Li, Li Syaoran, prince of Ryu Kingdom," he finished for her, carefully choosing his words. She may seem nice but I better be careful, Syaoran contemplated.
"Ryu Kingdom?" she repeated. The prince nodded. "Isn't that the place out of this forest?" Syaoran nodded once more.
There were so many questions filling the prince's mind but before he could ask a single one, the girl's smile turned into a serious frown.
Suddenly, the same roar could be heard. Sakura lifted her head into the air, as if sensing trouble and then grabbed his hand and fled.
"What's going on?" Syaoran yelled, trying to keep up the fast pace. Sakura continued to run but hastily answered.
"We're being followed."
"By who?"
"Those friends who were chasing you."
Without another word, the young princess stopped abruptly, with the prince behind her, wondering what was happening.
She narrowed her eyes. "I know you're there! Come out!" she yelled to the shadows. Thinking she was crazy, Syaoran was about to comment but then also sensed a presence with his remaining magic.
It was another goon of the rebels.
He appeared from the shadows, laughing at the two children in front of him. "Hand over the prince, little girl, and no one gets hurt," he threatened.
She didn't budge. The guard became furious, his patience wearing away. "I said hand him over, wench!"
Sakura smiled sweetly when a large beast with white wings came out from no where and pounced on him, knocking him unconscious.
Immediately, she jumped onto its back and reached out her hand. "Take my hand, Syaoran-kun!"
Syaoran was so confused. What was happening? He didn't even know if he could trust her!
But.
Something was telling him to go with her and grasping her hand, he also jumped onto the beast's back.
And leaping into the towering tree branches, the guards came running to their location only to see a large beast with two children getting away.
~*~
Syaoran reluctantly hopped off the large beast after Sakura as they arrived at a clearing where a pot of soup was boiling and some food. The prince also noticed a stack of glowing, strange cards by a set of clothes.
He turned his gaze to the large beast. It was like a lion yet it had large white wings and it's fur was both ivory and coffee. Syaoran had to admit that he had never seen something like it before.
Sakura kneeled by the pot, serving three bowls of delicious chicken soup as Syaoran took a seat on the other side of the fire, shivering.
"You must be cold," she said, startling him. "If you need another set of clothes, its right over there."
The prince nodded numbly and managed a small "thanks" before leaving to change. But not before flashing an unknown smile to his new companion.
*
When he got back, in a new grey-green outfit, he took a seat by Sakura, who was petting the beast, waiting for his return.
Taking a bowl of soup, he hungrily ate three bowls, Sakura eating two while the beast ate six.
"Who's he?" Syaoran asked as he finished his meal, putting things away in a pack. Sakura turned to his with curious eyes.
"Hoe?"
"The large beast."
"Oh! You mean Kero? He's my guardian and my friend!" At the sound of his name, Kero opened one sleepy eye from his slumber.
"I see."
Sakura continued to put her things away, preparing for sleep, taking out two blankets. Syaoran watched her, wondering.
"Um. Kinomoto-san?" Again, Sakura looked at him but this time being finished with her work and sat next to him.
"Sakura," she corrected. "I would much prefer that."
"Do you live her all alone?"
Sakura shook her head. "Iie, I just camped her for fun when I was training. My Tribe actually lives in the middle of the forest."
"Well, Sakura, I was wondering why I've never heard of the Clow Tribe?"
Her emerald eyes looked distantly at the winking stars above her, lying back on the ground. "That's because we live secret." She turned to him and winked. "So don't tell, okay?"
"'K" he answered confidently, smirking. Then, he looked at her curiously. "Did you know I was lost?"
"Nope. Kero sensed you in our forest and so we saved you. We can't let bad guys here."
"To protect your secret Tribe?"
"Hai!" she said. "Who were those people?"
"Rebels."
"Rebels?"
"Yeah; there are few people in my kingdom who oppose our system so they chased me and I got lost."
"Oh. I understand," she replied with knowing eyes.
Syaoran joined her gaze at the stars. "But. how can you trust me? We're strangers!" Syaoran remembered his own life, how it was natural to not trust others.
"'Cause we're friends!" she exclaimed, as if it were obvious. He smiled at the comment. She was so. so innocent and kind.
'Friends'
A large yawn escaped his lips and he found himself sleeping contently under the stars with a new friend by his side.
~*~
The bright and radiant sun awoke the young prince from his sweet slumber. Opening his sleepy amber eyes, Syaoran noticed that Sakura was gone.
"I'm over here." Syaoran turned to a figure in front of him and saw that it was only the young princess, smiling.
But then a frown replaced her brilliant smile and it almost broke Syaoran's heart to see her so sad.
"What's wrong?"
"Come with me." She walked to an area moments away from the camp to the edge of a cliff, Kero and Syaoran at her heels.
Syaoran finally caught up to her and gasped to see his castle at the bottom of the cliff. Relief washed over him but then it was changed into sorrow.
Then he realized why she was so sad; he had to leave and they would never see each other again. He wouldn't be let out of the castle alone nor could Sakura be permitted out of the forest because of rules.
It was impossible for them to meet again.
"Kero will take you down to the palace." Sakura trailed off, almost in tears. She rubbed them away and smiled, taking out two gifts.
"This is a sword with great power," she explained as she put a Chinese sword in his hand with a sheath. "I know you have magic so don't deny it. Please train with it and you will become stronger." Syaoran nodded.
"And take this." Sakura put one of the strange cards in his other hand. It was a card with a heart and wings in the middle. "It's a card from our village. Please take care of it, Syaoran-kun."
She wanted to cry. He was one of the few friends she had from the outside and now, he was leaving.
He then pulled her in a tight embrace, stroking her hair and comforting her.
"Don't worry, Sakura. I promise. I promise that we'll meet again somehow and that we'll always be friends. I could never forget you!" he told her.
When they parted, he took off a necklace with a gold charm of a grey wolf and the symbol of the Li Clan and put it around her neck.
"I want you to have this, so that we'll always be together." Sakura nodded and gave him a final hug before he jumped onto Kero's back to return to his kingdom.
And till he landed to the palace, Syaoran Li kept his eyes on his first true friend and his first true love until he could no longer see her.
And.
And he vowed to never forget her, and to use her gifts, keeping them and using them well.
And he vowed to always keep the girl, Sakura of the Clow Tribe, close to his heart.
Forever.
~*~
Hope you enjoyed it! It was only the prologue.
Next chapter: Ten years after the incident.
Please review!
JA!
Aya-chan