The Other Shore

By Sakura and Syaoran 4eva

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Haha yes. For some reason I am starting my fourth fic. Even though some of the others have not been going to well, I hope people like this one. I made an effort to not make this one as random as the others. If you're looking for randomness go read CCS Gang on MSN.

And please! I'm begging you! Pretty please with an artificial tinned cherry on top! No SILENT READERS!!!

XD

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"They are taking advantage of the deadly disease spreading around our kingdom. I must stay and support father, make sure everything doesn't go down in chaos. And you, Sakura, your job is to go find the cure reportedly located near the city of Tirale. Bring it back to us immediately, as I'm afraid they will grasp this opportunity to attack us."

Her brother, Prince Touya's, words ringing in her ears, Sakura tugged on her black shirt uncomfortably and mounted on a majestic winged tiger. His golden fun glistened in the sunlight and the colours danced off the red jewel crowned on his head, they took flight from the balcony of her room. Sakura turned her head back and gazed longingly at the pink curtains flapping in the breeze, curtains she possibly could not see for another year or more. The castle became smaller and smaller until it was just a dot behind them.

A tear formed, sparkling in the corner of Sakura's uniquely coloured eye. She swiped it away before it could trickle down her face. She turned to look at her best friend seated behind her, the one who had insisted on accompanying her. The girl with long, lustrous black locks containing a tinge of violet, that cascaded down to her waist, gave her a friend a reassuring smile. Sakura smiled back gratefully. She turned to face the front again, a determined look set on her face.

I have a great friend supporting me, Kero accompanying us and blessings from the whole kingdom. I promise you all, I will not fail to find the cure.

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A young man walked out of a small wooden cabin and stretched, letting the sunlight wash over him, filling his ears with the musical chirping of the birds. At first sight, he appeared to be a peasant not much older than about 17; he was dressed like every other commoner out there; beige shirt, greenish-dark brown pants, black boots. After he slung his quiver of arrows over his head, one would think he was a hunter who made a living out of slaughtering small animals. But as soon as he took a few steps along the path out towards the forest, it would be obvious that he had been underestimated. The way he walked, the distant air that surrounded him, all made him very different from an average peasant.

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They had passed houses and farming lands long ago and now all that was beneath them was a grassy plain. The wind rushed past their ears, Tomoyo squinted her eyes, shielding them with one hand against the blinding sunlight, looking at the green foliage coming into their view.

"Your highness! I think-" Tomoyo was cut off by her best friend.

"Tomoyo!" Sakura sighed exasperately, "How many years has it been since I told you not to call me that. Especially now, since we're going to have to make the impression that we are just normal people."

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan. But I think we're crossing the border. Didn't your brother warn us that they could track us using magic once we're outside of the Kinomoto Kingdom if Kero was in his true form?"

"You're right. Kero, let's go down."

"As you wish." The guardian of the sun answered his deep voice.

He prepared to land when Sakura suddenly yelled,

"Are they Lord Gorath's' soldiers standing at the edge of the forest? He's got them here, waiting for us already?!" She pointed to the five black dots standing in amidst the trees.

"How was he informed that-" Tomoyo didn't get to finish her sentence when an arrow came flying their direction. They had been sighted. Kero immediately dived down, making the girls scream as their stomaches lurched at the sudden movement, skimming above the trees, desperately trying to dodge the arrows coming their way. Kero tore through the trees, snapping branches, accidently snagging his wing on a twig. They crash landed in the middle of the forest. Losing balance, Sakura rolled off Kero, landing in an awkward position.

The golden tiger was the first to get up, and in a blinding flash of light he reverted back to his simple form, which resembled a cute orange teddy bear like creature with petite wings and a fluff on the end of its tail.

The creature, about the size of a teddy too, flew over to the girls crumpled in a heap on the ground.

"I'm sorry! Sakura-chan, Tomoyo-chan are you alright?!" He asked in a worried tone, his voice now higher and almost squeaky.

Sakura groaned in response.

Tomoyo sat up, a dazed expression on her face. She finally regained her breath and said,

"At least we're far enough from them. They won't be able to track Kero now, and they are still at the edge of the forest. We should be able to outrun them, if we start moving immediately."

"I just hope they don't have some way of communicating with the other soldiers scattered around this area."

"There are more of them?" Sakura was now sitting too, looking wide eyed at Kero.

"I'm just assuming. It is quite unlikely they only sent five to guard this area. I'm afraid there are more around this forest…"

Sakura tried to stand up but an immense pain shot through her ankle, causing her to fall back with a yelp.

"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo ran to her side.

Sakura winced and stated miserably,

"I think I twisted it in the fall."

"We'll never outrun them like this! We're doomed and the journey has barely started!" Kero threw his little arms up and cried dramatically.

"I'm sorry..." Sakura whispered in a small voice.

"Don't be. This isn't your fault." Tomoyo insisted firmly.

"Now you," She pointed at Kero, "shut your mouth, stop saying discouraging things and go fly ahead and lead the way."

Kero gaped at her. Tomoyo shot him a disapproving glare. The little creature flew off grudgingly, muttering under his breath.

Sakura blinked, surprised. She had never seen her friend look so commanding.

Tomoyo helped Sakura back on her feet, slung one arm over her shoulder, and slowly, step by step, they hobbled through the forest.

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He walked cautiously, treading lightly so that the leaves didn't rustle beneath his feet. He had let his instincts take over completely, and was deeper into the forest than he had thought he was. He closed his eyes, listening intently, hand slowly reaching behind for an arrow, when suddenly he heard the rabbit he had been tracking scuttle off in fright. The scampering of small feet was soon masked by the sound of a repeated thudding that shook the fallen leaves on ground.

Horses.

He opened his eyes and saw his ears hadn't failed him. Seeing the majestic black and silver uniform the riders wore, he knew they were Gorath's soldiers. Not wanting to get involved, he quietly slipped behind the nearest row of bushes. He crouched down and peeked through a small gap between the dense leaves. The horses were getting closer to the side he was on. A small whimper from his left made him snap his head in the direction…to come face to face a girl. The first thing he noticed was her eyes. Her eyes were the exceptional colour of emeralds, glistening bright. They captivated him, enchanted him.

Sakura couldn't look away. She felt herself drowning in the intense amber orbs staring right at her. She was mesmerized, they seemed like two pools of molten lava, and looking closely, she saw her own shimmering emeralds reflected back in them.

He broke the gaze when he realised she wasn't alone, a girl with long wavy hair was behind her. He looked back at the soldiers, who had almost reached the bushes, and back to the girls, who were waving their hands and shaking their heads desperately.

They must be searching for them.

He had to do something, soldiers were headed exactly where they were.

Should I…?

He didn't want to make a decision he would regret. Finally, he made up his mind and stood up.

He walked casually in front of the bushes, the soldiers halted to a stop when they noticed him. They urged their horses to slowly trot his way, moving away from the bushes.

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

The young man continued walking as though he hadn't seen the soldiers.

"You there. Hey you!" One of them called rudely.

He stopped and turned slightly.

"Yes?" he asked in a careless tone.

"That's yes sir to you."

No reply.

"Peasants these days. Don't even have enough knowledge to understand the word 'respect'."

The boy folded his arms across his chest, 'I'm so bored' clearly written on his face.

The second soldier snarled and got off his sandy coloured horse. The animal whinnied. The boy's face showed mild interest as he stared at the animal, much more interest than he had shown any of the soldiers.

The soldier, taller than the boy, walked up to him, an intimidating glare on his face. He leaned forward until their noses were almost touching, his foul breath enveloping the boy's face. The boy didn't even flinch. Slightly disappointed, the soldier sneered in a rough voice.

"Peasant. Have you seen the Princess anywhere around here?"

"Princess?" The boy arched an eyebrow.

The soldier sneered again.

"Of course. A filthy commoner like you would never have had the privilege to lay eyes upon the Princess." He taunted him.

The boy remained silent, his expressionless face blank.

"Orders sent from our Lord and powerful ruler of the lands, we must find the Princess and take her back to him to fulfil some of his wishes." He announced in a different manner, clearly proud of his job.

The boy felt like scoffing, but held it.

"Have you seen a girl, not much younger than you, brown hair, green eyes. No, wait. We are guessing she will be disguising their colour. Perhaps brown hair, brown eyes."

"You've just described half the girls in this village." The boy replied sarcastically.

"Why you.." The soldier raised a fist angrily.

"Darin! Stop. He's not worth it. Right now our task is to find the Princess, no use wasting time on a brainless peasant. We'll deal with him later." One of the mounted soldiers called.

Darin snarled at the boy.

"…teach you some manners later…" He muttered menacingly as he returned to his horse.

The boy remained standing, arms crossed, face expressionless as the horses sped past him, almost colliding with him on purpose.

The…princess?

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Sooooo how's that for the first chapter? Much different from my other stories? Worth a review? Anything I should change?

Please! If you've read up to here, review! Aww, how much would I take to make a girl happy for 5 minutes of her life? I promise I'll jump around screaming yay and then reply immediately!!

Lol and again, please no silent readers!