Fragments and Heartstrings

Chapter 2: Calling to be Saved

Syaoran and Fai came back several hours later. When he came back and saw Sakura awake, he quickly ran over to her.

"Princess! Are you okay?" he said concernedly.

She shook her head. "I felt the feather. Luckily Kurogane- san stopped me from floating away,"

Syaoran thanked Kurogane and Kurogane gave his usual grunt.

"Looks like we have a lot work to do tomorrow," smiled Fai. "The Spider Devil in the castle is using Sakura-chan's feather to control the spiders."

"He went in the castle to find his daughter years ago. They say that the Spider Devil had forced her to become his wife," said Syaoran, "Her father came back, but…"

"He got bitten by one of them, and now he's becoming a spider himself," said Fai. The sparkly optimism had left his eyes, "He desires blood, and he sleeps on a bed of silk. He lives further away so he won't attack the village."

"It won't be easy. Spiders guard him, and one bite of the spider will turn you into them too," said Syaoran, "But I'm going to do it. I have to get the feather no matter how hard it is."

Kurogane looked away, frowning. He didn't say it, but he admired Syaoran's determination in returning the Princess' feathers.

"If it's bugs we are fighting, it will be easy," said Kurogane. How many times have they gone through similar adventures and battles?

"Syaoran-kun…" said Sakura, looking worried.

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan, if Syaoran will do it, he'll do it," said Fai, "Right Kuro-rin?"

"We have to go tomorrow," said Syaoran, "We should get some rest tonight. In the day time, the spiders are less likely to come out as well."

Futokushi offered the little food he had stored in his hut. Sakura stared glumly at her meal.

"Princess? Is the food okay with you?" asked Syaoran. She shook her head.

"I'd like to eat my meal later. Thank you, Futokushi-san for your hospitality," she said, and went to another room in the hut that Futokushi prepared for them.

"Why is Sakura sad?" said Mokona sadly, "Mokona will make Sakura happy!"

"Let the Princess be for a while," said Kurogane, and picked Mokona up and placed Mokona infront of him.

"Okay! Mokona will snuggle with Kuro-pon for now," said Mokona.

Syaoran smiled, and looked at the direction of Sakura.

"I think Sakura-chan want to join in our adventures," said Fai.

"It's too dangerous," said Syaoran.

"And that's exactly why Sakura-chan is so sad. She does nothing but worry, and we always run off without her," said Fai, "Syaoran, don't look at Sakura-chan as a girl, but as a woman who has grown up. She may have forgotten her upbringing, but Sakura-chan is strong and can depend on her strength to survive."

"When did you start narrating again," said Kurogane.

"I'm a born story teller," said Fai, with a twinkle in his eye.

Always so mysterious, and never answers a question, thought Kurogane.

"Now, Kurogane-san, bring this to Sakura," he cheerfully said, and handed Sakura's bowl to him, "Syaoran needs to talk to Futokushi and you should do your portion of work!"

"What have you done so far, you lazy mage" grunted Kurogane, and went to give Sakura her food.

"Princess? You should eat, or you will make the kid worry," said Kurogane.

"Oh, it's you, Kurogane-san," said Sakura, and she smiled. Kurogane saw that the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I'm not hungry yet. No need to worry about me, as always."

"You need strength if you want to fight with us," said Kurogane.

"I think that strength is more of a burden," said Sakura.

"Emotional strength is much more powerful than physical," said Kurogane.

Sakura stared at Kurogane, and blinked several times. She smiled, this time the cheerfulness reached her eyes. "You're right, Kurogane-san. Thank you."

Sakura picked up her spoon and started eating her meal.

"Neh, neh, when did you Kuro-puu get so wise," teased Fai when he walked in. Syaoran came in and knelt beside Sakura.

"Sakura, please don't worry about us. If anything, I'm more worried about your wound. You were lucky it was a scratch, if the spider bit you, I can't imagine what that would do to me. How will I ever face the King?" said Syaoran.

"Syaoran-kun…"

By the time the sun set, Syaoran, Fai, Mokona, and Kurogane were all sleeping. Sakura laid still on her mat, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't fall asleep. She tossed and turned, and she heard Mokona starting to squirm.

Oh right, he didn't like it when I tossed in my sleep, thought Sakura. She got up quietly and walked to the entrance of the hut and opened the door, went out, and shut it quietly. She looked up in the sky. There no ordinary stars that she had seen before in her country, but there were twinkling purple lights instead. She felt peaceful, standing under the vast sky.

And then she heard a voice in a low, raspy, sickening voice. "Blood…"

The voice seemed far away, but it was still audible. Sakura gasped, and did not move. She looked in the horizon, hearing where the voice came from. It sounded sickly, but it was drawing her in.

"Blood…"

She stepped away from the hut, and started walking to the right, where the source of the voice came from. She didn't want to follow it, but her legs kept walking in that direction.

"Princess!"

Kurogane ran out of the door and saw Sakura stepping away from the hut. He ran infront of her.

"What are you doing!" he yelled. Kurogane had woken up when he heard the door of the hut closing. He thought it was Mokona making noise, but realized Sakura was not in her bed.

"Kurogane-san, I can't stop walking…" said Sakura as she continued walking, despite Kurogane being the way. She walked right into him, and she continued walking, pushing Kurogane back.

"You..can't" and he held on to her shoulders, trying to stop her. But Sakura kept going forward, while Kurogane tried pushing her backwards. The force that was drawing Sakura was very strong, and Kurogane had a hard time preventing Sakura from moving. His grip tightened on her shoulders and Sakura's eyes welled up with tears from pain.

Kurogane softened his grip for a second, and Sakura pushed him backwards.

"No! Princess!" He leapt up, trying to hold on to Sakura. He tried to pick her up, but she was stuck on the ground.

"I'm sorry about this," whispered Kurogane, and with full strength, he wrapped his arm around Sakura's waist and pulled her in the opposite direction. Sakura felt the force slapping against her and she screamed. Kurogane lost his balance and fell, with Sakura under his arm.

"Princess, are you okay?" Kurogane got up and held Sakura's dainty figure in his arms. She looked lost, confused, and in pain. Her leg was bleeding again.

"Kurogane-san…" said Sakura, "I heard a voice, and I followed it, even though I didn't."

"It's all right now," said Kurogane, and he looked to the right, trying to make out anything that could have called out to Sakura. He lifted her up and carried her back inside the hut. When he arrived there, Syaoran jumped at the sight of Kurogane carrying Sakura, her leg bleeding, and her eyes looking frightened.

"Princess!"

"I'm okay," said Sakura and proceeded to explain what happened, "If Kurogane-san wasn't there, who knows what would've happened. I thank you."

"Kuro-rin is a savior today!" chanted Fai. He looked at Kurogane's face. Kurogane, he was a man of few words but a heart full of kindness. Fai noticed that Kurogane had grown to care for the Princess throughout their adventures. Fai felt himself wishing that he was there to save the Princess too.

"Ne, Syaoran was very worried about you," said Fai. He took the Princess' hand, "Don't run from us again, okay Sakura-chan?"

"I won't," smiled Sakura.

Kurogane found some spare bandages and started to wrap Sakura's wounded leg. She bit in her lip, in anticipation for the pain.

"It's okay, Kurogane-san, I can do it," said Syaoran and took over. He smiled of relief at Sakura, so thankful she was safe. What would he do if Sakura was taken away, he thought, get her back of course. She is the most precious person to me, her ability to live is what helped me live.

"Why did it happen?" asked Kurogane.

"Hmm, if Sakura-chan is hearing voices, it may be the feather calling out to her. If the Spider Devil is controlling the spiders and they need blood; they may be using the power of Sakura-chan's feather to communicate one another," said Fai.

"Put a lot of thought into this," muttered Kurogane.

"Of course, Kuro-puu! If Sakura-chan is involved, I'm involved," said Fai playfully.

"There," said Syaoran as he finished wrapping up Sakura's wounded leg.

"I think the Princess should come with us tomorrow," said Kurogane.

"What? Princess Sakura is not taking part in any of this," said Syaoran defensively.

"What if the same episode happened again? It's better to have us there to protect her, than leaving her here," said Kurogane.

"Kuro-pon is starting to think of other people," said Fai and poked Kurogane's cheek.

"Get away from me!" bellowed Kurogane, "I'm going to sleep."

Syaoran hesitated, and then sighed. He lifted Sakura into his arms, one arm around her neck, and the other arm around her hand. He furrowed his eyebrows, and frowned. "Princess, make sure you stay with me at all times."

"Don't worry, Syaoran-kun."

Kurogane stood up, ready to go to sleep, and stopped when he felt a tug on his cape. It was Sakura.

"Thank you, Kurogane-san. You saved me," Sakura smiled. Her eyes shined with gratitude, and a faint smile danced upon her lips.

Kurogane flushed, and thanked silently that it was at night.

"Rest up for tomorrow, Princess."

A/N: I'm sorry; I realized that the first two chapters became an over-used, cheesy start. I'll try to make some more interesting stuff in the future chapters! I'm really into developing Kurogane and Sakura's relationship! Sorry if I seemed like I neglected Syaoran x Sakura and Fai x Sakura! I realized it's a bit hard to step into each character and try to speak/talk/think like them! Please leave some reviews so I know how I'm doing.