Chapter Two :: Can't Keep Me
Greenland Isle's Dungeons
She felt a soft touch on her skin making her slowly stir. Her mind awakening to the warm feeling of day. Chocking out a low groan of pain she tried to move but that pain was going through her entire body. Her upper half was stiff, ribs sore from a fight she couldn't exactly remember having and she felt like a thousand needles were piercing through her neck. Opening her eyes she was met with the bright light of the sun. It was coming through the only window of the whole area, lighting up the dense room quite brightly. Swearing deeply she turned her head with much difficulty and sat up with a loud hiss of pain, feeling her spine crack. Forcing her eyes open to the other side this time hoping that the sun wasn't shining through an unknown window. What greeted her was not the sun but dark brown eyes, blinking down at her kindly.
"Mother-! Don't fucking do that!" she seethed through clenched teeth as she brought a bandaged hand to her chest, nails digging at cloth. Her heart was racing madly in against her chest, threatening to pop out if she had another scare like that. She managed to glare at him when didn't look much affected.
"I see your French is good as ever." The knight commented as he stood up. She followed his movements as he went to a different area of the cell. He held his body erect, like a soldier should.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she stood up as well, crossing her arms over her chest. A cold draft had sent chills through her bones. He turned and looked at her, a rather weird grin on his handsome face. She stared blankly at his shirtless body, his toned muscles moving with every stride he took to the window. What once was his green tunic was now nothing but shreds that made as make shift bandages around his torso and arm. She couldn't help but look at herself. Her left wrist and hand was covered in his shirt as well as her neck. "You did this?" she felt the cloth on her neck.
He looked away from her, his expression unreadable now. She couldn't imagine what was held in his eyes. "Yeah, just awhile ago when I woke up. You were bleeding pretty bad." he continued to look out the window, taking in what scenery they could. That's when it hit her. She finally noticed that they were somewhere unknown to her, or at least unknown at the moment.
"Where are we anyway?" she examined the gray walls, a bit of dried blood on it and something else she didn't want to know. Hay scattered the ground slightly, a good amount of it in a far corner away from the window. Her eyes traveled along the barred surroundings before stopping at a figure slumped against a wall in a different cell. His head down against his chest as he snoozed, dirty arms crossed over a half opened shirt. "Oh no," she bit out and stomped her way to the side of the cell. The knight looked at her finally, amused at her form and tone of voice.
"What? You finally figure out where we are?" his voice was dead as he examined her stoic form just leaning forward against the bars, her blood red blouse loosely hanging in front of her. Though her hand was bandaged she still managed to wrap it around the bars and press her face against the cold iron, like she was begging for an escape.
"It's you," she practically yelled out. The figure slumped against the wall looked up at the voice. Recognizing her he smirked, the note of drunkenness on him inevitable. He looked away from her, uncurling his arms from his chest before getting to his feet in a fluid motion.
"Well if it isn't the Princess of Thieves. What you do fall into another one of your own traps from the idiot knights?" she glared at him, her emerald eyes dilating with hatred. He simply glared back with ice gray eyes that seem to take a dark look, his unruly black hair hanging in his face. The guy was tall and thin but muscles were a trait that would fool anyone that he wasn't wealthy. His face was unshaven and dirty. It looked like he'd been there for a few days or more.
"Shove it up Kai. I'm surprised you're still in here unless you got caught again playing your dirty dealings with the knights as well. Unless I'm mistaken and you just come here for a night to sleep." He growled and went forward, hands wrapping around her own as he pressed his face mere centimeters from hers.
"You should talk; you got caught in that dealing just as badly as I did. You're just a girl that betrays her fellow thieves when it comes to being in the slammer." He hissed into her face. His breath foul. She wrinkled her nose and breathed from her mouth.
"What ever, I would never betray my kind even if they are scumbags like you." her voice took on a dangerous tone before she stepped back yanking her hands free from his grasp. She stepped a few feet backwards and looked at him, her long hair waving around her waist.
"Who are you calling...?" Kai growled but a loud bang echoing from the entrance interrupted them. Jumping from her skin in surprise, she moved away from the iron bars towards her knight, her emerald eyes once again full of mischief. Kai looked at her for a few seconds before looking towards the hall, which to large bulky shadows bounced their way from. The shadows turned out to be two large knights laughing crazily in, their swords hitting their thighs roughly.
"If it isn't Betsy and Joe." She replied lowly that only Syaoran could hear but one of the knights heard and glared at her, his tiny black eyes hidden behind bushy eyebrows. In which case…he was u-g-l-y in the scary way.
"Who are you calling Betsy bitch?" he asked, stepping up to the bars of her cell. He was large in size too. Broad shoulders that were fatter then muscles but that was what made him large and strong. The other knight went to get some keys that were hanging on a far wall, away from anyone's reach even with little tricks of clothing.
"You of course." She sneered, taking a step forward and crossing her arms like a child. "I just assumed that was your name, I mean I see you and Joe over there together all the time so I thought you changed it so it sounded less conceited when he moans out your name." The large knight unsheathed his sword at his belt, bringing it through the bars to stand inches from her bandaged throat. It only gave her more amusement as she looked down at the stained steel before her
"Watch what you say girly or you might be moaning your own pain soon." She simply made a face at that, thinking for a second before taking a centimeter step to the side, away from the sword.
"Nah, it would still make you a transvestite whether you screw me or not…Betsy o' cow." He growled at her remark and lunged forward so his face was pressed against the metal bars tightly. The sword almost nicked her but Syaoran pulled her back in a swift movement roughly, making her snap her head against the cement wall. Her laughter echoed the cell room, almost sounding like a witch with an evil plan. She watched as the captive knight and Betsy glared daggers at each other before the large one pulled his sword back to his sheath.
"You better watch it Princess, soon as we're done with your little cell neighbor you're next to the taking." Her laughter seized abruptly and she stepped dangerously closer, her back blocking out the sunlight that seeped through the window behind her.
"Don't fucking call me a Princess asshole. Either use my name or don't talk to me at all but no one ever calls me a Princess and gets away with it unscarred." He huffed a laugh before turning to wait for his partner to pull out Kai from his cell. Then as if they were never there they left, banging the door closed.
There was complete silence after that and she leaned up against the wall, letting her hair fall in her face in waves. Her face completely hidden from view. "What do they call you then?" she lifted her head up slightly, the life back in her face since her little outburst.
"Sakura of Greenland Isles at your service monsieur knight." He sweat dropped as she curtsied and stuck out her bandaged hand for him to shake. He took it delicately not wanting to hurt her and she lifted up, a sweet smile on her face that made him smile a true smile that reached his brown eyes.
"Syaoran of Avalon, mademoiselle thief." She smirked before doing a quick spin to face the window. He watched slightly fascinated as she wrapped her fingers around the iron rods blocking the window. Planting her bare feet firmly into the ground she tugged, her face going red from the struggle. It was a little while before her palms began to burn and she let go, falling flat on her back. Syaoran leaned over her form, a smirk on his face. "What are you trying to accomplish?"
She crossed her arms, sticking her tongue out at him. "I was trying to break these damn bars off and escape this hell hole but I failed the first time." She got up, once again wrapping her arms around the metal. "And you should know what they say…if you failed once try and try again until you die." This time she placed her feet on the wall and pulled, her body going upwards. Syaoran sighed and sat down against the wall, watching her. He caught sight of a small design on her ankle as she fixed her feet more delicately against the wall. It was an hourglass with Egyptian writing surrounding it, the same design as from the necklace the girl in the picture was wearing.
He looked up into Sakura's face. Her eyes were closed as she continued to tug madly at the single bar. Her long hair almost reaching the ground as she arched her back. In truth, she was beautiful with her dirty face and scarred body. Even her personality was unique and not peachy and practiced like most. More beautiful then the princess's he always has to see when his mother sets him up. Because he was a player, he never stayed with them for more then a few weeks. There was always something wrong with the girl. But this girl here…A squeak of surprise escaped the thief's lips and she fell backwards with a groan. He made to help her up but she sat up, crossing her legs underneath her and holding her skirts. A pouty look was placed on her face as she stared at the window like it was evil.
"I'm really starting to get pissed off." She bit out before hopping to her feet in a swift movement and attacking the metal bars with more anger then the second time. Syaoran shook his head absently, closing his eyes. Nope, she's defiantly not like normal girls.
Thirty Minutes later
There was a sudden shriek and Syaoran's heart jolted him awake from his small nap. He automatically reached for his sword but found it wasn't there. Looking at his belt in confusion he sighed. Of course it wasn't there…he was in jail. He looked over at the cause of the commotion and saw Sakura lying on the ground once again, her skirt up to her thighs, revealing more of the freakish designs spiraling up her left leg. As if realizing he was staring at her perfectly tanned legs, he blushed and looked away. Sakura suddenly got to her feet, cursing like never before as she brushed hay from her hair and body. He turned to watch as she rubbed slightly bleeding palms on her skirt before wrapping them once again on the trap windows. The bandage he'd wrapped around her hand was gone now, a bloody shred of cloth on the ground now.
He let out a tired breath as he watched once again the young thief try her best to get the bars off the window. For a girl with such a small and skinny frame he had to admit she was strong. Another thing he was beginning to like about her. The bar had moved barely an inch, twisting and sending her falling back to the ground. The green bandage around her neck had come loose and fell off her skin as she ran straight at the window, shaking the iron bars like a crazed monkey. Her neck wound wasn't a pretty sight with lack of ointment and care. A purple mark was surrounding dried blood as it went straight from the middle of her neck to her collarbone in a diagonal line. He was about to ask her if it hurt still but thought better of it as she tried to pull apart the bar with her hands.
One hour later and still no progress
Determination for trying to escape a jail cell is also at a high level but the determination that Sakura of Greenland Isles showed, was higher then anything. Gritting her teeth, her feet planted firmly against the wall, her fingers wrapped tightly around one of the two bars, and she tugged. By now she had a few scraps from the bars jagged ends on her palms and fingertips. The makeshift bandage wrapped around her wrist and palm tore long ago, from her efforts of escape and it now lay with the bandage that had been around her neck wound. She hadn't even noticed it fell off her. She tugged and pushed, tugged and pushed trying to get the now loose bar to come off its little holes. Tears welled at the corner of her eyes as she used all her strength making muscles she didn't know she had to burn.
Hands wrapped around her own and she lifted her head upwards to see Syaoran behind her. He smiled down at her before pulling at her arms. Keeping his body beneath hers so it was easier to pull. He was helping her. After all this time, he finally decided to help her. She smiled mentally before arching her back in a deep struggle to get the bar loose. Her fingers slipped with blood and they both fell to the ground. The bar still in its place, mocking them. Sakura began to laugh, and he wondered if she'd gone mad. Lifting them both off the ground he watched her slid a bloody hand down her skirt before she fixed her hair for the billionth time that hour.
"Would you like to explain what's so funny?" Syaoran asked when she wouldn't stop her girly giggles.
"Me, you, this. All this time you've been sitting there watching me and dozing off and when you finally want to help the thing still doesn't even budge. It's complete madness!" and with that she attacked the bar once again. Crying in frustration. The door opened with a loud bang and Syaoran jumped, taken off guard. He turned his intense brown eyes to stare as one large shadow came pounding down the steps. "GOT IT!" Sakura shrieked. He whirled around at her and saw to his utter amazement one of the bars in her bloody hands but what caught his attention was the mess of blood on her left wrist from a cut.
"How did you…?" he was cut off when she hid the bar behind her with her bloody hand and stepped to lean against the cement wall. Her face was placid to an innocent kind of way, which surprised Syaoran to say the least. She wasn't at all innocent when she was trying to take apart metal bars.
"Are you two enjoying the time you have left before you die?" a large knight came in, holding a small child by the wrist. She was small, her long black hair wavy at the ends which twisted around her bony elbows.
"We were until you showed your ugly ass face in here." Sakura retorted dryly, but her attention wasn't set on getting the guard aggravated but on the small child with her nails digging into the guy's wrist. She wanted release and he wasn't letting it happen. No noise came out of her mouth as she bared her teeth and tried to get free.
The knight ignored both girls as he took a set of keys and unlocked the cell gate. "Clever bitch," opening up the cage he tossed the little girl in. Syaoran caught her easily, setting her next to Sakura who wrapped a protective arm around her bony shoulders. The girl was hesitant for a few seconds before wrapping her dirty arms around Sakura's thigh. "The three of you got until sunset until Prince Cree executes you." he sneered before exiting.
"Prince Cree…I thought the isles were ruled by the Kinomoto families." Syaoran said lowly. Sakura looked at him for a brief second before pulling away from the girl and going to work on the remaining bar. He saw the look in her eyes when he mentioned Kinomoto so he planted himself against the wall and looked into her emerald eyes. Wanting to see her face when he spoke to her. "There's something you're not sharing."
"What?" she breathed out, placing the loose bar behind the other one. Cleaning off her bloody hand she wrapped it around the horizontal bar and pulled.
"Prince Cree…he's not a Kinomoto, he's a Tsukishiro. Where's the original ruler to the isles?" the attempt to ignore the knight while she tried to escape didn't work. She fell backwards after releasing her hands from the bars. Sitting up and staying on the ground she looked up into his intense gaze. She was debating in her head. What to tell him. What not to tell him? If she should tell him anything. Sighing she held his gaze hard.
"If you must know the Kinomoto's are dead. Raided and killed in their own bloody kingdom seven years ago. Since then King Marloc of the desert land has pointed his sister's son Prince Cree to rule the Isles because he too died just a few years ago. Are you happy now?" she looked away from him, afraid that tears might fall. Syaoran's faced paled at that and he knelt to the floor besides her. Lightly he held her chin and turned her face to him, tilting it up at an angle.
"Every Kinomoto?" his voice was knowing but he couldn't. Her heart raced. Does he know? She wondered. A single tear fell from her eyes and she pulled away from him, standing up abruptly. Wiping her face it with the back of her hand she held herself to talk. "Sakura are you sure every…"
"No…King Fujitaka died in the raid, along with some of the Kinomoto cousins. Prince Touya was said to have disappeared, possibly taking shelter with the neighboring land. Princess Sak…the princess was kidnapped by the raiders and found dead by the Uralic River." I'm not allowed to tell anyone what happened to me…I'm not. But he seemed so willing to understand. She thought as she went back to pulling at the bar. Wanting to ignore everything. To forget everything that she just said.
Syaoran was taken aback by her harsh words. Though he couldn't remember what the name of the Princess was, he sure knew of her. For he had been set to meet her six years ago for a possible engagement. An engagement he knew he would never keep for more then a few weeks. He had never found out why it was off for his parents never told him but now he knew. He watched Sakura try her best not to show the pain in her face from her hands as she slid from its grasp on the iron bar. Her small body moving to get better footing on the wall. She was acting like she hadn't said anything. Then it donned on him. How the hell did she know about this, she was just a mere thief? Wasn't she?
"Sakura how do you know all this? How do I know you're not just lying to me?" When Sakura's grasp slipped he caught her easily by the waist holding onto her tightly. She moved in his arms but he wasn't going to let go. "What happened really?" he asked, using his other hand to hold her face and force her to look at him.
"I told you what happened. It's the fucking truth. You can believe it or not but I don't care. It's in the past and I don't want to remember it anymore so will you please let me go." His hold loosed and she yanked free from him. The way she moved, he knew she was still sore around the ribs but that didn't bother him. It was her words.
"You were kidnapped…that's what Lady Abigail told me. Sakura be careful!" the bottom half of the last bar snapped, cutting her from her left wrist to her thumb. She fell backwards, landing with a thud on the cold ground. Clenching her eyes closed, tears were spilling in the corner of her eyes down into her hair. Syaoran knelt besides her trying to help her up but she pushed him away roughly with her right hand. Turning she got to her feet awkwardly, but she managed. The little girl was staring at her with freight filled eyes, her bangs in her eyes. "Sakura…" Syaoran spoke.
"Yeah…I was kidnapped so what!? It was in the past and I don't want to think about it anymore." She wiped off the blood like it was nothing and began pulling and shaking at the broken bar. Not even bothering to look at the knight in fear she would break herself. He couldn't help but think of the princess in the picture at Lady Abigail chapel. He was torn from his memory when the little girl walked up to Sakura and wrapped small hands around her waist, holding her. Though she was having trouble since she only came up to Sakura's thighs. Sakura paused at what she was doing and looked down. The girl had buried her head into her skirt, making it hard to see her face and emotions.
"What is it?" Syaoran asked, having finally gotten over what Sakura had told him, though it still lingered in his mind. Sakura knelt down, peeling the small child off her. Her large teal colored eyes were staring blanking into Sakura's emerald. Her head tilted down shyly.
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked sweetly, lightly caressing the child's face with the back of her hand. The girl said nothing, just continued to stare. She looked up at Syaoran who was staring expectantly at them. "Tiyùe quleas bãktêl?" she tried again with the only other language that people speak on the islands. There was still nothing.
"Does she even speak?" Syaoran asked, kneeling down to their level. A bright light lit up on Sakura's face. "Well?" he asked, seeing the look.
"I don't think so. Do you speak at all?" Sakura asked this time the child shook her head. The two looked at each other. Syaoran was frowning. A child that doesn't speak? "It's very common for children not to learn if they weren't raised by families." She explained to Syaoran who looked confused. "How old are you?" the child brought up her whole hand, five.
"She's only five…why the hell is she in here?" Syaoran burst out, standing up. Sakura looked up at him before standing up as well. Instantly the child clung to Sakura's leg and she sighed. Syaoran looked once again at Sakura then down at the black haired child. His heart lightened considerably as he looked over at the window. "Let's get out of here, shall we?" taken aback, Sakura stepped to the side and watched as Syaoran began doing what she'd been doing since this afternoon.
It was a little while before Sakura decided to sit down besides Syaoran who was still attacking the pole. Though he'd done a lot better job of getting it loose then she did, it still wasn't budging. Bringing the child into her lap, she began rocking and humming a tune her older brother use to sing her when she was little. Syaoran looked at the two after his billionth time of the bar and watched. The girl had her head on Sakura's chest; eyes closed as she absently sucked on her dirty thumb while her hand held Sakura's hair like a blanket. Her bangs had been pushed back behind her ears, revealing a small tanned face. Tanned and dirty just like the woman holding her. Sakura had her own eyes closed as she rocked slightly, humming sweetly. He smiled, taking in both girls beauty.
Going back to the bar, he wrapped his fingers around it and tugged. It moved slightly and he smiled, twisting it around and tugging hard on it. It creaked as it was moved in the opposite way it was broken. A loud bang sounded, jolting Sakura from her doze of humming. Her head tilted as she tried to see the door where a large shadow of one of the knights was. Syaoran looked as well before he put all his force into jump kicking the loose iron rod. It snapped and disappeared on the outside. A loud clang a good ten seconds later echoing back up to them. Sakura smiled seeing him finally break free their escape and stood up, the sleeping child in her arms. The knight hadn't moved from the door making them slightly nervous.
"Well your first plan is done. What are you going to do now?" Syaoran asked as he studied the thief before him. She shifted the child and peered down out the window. They were at least two stories up if not then half a story up. Jumping would break or sprain something, but wouldn't kill them. And they had a child with them so it would be difficult. A sudden smile lit up on her face when she saw a haystack carriage coming their way. Syaoran paled seeing the mischief glint in her eyes. "Oh no,"
"Oh yes," she quickly looked at the door where the knight stood talking loudly to someone else. "I'll go first unless you want to." Syaoran looked at the sleeping child before looking down at the ground below. He wasn't calculating the drop like she had. He just knew it was a far drop that he didn't like.
"I'll go first, want me to take her?" Sakura shook her head before nudging him towards the window. It was small but wide enough to fit his broad shoulders through, which was lucky for them. Syaoran jumped up, sliding his upper body through the window. That's when he saw the carriage. He smiled before counting to five and jumping down. Sakura came next, having small difficulty with the girl in her arms. When she sidled through she just dropped herself, seconds before hearing the knight yell for help.
Sakura narrowly missed the edge of the cart as it slowly came through. She crashed, her head hitting the planks painfully. A groan escaped her throat when she felt a sudden pain shot through her back. The child was still asleep in her arms though she tightened her grip around Sakura's neck as if sensing the danger. Syaoran helped her sit up, worry in his eyes as he looked her over. She shoved him away before looking up at the prison. Guards and knights were all looking out their windows before cursing and rushing to get the prisoners that just escaped. The driver turned in his seat to see what happened. He stared at the three before stopping his mule. They went forward at the sudden stop, Sakura laughing.
"Let's go!" she yelled and hopped out of the cart and towards the middle of the crowded town. The child making it awkward to go fast. Syaoran grunted, following in hot pursuit. The man began yelling at them, calling them names before he huffed back to his work. Everyone was staring at her and the knight as they ran through, occasionally apologizing for crashing into some. Sakura didn't stop running until she reached the edge of the forest.
Syaoran stopped next to her, heaving for breath. She was fast, even with a child in her arms. "Don't…ever make me…do that again." he breathed out. Sakura looked at him, her hair disarray from running. A few hay sticks were stuck in it and Syaoran pulled them out making her giggle slightly. "Now what?" he asked, breath caught. He studied the girl before him, trying to read her thoughts.
"Now…I don't know. That deal is still up for grabs you know." She replied, staring intently into his eyes. He paused before a lop sided grin marked his face. "I don't like that look on your face mister."
"I have a better deal for you." he remarked, walking into the forest. She stared at his back before following, making sure not to trip over tree roots. "How 'bout I take you to Avalon with me no matter what but you have to stop your stealing." She stopped dead in her tracks. No longer be a thief? Go to Avalon where Touya is supposed to be. She still hadn't moved again and he was a good distance away now. Smiling to herself she looked at the child in her arms then at the disappearing knight.
"Deal!" she ran after him. Not missing the laughter from him.
Next Day…Greenland Isle…
They didn't start to travel until the next morning, in which Sakura used that time to disappear and get amounts of herbal plants from the green painted bandits she calls ogres. Of course with a small price but she paid it. When she returned that night, she had found out they were keeping watch over Syaoran's friend because there were wolves that were predatoring the area. Syaoran used his time and gotten extra food for the travel seeing how the small girl was going to travel with them as well. Disguised well he went to the village and to certain places using Sakura's name. The town's people were willing to give him extra when he told, which surprised him but didn't question it. She had secrets and he had his own. Fair enough to keep them. The child had wakened when night fell and she made herself busy and away from the other two by hanging around the wounded knight.
Eriol had no problem having the two girls travel with him and Syaoran. Though it was a weird acquainting them at such terms and learning of his fellow knight little adventure at the dungeons, he accepted them. For one thing, he didn't trust Syaoran with the medicine since they had to make more from scratch and the other thing he had found out how close the two had gotten. They were constantly together and they even went hunting together to get the nights dinner. He also was enjoying the child's company even though she didn't know how to speak but she did a lot of laughing by his jokes and his attempts to help out Syaoran and Sakura. The knights that had been searching the escaped prisoners had given up as soon as they stumbled upon one of Sakura's traps. A bear trap, which worked wonders on humans. But she claimed they would be back because she was the Princess of Thieves after all…
…The four travelers stopped as the sun began to lower the first day of their travels. It lit up half the mountain ridges, giving it an icy glow but the forest got denser and darker making it hard for the horses to see through the shadows. They were forced to go through the forest to the other end because of escaping death by the King. But that was in the past. Stopping once they got to a large clearing for them to make a small camp, Syaoran got down off his black mustang and helped his friend down. Eriol had gotten weaker since he'd taken the medicine but that was because he wouldn't eat anything afterwards. He couldn't. Though his fever broke down considerably, he was paler and a lot colder. Sakura hopped down from Eriol's horse, helping down the child that rode with her.
"Go see if there's any springs around." Sakura told the girl. She nodded her head before hopping over their packs expertly. "Wait!" she stopped in mid stride of hopping over Eriol's body and spun around. Her braided hair flying to land on her shoulder. "Take this with you," Sakura walked over to the child, handing her a sheathed dagger. The girl took it, bringing it to her small chest before running off again.
"You really shouldn't make that child go alone." Syaoran commented, gathering nearby sticks to make a fire. "She might run into wolves or something? Something like those bandits of yours." His voice was dark but she knew he didn't mean it like it sounded. At least she hope so.
"She's fine, besides…I gave her a dagger to protect herself with." Syaoran snorted, dropping to his knees and starting what he wanted to be a fire. "Don't grunt at me knight, I know what I'm doing. She'll be fine."
"I wasn't grunting," he defended. Sakura stuck her tongue out before going to one of the packs to get Eriol's medicine. "Shouldn't we give that girl a name or something? We can't just call her child or speak indirectly to her." Sakura looked up, a leather pouch in her hand. He was right.
"I think she has one already or else she wouldn't have gotten around in this young age. I'll ask her when she returns." Was her tired response. Walking over to Eriol she sat down, legs crossed beneath her, her skirt making her long legs disappear instantly. Helping him lift up to lean against the large oak tree, she smiled weakly. "How are you feeling?"
He turned his gray eyes to her, a badly forced smile appearing on his pale face. It was creepy the way he went from having a high fever and burning up to going extremely cold and pale in a matter of a two days. "What do you think?" she smirked sarcastically at him before taking a steaming canteen of liquid. Pinching in some of the medicine she shook it around before giving it to Eriol. "I swear you're trying to kill me instead of heal me." He rasped out, not wanting the liquid.
"Just drink you stubborn ape." He did as complied before coughing madly. Dripples of the substance going down his chin. He wiped it and glared at her. She was giving him an equal stare. "This time you're eating or else I will kill you." he continued to glare as she stood up, going over to a different spot to sit. As she sat down both the fire began to blaze and the child came running back, the dagger still at her chest. Sakura caught her in her arms, placing her easily in her lap and taking the dagger from her reach. "Well?" she asked, beginning to take out her braid to redo it neatly.
She shook her head. Sakura sighed. They were going to be without more water for a while. Syaoran came over to them, handing the two girls a large piece of bread. Sakura took it, breaking it in half and giving the child the bigger piece. Instantly she was devouring it making the three older ones laugh. Eriol, having of course been ordered, took his share and ate though very slowly. There was silence as they ate, the night growing darker and the fire becoming their only source of bright light. "So do you have a name?" Sakura whispered to the child, making the attention to go to her suddenly. The girl looked around for a while, thinking. When she saw what she was looking for she nodded and pointed, resting her head against Sakura's chest.
"What is it?" Eriol asked straining to see what Syaoran was pulling from the ground. "A flower?" the girl nodded again. Sakura outstretched her hand to see it and Syaoran reluctantly gave it to her.
"It's an Elyria…Lyri…is that your name?" a smile lit up on the child's face as she nodded taking the bluish flower into her hands and twirling it. The red tips spinning fast. "It's such a beautiful name, Lyri. Whoever named you taught you this flower didn't they?" at the younger girls nod, she felt the intense stare as Syaoran watched her from the opposite side but didn't move to look up at him. Instead she continued to talk her mind to Lyri. "I'm going to teach you to talk because when you're older it'll come in handy especially if you meet someone with a temper like our Mr. Knight over there staring." She giggled, as Syaoran turned crimson. Eriol laughed too before coughing.
"You should teach her to fight too. I always learned that fighting when you're young could give you privileges." Eriol suggested. Sakura looked at him, considering it before she nodded. Taking the child in her arms like baby she began to rock. Humming that same tune she did at the dungeons under her breath.
"Right now try to sound out your name. As long as you could say your name everything will come out easier for you." Syaoran stood up as she began to sound out 'Ly' first. He returned with a large over blanket, placing it around Sakura's shoulder. She looked up, her tongue out as she said the L. A smile lit up on her face and he returned it, going back over to Eriol with two other blankets for them.
…It went on like that for a couple more nights. Lyri, being a fast learning, learned to say her name properly and clearly. Sakura became a known name as well, though she only taught the child it a couple times, Lyri learned to say it with ease. They figured it was because she had gotten attached to the thief. Eriol and Syaoran's names were a different case. Eriol was soon pronounced as Earl and Syaoran's as Zighrin. After she learned the names of everyone she was with, including the horses Darkmoon and Shadow, simple words came in with ease surprising everyone. As well as teaching her to speak, she also taught her to medicine to help out with Eriol. Though he was eating again, he was still pale and began going feverish…
Sakura's eyes snapped open, the dim morning greeting her. The air was cool, a hint of sun coming through the trees above. She lay there, unmoving. There was another twig snapping and this time she reached for the hidden dagger usually under the blankets with her but found nothing. Her fingers curled around grass. Frowning she sat up with ease and stared down at the small child she'd been sharing a blanket with since lessons. Lyri was holding the sheathed dagger to her chest as she soundly slept. Her braid once again out and messy. Sakura groaned before easing it away from her small hands. There was another snapping of a twig and crunching of the leaves signaling whoever was closer. Covering Lyri back up, she went around the horses and hopped up into one of the trees. They weren't even bothered making her confused.
A dark shadow moved across in the clearing near the spring. Sakura expertly climbed to the edge of a tree limb and swung downwards until she was on the ground and behind a large willow. Peering out, her dagger ready she stared blankly at the person before her. Syaoran was moving with ease as he swung around his sword, his eyes closed. His shirt was off and discarded with his shoes by the water, revealing toned muscles that rippled slightly every time he moved. The gash on his torso from their first meeting was slightly healed by now. The small breeze of wind didn't even bother him as his bangs tickled the sides of his face. He just stood there for a few moments, chest rising and falling. Sakura watched closely as he moved in a fluid progress, causing a twig to snap and shot upwards. In a flash it was cut in half. Her eyes went wide but then a slow smirk rose on her lips. He was good. Better then the knights on the island.
"It's not as great as you think it is." He commented dryly. She stared at him, before stepping away from her hiding place. He still had his eyes closed as he stretched like a big cat. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked when she didn't say anything. Opening his eyes he watched her as she moved around him, circling him like prey. Her hand tightened around her daggers hilt but he made nothing of it.
"For awhile, I thought you were someone going to attack." She sheepishly confessed. He smirked, turning his head with her. She continued to circle, wind blowing her hair and loose clothing.
"Want a go?" he asked, making her stop in her tracks at the edge of the spring. She studied his features before a smile crept up on her face. "I'm taking that as a yes." He remarked, getting into a simple stance. She followed him; her dagger disappearing in the hollow of her palm so only the tip of the blade was between her fingers.
"I warn you, I'm not as good as you think I am. I haven't fought for a good four days." She complained. He merely smirked before lunging forward, his sword coming down on her. She ducked it before jumping over it as he swung back. The next shift she took it by the blunt of the blade and punched him in the face with her other hand. He stumbled back before smiling.
"Nice," she bowed before lunging at him, catching him off guard as she brought the hidden knife out and swiped. He dodged it barely before it went through his stomach. She tried again with a flying punch of her other hand. Syaoran dodged the fist and caught the blade in his free hand before bringing his sword through for defense. Sakura's eyes went wide as it hit the side of her stomach but didn't go through. He had stopped it right there. They weren't playing to death.
"You got me," she breathed, stepping away from the blade. Syaoran watched her closely as she backed up more towards the springs. "Trust me, it won't happen again." he smirked and stepped forward until he was inches from her. Sakura ducked as his sword swiped through then with her small figure she rammed into him, sending them both to the ground. Bringing his leg up, he pushed her off, sending her crashing into the tree behind them. Wood splintered at the impact and she slumped to the ground, her hair all over her face.
Syaoran got back up on his feet and watched as she flipped on hers and jumped upwards, gripping onto a low branch. She swung herself upwards disappearing in the depths of the hanging leaves. He raised a brow, looking for her and tossing the sword aside. She giggled and he turned around in a flash as she landed on the ground, swinging her fist then the other. He caught the first one in his hand and ducked as the other came. Tightening his grip on her fist he twisted it sideways before jump kicking her. She leaned backwards, barely able to hold her balance as she avoided getting kicked in the face. He spun her around by the arm he held. She went downwards and upwards as he spun.
Using her other hand she skidded it across the dirt, gathering up her fallen dagger. Before he could let go of her arm she brought her legs in locking them easily around his waist and brought her body up to his, the dagger against his throat. He froze, feeling the blade against skin. A slow smirk rose on her lips as she studied his eyes. "Got you," she whispered, her lips mere centimeters from his. Syaoran closed the distance, crushing his lips to hers. Her heart thudded in her chest as she felt the warmness of his lips, his body molding into hers. Sakura pressed closer dropping the dagger to the dirt.
"Lyri," Sakura breathed, pulling away.
"What?" he asked watching as she slid off his body.
"She's screaming," was all she said before running back to the campsite. Syaoran heard the second she said something before chasing after Sakura. As they got to where everything was, Lyri was curled up in a ball by a tree and Eriol was having a spasm attack. Sakura ran over to Lyri, taking her in her arms as she hushed her to be silent. Her screams were ear piercing. Syaoran went over to Eriol, getting him to sit up as his body shook violently his temperature extremely hot.
"Fuck it all, Sakura!" Syaoran grumbled as he lifted Eriol's burning body up. Sakura placed the almost silent child down and ran over to help him. "Help me get him to the springs." He got out. Sakura placed Eriol's arm over her shoulder, eyes going wide at his temperature. The two walked quickly over to the spring where Syaoran simply tossed the sick knight in. Slightly amused, Sakura watched as he went in after him.
"Lyri grab a blanket!" Sakura yelled as Syaoran carried his blue haired friend out. Lyri came running over, the blanket he'd been using in her arms. Sakura laid it out on the ground and watched as he was placed on it. "Is there anything I could do? Make?" she asked hopeful, kneeling next to them. Syaoran said nothing at first, stripping the knight from his wet clothing and giving them to Sakura.
"Burn these…" she nodded going over to the fire pit and tossing them in. She returned to see Syaoran staring wide eyed at his friend. On his thigh was a deep gash, purple from not getting taken care of properly as well as a light blue color oozing from it. "Shit Eriol," he mumbled to the half breathing guy.
"How long have you had that?" Sakura asked getting to her knees to examine it closely, ignoring the fact that he was naked. Eriol's body shook violently as he tried to cover the wound but failed when Syaoran forced him back down. "How long?" she barked, almost as threatening as Syaoran. Maybe even more.
"I got it from the battle…it's nothing serious…" he got out with slurred words. Sakura shook her head, looking over at Lyri who was appearing behind the willow tree, frightened and modest.
"Get one of the horses ready, you're coming with me." she told the girl. She nodded simply before heading towards the site. Sakura turned back to Eriol, an angry but worried look in her emerald eyes. "It's poisoned you dumbass, it's a lot a more serious then you thought. It isn't normal poison either so I can't help with the medicine that I know of. I want you to treat it as best you can until I get back." She instructed Syaoran. He stared at her as she gathered up her dagger and placed it in its sheath at her waist.
"Where are you going?" he asked as Lyri came over walking with the dark brown horse, Shadow. "Sakura…" hoping onto the bare back of the horse, Sakura helped up the child.
"Getting help, hopefully I'll be back by the late afternoon." She said, staring up at the low sun. He couldn't say anymore as she took off at a gallop into the forest. Syaoran looked down at his friend, before helping him to his feet and going back to the campsite where his supplies were. All the while wishing that she would hurry with her run.
To be continued...
