Chapter 3
I am slow to wake the next morning, the bright sunlight blinding my eyes the moment I awake. I didn't remember Yukito for a moment until I realize the spot I'd been staring at all night was empty. I get up so quickly I'm dizzy for a second and the room looks like its spinning.
"Are you alright?" Yukito asks, hiding in a dark corner I hadn't noticed earlier.
I close my eyes until I regain my balance and hold the edge of my bed tightly.
"Yeah, just got up a bit too quickly. What time is it Yukito-kun?"
When he doesn't respond I become worried and search the dark corner where he had called to me from.
"Are you alright?" I ask, concerned with his silence.
"Yeah." He stutters quietly.
"Its just been a long time since anyone's called me anything other then orphan."
My eyes adjust to the dim lighting and I can finally see Yukito clearly. He's sitting on a bench near the door with his knees to his chest and his arms encircling them. His whole posture reeks uncomfortably and uncertainty. His gaze will not meet mine ,but I can tell whatever he's seeing is far from Clow's boarders.
I come and sit next to him to him in silence and wish I knew what to say to make the pain he's feeling go away.
"No one will ever call you that again Yukito-kun." I promise, knowing it was all the comfort I could give him at this point.
I reach out to hold his hand and console him, but as I move closer his eyes meet mine. In them I see more horror and terror then a boy his age should know.
I withdraw my hand slowly, but don't break eye contact with him.
All is silent in the room except for the soft chirping of doves on the balcony rail.
"Nine." He states suddenly, surprising me enough that I flinch.
"What?" I ask stupidly.
"It's about nine or so."
"Oh…..You want to get some breakfast?"
"Sure." He mouths, rising with a noticeable grace, but he doesn't look back at me again.
We're silent as I lead him to the dinning hall. I have so many questions, but I'm afraid of how he'll react. As we get closer I can smell that the cook has made pancakes for breakfast. I turn and smile at Yukito with my kindest grin.
"We better hurry before the monster eats all the pancakes!" I called, running ahead of him of him and around a corner. I pause and wait until I can hear his lighter footsteps trailing behind me.
The dinning hall is in the center of the castle and filled with lots of little tables for when we have banquets. One large table sits in the center that we use for our everyday meals and to my relief my little monster of a sister has yet to arrive. Cook had placed large plates full of pancakes in the center of the table and the smell alone has my mouth watering. Yukito picks a place across from me on the other side of the table and you'd think he'd never seen food before from the way he was staring at it.
"Dig in." I encourage, handing him a plate.
It seems he was waiting for the okay before he starts piling the food onto his plate. His obvious lack of weight was defiantly not due to a personal choice. This might have been his first decent meal in months. He's so into eating it's a wonder he hasn't started choking yet.
"Slow down, there's plenty where that came from." I teased.
His face turns the lightest of pinks and I'm mesmerized by the addition of color to his features.
"Toya!" A high pitched voice suddenly calls from the doorway. Sakura enters in her night robes and rubs her eyes sleepily. She's the sweetest of 7 years old really, but I don't want my alone time with Yukito to end.
"You started to eat without me!" She accuses, not noticing Yukito's presence.
"You snooze, you loose monster!" I taunt, giving into my more childish tendencies.
She's pouting so cutely the most cold hearted of demons would feel remorse for causing such a look to cross her lovely face.
Finally she looks up and notices Yukito and the pout is replaced by the most dazzling of smiles.
She runs up and nearly knocks him over in her hurry. She gives a shaky curtsy and looks him over curiously.
"Hi, I'm Sakura of Clow! What's your name?"
Sadly Sakura is too young to understand the concept of personal space and is leaning way too close to Yukito, causing him to pale and edge toward the edge of his seat.
"Yukito." He stammers quietly.
Sakura continues to be oblivious of his discomfort and leans closer.
"Hi Yukito-kun!" She exclaims happily.
Three things happen at once and before I could even think of interfering it's over.
Yukito's chair tips over completely, Sakura grabs for his wrists, and without realizing it she grasps onto the bruise made by the trader.
Finally Yukito screams. The sound is one of the most terrible sounds I've ever heard and I pray I never have to hear it again. It's such a heart wrenching sound Sakura lets go immediately and Yukito falls to the floor. I run over to his side in an instant and try to be comforting without touching him.
"Are you okay?" I ask quickly.
My words are muffled by Sakura sitting on the floor next to us balling and her little eyes out.
"I'm so sorry Yukito-kun! Please forgive me!" She blubbers loudly.
Yukito's face is in a grimace of pain as he holds his arm and he's biting his lip to stop from screaming again. Hints of tears are appearing in his eyes and he takes a deep breath to calm himself.
When he opens his eyes again they're filled with pain and sadness.
"No, it's alright your Highness, it's my own fault."
"No it's my fault!" She screams, refusing to be consoled.
Suddenly she opens her tear filled eyes and smiles brightly at us.
"I know how to make it better!" She shouts at the top of her lungs.
She reaches out her hands tentatively and holds Yukito's wrists with in her tiny fingers.
She closes her eyes in concentration and we watch her with open curiosity. Her face is peaceful and when she opens her eyes again her smile would put a cherub's to shame.
"All better." She sighs, getting up to grab a plate of pancakes before skipping back to her room.
"Sorry." I whisper, kneeling down to examine the mark.
"She can be such a klutz sometimes. If you want Father can bandage that so that one does tha-"
"Look." He whispers in wonder, holding his wrist up for my inspection.
The bruise has lightened several colors and looks weeks instead of days old. I whistle in wonder.
"I didn't know she could do that good a job."
"You knew she could do that?" He asks in amazement.
"Yeah only Father and I know, she thinks it's a little spell to get rid of pain, but it's her own magic." I explain.
"Can you do that?"
"Nope I didn't inherit any magic from my parents. A rare skip in generation."
"Oh." He mutters, sounding between a cross of disappointed and relieved.
I'm not sure how to react and try to act as though I didn't hear it.
"Still want a bandage?"
He's still looking at his arm in astonishment, but shakes his head at my offer.
"No, I'm fine."
"How about a tour then? I could show you the whole palace before dinner."
He turns to smile at me with a smile that make my heart skip a beat and I'm grateful he'd missed the shocked look on my face at how much that simple gesture meant to me.
I spent the rest of the day showing him the castle, the garden, and where he'd stay if he decided to become the high priest's apprentice. I was desperate to have him stay in Clow as long as possible. The thought of him leaving hurt too much to think about.
Our way of life is apparently very different then that of Leam, from the way he questions every aspect of my culture. He seems to find each answer more amazing then the last and I'm scared to find out what kind of land Leam is. I'll have to remember to ask Father if he knows.
I'm true to my word in showing him the whole palace long before dinner has started and when we're finished with that we return to my chambers and talk for hours.
It feels nice to be able to talk to someone my own age for once. He asks an endless amount of questions and with each answer he opens up a little more. Soon though his ivory orbs begin to droop and remain closed for longer and longer amounts of time.
I feel an odd serge of affection for the pale teen next to me and decide to let my angel get some sleep. Though we have not spoken of what lay in the future for him I'm content in the knowledge that for one more night he is still within my sight.
"We should get some rest Yukito-kun. We have all tomorrow to talk." He nods sleepily and grins.
"Alright your Highness." He half yawns, blowing out the candles and returning to his mat.
"Toya." I whisper into the dark, unable to see him.
I hear him shift on his cot and then the confusion in his voice.
"What?" He asks, half asleep.
"You can call me Toya……Okay Yukito?"
"Okay Toya." He mutters faintly, his breathing then becoming the even sound of sleep.
"Good night Yukito. Sweet dreams."
I'm posting this one a little earlier then usual because of a very kind PM from one of my readers who really wants the next chapter posted as soon as possible. I hope she likes it and even though I'm no longer demanding reviews for chapters I would like some for my hard work! Tell me how I can do better!
Yours truly,
Jessica499499