The Silver Moon

Summary:Xiao Lang Li, Prince of the Li clan, locked up in the Asylum of the Human world for reasons unknown. Accused for murder, his memory erased, declared amnesia, his life a void and perhaps meaningless, his mind only left with one thought to ponder on. Sakura. Can Eriol, Powerful Sorcerer of the Clow Dynasty, help Li revive these memories and perhaps, stop the apocalypse?

Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Romance/Angst.

Author's note: Chapter 3 is up finally! I'm here apologizing for my delay, and promise 'Pocketful of Sunshine' will be dealt with ASAP. :)

And: Do read and review! And I hope you like this chapter!

3: Love Story I

I've been awake for a while now
you've got me feelin like a child now
cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tingles in a silly place

-Bubbly, Colbie Caillat

*


"Would you perhaps like some more gin, Eriol-san?"

Eriol looked up to Mizuki Kaho's face and smiled slightly, shaking his head in response. Xiao Lang sat next to him, intently gobbling down the fresh rice balls and fish gravy. Perhaps at home, Eriol would have detested the thought of rice down his throat but now, where everything seemed to be as tiresome as farming, Eriol didn't really have anything against the food.

His mind wavered efficiently traveled to the gypsy, and he couldn't help but frown every time he realized that the girl held master to the Clow Book. How in heaven's name she got the book in the first place is beyond him, and then, how had got past the guardian?

"Guardian?" First

Eriol snapped his head to Xiao Lang's whisper, when Xiao Lang only looked to him questioningly. Then, there was the expression of surprise written over his face as well. Eriol smiled.

"Good to know you can hear me," Eriol answered.

Xiao Lang frowned and scoffed. His mind was a blank for the moment, but Eriol knew what he was interested to know. He only nodded to Xiao Lang, willing him to wait for a few more moments. He gestured to Mizuki, sitting a little farther away on her own mat, knitting her new piece of woolen article. Eriol smiled, standing up along with his plate, Xiao Lang following in pursuit.

"Thank you for the meal, Kaho."

Mizuki only smiled in response as they placed the plates in the back verandah for cleaning, and made their way back to their hay beds through the small wooden door. Eriol sat slowly on his own haystack, wondering where to begin with Xiao Lang. He had known that this talk would eventually come, but how much could he entrust upon Xiao Lang's broken self? He sighed before he began his tale.

"Long ago, even before the Earth has said to have begun its course about the Sun, there existed a Sorcerer so powerful and mighty, that sometimes people like I mistake him for God. Many magical items that we use today without the common man's notice of course, is said to have been either discovered or created by this man. His name, as you might already know, is Clow Reed,"

"Of course! Reed. The Reed Dynasty." Eriol smiled a little at Li's comprehension. He nodded to his enthusiastic answer and continued on, laying out his spectacles and closing his eyes.

"To us, Reed has always been a teacher, a mentor, more than just a mere God. He had our dynasty started about 1400 BC, just about the time when he discovered the magic of the cards.

"The cards, as you know, are creatures in built in rectangular casings so as to use their abilities for the greater good. Clow Reed was the first to discover these cards and use them to build our environment as we know it. Some even say he had a hand in the development and destruction of the different ages, starting with The Stone Age, and etcetera."

Xiao Lang looked incredulously at Eriol as he stopped. The pause had been vehement, prolonged and even enthralling. He took a few moments to understand exactly how brilliant this mastermind of a Sorcerer was. And then, he understood.

"1419 BC. The year Clow disappeared." Xiao Lang stated, as-a-matter-of-fact wise. Eriol's eyes opened briefly as he watched Xiao Lang's expression. Then, he smiled.

"Yes, Clow Reed disappeared that year with only a void to go along with it. No one knows what had happened to the great man, but some say he passed on. Other say his body crumbled into ashes as he was whisked away with the winds of time to a better world, for the greater good. His form, his soul, never took birth upon our galaxy again, and that is why today the cards are where they are."

"They've been passed on to a gypsy girl?" Xiao Lang asked, ridiculously, plopping himself onto an elbow to relax the talk a little. The lamp was as bright as ever, the night was growing darker. It would be soon time for them to stop, and once that time came, Eriol would be more than persistent to shut himself up into the bottle that he is. Xiao Lang needed as many answers before that so he could satisfy his greed.

Eriol's laugh emerged suddenly, rather shockingly for Xiao Lang. He jerked to sit up in response, wondering what had gone wrong. Eriol spoke between his laughs.

"Do you honestly believe the book was passed on to someone who doesn't even belong to our Dynasty? When we are here to take care of whatever has been left behind, why would Clow leave the book to her?" He spat venomously. Eriol had had a hard time engulfing the fact that The Book of the Clow was now in a stranger's embrace. His mind had not allowed him to understand why Clow Reed would leave the book to a mere human, when all of his kith and kin were waiting for his magic to be taught. He exhaled deeply before trying to regain calm.

"Perhaps it was, for we do not know. Coming back to our discussion. All we know is that there was a guardian, a mystic creature to help guard the book for safe keeping. If Clow had made a guardian, then why pass the book on at all? The creature would surely protect it's creator's magic at all costs." Eriol reasoned to himself and with Xiao Lang. Xiao Lang nodded assuring Eriol his wondering as well. He thought for a bit as he yawned instinctively. Xiao Lang had been through one his hardest days today. But Eriol was not finished.

"Tell me, do you remember this girl at all?" Eriol asked, pulling off his coat. Xiao Lang immediately shook his head, turning the lamp's wick down. An owl hooted from a tree just outside the barn.

"I don't remember anything about her. Not in the least." He responded, as he pulled off his shirt and pulled the covers over himself. Xiao Lang fell asleep almost as soon as he closed his eyes, leaving Eriol in the wake.

It could be that Xiao Lang was right. The Book might have actually been passed on to this stranger girl… maybe for safe keeping? Maybe even for passing it back to the Dynasty once she was no more. Clearly, the masters keep fluctuating.

Eriol turned around in his stack, letting the hay prick him. The bullocks and cows were snorting rather loudly that night, and that disturbed Eriol more than usual. He closed his eyes in defeat, not satiated with how much he comprehended of the Clow. He then remembered Clow's prophecy.

In a matter of a few millenniums, the world would be theirs (The Lis) to control, invade and destroy, for they will start the creation and conclusion of this World.

If the Clow Book went to the gypsy girl, and his own kith, including the guardian, had no role to play with his magic— then what role did the Lis play?

*

Prince Xiao Lang wandered aimlessly through the Castle as he thought of his vain day. His eyes were red from the lack of rest and his obstinacies. Just the thought of how his hunt went the previous day agitated him to no end. His eyes then fell on the Royal Orchard. He decided it would be nice to take a stroll in the night light.

Xiao Lang descended the steps quickly, as he looked around for any person roaming about the orchard like himself. He sighed in relief as he stepped deviously towards the lush red plums. His mouth salivated with just the thought of the ripe juicy sweetness in his mouth—

"I thought we concluded you would not be eating anymore of these plums, Xiao Lang."

Xiao Lang winced at the sound of the voice that boomed through the orchard. He merely turned around in agony, his face fallen to a simple pout. There his mother stood in all glory, wonderful for the fact that she could catch Xiao Lang before he ate his plums and fell sick once more. She smirked at his form, herself clad in a beautiful evening ball gown of a light grey velvet. Her hair was neatly tied up, which showed to Xiao Lang the obvious.

"You are journeying somewhere, perhaps?" he asked, with a little hope still left for at least one plum. His mother merely smiled at him.

"Of course, my sweet. Tonight is the engagement party for your cousin, Mei Ling. She will be waiting for us." His mother specified, as Xiao Lang only jerked to the statement.

"You never told me I would be required to accompany you, mother." he told her. He walked slowly towards her form beneath the steps, taking her cheek to kiss. He smiled, realizing how he hadn't seen his dear mother in over four days now. His schedule—and the rotten gypsy—has kept him rather busy. His mother looked at him with wistful eyes, knowing how hard his days have been perhaps. She smiled back in return.

"Perhaps it would be best not to disturb your routine, Xiao Lang," she agreed. She patted his cheek twice before noticing the slight wince her son had brought to his body when she neared his neck. She widened her eyes in shock.

"Have you hurt yourself, Xiao Lang?" she asked, frantically running her hands down his shoulders. Xiao Lang found no use to avoiding the question or lying, as she unclasped his robe, making it fall around his feet. His mother then backed away, taking a good look at his bandages. She met his eyes at that instant, worry casting over her face.

"I should not leave you like this. How could you not intimate me about this?" Her anger once portrayed only makes Xiao Lang feel like he'd made a mistake. He sighed, nearing his mother as he stepped neatly out of his fallen robes.

"Mother, I did not want to worry you over such trivial matters. It is only a gash, and the nurses have taken care of it." Xiao Lang convinced as much as he could, hoping his mother would calm down. Her body could not take such strains, and he knew better than to bring up such topics. He brought her close for a hug, murmuring in her ear as best as he could.

"And what would Mei Ling think if neither of us present ourselves at her Ball? Be reasonable, mother. She is waiting for you…" he trailed off, bringing them both apart. He walked back a few steps, knelt to bring up his robes and held them out to his mother, asking her silently to help him put them back on. His mother pulled the robes closely to her, sighed and brought them about her son's torso. She smiled, which suddenly faltered to a scowl. She brought Xiao Lang close to her once more, making him question her about her activities.

"Have you been practicing some new magic, perhaps?" she demanded, letting her hand graze over his wounds.

Xiao Lang shook his head immediately, wondering how his mother could have identified the difference in magic so well? He smiled at her as she pulled herself away, instructing her lovingly.

"Now, if you don't get along, Mei Ling will certainly send our loving sisters back to haunt me with ponies and face magic creams for the rest of my life."

His mother only nodded as he walked her back up the steps, through the expanse of their living room and to the front gate. Her Ford Bronco II waited silently for her as she waltzed her way in. She rolled down her window after having her door shut for her, waving goodbye to Xiao Lang in return. Xiao Lang smiled, waving back at her. He then walked back to the house, hoping his day ahead would not be too strenuous for his weak self. He then dismissed hunting all together, settling on simple meditation or good reading for his next day.

As he secured the doors and ordered the guards, he walked to his private quarters to retire for the day.

*

Eriol and Xiao Lang awoke early that next day to the sun's bright rays. As usual, it was another sunny hot day in Tomoeda. Eriol scowled at the sun as he yawned once before stretching himself to wake. He placed his spectacles on, viewing his surroundings clearly. Xiao Lang was still fast asleep. His breath was still deep and even, and he knew it would be a while before the boy awoke. Eriol's eyes then fell on a heap of clothing placed on the far haystack, near the cows' sheds. He made his way over, smiling to the sweet note left in English.

Some clothing for you and your friend.

-Kaho.

Kaho always made him feel at home, like he could come back and always hope to feel at rest. Like his entire day hadn't occurred at all. Like his entire life had never taken place. Every little bit of restrain that he felt for keeping things from her was slowly snapping away, for he knew the woman was smarter than what met the eye. She was wise, clever and even slick when it came to it. There was no telling how much information she could conceal.

This time had much detail to offer for the ones who needed. Eriol shrugged out of his current clothing, discarded it neatly on the same pile and hopped into his fresh attire. A rather bright yellow kimono for himself and a brown one for Xiao Lang. It had been over four days that he'd worn the same around everywhere, including the forests they explored. He then sat simply on the haystack, wondering what they should do today.

Eriol should have thought to bring his reading material along, but knew that would've been troublesome. Some research wouldn't have hurt. Even a laptop or perhaps a smart phone would have been satisfactory. It was far too bad that there was no place they could research here—

Of course!

As he leapt into the air to wake Xiao Lang to change into his clothes, he pulled out his seal and glasses. Who in their right mind and senses would've forgotten of The Royal Library?

-

The Royal Library, Historians say, was the one place that the common man and woman was given no access too, as reading was forbidden for their like till the Lis were overthrown. It was only after that that the peasants would come out of their holes and head out for knowledge and inquisitiveness. That fact not only posed a problem for the both of them, but also hindered a large portion of his plan.

Behind him, Xiao Lang rang constantly in his ears, reminding him of the pain he could be every once in two seconds.

"Why the rush? It's not like the library closes nine in the morning?"

Xiao Lang's trivial complaints rather amused Eriol as the two rushed across the tree tops to Tomoeda's solemn reading spot. The Library.

The two leaped onto the ground with as good as a grip as that of a cat's, running to the walls of the great structure. The library stood in front of them, tall and broad, ranging over three acres of fresh land. The lawns were green, the flowers were in full bloom and the paths were being washed. Carriages lined up one by one, seeking permission to enter.

Eriol signaled to Xiao Lang to follow him to the gates. The guards stood just at the entrance, looking for a confirmation of some sort, making Eriol's expression change completely. He merely walked on, and Xiao Lang followed. They stood before the guard in the next few moments, awaiting questions that Xiao Lang did not know of.

"Yes?" The guard asked gruffly from his stand post. Xiao Lang winced. Eriol knew the outcome of this conversation, but spoke either way.

"We would like entrance to the library, if you please."

The guard took in their appearance over three times before the reply came.

"The Royal Library is for The Lords and Ladies of Tomoeda and other foreign townships. It is not of any service to the local peasants of this land, or of any other."

Xiao Lang opened his mouth to speak. Eriol held his hand out to him in rejection. Arguing would not help their situation any.

"Understood," Came Eriol's cold and cut off response. The two of them simply turned around and walked to the west of the library's perimeter. There, they were contemplating.

"Now what?" Xiao Lang asked impatiently, as Eriol crouched to the ground to think. His brow wrinkled as he thought of how the library might not possess anything of value or importance. Perhaps it would be best not to barge into its vicinity and cause an unknown havoc.

"Eriol!" Xiao Lang hissed, as Eriol only shooed his hiss away with his hand. He wondered of the artifacts that perhaps all of the Li's had collected and stored in this majestic building. This very Library had come under the government only after the Li's rule had dissolved after Queen Yelan's death. Every single document of any detected importance was shifted off for further research or to the Museum of History.

"Eriol—"

"What, you bumbling imbecile? What? What could it possibly—" Eriol's words stopped abruptly. His senses averted to the familiar aura of the pink Clow Mistress, whose cards emanated a glow so unique, it could never quite be forgotten. He then stood up and watched for her trail, pulling out his seal to advance a release. He spoke to Xiao Lang, whispering the words of his chant right after.

"One way or another, we will enter this library."

-

Prince Xiao Lang strolled relentlessly down the aisles of the vast library, searching for his interest. His eyes fell from the spine of one book to the next as quick as possible as he ventured into the next aisle, repeating the same. His feet carried him swiftly into the next aisle, where his eyes fell on the back of a particular woman's head. He paused, watching curiously as to where the interest of this one would go.

He followed her step to step as she watched the spines of the books, looking for a particular. She then turned around, her cloak thrashing the air around to come face to face with the prince himself. The prince met her strange green eyes and smiled, only to remember the inevitable. He gasped, wincing backward in rejection.

"You!" he stated obviously, looking around for someone to alert. He glanced at her attire, a woven silk dress with her high boots and the incredulous cloak. It made him wench in disgust, as he plotted the many ways in which this vile and insolent human should be destroyed in. He wanted to guide her into a dark corner and perhaps strangle her to death with his beltings. Or perhaps—

"Are you going to, so very rudely, ogle upon acquaintances?" Her bold voice boomed into the light and open air of the library. His eyes narrowed as he took two steps away from her figure.

"I am no acquaintance of yours, as you aren't of mine." His ego spoke.

The girl smiled at him, stepping forward and away from his form as he gaped in agony. He turned around and bellowed.

"Do you not know who you speak with, girl?"

Sakura turned around, her eyes lit with amusement and pure tease. She stopped in her place, her voice barely a whisper.

"The Outrider to our beloved prince?" her carefree words fell grudgingly onto the prince's ears as she glanced through the several rows of books. Her eyes fell on a particular book, as she waved for it and called it to her form. The book fell gracefully from its former position into her delicate hands. She read without any hesitation or fear, ignoring the pri—the outrider.

Xiao Lang watched her gleeful movements and felt a shame, a kind of guilt for lying to her of his true identity… but no matter. She was only a gypsy. What she thought of him made no difference to the kingdom.

"Yes, yes that is so." he slowly agreed, walking toward her. He felt drawn to her, curious about her intentions, as he looked upon the title of the book. 'The Book of the East' was a brilliant book to read at this time of the year, especially since the English and the Americans had flourished all so well. In fact, the rumors were that… his thoughts all together stopped along with his footsteps as he processed— his eyes rose in agony.

"You—you can read?"

The girl looked from over the book and didn't move a muscle. Her eyes seemed to mock him in many ways that he could fathom. He was only an Outrider in her eyes, and that was suitable for now. She would obviously assume the best of the Outrider, as after all, he serves the prince directly during the day.

"Can't you?"

His mouth fell open as she moved along the corridor, selfish and ignorant to the brilliance of his mind. He stalked closer to her form, stood exactly behind her tiny short frame and hissed.

"Who do you think you are, gypsy girl? Have you not read the rules?"

Sakura turned around immediately, placing an index finger on his lips to hush him to silence. She smiled softly, speaking words that seemed incoherent to Xiao Lang at the moment. Her hands seemed soft to his rugged man skin, her skin smooth as cream and honeysuckles. He wanted to sigh in relief.

"I will keep your secret, if you will keep mine, said-Outrider." she explained as she pulled her hand away from the prince, making him yearn for something he could not explain to himself.

"And between us is all right, but you never know who might be listening…" she looked up to the glass windows that opened out to the vast courtyard of the library. She turned her gaze to the high bookshelves present in the book room, through the different rows to the end. She smiled.

"Can you keep a secret?" she asked him as he stood, unresolved and undetermined. Her eyes sparkled under the morning sunlight that crept through the windows, making him imagine the lush green grass of his hometown in China, the green that he tapered all over his personal space back in the mansion that helped his grief, his separation.

How was this short one's mere blinking driving away all form of solitude and bringing back… safety? His lips almost rose to a smile, a smile that he never shared with anyone, not even his own mother.

"Of course," he almost whispered, making her grin. She stepped away from his form and waved a goodbye to him as she chant her spell and left in seconds, leaving him dazzled for the rest of the day.

-

"Maybe she's not as stupid as we think, Eriol," Xiao Lang explained, as they walked from their morning at the Royal Library. Eriol merely stared into the space ahead, wondering.

Eriol had been able use his magic and make them invisible just as the girl pointed up to their form and checked for magic. He should've known that the Clow's chosen would never be foolish, let alone weak and incapable. She had been far better than his first impressions of her, making him feel foolish. Him, the Clow's descendent. He sighed in frustration.

"At least now we know how much she can do," Xiao Lang pondered loudly, kicking a rock out of his way. Eriol stopped walking as he stood and watched the mud and the sand lay still, until the wind came and drifted it away. Xiao Lang stopped walking ahead as he realized he'd left Eriol behind. He watched him for a movement, but clearly…

Eriol felt a fear in him he hadn't felt before. They had only encountered Sakura twice, once when she was saving the Prince Xiao Lang Li, and now, when she had used her mind and soul all too smartly. It wasn't enough time for her to pass judgment on what had been happening around her, or of any noted changes. She wasn't talented enough to look through masked auras and created illusions, but she was not a fool.

How had Eriol fallen for this so easily?

He looked to Xiao Lang and stared… hard. Only looking, before Xiao Lang squirmed under his gaze. He raised his hands in frustration, after which he heard the explanation.

"I have a feeling we can never gauge her true strength, Xiao Lang." Eriol finished before he walked towards him. Xiao Lang only looked.

"What does that mean?" he asked innocently, turning to walk as well.

"It means that she is far more than what she seems…"

*

It starts in my toes
and I crinkle my nose
where ever it goes I always know
that you make me smile
please stay for a while now

-Bubbly.

Disclaimer: CCS belongs to Clamp. (Gulp...) I tend to make it seem otherwise.