Yay, time-for-plot time! It's epic; it's awesome! It's…chapter three! Whoo!

XD Sorry. But seriously, the plot is moving forward now! I'm so super excited getting into this plot; you have no idea!

…Just kidding. You have to wait one more chapter. XD Or two.

Either way, I know it's ridiculously short (even by this story's standards) but I hope you enjoy this read!

Ch. 3: Underway

"Syaoran~!" Mokona chimed eagerly. "C'mon, let's hurry! Food shopping, food shopping!"

Mokona's tiny form was practically invisible to Syaoran's eyes in the midst of the bustling street and the food market stands lining its sides. By the time he actually located the tiny rabbit, he was ready to drop. Keeping it in sight had been a chore to Syaoran in itself, since Mokona kept bouncing around like a hyperactive marshmallow. The blistering heat of the afternoon didn't quite help either. Once Syaoran actually caught up with and managed to convince Mokona to wait in front of a fruit stand, he was so winded he was gasping for air the whole time he spoke.

"Please slow down a little," he panted pleadingly, bracing his hands on his knees for support. "I can't keep up if you keep moving like that!"

"But we need to hurry!" Mokona insisted. "The feast is supposed to start soon, remember? We need to get the bread fast! If we don't, then everyone will eat without us, and we don't get any food, and Mokona will be sad, like this!" Its long ears then drooped and its squinty eyes became exaggeratingly downcast to emphasize its point.

"But we still have plenty of time for us to get back after buying the bread," Syaoran pointed out, but Mokona wasn't listening as it suddenly took on an absolutely horrified expression.

"Aaaaah! If Mokona doesn't eat, then Mokona will be hungry!" it squeaked in fright. "And if Mokona is hungry…" It squealed in terror at the very thought and started bouncing all over the place in anxiety once more, piping in panic, "Aaaaaah! No, no, no, no! Mokona doesn't want to be hungry! Being hungry is bad! Nightmare, nightmare!"

Syaoran finally managed to catch his breath and – by a stroke of luck – Mokona itself as it unwittingly leapt in the direction of his face. Its tiny body was still flailing in his grip, crying, "Mokona needs food; Mokona needs food!"

"Come on, Mokona; calm down," Syaoran said in a reassuring tone. "Don't worry; you'll get your food. I'll buy some apples just for you; how does that sound? Then we'll make it back in time for lunch to start. No one is going to be hungry. We'll all have lots to eat."

At those words Mokona instantly cheered up; its eyes (or what could be seen of them, anyway) brightened up considerably. "Well, if Syaoran says it, then Mokona will believe you!" it said happily.

Syaoran had to chuckle at its antics. It was really hard to not endear to them. For that moment, the mood was completely light.

Then they heard the unmistakable voice of the princess cry out from behind them, "Syaoran!"

Both of them turned around in surprise in the direction of her voice since neither of them had expected to see her out here. Even from a distance Syaoran could glimpse the anguished look in her jade-green eyes, and his stomach dropped to the soles of his feet. Something was very wrong.

"Sakura!" he cried as he ran to meet her, nearly dropping Mokona in his haste. "What is it? Did something happen back at the palace?"

The young princess fought to catch her breath before answering. It seemed like she had full-on sprinted here from the palace without stopping to rest, and she wasn't known for being a person with high stamina. Syaoran had to take her by the shoulders to keep her from collapsing in exhaustion. He led her into the shade of a nearby building, away from the bustling bazaar.

Mokona hopped lightly onto Sakura's shoulders. "Are you okay?" it asked in concern.

Sakura wiped her tears away and managed a breathless, "Don't – don't worry about me."

"What happened, Sakura?" Syaoran demanded once she could breathe properly. "Something happened, didn't it?"

Sakura seemed to find it hard to say the words. Her eyes were welling up in tears again. "Oh, Syaoran – Tsubasa – Tsubasa is –"

Syaoran's blood turned to ice. No, it couldn't be true; it just couldn't be. Not after all he'd gone through already. "What? What happened to Tsubasa?" he asked, feeling panicky. "What happened to him?"

"I – I don't know," she whimpered, pulling herself into his embrace and burying her face in his shirt. "Someone…someone came into the palace and then…I don't know what he did to him, but Tsubasa, he – he isn't waking up; it's like he's trapped in a nightmare! He looked like – he looked like he was in unbearable pain! It's horrible; I – I can't stand it!" Her final words came out in a muffled wail, and Syaoran could feel her sobbing and trembling in his arms.

Syaoran himself was in a state of shock at her news, but he had to be strong for her. "Sakura, you have to hold it together," he instructed her, his own voice shaking despite himself. "Tell me – is that person still at the palace?"

The princess finally pulled away and shook her head. "I'm – I'm not sure. He was still there when I left, but –"

"You mean you left both Tsubasa and the princess alone with him?" That remark came out harsher than he'd meant it to, but Syaoran thought that Sakura would have at least had the sense to leave them with bodyguards or something if they were being assaulted by an assailant.

"Of course not!" Sakura said quickly, sounding contrite. "Fai and Kurogane are with them! I would never leave those two unprotected! Not after – not after what Tsubasa –"

"Okay, I understand," Syaoran said reassuringly. "Just calm down. Don't worry about a thing. Tsubasa will be all right, I promise. Mokona, you go on ahead to Kurogane and Fai," he added to the tiny rabbit creature. "We'll catch up with you. Be careful on your way there."

"Right! You be careful too, Syaoran! And take care of Sakura!" With that Mokona bounced of Sakura's shoulder and out of the shadows, headed in the direction of the palace.

Once Mokona was gone, he turned to Sakura, whose delicate features were inscribed with worry. He wiped away another one of her stray tears as he said gently, "Don't worry. Everything will definitely be okay. Let's go back to the palace." His amber eyes darkened, and the words he thought he'd never have to speak escaped his lips. "I want to see for myself who would dare do something like this to our flesh and blood."

And the third chapter is done! I'm really plowing through these, aren't I? Don't worry though; things will slow down come chapter 5. ^^ That's when the chapters will get slightly longer (Finally!).

Well, until next update (which will probably happen really soon)! See ya!