A/N: AHHHH!!! Its me!! I know I've been gone for like... forever! I've had writer's block for all of my stories. But I just got some new ideas! I hope I haven't lost any of my readers! It's a cute little babble/oneshot I thought about when I was playing with my cousins. Yes, I got inspiration from a four year old (lol). Well, anyway, let me stop talking and start typing!!!
The Great Tekkyou Tree
There it was... the feather. It glowed in the palm of Syaoran's hand like the stars over the desert horizon. It was warm to the touch, and calling out to Sakura's body. Slightly limping, the blue-eyed Fai carried the sleeping Sakura towards him, lying her down in the soft grass. Mokona bobbed about, humming excitedly as thoughts of a new world crossed his mind. Syaoran was hesitant in presenting the feather to her; what if it was a bad memory? What if it was a memory that he was supposed to be in? She... She looked so peaceful as she slept, curled in a ball in at his feet. Finally, after mustering up the courage, Syaoran knelt down, allowing the feather to be absorbed into her. Almost instantaneously, Mokona swirled into the air, his pure white wings spreading in a burst of light. Before their newfound companions could say anything, Syaoran had scooped up Sakura and followed the samurai and the blonde into blinding darkness.
Before Syaoran could open his eyes, he could feel it. It was an aura... Something that made him feel... wanted. Made him feel...
"Syaoran-kun!"
Large, cartoony eyes glared back at the half-sleeping Syaoran, making him let out an inhumane yelp. Mokona bounced happily on his stomach, grinning that usual bright smile. "Mokona says Syaoran is a sleepy head! Even Sakura-chan is up!" Kurogane sat at the edge of the bed, tossing a shiny red apple between his hands. "You're as heavy as a log when you're sleeping. I had to carry you and Sakura up that damn mountain—"
"And me too!!!" interjected an overly-cheerful Fai.
"Yeah, and that stupid blonde..."
Fai winked at the samurai, attacking him with his "snuggly-love" attack. "What the hell?!" Kurogane barked, trying to keep his balance. Fai hugged him with a more firm grip, grinning. "You know you like it," he murmured, making the samurai writhe even more.
Syaoran turned away from the couple, glancing down to Mokona. "Do you know by chance where Sakura is?"
"Sakura-chan told Mokona that she was going into town!" Mokona giggled with his usual bubbliness. "We're in the country of Yotura. This is the village on Tekkyou."
Syaoran nodded, leaving the small hut in which they resided. Mokona trailed behind, taking a seat atop Syaoran's mass of curly brown hair. The outside did not seem to match up with the serenity of the little hut. People bustled about, carrying baskets or riding carts. Vendors sold aromatic foods that called out to you as you passed by. Not a sorrowful face seemed to grace the crowd; every single person seemed to be in a good mood. The only odd thing that stuck out to Syaoran is that almost everyone in the square traveled in couples; couples holding hands, locking arms, or holding each other. Even so, Syaoran brushed it aside, moving swiftly through the crowd. Girlish giggles made him feel uneasy, and as he glanced around, he saw small groups of school girls gazing at him longingly. When he made eye contact, they looked away, but in seconds burst into more fits of girlish laughter. Some just smiled; others were bold enough to wave and call out to him. He did not stop, however, because his priority, of course, was finding Sakura.
The village of Tekkyou seemed to go on forever! With the large crowds of people and festive decorations, it seemed as if there was some sort of festival going on. Impatient and restless, Syaoran stopped at a small hut, unable to read the characters on the sign. It seemed inviting, as did everything else in the weird city. The hut was actually a café, nearly filled to capacity. Every table and booth was seated for two, with a large candle at the center that gave off a romantic glow. A small stage was set at the far left of the building, and a sultry singer in a slinky red dress serenaded the café's customers. Syaoran moved towards the counter, and before he knew it, a perky waitress was already waiting for him. "Your date isn't here yet?" she asked sympathetically, as if he was being stood up. Syaoran blinked. "No ma'am," he managed, his ears slowly turning red. "I'm looking for someone. Have you seen a girl with short brown hair and sparkling jade eyes? She's about this tall..." He made a gesture with his hands to indicate how tall she was. The waitress sincerely thought about it before answering. "I'm sorry. I see plenty of girls that pass through here with that same description."
Mokona had already hopped away from his seat atop Syaoran's head and was becoming engaged in a jar of iced marmalade cookies. Syaoran shifted his weight from one leg to the other, his eyes filled with growing despair. "No, no, Sak— this girl is different. Her smile... her smile is contagious. Her voice makes you want to hold her forever. She smells like sweet honeydew, but you can only notice it if you're close to her. She's a little klutzy and stubborn, but she's a naturally innocent person. Are you... sure you haven't seen her?" The waitress smiled, moving back behind the counter. She motioned for him to sit at the bar, and turned to the back counter. She returned with two cups of warm cappuccino with whipped cream and two warm jelly pastries. "Have you heard... of the Tekkyou Tree?" the waitress asked in a low voice. Mokona nibbled happily on the pastry. "Mokona doesn't know..." Mokona hummed, sipping the hot drink.
"Neither do I," added Syaoran. "We're... travelers. We're not from here."
The waitress nodded. "I should have known. Anyone from Tekkyou knows about the Tekkyou Tree."
"What is it?" Syaoran asked innocently, sipping his cup of cappuccino.
"Well, before I can start on that, I must tell you about the history of Tekkyou. Tekkyou is said to have been built on the mountainside where the gods used to live. The forest that encompasses us is said to be the place where the gods were wed, because of its beautiful scenery and natural wonders. Because of this and their influence, Tekkyou is known as the most romantic city in all of Yotura. If you have a tingly feeling when you walk in the streets, the elders say that it is the aura of the gods."
"So what about the Tekkyou Tree? What is it?"
"The Tekkyou Tree is a large tree at the center of the forest. Well, it is said to be at the center of the forest. A lot of people who try to find the tree come back empty handed. This is because the tree only shows itself to those pure of heart. It was planted by the gods in honor of true love and loyalty, and those who do not possess those qualities cannot see it. Legend has it that if you carve the name of the person you love onto the tree under a full moon, they'll be connected to you for life, even after death. The closer you are to the moon, the stronger the connection will be. But... I've never looked for the tree, so I'm not sure if it's true or not. And it just so happens that tonight is the first full moon of the month."
The waitress grinned, winking down to Mokona, who was nearly finished with her food. Syaoran nodded, smiling. "Thank you for the information. But..." Syaoran pulled his pockets inside out, frowning. "I cannot pay for the food."
"Don't worry about it!" the waitress chuckled, "Its on the house. Anything for someone in love!"
"But— I — Sakura— no—"
The waitress made a motion with her hands towards the door. "Just go! And remember the story."
Syaoran nodded hurriedly, giving a final thanks and rushing towards the door. Mokona looked up to the waitress with an all-knowing grin. "Mokona thinks you know where Sakura-chan is," he chirped, pushing his plate toward the girl. The waitress nodded with a mischievous smile, crossing her arms. "Its not like they won't find one another anyway. Those two are meant for each other."
Syaoran burst into the small hut where their group was taking rest, looking about as calmly as a millionaire that lost his 24 karat diamond. Kurogane stopped sipping his warm soup to glance at the boy with foolish eyes, grunting. "Couldn't find Sakura, eh?" he mumbled, then continued to sip his soup. Fai slowly approached, absently removing his cooking mittens and apron. "She hasn't come back here all day. Its getting late; I'm worried about our princess." he stated, in the serious voice that was rarely conveyed by the blonde.
"You're worried?!" Syaoran managed, "She's so fragile. What if she gets lost and... trips over a... pot or something?!"
Fai and Kurogane both blinked at the foolish boy, shaking their heads. "Well, if you're so worried about her, go look for her. She couldn't have gone far," Fai suggested in a very nonchalant tone.
"Of course!!!" Syaoran exclaimed, and again left the hut in anxiety. Fai glanced at Kurogane with a rougish smile. "Playing games with those two is quite fun, if I do say so myself, Kuro-pin," he remarked, taking a seat beside the samurai. Kurogane grunted, moving over a few feet. "Too bad Syaoran is always the one that isn't in on the joke."
The town was not as bustling as it was during the day; instead, couples slowly meandered down the torch-lit cobblestone streets, holding hands and showing their affection. Syaoran rushed down the street, turning and swerving down the streets until he finally found himself at the city gates. The forest seemed dark and uninviting, but the shining moon gleaming through the trees gave him courage. He slowly moved through the trees, following the luminous guide that hung in the sky. For what seemed like hours, Syaoran wandered around the forest, his only form of direction the glowing coin at the center of the sky. It comforted him; it gave him strength to go further.
A sudden rustle made Syaoran leap to the left, glancing about as his senses began to heighten in the heat of the moment. Nothing but trees illuminated by the moonlight could be seen in in all directions. Everything was deathly still. "Maybe it was just an animal," Syaoran mumbled to himself, straightening up and beginning to continue his trek. It wasn't minutes later until the soft rustling returned, but this time it was louder. Syaoran began to follow it, and each time the sound grew louder his heart pounded harder in his chest. The rustling became so loud, it seemed as if it were him that was making the sound. "This is use---" Syaoran began, but unknowingly he fell flat on his face. In shock, he slowly rose, his brown eyes searching the ground. Huge, winding roots clamped onto the lush forest floor, some as thick as he was around. His eyes followed the roots up, until he saw a tree trunk that looked as if it could house twenty people comfortably inside. That was when it hit him.
This was the Great Tekkyou Tree.
The tree seemed to go on forever, reaching up to the heavens with its lush, pastel colored blooms that would make a cherry tree shrink in shame. The moonlight only added to its beauty, giving it an irradescent glow that took one's breath away. Syaoran took a step forward, in awe at the tree's greatness and beauty. The rustling was loud and obnoxious, but Syaoran wasn't interested. He placed a hand inside one of the large grooves in the trunk, and grasping it firmly, he hoisted himself up, beginning to climb up the vast foundation of the tree. Agile as he was, the tree both zapped and gave him energy with each climb. Through the entanglement of branches he ventured higher and higher, until the shine of the moon warmed his face. The soft night breeze swayed the branch he rested on, which was near the top of the Tekkyou tree. The branches, much to his surprise, were still sturdy and thick, unlike those near the top of most trees. Remembering the waitresses words, he flicked out the pocket knife he received in the last world they were in and began picking at the rich bark. Patiently he carved out the sloppy letters, making sure his work was as good as carved letters could be. When he finished his job, the letters glowed in the moonlight:
"Syaoran and Sakura..."
"Forever."
The rustling began once more; however, it sounded as if they were coming from near him. "Hello?" he called out, slowly climbing down from one branch to another. "Anyone there?"
"Who's there? Can you help me?"
Syaoran followed the voice through the winding branches, calling out and following the answer. The voice became louder and louder, until finally a smile came to his lips as he saw the caller--- Sakura.
She was hanging onto the tree by the back of her dress, which was caught onto a long branch . She swayed dangerously, but Syaoran felt the auora that made him feel as if she was being protected by it. Twigs and leaves decorated her clothing, and there were a few scratches on her arms and legs. "Syaoran-kun!" she cried out, her eyes opening wide in surprise."What are you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same," Syaoran replied as nonchalantly as possible, though his heard pounded in his chest with each sway of his precious treasure. He slipped is arms her hers and pulled her up to his level, resting her between his legs. As soon as she felt his touch, Sakura threw his arms around him, burying her face in his chest. "I'm so happy you saved me, Syaoran-kun!" she sobbed, hugging him tightly. Syaoran held her, never wanting to let go. "I came here... I came here..."
"I think... we came here for the same reasons." Syaoran said simply, looking down to his princess. Sakura looked up to him with a loving smile, and met his lips with hers.
And the two stayed there till morning.
