Author's Note: Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. I've used a quote from William Shakespeare, his famous "The prince of darkness" quote. Please give all props to the genius man!
I self-corrected this so if any of you DO find a mistake, it is purely mine. Plenty of things are happening in this one and hints of an emotion called "Love" is blossoming, but not yet out in the open. Please enjoy! ((And really REALLY review, if possible! Not one of those, "Hurry and write next chapter" thing.))
A Slave of Love
Chapter 8:
Sakura paced back and forth in her rooms, her hands fisted at her sides. Her jaws were taunt and teeth clenched tight as her feet bore a hole in the floor. Rage burned in her eyes, flaring like an unquenchable flame.
"Princess Sakura…"
The Captain of her Riders stood watching her. Stopping abruptly, she turned to face the speaker. When she turned her blazing eyes on him, he looked away, afraid of her burning gaze.
Sakura resumed her pacing when Shigemitsu didn't continue. Not that she would have heard anything he said. She was too busy raging at the Prince of Clow. She threw up her hands and flexed her jaws to loosen them before saying, "How can that arrogant, cheeky, temperamental idiot of a prince do this?"
Koshin, sitting quietly on one of the many sofas looked up at her seething. Hearing the insulting names the princess used on the prince, she grinned.
"First, he calls me a slave. Then he dares to say that I am his! And in front of Touya and all the guards!" she fumed. "Then he, he...argh! The nerve of that man!"
After the bold statement she had made and the spitting, he had picked her up and carried her on his shoulders up to his rooms. To her further embarrassment, he had thrown her on his bed and pinned her down. What she hated the most was being weak and unable to fight him off. Though he didn't do anything to violate her, he had laughed, which was far worse.
When the prince finally moved off her and she was free, she had rushed to the door, only to find it locked. He had taken the key and challenged her to get it from him. Unafraid, she took up the challenge. Knowing he was taller than she, he dangled it above her head, and slightly out of reach. Of course, she did what anyone else would do. She jumped. She had gotten the key, but had landed wrong and ended up sprawled atop him. She had blushed with embarrassment and tried to scramble up but he stopped her efforts and simply wrapped his arms about her waist and pulled her closer to him. To her greatest horror, he did what no man has ever done to her.
"My first kiss! How dare he steal my first kiss! I have never met such an-"
"Princess…"
"Immoral rake! Incontinent cretin! Devious libertine! To have the cheek to do that! The way he held me! The way he kissed me! Like I was some…" Sakura waved her hand in the air, trying to find the correct word. "Some whore!" She finished, continuing her rage. "My first kiss! My first! Then this!"
She threw up her hands at her surroundings. Her new bedroom was pleasantly decorated in soft colors of the setting sun, a hugely better arrangement the her previous setting. When the light peeked through the window and hit the walls just before sunset, the gold specks of the walls shimmered in glorious sparkles. It was breathtaking to see. Sakura loved it, but the entire effect was ruined because of one tiny detail she hated. That tiny detail was a door that led to a place she never wanted to set foot inside again.
"A room a joining his. What nerve!"
"Princess Sakura, you-"
"I'll never have privacy again. I hate him! I despise the man! Loathe! Abhor! Detest!" Sakura shook her head. "No! All these are not strong enough words for the feelings I have." Sakura went on. Slamming a fist into the other hand, she said with determination, "I'll kill him. I'll make him suffer first and regret to ever have touched me. Then I'll kill him."
"Princess Sakura, that…Princess..."
Sakura took up the pacing once more. "He makes me so mad. I'm becoming insane! I-"
"Princess Sakura!"
"What Shigemitsu?" She twirled to face him, her breathing harsh from the onslaught of words she was producing.
"Princess, I understand your anger-" he began.
Koshin jumped up from her seat and marched over, shaking her head. "I pity this Li Prince."
"Yet, that would be a very dangerous thing to do." Shigemitsu continued as if Koshin had not spoken at all. "We are now in his lands, residing in his palace, taking part in his court. We must abide by his rules."
"His rules are nothing but impertinent whims based on childish fantasies." Sakura replied scornfully.
"However you wish to name it, those whims control this court and you must adhere to them."
Sakura let out a long breath of air. She found that since coming to this place, she was beginning to be scolded more and more. Her actions were no longer free and unrestrained. She was beginning to change as well.
Walking over to the seating area, she sank into one of the luscious chairs and closed her eyes. Even though she had agreed to take Touya's place as captive, even though she had a much better arrangement than he, she wasn't ready to give up her freedom. She had always been free, able to go off to wander whenever she wanted, do things she suddenly thought of doing when she pleased. Now she was bound by her words. The moment she uttered them, her freedom was clashed in chains.
Shaking her head again, she met Shigemitsu's gaze. Taking a deep breath, she told them her decision. "I believe it is time the both of you return."
Koshin wiped around to face the princess, her eyes open wide. "What?"
"I will stay." Sakura informed them firmly. "But the both of you will return. The queen gave me her protection. You both, on the other hand, were not given such. Anything can happen. I will not have your deaths on my hands."
"We are the captain and vice of the Riders! They won't stand a chance against us, right Shige?" Koshin asked, looking to him for his answer.
Shigemitsu nodded and knelt. Bowing his head, he said, "We will do as you say, Princess."
Surprised by her partner's answer, Koshin turned back to the princess to make her plea. "But-"
Sakura narrowed her eyes at Koshin. "Are you going to go against my command? Are you disobeying my orders?"
"If it means-"
"Koshin!" Shigemitsu intervened.
"Why won't you let me finish? Why not listen to me for once! I feel like I'm being abandoned."
"This is my decision. My command."
At the words Koshin had pledged to so long ago, pain and anger crossed her face as she contemplated her next move. When her decision was made, she obediently came to knelt beside Shigemitsu and bowed her head in submission. "Yes, Princess. I will do as you command."
Sakura drew in another deep breath and let it out. "Do not misunderstand me. I do not wish to part with you, Koshin. Nor you, Shigemitsu. I am not abandoning the both of you or the Riders," she whispered. Sakura shook her head. "I feel like I am the one being abandoned, the one being left behind."
Tears collected on her lashes, blurring everything from sight. As they threatened to spill, she closed her eyes feeling her liberty slowly draining away along with the tears. She turned her back to her guards. Wiping their salty trail, she breathed in new air and steadied her wavering heart with resolve.
"I command the both of you to escort Prince Touya back to Tomoeda along with the rest of the Riders," Sakura ordered, facing them and standing tall. "Once back in the Kinomoto Palace, I want you two to give the letter I will write to His Majesty, the king, informing him and my mother of my decision."
Shigemitsu smiled at her determination. "Yes. We will do as we are commanded. But," he glanced over at the brightening skies. "If you do not get dress, we will be late meeting Prince Touya." Shigemitsu informed her.
All the emotions drained away as Sakura realized what the time was. Scrambling quickly to her sets of closets, she looked through the wardrobe the Queen had so graciously stocked for her. Picking out a deep green dress in a simple yet flattering design, she began to undress. Koshin came to her rescue by pulling and loosening the cloths that held her dress together. Shigemitsu left the room to stand outside. When she was finally wrapped in the layers of the gown, she ran her slim fingers through her hair in an attempt to comb them into some sort of order. Once that was done, Sakura turn to show Koshin. The pleasing smiles on her face told her she was presentable.
"Then, I shall attend my brother before he leaves." Sakura nodded to her guard. She was surprised to see Shigemitsu chatting with one of the palace runners when she entered the hall.
"It seems the Prince had not forgotten that you wished to see your brother off." Shigemitsu told her, explaining the servant's presence.
Sakura nodded and turned a brilliant smile on the servant, making him blush boyishly. He then led them through the beautiful palace out to the large stables. A company of twenty men in leather armor gathered beside the enclosure. They surrounded the two princes who were glaring at one another. One lone man in chains staring down a prince in silk and his large army. The sight was amusing. Sakura wanted to applaud her brother's courage. Her own confidence rushed from her and disappeared. She didn't think she could see her brother off without shedding a tear. Seeing him leave was the same as seeing her future disappear. Her gait slowed to a stop as the others continued. Shigemitsu noticed her lack of progress and doubled back.
"Princess? What is the problem?"
Sakura shook her head. "I need all the bravery I have left to face this new place. I don't think I can see him leave. I…"
"I understand. I will make sure Prince Touya arrives safely in Tomoeda and escort him personally to the palace, Princess. Do not worry." Shigemitsu patted her shoulder in a fatherly manner. He smiled kindly though hints of sadness were betrayed in his gaze. "Take care of yourself."
"Yes," Sakura returned his smile.
She watched as he jogged back to the others and told them. The servant returned to her side and escorted her back to her rooms. There, she watched the sunlight strengthen and spill through the room. As the shadows extended their length, a bell chimed in the distance. She listened as the palace rose and became alive with noise. Walking over to the window, she brushed the curtain aside.
"Ah, so the Princess watches from the tower as her beloved disappears off into the distance."
Surprised, Sakura turned to face the intruder. She was not shocked to see the handsome prince standing there. He had come through the door adjoining their rooms. It was thrown wide open, revealing a space formally decorated in hues of green, blue, black, and gray. Cold colors. Sakura almost wanted to laugh at the compatibility of the room with its owner.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"You are to attend me in the stables. Get dressed," he ordered.
Sakura crossed her arms and raised a brow at him. He leaned against the wall and copied her stance. Dropping her arms, Sakura placed her hands on her hips.
"And if I choose not to?" she asked.
"Then you go to the dungeons," he replied. "Your choice?"
"Are we to go riding?"
"You'll see," was all he said before he closed the door behind him.
Sakura sighed. She changed out of her dress and wore a plain brown riding habit. When she was finished, she knocked on the door but no answer came. Deciding he had left without her, she rang the bell by her bed. A servant appeared instantly and was soon leading her down to the stables again. The servant bowed and left when they arrived. Sakura looked around but the prince was not in sight. A loud neigh sounded nearby, capturing her attention. Looking into the stall, she was captivated by the beauty of the big beast. The sorrel warmblood stallion neighed again and tossed his head impatiently. She reached out a hand but didn't touch, letting the horse make the decision of contact. When the stallion was done sniffing, he gently nipped around her fingers in search of a treat. Sakura laughed and patted him lovingly.
"I see you've found my horse."
Sakura jumped out of her skin at his sudden appearance but was able to remain still. "Yours?" She asked casually.
The prince sauntered over in his handsome all black attire and patted the horse fondly on the nose. Slipping the stallion a hidden treat, he gave the beast one last pat before turning his gaze onto her.
"Saddle him," he ordered.
Sakura snorted at his command. "Are you that lacking in wealth? Don't you have servants and stable hands to do that?"
"Yes," the prince smirked. "You."
"What? You want me to saddle-"
"You have a choice, do you not remember? The dungeons or servitude. Hurry and make your choice."
Sakura narrowed her eyes at him. The man really was despicable. Going off in search of the horse tack, she finally found the equipment at the other end of the building some time later. The prince stood by the door boredly inspecting his nails.
"What took you?" He asked, looking up from his examination.
"You knew it was here all along and you didn't care to inform me, letting me waste all that time looking for it." Sakura huffed at him.
He shrugged. "You didn't inquire its location."
Sakura shut her eyes and counted to three, then opened them and stalked into the tack room. She passed by him as calmly as possibly and tried not to think of gutting him then and there. Inside, she examined the gear and decided to split the heavy equipment into three trips. There was just too much to carry. As Sakura gathered and hefted the pads, brittle, breast collar, halter, and straps, the prince stood by impassively studying his appearance in a mirror.
"Time is being wasted," said the prince as he examined his shoulder and brushed at imaginary dirt. "Do pick up your slow pace. Unlike you, I have a busy schedule to maintain."
Sakura took a deep breath to calm her awakening desire to kill and collected her skirts. Bunching them in one hand, she hastened her steps.
"So slow," he shook his head as she passed him. "I should have employed a snail instead."
Unloading her burden by the stall, she snatched up her dress and ran back to the tack room. Loading her arms with the blanket, Sakura dangled the bucket full of smaller supplies on her wrist and began her trek back to the stall once more.
The prince matched his steps with hers this time. Flipping through the blanket, he sighed. "The sun will be gone by the time I ride if you carry one item at a time."
"I'm not-" Sakura began but did not finish when she miscalculated a step and her foot caught her skirt. Various materials and equipment slid, bumped, skipped, jumped and scattered to various places on the dirt floor. When the pain that Sakura had expected did not come, she peeked through her lashes to see what had transpired. To her horror and embarrassment, the prince's face was only a few inches from hers.
"Be careful. Princesses should always be graceful. Wasn't that one of your first lessons in etiquette?" He asked, brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ear. He spoke quietly, soft and gentle. He had never spoken to her in such a way.
Sakura watched his face quietly as realization of their position dawned on him and he cleared his throat. He righted them quickly. Sakura shivered as he let go and moved away, taking with him his warmth. The events of the bedroom and kiss flew through her memory and made her blush. She flushed again as she admitted to herself that she had anticipated his kiss.
Noticing her gaze, the prince pointed to the supplies littering the floor. "I suggest you quickly gather them up and continue on with your task before my patience has run dry."
Grabbing the bucket Sakura picked up the nearest item, a brush, and tossed it in carelessly. "I wonder about the wits of the man who wrote that the prince of darkness is a gentleman. Well, I found the prince of darkness but he isn't the least bit gentlemanly at all!" Sakura muttered.
When she finished, she dumped them next to the others and went to get the last of the tack, the saddle. As she attempted to haul the bulky material to her destination, she stumbled a few times under its weight. The way was long, but she persevered.
"How can there be a prince so sorely limited in intelligence, capriciously fickle in emotions, unbearably ill-mannered and ill-tempered, cacophonously rude, ungraciously discourteous, not to mention immoral, selfish, and vain all mixed into one?" She asked into the air.
"What are you muttering to yourself?" drawled the prince when she neared the stall. "Ah, and make sure to not dirty the saddle. It's very expensive."
Sakura had had enough of the prince. She stopped in front of a muddy patch of dirt and purposefully dropped the heavy black saddle in anger. As it splattered in the wet soil, a particularly large glob flew and landed itself nicely on Syaoran's legging. Sakura smiled with satisfaction. Straightening her back, she felt the individual screams of her overworked muscles. Swiping a stray lock of hair, she looked at the prince.
"HOW CAN THERE BE A PRINCE SO SORELY LIMITED IN INTELLIGENCE, CAPRICIOUSLY FICKLE IN EMOTIONS, UNBEARABLY ILL-MANNERED AND ILL-TEMPERED, CACOPHONSOULY RUDE, UNGRACIOUSLY DISCOURTEOUS, not to mention IMMORAL, SELFISH, and VAIN all mixed into one," Sakura took a deep breath to steady herself, then smiled and finished with a, "Is what I was muttering to myself."
Surprise covered every inch of his expression as he looked from his mud-stained pants over to his mud-covered saddle then to Sakura. "You…"
"Your Highness!" A voice called in the distance. Sakura turned to the open doors of the large building and watched as a servant rushed in and toward them. The boy was young, between the ages of six to eight. He sported the clothes of a runner. As the boy came to a stop in front of the prince, he bowed awkwardly.
"My Prince, His Lordship, Hiiragizawa Eriol requires your presence immediately. You are to come to attend him in his quarters," the boy relayed his message.
Prince Syaoran let out a string of profanity and left the building in haste. Curiously, Sakura followed him but not before asking the servant boy to find someone to clean up the mess. Marching up the hill to the palace, Sakura trailed behind the prince just far enough not to lose him but not close enough he would notice her.
When he entered one of the guarded rooms, she sighed. She turned to go back to her rooms but stopped when she saw the her surroundings looked unfamiliar. Should she take up this chance to explore? She quickly dismissed the idea when she thought of being lost in the palace. Just then Sakura spotted the queen as she turned a corner and into the hall Sakura was in.
Noticing Sakura, Yelan smiled. "Ah, Princess. What business do you have here?"
Sakura dipped into a curtsy. "Nothing of import, Your Royal Majesty."
"Then, attend to me," the queen said as she marched on ahead.
Sakura swallowed and followed.
