Chapter 9: Dealing
The Princess Bride
Sakura's a normal villager in a little village, like all other girls, adoring the king-to-be, wishing that they were the prince's bride… but then one day she finds herself trying to embrace the fact that she's a princess, she is the prince's bride. But while living in the castle… she begins to fall in love with, not the prince, but the prince's brother.
Quackquill's quilly notes: THIS IS NOT BASED ON WILLIAM GOLDMAN'S BOOK THE PRINCESS BRIDE, THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY WITH NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT BOOK besides a few things. (but I do love the book and movie!)
Enjoy. Cry. Laugh. Smile. Read.
"What! What the heck are you doing here!" She cried, tears overflowing for joy. She hit the glass but it wasn't a window to be opened. She motioned to her balcony and she ran out, her hands stretched out below.
"How did you know I was here? How did you get here? What if someone catches you?" She cried.
The figure below beamed and shouted back, "I came to see you sis! Heard you got the measlies!"
"How did you know?"
"Big brother told me!"
"Is he here too?"
"Onii-chan!"
Sakura burst into sobs and tears and glorious soggy happiness, "Yuki! Touya! I'm so glad to see you two! I've missed you!"
Touya looked up, his heart stinging, "Sakura…"
Yuki grinned, "Onii-chan brought me here 'cause he said he thought it'd be nice to see ya!"
"It is nice! Very nice! I wish I could come down… or…"
"No, stay up there." Touya frowned, "You're sick, you shouldn't come out. But we can't get up there either, it's beyond possible."
Yuki crossed his arms, "Hmm… I know! Onii-chan, lend me your super strength and cannonbalt me up there! It'll be like in those circus things! And you have the best aim evar!"
"Yuki I don't think that's quite…it's a bit exaggerated." Touya answered simply.
"Whatever eshagayrated means." Yuki pouted, then beamed back up at Sakura, "Big sis! No worries! I'll try to come see you as oftener as I can!"
"Of course." She smiled back cheerfully.
Touya waved and so did Yuki, she waved back.
"Some security is coming." Touya scooped up Yuki cautiously to his shoulders and bid his last farewells.
Sakura blew a kiss and Yuki caught it, smacking it hard on his cheek so he "wouldn't never forget how terribly saddish and happyish and painfully it was."
Sakura watched them hobble away and hide around in bushes, laughing merrily and remembering good old times. It was so good and nice and happy to see them again. Now she felt so glad and bubbly inside.
She sighed and remained where she was on the balcony, leaning her face on one arm and…
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, plastering her chestnut hair to her face and stinging her eyes so she couldn't see when…
"Don't move a muscle." An icy voice behind her said.
Sakura gasped, preparing to scream when a cloth was suddenly wrapped around her mouth, preventing her from making any sounds.
Her hands were tightly knotted behind her back and she was forcibly turned towards the icy voice…
A bespectacled man?
He smiled in a most not warming way, "Hello my dear Princess. How do you do? No need to answer, just allow me and my friend," He gestured to whomever was behind her, grasping her hands tightly, "to assist you to some…special…room. I'm sure it'll be much more pleasant if you cooperate with us. You don't want to shake hands with this lovely dagger in my hand, do you?"
She pierced her eyes at him, muffling an answer.
"What was that? No? Very good." He laughed and walked on.
She struggled at first, but then, seeing the sharp and pointy blade of his 'lovely dagger', she resolved that it was best to follow quietly and wait for an opportunity…
None that was given to her.
She was brought to the cellar unnoticed, and put in chains. Such a dark, gloomy room…
"You'll be waiting here, don't worry, it's only a very short while. Lucky for the rusty gallows, they haven't had many visitors for quite some time."
The cellar door slammed shut loudly and he left, cackling all the way.
Sakura began to struggle against the metal chains, barring scars upon her wrists and ankles…it hurt… why was she going through so many stages in life within a week?
Could life be any more thrilling and exciting…first a peasant, then a newly discovered princess, then a kidnapped captive, a journeying princess through dangerous woods chased by gypsies and bandits…a sick measlies person, and now some, prisoner!
Oh, just what had she done wrong in her previous life!
The evening bells chimed… five o' clock already… she sniffed, and then sneezed. It sure was drafty in this cellar.
Maybe she should have been happy with castle life…it was much more comfy and warm. She began counting the stones of the cellar with nothing better to do… and occupy her brain so she wouldn't think of horrid things like the gallows, egh, saying that word just gave her shivers.
Well…before she would die… at least she saw Touya and Yuki… wait a minute…
Why should she be dying? Why should she be put in prison! Why should she be experiencing such a tough time! What was this? Why had her brain been so slow! She shouldn't be here! Counting stones? She should be doing better things like trying to think of a way out! Damn…
"Someone save me!" She cried, her voice muffled by the cloth tightly binding her mouth. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, "I don't want to die! I want to keep living! Yuki! Touya!… N…N…n…Naroays!"
"T-that's right! I still didn't get to say sorry to you! Although you have such a rotten, grouchy behavior I'm still indebted to you! And Sakura Kinomoto never lives in debt! I think! So… I still need to thank you and… SOMEONE COME SAVE ME! EYYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her agonizing cry and distressing plea must have been heard, because at that moment the ground shook and the heavens roared and the skies thundered…but that moment lasted for merely a second and it was silent once more.
"Must have been my imagination." She sniffled through the cloth.
Ping, ping…Plunk! The cellar's little barred opening popped out and fell to the dusty floor.
Sakura watched with wide, pleading, hopeful eyes as a dark, shadowy and cloaked figure leapt down and landed before her… definitely superman.
It was the masked man, again, to her aid. She felt her stunned body recoil in embarrassment, and yet at the same time she wanted to fling herself out of her chains and crawl to his feet in thanks, pure thanks and all happiness.
"Oh."
Sakura blinked.
"Hmm, this isn't right." He lifted a finger to his ear and gave it a scratch.
She just gaped.
"Is that all you have to say! Oh? Hurry up and free me!"
"I don't understand a word." He smirked, beginning to dust his outfit in leisure.
She made a frustrated shriek.
"What an unattractive sound, at least a damsel in distress should act more pleasant."
"A least a hero should act more…heroic." She thought in her head, glaring at him angrily, "are you just going to stand like that all day?"
He laughed amusedly, which surprised Sakura…because it wasn't one of those evil, cruel cackles she had heard today, but nor was it like Yuki's bubbly, cute laughter either… his laugh was a warm, deep throated and humorous laughter… musky as his scent and dashing black attire.
"Alright I'll help you. I did come to get you, actually. Just thought it'd be fun to make you a little agitated." He laughed again, walking over and revealing his sword.
"Just a little agitated, humph." She huffed.
"There." The chains dropped to the floor with several clinks and clunks.
She reached back to untie the cloth, but he stopped her by touching her hands. She looked up at him in uncertainty.
"Let's leave that there for now."
She glared at him bitterly and tore it off her face, with her mouth finally free she glanced at him haughtily with a, "Bastard."
"Is that how you speak to who freed you?"
"You were rather rude in your ways of liberating me."
"I see…" His attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of nearing footsteps. He grabbed Sakura's hand, "So, how do we get out?"
"What!" She shrieked, "What do you mean! You're the one who came to save me!"
"Shh, not so loud. I didn't plan this all out yet. But I do have an idea."
"Good, what is it?"
"Stand on top of my shoulders."
"WHAT?"
"Stop saying that! Just do it." He demanded, already crouching.
She crossed her arms defiantly, "I will never do such a thing."
"They're coming clo-ser…" He somewhat chanted.
"Erg, fine, but don't you, and I mean it, don't you dare look up!" She began to put her feet on his shoulders.
He lifted her up and in a naughty case of curiosity…
"Ughff…"
Sakura smirked as she looked down, "I knew you'd do it, keep thinking about it and I'll knock your head off."
He growled, wondering if he should tell her he had seen enough in that one second…
Sakura was able to crawl out of the cellar… but by then the guards had arrived and Sakura heard the slashing of his sword. Again, she had been able to safely escape because of him … and still she had forgotten to thank him.
"Run!" he called out, and she obediently ran to whichever way she thought was safest…
She was beginning to run out of breath, where the heck was she anyways? At least it wasn't near the castle. Hadn't it just been a few days before and she had been running around in the woods as well, except now she was trying to get away from the castle…
"Sakura? Is that you?"
Sakura spun around immediately, making a fighting poise, "Who's there!"
"It's me! Tomoyo." Tomoyo revealed herself from the bushes, her hair glittering with dew and her eyes, cheeks, and mouth delicately painted. She held a lantern in one hand, and the tip of her scarf in the other. She looked peculiarly sorrowful.
"T-tomoyo! Oh, I'm so relieved." Sakura collapsed to the ground, "I thought I would be dead for sure."
"I see you've escaped. Where's Naroays?"
"Still fighting I think. I hope he's alright. That idiot." She exhaled slowly, than inhaled the crisp, fresh air, "It feels good to be out here, if only it weren't so cold. sneeze."
Tomoyo smiled, "Come, I think it's better if you come into my little cabin. It'll be cozier and maybe you can have something to eat." She led Sakura in, allowing her to take a seat on the foreign rugs and incensed cushions with golden tassels.
Tomoyo brought a wooden bowl of steaming stew, "I made this, have some. I heard you're sick."
Sakura gave her gratitude and drank it ravenously, she had been feeling quite hungry and the palace food was never so as delicious as this. They sat together for a little while, chatting about small things, talking about their past…well, mostly Sakura did the talking and Tomoyo nodded and smiled. Throughout it all, Sakura felt Tomoyo's gentleness but also her ill ease and sorrow…
"What's wrong Tomoyo, you don't seem well?" Sakura asked, holding her hands in concern, "Tell me, perhaps I can help you."
Tomoyo looked down sadly, "I…I'm very sorry Sakura. I've done some horrible things. You see…I, I hope I don't bore you at all."
"Of course not." Sakura smiled warmly, and Tomoyo returned the smile, "I guess I should tell you my past as you have."
She began,
"You see, I devoted my life to sorcery since I was young, I was born and raised by some gypsies, they were quite kind to me and told me that my mother left me alone in a small basket floating about in a lily lake. They've told me that's where I got my beauty because I had been basked in the lake's moonshine, anyways, after doing much sorcery I became quite adept… but I yearned to know my blood lineage and my mother.
"Sakura, you are of Kinomoto blood, my lineage is linked within yours somewhat, but I merely found this out from the color of my eyes, yes, amethyst, just as your eyes are emerald, a woman told me that long ago. So I came to this land and still hoping to find out about my parents, lived here for a while and established myself a sorceress that exchanges deals.
"Here I've discovered many things, and I found out about my parents, but through a terrible deal, a deal I wish I could have taken back. It's one of my greatest regrets…you see, many have come to me and I've learned many dark secrets, too many in fact. And one of the laws of sorcery is that I cannot disobey my client's deals for my own interests…but I have done just that. In order to protect you and Naroays, I've crossed too many secrets and revealed too much.
"Sakura, I am truly sorry… I have made a terrible deal with evil and I am prepared to take responsibility. I'm afraid we can no longer meet, I can no longer be a sorceress and I am in grave danger for trespassing dark secrets…"
Sakura stared at Tomoyo in confusion, everything in her mind was muddled and she felt drowsy, but she clung onto Tomoyo's hand faithfully and dutifully.
"Tomoyo, I'm sure you'll be fine. You're sad now because I think you're giving up what you love to do for those you love… thank you for protecting me and Naroays, but Tomoyo, you have to protect yourself as well because we want to protect you too… I'm sorry I'm just really sleepy and… just do whatever you think is right… I'm sure we'll meet again."
Tomoyo's painted eyes began to stain with tears, "Oh Sakura, you're such a dear. To think…to think… we can never meet again. You will despise me for what I've done. Believe me, in the next world I will do whatever I can to make up for it. Sakura, do forgive me if you can…"
But Sakura lay sound asleep.
There was a knock on the door.
Tomoyo stood up and opened it hesitatingly, nearly unwillingly.
A cruel smile greeted her, "My dear, I see you've kept your end of the deal. I will take her now."
Tomoyo stopped him from entering, "No, before you take her, you must keep your end of the deal."
"What is it? Money? Jewels? I have it all. Gladly."
She shook her head, "This time I will not be beguiled by those fanciful tools, I ask of a greater thing. Betraying one's trust requires a grave price. If you do not keep your end of the deal, even graver things shall happen to you. Prince."
He frowned, feeling uneasy about her request, "Right…out with it."
Tomoyo inhaled sharply, feeling beads of perspire trail down her neck, "I ask of you that…"
The moon looked full and blue that night.
an: most boringest chapter evarrr, i dont know why i wrote it. oh well, at least we know something about tomoyo.
and omg, i just found out that those Bs : A A A like, change the font and size of the letters. holy cow i never knew that. wow its amazing. xD okay, nayways... i just hope nobody fell asleep while reading this laaame chapter. well, i did.
but ty to everyone who reviewed, and trusting me to make it a good SxS pairing.
