Title: Princess by Mistake
Author: Life. In. Pixels
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS.
Summary: Sakura is thrown into a life that is not hers where she meets the infamous Prince Syaoran Li. She will have to be clever, deceitful and tactful in order to maintain her position of power. But we all know... a life built upon lies is no life at all.
Chapter Ten
The Scorpion Brooch
Drip.
Drip drip.
Drip… drip drip.
He sat huddled in the dark, his heart pounding. Where was he? How long had he been in this cramped position?
Wherever he was, it was dark, cold and damp.
They had bound his hands and legs. They had gagged him. And they had bagged him over the head as well.
His stomach grumbled. When was the last time he had eaten anything?
He knew he shouldn't have gotten involved with that cursed bandit group!
Curse you, Kaptan! he silently screamed, wriggling in frustration.
Did those fools know who he was? He was the god damn messenger for the Scorpions!
He settled down. Maybe running away with that bag of gold wasn't the best idea, he admitted.
He wracked his head to recall those in Kaptan's group.
There was that fierce and large man with the battle axe. Would they send him in to break his bones to get him to talk?
Or maybe that sly little red-headed boy that had stolen the fucking brooch! Neim screamed but only a muffled sound came out. That boy had forced him to go into hiding! His life was on the line now that the brooch had been stolen!
No… maybe they would send Kaptan himself.
Neim shivered in fear. Kaptan wasn't strong like the battle-axe-wielding man nor was he sly and cunning like the red-headed one, but there was something about him that was very scary.
It's those eyes, Neim decided. Merciless, cold, unforgiving.
But what did I do? I just stole a bag of coins. No big deal.
But Kaptan had sent Sniggard after him.
If Neim knew anything, it was that Sniggard was good at what he did and for that he demanded a huge sum in payment. Certainly catching Neim to recover the coins he had stolen wasn't worth the amount that had to be paid to Sniggard for his services.
Is it revenge? Oh god… is it revenge? Neim shivered again. Would they torture him?
But… stealing a bag of coins… would that really incur revenge?
Neim sobbed in the dark. He was cold and hungry.
He sank face down onto the cold hard ground and wailed as best as he could with the gag in his mouth.
Ruby patrolled the streets of Aure. The sun was already sinking over the horizon and late shoppers were hurrying home. It was now too cold to stay out too late. Some street prowlers were eating hurriedly, merchants were packing up their stalls, and some beggars were on the streets picking up what had been left.
She enjoyed the cold wind on her face.
Three armed guards were dutifully trailing around her. She could feel their nervous apprehension… for tonight she was heading into a den of thieves.
If Syaoran wanted to find a girl named Namonai, there was no better option than to get the filthy information-scavenger Sniggard to spill the beans.
Satisfied with her plan, she marched on more energetically.
"I want to see him now."
"Who?" Yukito asked, clueless. He still hadn't caught up on all the details yet.
They were now in Sakura's room where they could talk privately.
Kaptan lounged leisurely on Sakura's bed while Yukito and Sakura were seated in the chairs.
"Neim," Kaptan explained. "I caught him yesterday."
Yukito tilted his head to the side innocently. He still wasn't following.
"General," Kaptan said dryly. "It's a long story."
Yukito smiled. "I want to hear it please."
Kaptan shrugged. "Sakura here believes that the Black Scorpions killed her family-"
"What?" Yukito was shocked.
Kaptan sat up and nodded. "Exactly my reaction."
"I don't understand," Yukito said slowly, glancing at Sakura. "The Black Scorpions are an underground organization. They aren't interested in the aristocracy."
Sakura shook her head dejectedly. She felt like she had told this story one too many times in the last couple of days. Every time she mentioned it, a clenching pain stabbed at her heart and tears threatened to break free.
Kaptan moved to comfort her but Yukito was faster, closer.
He reached out and gently patted her hand. "You don't have to talk about it, Sakura," he said kindly.
Kaptan wrinkled his nose. He wasn't used to sitting on the side. For the past few years, he had been the main person in Sakura's life: the one who took responsibility for her actions, and the one who comforted her when she was sad (even though he wasn't a great comforter).
Sakura lifted her head and gave Yukito a shaky smile. "You have a right to know what happened."
Yukito said nothing but Sakura could see he was battling his own demons. Yukito had been a regular guest at her house when she was younger. Her brother and him had been very close friends since childhood. Losing Touya, a best friend, must had been devastating for him. He had no other family to speak of other than his grandparents.
"How have you been, Yuki?" she asked instead. Since she had met him today, she had been engrossed in her own feelings. How had Yukito been these past four years? He looked paler and sadder than she remembered.
"I've… I've been okay." He broke into a reassuring, warm smile. "I'm just so glad that you're okay too."
Kaptan huffed. What was Sakura's relationship with the general? He disliked the way he was so kind.
She smiled at Yukito. "That's good," she whispered, her voice catching.
"Enough of this wishy-washy stuff!" Kaptan complained, getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute with the intense emotions passing between the two. "Let's just fill the good ol' General in and leave to actually do something instead of sitting around like women… no offense, Sakura."
Sakura giggled. Kaptan always knew how to spoil the mood.
"Basically," Kaptan said as he jumped off the bed and paced the room, "Sakura's family was… you know…" he glanced at Sakura to make sure he had not hurt her feelings. He was not great with words. "Anyway, she found out the Scorps did it because, A, the men who came to her house all had the mark of the scorpion tattooed onto the back of their hand and, B, we found out that the right-hand leader of the organization, a man named Boch, was leading the attack that night."
The room fell silent as Sakura temporarily relived that night and Yukito processed the chunk of information that Kaptan had just dumped on him.
"Are you… certain?"
Kaptan shrugged. "I captured one of their messengers. A man named Neim. We're holding him in a hidden dungeon right now. We can question him and find out."
Sakura stood up abruptly. Kaptan was right. Enough of talk, more action. "Let's go now."
But they were stopped by Meijo who knocked and entered the room. If she was surprised as to why both the Captain of the Guards and the General of the Royal Army were in the princess's room, she did not show it.
"It's time to prepare for your dinner tonight with the King," she curtsied.
Kaptan glanced out the window and saw the bright splashes of colour the sun made just before it set. It was already this late?
He then caught Sakura's glance and shrugged apologetically as if to say, Looks like fate. You'll just have to see him tomorrow.
"Enjoy your dinner, princess," he smiled pleasantly and bowed. "I will see you tomorrow."
Sakura gritted her teeth. Kaptan wasn't taking this seriously because a part of him was still doubtful that her family had been slaughtered by the Scorps. Well… she would NOT wait another day for this. She had waited far too long.
"Ow…" Sakura exhaled sharply and stumbled. She clutched her side and threw on a look of pain.
Meijo immediately rushed to her side to support the princess. "Your Highness!" she cried in a panic. "What's wrong?"
Yukito was also on his feet immediately. "Sakura!"
Kaptan was the only one who kept his distance. He knew this all too well. He had taught Sakura this trick a few years ago and he couldn't believe she was using it.
You have to use your womanly wiles to your advantage, Sakura! he had sternly lectured her.
Her eyes had been large and round. How? she had asked innocently.
He had smiled gleefully. If you pretend you're hurt, you can get almost anything you want! Watch. See that rich man over there? Go over, stumble, and pretend you're hurt. It'll create the perfect distraction so Fox can pickpocket him.
Kaptan groaned. Why had he taught the crafty girl that!
"I-I need to go to the palace doctor's," Sakura mumbled. "It hurts…"
Meijo nodded frantically. "Quick!" She turned and called for more servants and maids.
In a matter of seconds, the princess's room was overcrowded with concerned servants. And within a few minutes, they were escorting the princess to the doctor's ward.
Yukito followed behind, matching their quick pace and Kaptan followed more slowly behind, shaking his head.
"Your Highness." Eriol was at the door to Syaoran's study.
Syaoran was inside, working furiously. His mind was a muddle and he used his work to distract him. If he had been at his palace, he would've worked off his frustration with sword practice, a cold swim, or horse ri- no, not that. That reminded him of – no, he wasn't going to think about it.
"Your Highness," Eriol repeated when Syaoran had not replied.
Startled, Syaoran glanced up. He had not noticed the Chancellor. Eriol stood at the doorway, a book in his arm, in his long blue trailing chancellor robe.
Syaoran brushed the hair out of his eyes and asked just a bit impatiently, "What is it?"
Eriol hesitated just slightly but he had to tell Syaoran what he had found out, it was his duty to say. "It's about the princess."
Syaoran sighed and dropped the quill he had been busy scribbling with. He didn't want to be reminded of her. He couldn't quite forget the way she had looked at Yukito.
Eriol was still standing at the doorway and he stared the prince down with his eyes.
Syaoran sighed again and gestured, granting the Chancellor permission to enter.
Eriol took a seat in front of the desk. "I know you don't like to hear it," he said after a while of silence, "But I am duty-bound to tell you. The princess is very suspicious and has been acting so since the beginning."
Syaoran frowned. "Be careful of what you're saying, Hiragizawa. We are talking about the only daughter of Aureoles," he warned. What a hypocrite I am, he thought mildly. I ordered him to find out about the princess and now I'm acting like I did no such thing.
Eriol inclined his head. "I know, but I feel it must be said."
There was a pause and then Syaoran replied, "Very well."
Eriol leaned back in his chair and said, "From the moment you met her, she's been acting suspiciously. Kaptan and her both."
Syaoran winced inwardly at "Kaptan and her" but brushed it aside. "What do you mean?"
Eriol put his hands together and intertwined his fingers. "The moment you stepped into that banquet hall… the moment she laid eyes on you, I saw her expression. She rose as if… I'm not sure what she had in mind, but Kaptan who sat beside her, stopped her by forcefully dragging her back into her seat."
There was a long stretch of silence. His heart was pounding.
"She… couldn't take her eyes off of me the moment she saw me?"
Eriol reeled back mentally. He had not expected that reaction. Was that… HOPE he saw in the prince's eyes. What in the…?
Syaoran recollected his composure and cleared his throat. I'm being pathetic, he chastised. Happy for no reason. Hiragizawa said she was doing it suspiciously, not interestedly.
Eriol took a while to regain his composure. When he finally spoke, it was a question. "Is there… is there something I should know about, your Highness?"
"What? No! Continue!" Syaoran spluttered.
Eriol glanced at the prince and continued. "That was that one time. After chatting with Tomoyo Daidouji, I found out that she and Meiling had once suspected the princess's… identity. They had doubts…"
"About?"
"Whether if she was the real princess or not."
"What?" Syaoran took a deep breath, startled. He had figured affairs, past indiscretions. Not something this huge.
Eriol nodded. "But according to what she told me, the princess does have the Royal Mark. That's the part that stumps me."
Syaoran shook his head. "Then obviously she's who she says she is."
"Yes, but," Eriol protested, "You saw how the General reacted when he saw her today. It was as if he already knew her. Which would be impossible."
Really? Syaoran thought, eyes wide. I thought it was because he thought she was beautiful.
"Also," Eriol continued, unaware of Syaoran's drifting thoughts. "You witnessed how Kaptan talked to the princess when she startled us in the courtyard. He talked to her as if they were on the same level."
Syaoran ran a hand through his hair. "You said they were close friends. Maybe he's still adjusting to it all."
There was stretch of silence.
Finally, Eriol consented. "Maybe." But he just couldn't let it go. He felt it! There was definitely something going around here. "But-"
Syaoran stopped and waved him away before he could say more. "Don't forget, Hiragizawa. I already asked you to stop poking into her business. I will not ask twice."
And that was that. Eriol bowed his head and stood up. If the prince was not interested in the greater picture, then he, Eriol, would just have to investigate it by himself. He was rarely wrong and he couldn't ignore the fact that Tomoyo had picked up on it briefly as well.
"As you say, your Highness," Eriol said.
The doctors' quarters were quiet and peaceful and enclosed by a low wall, separating and distinguishing the area from the rest of the palace. Green shrubberies were kept all around the corridors and hallways. The floor were swept clean of leaves and kept orderly. The doors were thrown wide open for convenience.
The minute that Sakura stepped through, she felt the tranquility of the place. She could catch glimpses of the numerous men who worked here, sitting at a desk, studying medical scrolls, measuring out herbs for potions and remedies.
"Quick!" Meijo cried as the group of flustered maids and servants rushed in, leading their princess behind them. "Somebody help!"
Yukito was right behind them and Kaptan behind Yukito.
As soon as they entered in a flurry of commotion, doctors stepped out from their quarters to handle the situation. Some were curious as this was the first time they had seen the princess with their own eyes. Others immediately set out to work by clearing a space for the princess to sit or lay down, whichever she wished.
"What's the matter?" Doc pushed through the crowd that had now gathered around Sakura.
As his eyes fell on Sakura, he exhaled. If it had been any other day, he might've believed this was a real emergency but since the news that Neim was kept here had been leaked, he should've expected this.
Doc glanced at Kaptan and ascertained his guesses from the relaxed and unconcerned look on Kaptan's face.
"Your Highness," he bowed to the princess. "What is the matter?"
Sakura shook her head. "It hurts… it hurts!"
Kaptan shook his head, muttering under his breath while Doc dismissed everyone.
"Leave us. You're overcrowding her. Come, we'll go to my quarters."
Once Sakura, Doc, Yukito and Kaptan were in the Doc's quarters and the doors had been closed, Sakura stood up energetically and started looking for the switch to the dungeon she had heard about.
Yukito was the most surprised one and he concernedly asked whether Sakura was alright. Doc also had to be filled in about the General "joining the lie" now.
"You may have known her well since her childhood," Kaptan said, just a bit proud of the little monster he had now created, "But she's learned a few tricks these past few years."
Yukito shook his head slowly and Doc chuckled.
"Where is it?" Sakura demanded. She had scaled the walls of Doc's quarters, pulling candle holders that were stuck in the wall, pushing bricks hoping one might cave, throwing books off the bookshelves, knocking, tinkering.
"It's not here, Sakura," Doc explained kindly. "The dungeon I found is located in one of the workshops just next to this room-"
But Sakura had thrown open the doors and dashed out already.
"Someone has to teach her on how to be patient!" Kaptan growled as the rest of them followed.
"Your Highness!"
Niles burst into the study where Syaoran was still in. Eriol had left a while ago.
The prince narrowed his eyes dangerously at the butler's disregard to formality but let it go. He had grown up with the butler and it was very rare that Niles ever disregarded formalities.
"What is it?"
Niles took a second to catch his breath before plunging into words, "Everyone's talking about it! Minutes ago, the princess was admitted into the palace doctors' ward!"
As the words sunk in, Prince Syaoran pushed back his chair and ran out of the room without another thought.
Her heart was clenching and unclenching. What was this feeling? Was this what people called anticipation? She was so close, she could almost taste it.
Sakura tried to slow down her steps lest she brought suspicion onto herself. There were still some lingering doctors outside.
Within minutes, she had reached the building that Doc had called the workshop. It was a small insignificant run-down building that was connected to a much newer section of the doctors' ward.
She opened the door and entered. She knew the others were following her at a more reasonable pace, but they couldn't possibly understand what she was feeling.
It was like joy. Yet not joy. It was something much deeper, darker. It was happiness tinted and stained.
She felt along the walls of the workshop, repeating what she had done in Doc's room just moments ago. She pushed, tugged, waited for some contraption to loosen or the sound of a door to open.
Kaptan was the last to enter the room and he closed the door tightly behind him.
Doc approached Sakura and put a hand on her shoulder. "Sakura, the switch isn't there."
She momentarily stopped her efforts to watch Doc.
Doc pushed one of the large wooden tables that held surgical tools away from the wall and tugged on a spiky ornament that must have once held a torch or candle.
"I rearranged the room once I found the dungeon," Doc explained. "With what we're using it for… holding prisoners and whatnot, I couldn't risk it being discovered by one of the other doctors that frequent this room."
Slowly but surely, a piece of the wall started to rise and fall away, revealing a small entrance big enough for one person to enter at a time.
It was pitch dark, quiet, and as the door completely rolled away, a blast of cold damp air rushed out to greet the group.
"I think it was used as an experimental facility," Doc said as he grabbed a candle, lit it and handed it to Sakura. "I don't think anyone has used it in at least a hundred years - Watch your step!" he called as Sakura accepted the candle, lifted her skirts and descended the narrow, rocky steps down into the darkness without further ado.
"Experimental facility?" Yukito asked as they watched the flame Sakura held steadily wind down into the darkness.
Doc nodded. "You'll see what I mean once you take a look for yourself." He lit two candles and handed it to Kaptan and Yukito. "I'll stand guard," he volunteered. He was a doctor by nature and he had a bad feeling what was going to happen to the prisoner in the next couple of minutes.
Kaptan nodded and started down the steps, Yukito following.
"This is your room."
Chiharu entered the room with dresses in her arms, a string of servants following behind her, bringing in the luggage of the guest. The guest that the General had brought back had not held back. She seemed to have brought her entire closet of clothes and jewelry with her.
The woman walked into the room purposefully and surveyed it. It was grand, elegant, and quite beautiful; however, it was still just a guest room and this did not satisfy her.
"This will have to do for now," she muttered, not very happy with her accommodations. She would have thought that King Aureoles would have given her a better room seeing as who she was.
"You do not like it?" Chiharu asked innocently. Whoever this woman was, this room was already very suitable for the highest level of aristocracy. The king had been more than generous.
The woman narrowed her eyes. "I said it'll have to do for now." She spun on her heels and immediately started directing where her things should go.
There was a fuss at the door and Meiling stomped in. She completely disregarded the guest and headed straight to Chiharu who was helping out.
"Why can't I find anyone today?" she demanded angrily to Chiharu. "I look for the princess and she's not in her room. I look for Tomoyo and can't find her. Even Syaoran is not at his home!"
Chiharu smiled uneasily as she tried to usher Meiling out of the room before she offended the guest, but the woman stepped in before Chiharu could succeed.
"Who do you think you are?" the woman asked bluntly, anger ablaze in her face, contorting her features from pretty to ugly.
Meiling spun around at the challenge she detected in the woman's voice. If there was one thing that a stranger should know about Li Meiling, it was that she would not back down.
"You are talking to Princess Meiling of the Proton Royalty," she spat in response. "Stupid woman."
The woman gasped and staggered back. She had not expected that kind of outburst.
Meiling ignored her and turned back to Chiharu, asking, "So where the hell is everyone?"
Chiharu tried to smile. Takashi had assigned her to take care of the guest, specifically instructing that she should receive the best, and Meiling had probably angered the guest beyond repair now. The short time that Chiharu had known the stranger lady, she had deducted that she was not a very pleasant person.
"I'm not sure," she told Meiling. "I'm sure if you-"
But she was interrupted by the woman who cut in to join in on the conversation.
"I am Hyabe." The tone she used now was more respectful, more sweet. "I am from Proto too."
Meiling narrowed her eyes, peeved that she had interrupted Chiharu. "I don't care if you're from Proto. I was not speaking to you," she said icily.
"Meiling-" Chiharu mumbled.
Hyabe tilted her head and smiled sweetly, ignoring Meiling's coldness. Her face was very pretty as her dark black eyes met Meiling's red defiant ones.
"Oh, but you should care, Princess Meiling. For I am the future queen of Aure."
It was very cold in the dungeon as well as dark. The candle that Doc had given her did little to help to keep the darkness at bay.
As she reached the last of the stony steps, she looked at the small chamber she was standing in.
To her right were three prison cells. One was missing a door and the second's bars had been broken. Only one out of the three was useable.
In the center of the room was an operating table. Long abandoned, rusting, and cobwebbed in white.
But her attention was drawn to her front.
She saw him.
Neim.
He was huddled in the corner of the chamber.
He had heard her steps and he now sat very still. His hands and feet were bound, and he was bagged over the head.
Is it the battle-axe man? Kaptan? Neim dared not to breathe.
Sakura clutched the candle holder she was holding tightly until her fingers became numb. Right there, in front of her, was the next step. She was so close to finding it. She could feel it.
She closed the distance to Neim in a few strides.
This close now, she could see that his robes were caked in dust and he was trembling.
She set down her candle and with one swoop, pulled off the sack that had been covering Neim's head.
Neim's face was dirt streaked and tears were flowing down his cheeks. His entire complexion was pale and he was quivering.
His large round eyes stared into her cold green eyes.
It was a few seconds later that he finally exhaled.
God, it was only the girl. Only the girl.
Relieve flooded into his expression.
Sakura spared no time to be wasted. She dragged Neim to his feet and all but shoved him away from his corner even before Yukito had fully reached the last step of the dungeon.
"Hello Neim," Kaptan casually greeted the man now sprawled on the ground.
Neim scrambled and tried to regain some of his lost dignity by sitting up. "Mmhmm, mm mm mmm mmm mm?"
Yukito was still looking around the small dungeon in surprise as Kaptan leaned down and pulled the gag out of Neim's mouth.
Neim spluttered and spat. "What do you want with me?" he repeated as he tried to wipe his mouth with his wrists.
Kaptan smiled menacingly. "It's not what I want, Neim. It's what she wants." He gestured to Sakura.
Neim twisted around and looked at the girl standing behind him, glaring daggers at him. Her stunning green eyes unsettled him, but come on, she was a girl. What was the worst she could possibly do to him?
He barked out a humorless laugh. "Is this some joke?"
With that he received a swift kick to his side causing him to splutter, choke, and cough.
"Sakura!" Yukito exclaimed, shocked. Surely he must've seen wrong. Surely it was not Sakura, Touya's little cheerful sister, that had so coldly kicked the man.
"Stay out of this, General," Kaptan warned. He had seen this part of Sakura and it would be a tragic mistake to intervene. She had stayed too long wrapped and caught up in her world of pain. She needed to unload her burdens. Neim was the perfect scapegoat.
Sakura kicked Neim again even while he was trying to regain his breath.
Yukito opened his mouth but Kaptan shook his head.
"S-Stop!" Neim cried out, now a bit more scared. The girl was insane! She didn't even act like a girl! It was ridiculous how she managed to kick him with that dress she was wearing.
"Then you'll tell me what I want to know," Sakura said quietly.
Confusion mingled with pain darted into Neim's eyes. What? He turned his head to glance at Kaptan and realized that he was letting the girl do whatever she wanted.
"The gold?" he asked incredulously. Her dress was fine and although she wore little jewelry, it was clear she was well off. Surely she had not captured him just to question him about the bag of gold he stole from Kaptan. That small amount would mean nothing to her, see seemed really wealthy.
Sakura frowned. "Not the gold."
He tried to squirm away. Was she a sick and twisted creature? He had heard that some aristocracy members delighted in watching people suffer in pain. His head spun towards the operation table in the middle of the room. Was she going to cut him open and enjoy it? The thought made him tremble ever more. He didn't want to die!
"Please, don't kill me!" he cried. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know!"
Sakura nodded. "I want to know what information was contained on the brooch."
It took a while for Neim to process the question. He had been so utterly preoccupied with the thought of death that her question shocked him.
"Well?" Kaptan asked, getting a little impatient.
"The b-brooch?" Neim stammered. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Sakura was trembling too. Unlike Neim who was trembling from fear, she was trembling with rage and grief.
"Fox stole it from you the other day." She dropped down onto the floor, her palms on the cold dungeon floor, her face inches away from Neim's as she said, "Don't play games, Neim, or else I will make you suffer."
Neim shook his head, eyes wide. She was serious. He could even feel the underlying threat in her tone. She was prepared to kill him if need be.
If he told her about the brooch, he was a dead man. The Scorps would not rest until they had hunted him down and he would die very painfully. If he didn't tell her about the brooch, she would kill him. And who was to say that after he told her what he knew, Kaptan wouldn't kill him?
He saw no escape, no way out. Every option he considered, it ended in death. His eyes darted from Sakura to Kaptan. Both were unmovable, unemotional, cold, distant. Killers.
His eyes fell on the face of Yukito. He had a kinder spark in his gentle eyes. He had morals, values. Yes, he wouldn't kill him.
He crawled towards Yukito and begged for his life. "P-Please, don't let them kill me! Don't let them do this to me!"
Kaptan saw how it tore at Yukito. The General was a kind and caring man, but it would not do for him to interfere now. Kaptan wondered briefly just how exactly Yukito had managed to rise to the ranks of General. How did he survive the bloodshed on the battlefield?
But those questions were insignificant at the moment. Kaptan could already see Yukito caving in.
"General, it'll be best if you waited for us upstairs," he said.
Yukito looked at Kaptan and then at Sakura. "But…"
"Leave this to us," Kaptan said. "You are just getting in the way."
Yukito shook his head. This was wrong. "Don't hurt this man anymore please."
Sakura did not reply.
"It'll be best if you waited for us upstairs," Kaptan repeated firmly.
Another moment of hesitation and another glance thrown in Sakura's direction. Yukito could tell that Sakura had changed. She would not rest until she had exacted revenge. It broke his heart to see her suffer like this but he knew there was nothing he could do at the moment. He had to protect her at all costs.
He took a step back and then turned and walked up the steps; Neim's pleads and cries echoing in his ears.
"Where is she!"
"Your Highness!"
Meijo was more than surprised. Syaoran had rushed to the palace doctors' wing immediately when he had arrived at the palace. Meijo had been standing dutifully at the outer door.
"What happened? How is she?" Syaoran asked. His heart was pounding painfully.
If something… if something happened to her, he knew he would regret it. He shouldn't have been so hot-tempered and walked off. She must have had declined his offer to horse ride because she wasn't feeling well. Why had he been so careless?
"The doctor is treating her right now. I was told to wait –"
Syaoran walked past her and headed straight to where Meijo had indicated, blunting ignoring everything else.
Sakura was kicking Neim again. The man had refused to talk despite her threats.
She had expected this to some degree. After all, he was the Scorps' messenger and would not have betrayed them so easily. But she had time and she would not give up. She would win eventually.
"Sakura," Kaptan said, pulling her away. "You're going to kill him."
She gave a frustrated cry and tried to scuff Neim even as Kaptan was forcefully pulling her back.
"That's enough for today," he cautioned. "The rat isn't a young man. His body won't handle your… abuse."
Sakura glared at Kaptan. "I can't wait another day!" She then twisted out of Kaptan's grasp and ran towards Neim.
Neim flinched, anticipating another punch or kick.
"Just tell me what I want to know and all of this will end painlessly."
Neim covered his face and shook his head. "No! I'm dead either way. If I tell you, the Scorps will come after me."
Kaptan sighed inwardly. He knew this to be true. Traitors were never let go. They were hunted down, captured, brought back to be tortured in the most barbarous ways and then slowly killed. It was a death that he would not wish to his worst enemy.
Sakura crouched down and Neim braced himself for more pain. Instead, Sakura was gentle and almost kind.
"That won't happen…" she whispered soothingly. "Because I will end the Black Scorps!"
Shock coursed through Neim's body and he broke out into a mirthless laugh. "What? You? You think you can take down the entire organization? Who do you think you are?"
Sakura waited patiently until Neim was done until she said quietly. "I am the last survivor of the Kinomotos, and I will avenge my family… whatever it takes!" She could see that the name meant nothing to Neim. He did not know about the massacre.
"Once you tell me the location of Boch and the leader, I will kill them all."
This time Neim did not laugh. He realized she was serious and determined. But what surprised him was that she knew Boch's name. Boch was the ruthless, cold killer, right-hand man of the leader of the Scorps.
"How… how would I know where Boch or the leader is," Neim retorted back. "I'm just a messenger!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. Was he lying? Bluffing? No, he was definitely acting. Knowing Neim's character, he would not have resisted the urge to look and decipher the location that was hidden on the brooch.
"You had the brooch," she said. "You must have looked at it!"
"The brooch again," Neim said, puzzled. "Why are you so interested in it? What? You think that the location of the most important people of the Scorps would be written on it? Are you that stupid?"
Sakura's world felt like it was crashing down. Could it be…? Was it possible that Neim was being truthful? The brooch didn't contain the location? Then… She wobbled back. Impossible… After all she went through… trying to befriend, searching his room, seducing the prince… all that for nothing?
Syaoran threw open the doors to Doc's room. No one was there.
Meijo was just behind him and she opened her mouth in surprise. What was going on?
One of the more curious doctors that recognized the Proton prince sauntered over.
"Your Highness," he bowed. "Are you looking for the princess?"
"Yes."
The doctor pointed to the building beside the one they were standing in front of.
"I saw the head doctor bring her to that one over there-"
But Syaoran was already heading away.
"Don't worry," Meijo told the doctor who was gaping. "He rarely lets anyone finish their sentences."
"General!" Doc stood up from where he had been sitting once Yukito emerged from the trap door and pulled the lever, hiding it again. "That was fast."
"They're still down there," Yukito said.
Doc nodded in understanding. He wasn't sure what was going on but judging from the General's look, he was battling inner emotions and coming to terms with the new Sakura.
"People change," Doc said after a while. "She's changed, but she's still the same, really."
Yukito looked at the Doc and smiled gently, a bit sadly. "I know."
"Well," Doc said. "I'll just be outside standing guard."
He could see that the General needed some time alone to think and to adjust to all the things he had seen since his return.
"Enough of this!" Kaptan snapped. He had let this gone on long enough. He could see what Neim's revelation about the brooch not containing locations was doing to Sakura. "I've let you live long enough."
Sakura did not protest. She sat dejectedly on the floor.
Neim whimpered and tried to crawl away, but Kaptan was not disadvantaged with bounded wrists and ankles.
"HELP! HELP ME PLEASE!" he screamed out of desperation.
Kaptan grinned as he brought his boot onto Neim's back, pinning him in place. "Didn't anyone tell you? This place is sound tight. Scream to your heart's content. I like my victims expressing themselves before their death anyway."
"NOOO! HELP!" He was crying again.
Kaptan unsheathed his sword and the ringing sound of his blade leaving the sheath echoed in the small chamber.
"NO!" Neim screamed. "Please! Stop! I'll tell you anything!"
"Too late."
"NO! You're right! You're right!" Kaptan's blade was inches away from cutting his throat. "The brooch is special! It is!"
Kaptan shook his head. "Now you're just making excuses to prolong your death."
"No! The girl! The girl wants to know wha-what the brooch contains? I'll tell you!"
Kaptan narrowed his eyes. "No games, Neim. I'm growing tired of this."
"Yes, no games," Neim agreed. "I'll tell you everything I know."
Kaptan dug his heel into Neim's back and then released him. He did, however, not sheath his sword.
Neim crawled a safe distance away, whimpering. His heart was pounding. Kaptan had been serious.
"Speak!"
Neim jumped and burst out with the information he knew, "The brooch is a key! The brooch is a key!"
Sakura looked up. "Key?"
Neim nodded frantically. "I was given that key from one of Boch's underlings and instructed to give it to one of the leader's underlings. Since you guys stole it… they are hunting for me out there right now."
Neither Sakura nor Kaptan was sympathetic and so Neim continued, "Boch had his men spread rumors that the brooch was a message that contained the location of the leader to throw off the true purpose of the brooch."
"True purpose?"
"Yes," Neim nodded up and down. "Its true purpose is to open the Chest."
Kaptan smacked his face. He should've known this was another of Neim's tactics to survive a bit longer. "The purpose of keys is to open something," he snapped, advancing on Neim.
"No! You don't understand," Neim spluttered. "It's not any chest. It's a Chest."
Losing his cool by the second, Kaptan waved his sword around. "This is ridiculous! A chest is a chest!"
"Not any chest!" Neim repeated, his eyes darting to Sakura to see if she could at least understand. When he saw the blank look in her eyes, he groaned. "I can explain, please!"
Sakura gently touched Kaptan's arm. "Let him explain." She couldn't give up now. Maybe if the brooch was really a key of some sort, it would open a chest, and maybe in the chest were documents that would lead her to Boch or the leader.
"You know the history of Aure and Proto," Neim said quickly before Kaptan could change his mind. "In the beginning of time, a great magician called Clow Reed appeared amongst mankind. He chose two rulers to govern two rich countries. Those two rulers were the first kings of Aure and Proto. They were crowned and ruled well for many years. Magician Clow was pleased with this so he gave them each a gift. A Chest."
"Did I miss something?" Kaptan said sarcastically. "I didn't know this was story time."
"It's not a story!" Neim insisted.
"I heard this when I was a kid!" Kaptan retorted back. Listening to fairy tales was the last thing he wanted to do right now. "My sister told me this as a bedtime story."
Neim ignored Kaptan and continued. "Clow Reed said there will come a time when the rulers of Aure and Proto would meet a great threat-"
"A prophecy… just… fantastic…" Kaptan muttered.
Neim ignored his comment again. "-meet a great threat. It was not specified when the great threat would come but it was clear that it would be generations later. Magician Clow Reed ordered that the two Chests should not be opened until such a time had occurred for the power that the two Chests contained could be abused and used for evil deeds."
"Typical."
"So over time, the two keys disappeared as it was passed on from one heir to the other. Even the Chests disappeared and that part of history became a story."
"So you're saying that Clow Reed gave the original kings a key and Chest each?" Sakura asked, a little incredulously.
Neim nodded. "I know it's hard to believe… I didn't believe it at first either… but the first Chest has already been opened."
"Hiragizawa! What are you doing here?"
Eriol turned and saw the prince approaching him and looked a bit guilty.
"Your Highness," he bowed. "I heard about the princess and came to see how she was."
Syaoran knew exactly why Eriol was here. The Chancellor was still suspicious.
"What are you doing here?" Eriol asked in turn.
Syaoran flushed red. "Same reason as you. I was just checking on how she was."
Eriol stared for a moment longer and then nodded. If the prince was really starting to like and care for the princess, he better move faster and find out what she was hiding before anyone got hurt.
"Look!" Meijo exclaimed and pointed at a man standing in front of one of the buildings. "That's the head doctor the princess went with-"
But Syaoran and Eriol were both already heading in that direction.
Meijo sighed.
Kaptan burst into laughter. "The first chest has been opened? Do you expect us to believe you?"
But Sakura definitely did. Her eyes were wide as she was engrossed in the tale. The book that Syaoran had given her to read, the one where she thought was an interesting story, was the exact same one that Neim was telling them. The Chronicles of Clow Reed.
"Magician Clow Reed said not to open the Chests unless the world was facing a great threat," she whispered in a hushed tone. Then realization hit her. "It's the Scorps, isn't it? They've managed to somehow find the Chests and the keys!"
Neim hesitated. He had already said this much, there was no point in holding back now. "Yes. Boch has been spending the past few years locating the Chest and keys and has successfully found all.
Sakura frowned and then shook her head. "No, Fox described the brooch briefly. He said it was crafted into the shape of a gold scorpion, just like the tattoo of the Scorps. You're telling me that Clow Reed foresaw that an organization like the Scorps would be formed thousands of years before it actually did?"
"What? We actually believe that there are such things as magicians?" Kaptan yelped.
"When Boch found the key, it was carelessly dangling as a trinket on a little girl's bracelet. He took it and sent it to Proton to be crafted into a brooch to hide its real purpose."
Kaptan perched on the side of the operation table, deep in thought, arms crossed in front of his chest. If Boch was using so much effort into hiding and disguising the key, it must open something extremely valuable. He, personally, didn't believe in hocus-pocus mumble-jumbo magic but he did believe in treasure. His eyes lit up just at the thought.
"You said one of the Chests has been opened," he spoke out loud. "What was in it?"
Neim looked scared because he didn't know the answer. He knew Kaptan and Kaptan's reputation. If he said he didn't know, he would be killed.
"He doesn't know," Sakura said before Neim could even form a lie. She had been watching him closely.
"But!" Neim cried out before Kaptan could lose his temper. "I do know where the second Chest is! Sin-Since you have the brooch already, you just need to get the Chest."
They didn't exactly have the brooch but Kaptan had faith that Sakura could retrieve it. That was a small and insignificant problem.
… It must be treasure, Kaptan thought. Or why else would the Scorps be so interested in it? It must be treasure!
"Where is the Chest?"
"I can tell you," Neim whispered. "But you need to promise that you won't kill me-"
"Done," Kaptan promised without hesitation.
"It should be heading towards the West right now."
"I knew there was a catch!" Kaptan huffed. There was only one way in and out from the West, and that road was full of dangerous bandits. Not to mention the Zetsu-Yama mountain range that divided the West from Aure's borders. It was treacherous in good season, but now that the winter was here, it would be more than dangerous.
"Why is it going to the West?" Sakura asked. Was this a clue? The leader or Boch was hiding in the West?
Neim shrugged. "I don't know. But if you set out immediately, you should catch the convoy before they reach the Zetsu-Yama mountains."
"How many men are guarding the Chest?"
Kaptan was already calculating the risks, the chances of success, and how many men he would have to bring to take care of the convoy.
Neim shook his head. "I don't know."
"Where's the opened chest?" Sakura wanted to know.
"I don't know."
"What types of weapon would they be carrying?" Kaptan wanted to know.
"I don't know that!"
"How am I supposed to find out the locations of Boch from that information!" Sakura complained. It felt like she had made no progress at all even after interrogating Neim!
"I don't know that!" Neim replied. "But you're a man of your word, Kaptan. I told you what you want to know and you said you will not take my life."
Kaptan was only half-listening now. "Yes, yes," he said, distractedly. He'd definitely bring Tor and Skor. Would he need Fox? The Scorps wouldn't be traveling with a lot of people especially if they wanted to attempt to cross the mountain range… that meant ten men max? He could probably kill 3 by himself. Tor could handle 3. Would bringing four men be enough?
"…and I want to eat something. And if possible, can I get these bounds cut?" Neim was blissfully asking.
"Your Highness, Chancellor?" Doc was standing in front of the workshop building, keeping guard when he spotted the two men heading towards him, with the princess's maid behind them.
"Doctor," Eriol greeted Doc. He recognized him as one of Kaptan's men. Really, had Kaptan's group managed to take all of the commanding and important positions in the palace household in just a matter of days? "We're here to see the princess."
Doc fidgeted. "She's inside resting and should not be disturbed-"
But Syaoran was already walking past him to open the door. Doc responded just as fast by blocking the way with his body.
"Your Highness," he smiled apologetically. "The princess needs her rest."
"Shouldn't you be in there with her, Head Doctor?" Eriol smiled friendly but there was meaning to that question.
"I-I stepped out to take a break," Doc defended.
"How is she?" Syaoran asked.
The Doc looked curiously at the prince. He was a handsome young man exuding a powerful and almost deadly aura.
"She'll be fine. She just needs some rest."
Syaoran felt guilty. So she had really been tired. No wonder she refused to spend the day with him. He should apologize for his behaviour today towards her.
"I want to see her." It was not a question.
Yukito could hear a conversation taking place outside of the room. He stood up and curiously glanced outside and saw Syaoran and Eriol.
It seemed like they were trying to come in. Sakura was still down in the dungeon. If they did come in, there would be no end to the amount of explaining they had to do to cover for her missing presence.
"I want to see her."
Syaoran's voice was strong and demanding and Yukito watched as Doc faltered.
Yukito turned and immediately pulled the candle-holder in the wall to reveal the trap door and bounded down the steps.
"I haven't had a good meal in a while since I've been on the run," Neim was busy saying. Now that he knew he wasn't going to die, he became increasingly chatty and happy.
However, his audience of two was not listening to him.
Kaptan was already far ahead planning his course of attack to steal the chest.
Sakura was in her own world trying to determine where Boch's location was from Neim's blabber.
"Sakura! Kaptan!" Yukito called from halfway down the steps. "Come quickly!"
Kaptan sprang into action and pulled Sakura onto her feet. "What's happened?"
"It's Syaoran," Yukito explained.
Syaoran? Her heart warmed up just a little.
Kaptan pushed and tugged Sakura into motion and within seconds, they were running up the steps back into the workshop room.
"HEY!" Neim yelled. He had recognized the Proton prince's name. This was his chance to call for help. "HELP ME! HELP ME! HELP! HELP!"
The stone door rolled back in place and the darkness crept back as it sealed Neim's voice in the chamber where it would never reach the outside.
"Get out of my way," Syaoran instructed the Doc and pushed past him. He would forgive the doctor's insolence this once.
They entered the workshop room and found Sakura seated on a chair with Kaptan on her left and Yukito on her right.
Shocked, Syaoran turned to the doctor. "I thought you said she was resting. What are they doing here?"
"We accompanied her here," Kaptan explained. They had just managed to pull the wooden table back in place before the prince had strode in.
Jealousy crept into Syaoran's heart but he pushed it away. "A moment alone with the princess," was all he said.
Kaptan, Yukito, and Doc filed out obediently. Eriol tried his best to linger as much as he could before he had to leave and close the door behind him.
Syaoran pulled up a chair next to Sakura's and sat down.
He studied the beautiful girl and saw that she had been crying. Her amethyst gown was streaked with dust and dirt. He frowned.
"How are you feeling?"
Sakura averted her eyes, her heart skipping under his intense glance. "I'm okay now." She smiled at him. She wasn't feeling all that better. Neim had offered her nothing.
Tenderly, the prince reached out and cupped her face in his palm. He stroked her cheek and brushed away the dirt he found there. "Have you been crying?" he asked gently. His voice caught and came out sounding broken and harsh.
Sakura shrank away from the contact. Her heart was now pounding. His touch had been warm and comforting. She must've had cried a little out of frustration when Neim would not tell her anything.
"No," she lied.
Syaoran sighed; he knew she was lying. And he hated to see her cry. "Who made you cry?"
Sakura's mind raced. The prince obviously knew she was lying. There was no point in further denying it. But how could she tell him who exactly had made her cry?
He frowned as his eyes trailed down her body. "And why is your dress caked with dirt?"
Sakura looked down at her dress, startled, and realized she had plopped down on the dirty dungeon floor.
"Oh no!" she cried, jumping out of the chair and using her hands to try to smooth out the wrinkles and brush away the dirt. "This is Tomoyo's dress." She looked at the prince who was studying her and following her hands and then she lied. "I… I tripped and… and that's why I was crying! It hurt when I fell."
Syaoran's brown eyes softened and he started to laugh.
Sakura stared back at him, all previous urges to want to touch and feel his touch, gone. She was indignant. She knew the lie sounded stupid, but couldn't he at least try to conceal his amusement?
Abruptly, Syaoran stood up and wrapped his arms around her. "Where does it hurt, princess?" he asked in husky voice. She could feel his warm breath near her neck as he whispered into her ear.
"…Everywhere," Sakura breathed, feeling like melting.
Painstakingly slow, he placed his palm on her waist. "Here?" he whispered, he was breathing quickly.
She arched towards his touch. Her body felt like it was on fire. His fingers were leaving a trail of destruction in its wake… but still she wanted more. She wanted to feel more. What was this strange attraction to him? She couldn't figure it out nor did she want to right now.
All that filled her mind was his scent, his touch, his warmth. And she wanted more.
Just as mesmerized as she was, Syaoran threaded his fingers into her short brown hair and tilted her head back. She was stunning and beautiful in his eyes. Surprised at what he was feeling, for the first time, he realized that he was attracted to her. She was perfect in every way. He wanted to trace the curve of her face but he was afraid that if he went further he would not be able to stop.
He saw confusion in her eyes as he wavered between indecisiveness. She pulled him closer, almost granting him permission to kiss her. All the time her eyes did not leave his.
Syaoran just managed to suppress a groan and took a tiny step back. No, he couldn't do this. He was losing his mind.
Sakura closed up to him almost immediately. Her brilliant green eyes that just moments ago had been pleading, yearning was now cold.
She pulled away from him leaving him feeling forlorn and his head spinning. She managed to step away from his embrace just as Meiling burst through the doors.
"Syaoran!" she cried flinging into his arms without hesitation and burying her face in his shoulder. "I've been looking for you all day!"
But Syaoran only had eyes for Sakura. Why was it that he always managed to screw it up? But Sakura had turned away and was no longer even looking at him.
"Meiling-" Syaoran mumbled trying to dislodge her arms around him.
All of a sudden, Meiling let go and turned around. For the first time since she had stepped into the room, she acknowledged Sakura's presence.
Yukito, Kaptan, Doc, Eriol, and Meijo rushed in. They had been powerless in stopping Meiling's direct march into the room. She had not even talked to them.
"Sakura," Meiling said with a bit of resentment.
"Meiling," Sakura replied with much more kindness than Meiling had offered her.
Meiling lifted her chin and said, "You have a feast to attend with your father and you're here instead of getting dressed?"
"She was ill-" Doc defended Sakura.
"I was not talking to you, doctor," Meiling snapped. She then turned towards Sakura again, a glint in her eyes that said she knew something that none of them did.
"I will go now and prepare," Sakura said quietly and turned to leave.
Syaoran wanted to stop her but Meiling was faster with her words.
"Have a good dinner with the future queen of Aure then."
Author's Note: Sometimes I wonder if I'm being too evil teasing SxS =P
But there it is.
Some people have commented on my crummy summary so I decided to give it another go and see what I could whip up, so you may have noticed the new summary. I apologize for changing the summary up again and again but if there's room for improvement, I'm there ;D
So do let me know how the new summary is.
Rest at ease though, the words in the summary may have changed but the content of the story remains the same. I have already got this story planned out so it's not a spur of the moment kind of thing. (Also, if you've been reading the previous summaries, think of it as sneak previews).
To combat withdrawal symptops, Fpix, I've added this chapter asap! ;3
Big thanks to reviewers! I'm glad that the General was a surprise ^^ Hope this chapter was also a treat.
Next chapter up soon. Don't forget to read & review in the meantime.
To be continued…