Swan Lake (Syaoran and Sakura Version)
Chapter 11:
It was a beautiful night. The moon was full, showing it's light and beauty. The wind blew gently as the cherry blossoms petals flew from the Cherry blossom tree above her and gently landed on the surface of the lake. Sakura was standing at the edge of the lake, admiring the view when suddenly she heard footsteps coming towards her.
She didn't bother to turn around. She knew who it was.
"Are you sure about this? Are you sure you want to go through with this, Sakura?" asked the figure as it looks at Sakura seriously.
Sakura slowly turned to the figure
and nodded her answer without hesitation.
"Yes, Mother," replied Sakura. "I will face Eriol and finally get rid of this power once and for all. I don't understand why Clow gave me this power but it was too strong for him to control any longer. It is because of this, it had caused me a lot of pain and hardship...but even so, I won't let Eriol have it."
Queen Nadeshiko knew the reason but she didn't have the heart to tell her.
"My powers are still weak since he took my staff away from me but I'm still able to use my cards. Since Eriol is also Clow's recantation just like father, I don't know how I'm going to defeat him... but as long it is in my power, I will do what I must do."
"It will cause you pain and you may never be free from the spell or see everyone else ever again."
"It's a small price to pay but if it will save you and everyone else then I'll do it without any doubts."
There was a pause between them as Queen Nadeshiko saw Sakura clutching on to her skirt.
"The marks you have on your body is connected to the object of immortality and he'll surely use it on you. Once your wings sprouts from your back, there will be no stopping Eriol from getting immortally."
"Yes I know, that is why I am planning to stop him before he has the chance to release it."
"Please Sakura! Think this over! There is another way out of this! If you just..."
"No mother!, I won't let Syaoran get involved in this!" Sakura interrupted.
"On the night I met Syaoran, I felt a strong connection towards him. As soon as Eriol left my room after talking to me, I had a dream about the future. It's because of me that Syaoran would suffer greatly. I don't want that to happen. He has been good to me, that is why I had sent the letter to his friend Rukki to give to Syaoran so I can see him, one last time."
"But Sakura, you don't know what you are getting yourself into! If you do that then you will-"
"I know that! but I have no choice. If that the only way to stop Eriol and save Syaoran, then I will do it without any doubt. I have already made my decision. Even if it hurts me inside, I don't want him or anyone else to get involved with this! I may never be free from this curse or never see you, Syaoran or everyone else ever again but as long I know that everyone else is safe then it alright with me."
"You don't understand at all, don't you? Prince Syaoran is more involved in this than you think."
"What do you mean by that, Mother?" asked Sakura who was very confused now.
She walks toward her, putting her hand on Sakura's heart.
"You know the answer already, my dear but you need to give yourself a chance to figure it out. Because-" as her mother took Sakura's hand, placing it on Sakura's heart "only you know what's truly in your heart."
Sakura woke up from her bed looking around her bedroom.
Sakura could only think about tonight and how was she was to stop Eriol. Sakura was now confused about what her mother had said but quickly eased it from her head. Sakura felt frightened but was determinate to defeat Eriol. She was glad that no one would be there especially Syaoran.
As long as he was safe, nothing matter to her at all.
"Are you awake, princess?" said a dark voice, interrupting her thoughts.
Eriol entered her room as he stares at Sakura, admiring her curiosity and beauty.
"Lovely evening isn't it?" he said. Sakura didn't answer the question.
"What's bothering you, my dear? Aren't you going to speak to me?"
Sakura shook her answer as Eriol approach to her bed, standing at her bedside
"There is nothing for you to be afraid of. For the moment, it set aside the idea of marrying you."
Sakura final look up at him and was surprised.
"I have given our situation a lot of thought and I realized something. In order for you and I to truly be together, we need to be able to trust one another. For now at least, what I want Sakura is just to spend time together to get you know better."
"Is that true, Eriol? Or do you have something plan for me?" asked Sakura harshly.
"No, my darling. Everything is where it should be and it is only the matter of time when everything falls into its rightful place," said Eriol as Sakura turned to face him.
"Eriol, end this now, " she said seriously. "You don't understand what harm you're causing. There is a reason Clow did this. You should know better than me since you're his reincarnation."
Eriol quickly grabbed Sakura's hand and pulled her against him in an embrace.
"My darling, you are the one I love with all my heart. I want you Sakura, as a man wants a woman. When I first met you in Kinomoto country I was determined to find the object of immortality. I didn't know it then, but after seeing you every day and seeing how beautiful you really are, I fell in love with you. So here I am asking you again Sakura, Will you give me your hand, thus giving me the key to your heart?"
Sakura felt torn and confused. She knew he had feelings for her but never imagined it was this deep.
She looked at him sadly and shook her head.
"Fine! If you can't give me your heart then I won't let anyone else have it, especially the prince." Eriol let go of Sakura and angrily threw her to the bed.
Before he left her room, he said one more thing to her.
"I have many plans to make. Wait and see; I'll make you mine."
Sakura just stood there. 'What was he planning?'
Moments later, the princess got off her bed, got dressed and left the room, heading towards the lake. There she walked inside the lake, not caring if she gets wet since the sun was about to rise any moment.
"You know, Eriol won't stop until he gets what he wants." said Meilin appearing at the Princess' side.
"I know and that's why I'm determined to stop him" answered Sakura, turning to face Meilin.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked "Why do you stay by Eriol's side? You don't have anything to gain from it, do you?"
There was silence between them until Meilin answered.
"His heart of stone and soul of ice are craving for power. He needs to understand the power of the human heart or something terrible will happen. My job is to watch over you. There's something important I need to do and that's why I'm here."
It has been a day since Sakura and Syaoran separate conversation with Queen Nadeshiko has passed. Syaoran only thoughts were on Eriol, how pleasurable it would be to inflict pain on him. He blames him for everything bad that happened to him for the last few days when he was apart from Sakura.
The thought of the night he was separated from Sakura kept playing over his mind, especially the strange dream he had last night.
Syaoran found himself in front of the lake. A light appeared above the lake revealing the princess. She stood on top of the water waiting as the moonlight shone around her. Sakura lifted her head, her hair blowing gently in the wind, looking sadly at the sky.
Sakura heard him approach. She slowly turned around and gave him a gentle smile with a bit of sadness in her beautiful eyes. A dark light appeared out of nowhere and flew towards the princess, trapping her.
An unrecognizable figure appeared in front of her, holding an object. Sakura was rendered immobile by the spell holding her and thus couldn't do a thing about it.
Her whole body began to glow as a pair of magnificent white wings began to sprout from her back.
There were markings on her body now matching the object.
The figure leaned towards Sakura, until his mouth was at her ears, touching her face gently as tears fell from her eyes.
He whispered, "Finally, you are ready."
Syaoran swung his sword gracefully slicing the air. Sweat was dripping from his bangs and his eyebrows were furrowed in concentration.
Suddenly the conversation he had with Sakura appeared and remembered what she had said to him.
"Things are getting more serious than ever Syaoran and I don't want you to get involved with any of it. You are my friend and I don't want anything bad to happen to you because of me. So it is best if we don't see each other anymore."
How could she say that? How can she have done this to him? Why did she do this to him? Suddenly he remembered Sakura's sad expression in his dream as it kept playing it over in his mind.
"Could it be..."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. The door opened, relieving the prince's mother, Queen Yelan. Syaoran put his sword down as he greeted and faced her.
"Tomorrow is the night where you have to chose your bride."
"Yes, I know. How I can ever forget," he replied her bitterly.
"Listen to me, it doesn't matter to me who you marry, as along as you chose someone by tomorrow."
"Mother, I'm telling you again that I don't want to get married. I won't marry someone who I don't love."
"I know that but it's very important for you to get marry to your bride as soon as possible."
"Why? I know it is to take the throne but there is something else. Something you're not telling me?"
His mother didn't answer as she stood up, her great skirts rustling pleasantly.
She came close to him, and put a finger under his chin, looking at him
"I know how hard it is for you, taking this big responsibility but I promise you, Syaoran, that when you get married, you will be happy. You will become king, ruling this kingdom fairly together with your wife who you'll love and cherishes for the rest of your life, standing by your side. And by the time that happens, you will become stronger than you can ever possibly imagine"
"It doesn't matter who I choose to marry as along if I love her and chose her by tomorrow?"
"Yes." Queen Yelan pull out a small beautiful box from behind her back and place it gently on Syaoran's hand.
Syaoran opened the box and was confused about what inside.
"This is a very special ring that has been passed down by our family," said Queen Yelan. "I want you to place it on the finger of the woman you love, who you are willing to choose as your wife."
Suddenly he felt a strange strong presence. He was drawn to the window as he looks at the lake. He had a bad feeling as he places his hand over his heart and found his heartbeat increasing rapidly. He snapped out of it, as he realized it was sunset and the thought of Sakura reappeared in his head.
He stood up abruptly and excused himself.
Without waiting for Queen Yelan to respond, he left the palace grounds.
"I have a bad feeling about this I have to help her. I don't know how but I won't let him have his way nor Sakura. Sakura, wait for me."
He mounted on his white steed and shot off to the lake.
Hoping he wasn't too late.
Queen Yelan watched over him from the window as he heads towards the lake in great speed.
So it was true after all. He finally found a person to love just as she had hoped. She just wished he had found her sooner but it's too late for that now. The time has come for it to happen. There is no other way out of it, no matter how much she was against it.
'I must believe in him, no matter how things might end up. I pray that he will come back to me.'
Sakura watched silently as the majestic sun disappeared behind the horizon and the sky turned slowly from red-orange to pale blue. The moon was peeping from behind the clouds welcoming the night. She was standing under the cherry blossom tree.
Memories of the previous days flooded into her mind.
Sakura shook her head. Trying to temporarily erase those memories.
Suddenly she heard a voice calling her.
At first, she thought it was Eriol but then the voice sounded deep, harsh but gentle. She looked over her shoulder at the familiar figure, looking into his amber eyes that she had never thought to see again.
For that moment there was silence between the couple. Sakura looks surprised while Syaoran just looked her straight in the eyes, his expression unreadable.
"Syaoran, why are you here?" asked Sakura surprisingly.
"I came to see you."
Sakura's eyes widen.
"No! You can't be here!" Sakura said urgently, quickly walk to him as she took Syaoran's hand, showing him the way out of the lake. "You have to leave now before Eriol see you!"
Syaoran stopped her. He quickly grabs her waist, looking at her with a serious and anger in his eyes.
"No Sakura! I'm not leaving without you!" he said firmly.
Sakura was silence, not knowing what to say to him in this moment.
"I know everything Sakura," he said calmly. "I know that Eriol wants your power of immortality."
Sakura looked back at him.
"For how long have you…?" she couldn't complete her question but Syaoran understood what she wanted to know.
"It doesn't matter. All it matters is getting you out of this place. I know that something is going to happen tonight. You were planning to face Eriol alone by scarifying yourself. You don't have to face him alone, I will defeat him with you. I will take you to my palace and protect you until the spell that was cast on you is broken."
Sakura shook her head. "Eriol will do anything to keep me from getting free. Even if I go with you, he'll go after me, destroying everything in his path until he gets what he wants. He'd try to kill you if you're with me."
The two of them stood there, staring at each other as the tension in the air became thick.
"Syaoran..., I'm sorry for making you feel this way. I know that it troubled you when I told you we could never see each other, I felt the same way. I thought it will be much easier for me but it's not."
"Sakura..."
Suddenly he pulled Sakura into an embrace.
"I felt hurt when you left me in the other night. We become close, and then you walk out of my life. I have never felt so lost, or alone in my life until I met you. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I have to face him Sakura, it's my duty to defeat him, to avenge my father and... to save you."
Sakura gasped. Syaoran started to hug her tightly but lovely, never want to let go.
"I won't let Eriol have you. I'll protect you, I'll find a way to release you from this spell. I swear it." he whispered gently.
A blush appeared on her face.
She felt confused, feeling her heart beating as she looks at Syaoran's expression. She hugged him back as she started to close her eyes, feeling him. She could hear his heart beating in his chest, how strong his arms were around her as she felt safe in his arms.
Sakura let go of him, gently place a hand on his face.
"I'm sorry for the pain and hardship I have caused you." she said softly as she felt tears sting her eyes.
Syaoran felt her presence stirring up as he looks at her sad expression.
"Please, forget every single thing you know about me and leave this place while you still can."
Syaoran grabbed her shoulders angrily.
"Damn it!, Sakura! Do you think it was easy for me! It's not! Not only you don't want to see me, I can never forget about you! Never! Don't you see how this make me feel, seeing you suffering like this! Don't you know how much you mean to me?"
Upon hearing this, Sakura was in completely utter shock.
"Really? Is that true?" she asked, trying to take in what he just blurted out.
Syaoran could see all the pain, hurt and sadness in her eyes. He gently placed his hand on her cheek. She winced slightly but turned to look at him.
"Sakura..." he said seriously, looking into her beautiful emerald eyes. "Do you hate me that much?"
"No! I don't hate you!" she yelled, staring at him with tear filled in her eyes."I can never hate you."
Syaoran took her chin in his fingers, reached up and gently caressed her warm, soft lips with his own.
Sakura froze in shock.
A part of her wanted to stop the kiss, the rest of her wanted to keep going. For some reason, she felt her heart at ease. Slowly, she closed her eyes, returning the kiss as she put her arms around his neck. She had never felt anything like this before. His lips were so soft, and his arms felt so strong and warm.
Syaoran felt her reaction as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him, feeling her against his chest.
In that very moment, Syaoran opened his heart to her as Sakura opened her heart to him.
When they parted they simply stared at each other, neither saying a word.
Not that words were really necessary.
Syaoran took a small box from his pocket and handed it to her.
Sakura opened the box and was shocked at its contents.
"Marry me."
He took the ring from the box and gently slid it on her finger.
"Tomorrow night at my palace, there will be a ball celebrating my coming of age. Come to the ball, by all means, I want to make you my queen."
"But you don't even know me..."
"I don't care!" Syaoran replied fiercely.
Sakura was quiet.
He went down on one knee, clasping her hand into his, looking at her desperately.
"Tomorrow night, I have to choose someone to marry. There is no one in the world who I rather chose than you. I will choose you in front of the whole world. I swear to be faithful, I will protect you. I want to live my life with you. No matter what happens, I'll always stay by your side."
The moment he spoke those words, she was shocked, but underneath that shock was another emotion, something she hadn't been able to understand. It was confusing but at the same time pleasurable.
But why did she felt this way? Especially towards him?
Something in her knew that every word that left his mouth were true.
She wanted to give him her answer but then she thought about her dream and what would happen if Syaoran was with her.
No, she won't let it happen.
Even if it meant losing her chance of freedom and happiness.
"I can't..."
Without even waiting for his respond, she backed up away from him and ran off.
Before Syaoran could go after her, a loud boom was heard.
It sounded like something from an explosion.
The place grew darker as the wind blew rougher.
A figure emerged from the shadows, sensing a threat to his plans.
He walked slowly toward her until he was a few feet away from them, staring with his icy glare.
"Eriol..."