Hello all! My school semester has just ended so I'm planning on finishing this fic as quickly as I can so the guilt of having it sitting here incomplete will finally be remedied, and you can all finally see what happens. Leave me a review, let me know what you think of the chapter!

Pharaoh

Chapter Twenty One

Needless to say, the girls were astonished at the arrival of the Anatolian band, aside from Meiling, who stood alone near the fountain, quietly observing. Rika had quickly gotten over their appearance when she saw the blood still slick on Terada's face, and immediately rushed over to help him. Sakura suspected she was discreetly using magic to stop the bleeding as she wiped the mess up with a cloth. Eriol jogged into the courtyard, panting, eyes wide as he took in the scene. There was calculation in his eyes; she presumed he'd heard rumours but wasn't sure if he should believe them until that moment.

"Your Majesty," she heard him say to Syaoran. "What is going on here, exactly?"

Syaoran exhaled and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's a bit of a story."

"Everybody, this is my brother," Sakura announced, gesturing to Touya, and she saw several pairs of eyebrows raised. "He found us on our way to the Valley and has some pretty interesting information."

"Daidouji has been calling himself the Pharaoh of Egypt," Syaoran declared.

A general murmur of shock went through the group. Eriol blanched as they went through Touya's story again.

"That is high treason," the duke hissed. Sakura was almost frightened by his dark expression and the fury in his eyes.

But Syaoran's looks matched as he nodded gravely. "We have to do something about this. Now." He gestured to Touya. "If you would join me in my council to discuss these matters, I am sure it would be a great help."

Touya opened his mouth, possibly to agree, but Sakura stepped forward, clinging to his forearm. "Actually, there's something else that I think my brother should attend to first, if you don't mind, Your Majesty. Certainly Terada can help with the council?"

Touya stiffened, and she suspected his mind was working quickly and had landed on what Sakura meant. He shot a look at Terada, and they both nodded.

Syaoran looked a bit uneasy, but his gaze was on Sakura rather than the Anatolian in question. "I suppose . . . ."

"It's no problem," Terada interjected. "This kind young woman has already helped clean me up. I'm right as rain now." He smiled down at Rika, whose cheeks were flushed as she smiled back. Well I'll be damned, Sakura thought, quirking an eyebrow and exchanging a quick look with Chiharu, who wore a positively wicked grin. Rika would be hearing some relentless teasing tonight, that was certain.

The Pharaoh nodded. "All right, that's fine. But, if I could see you later . . . ." She didn't know if he meant her or Touya, but as his gaze was still on her, she figured she could guess.

Sakura bowed, and Touya took note and awkwardly tried to follow suit. She grinned at his clumsy display of respect, but was glad that he was willing to show it for Syaoran.

Now hopefully Syaoran could properly appreciate how to respect him back.

His comments about Anatolians were troubling, and so were the reactions of the people he'd said them to. Why were they so willing to accept that they were some kind of disgrace?

"Sakura." Touya's voice was low. When she looked at him, he was eyeing her in a way that was painfully familiar. After all these years, he still knew how to read her like a book. "Don't trouble yourself over what happened outside the palace. It went just as well as we expected."

She turned her face away stubbornly. "That's the problem. Why did you even have to expect it? They should know that Anatolians are not some filth."

"Sakura," he pressed, and she felt another all too familiar pang – one of sibling irritation. Even that she welcomed with open arms. "How many rude passes have we made at Egyptians in our lifetime? We couldn't even repeat most of them here in this palace." He glanced around like he was suddenly paranoid.

Sakura bit the inside of her cheek. Oh, no, now he was going to come at her with his brotherly wisdom and she was going to have to acknowledge he was right.

"You can't judge them. We're just as bad as them. I'm comparing everything, right now, to how we do things in Anatolia, and I would want nothing more than to be in King Mursili's palace in Hattusa right now," he said, looking pleased at the image of being back at court. When he had left to join the army, Suppililiuma had still been king, but now the young man they'd watched grow in their time at court as children was on the throne. His expression dampened when it seemed to hit him that he would not be there, perhaps ever again, and her heart went out to him.

"I have enjoyed living here," she admitted softly.

He smiled at her, and clucked his tongue. "Treason!" he chided, and ruffled her hair. "Just think on that. You most likely had some choice words for the Egyptians yourself when you . . . ." He frowned. "Sakura, how is it that you came to be here, in any case? Especially as the Pharaoh's . . . personal guard?" His frown deepened, creasing his forehead. "Where is Father? Why are you—"

Sakura put her hand on his arm to steady him, melancholy for the information she would have to give him later. But not yet. "Another time. I'll tell you everything later. But right now . . . we must see Yukito."

He looked reluctant at first, but at mention of his lover's name, his gaze clouded over, and he nodded absently. She smiled.

They rounded the corner, and there he stood, a lone figure in the hallway of Tomoyo's room, spear in hand, back straight. Touya hesitated, and then sped up.

"Yukito!" Sakura called out, to give him warning.

The guard looked over and his spear fell clattering to the marble ground at the same time a cry left his mouth when he saw Touya bounding towards him. With a swift but trembling hand, he tore off his mask and simply let it crash to the ground as well just as Touya met him and wrapped him in his arms. Yukito threw his arms around Touya's neck, burying his face in his chest, and they both just stood there and held each other tightly, as if they feared being torn apart all over again. Tears pricked Sakura's eyes as she watched, feeling voyeuristic but unable to look away. These two people she loved so much were in one another's arms again.

Yukito pulled back, tears staining his cheeks, and placed a delicate hand on Touya's scarred cheek. "It healed pretty well," he said after a moment of steadying himself. His thumb stroked over the marred flesh. "I saw all the blood and thought you'd lost half your face. And your chest . . . ."

"It was gruesome," Touya agreed, putting his hand over Yukito's. He smiled. "But you fought for it. Like an absolute nut, actually. And it paid off." The smile wavered. "I thought you were dead, all this time."

Yukito let out a strangled laugh. "God, I thought you were a goner too. Imagine that."

"How much we missed out on," Touya said quietly. He ran his fingers over Yukito's pale bare arm. "What have you been through? Working for that—"

Suddenly, Yukito's gentle touch turned to a stressed grip on Touya's face. "Shh," he barked sharply, eyes wide. "Don't say his name. He'll know."

Touya glanced quickly back at Sakura, whose face was slowly drawing into a frown. He'll know . . . .

Knowing when to back off, Touya changed the subject. He nodded to Yukito's discarded equipment. "What a rebel, huh?"

Yukito relaxed, and smiled slowly, pulling Touya towards him and kissing him gently. Now Sakura blushed and averted her eyes, just as Tomoyo's door opened and the Lady herself peered out.

"What's all the commotion out here?" she asked, and her gaze landed on the men in front of her. Her dark eyebrows rose. "Oh."

Sakura's blood went cold. She rushed over to her friend's side.

Yukito, startled, remembered himself and hastily went to pick up the mask and spear in a bit of a panic. Touya glared at Tomoyo.

Before anyone could say anything bad, Sakura jumped in. "Tomoyo, this is my brother, Touya. He's kind of the long lost lover of Yukito." The Lady's disbelieving eyes turned to Sakura, who shrugged. "We kind of . . . all grew up together."

A few moments went by in tense silence as Tomoyo mulled things over. Finally she said, "You've known Yukito all along? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know, I guess I just didn't want him to get into trouble or anything. He kind of . . . talked to me," she admitted.

Tomoyo's countenance softened. "I always thought it was ridiculous that Father banned the guards from speaking." She put her hand on Yukito's arm. "Don't worry about this, Yukito. I won't say anything to my Father. I think you and your friend need some time alone. You're free for the day."

Yukito grinned so brilliantly at Tomoyo it made Sakura's heart soar. He wrapped the Lady in a quick embrace. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Don't thank me," she said back. "My father is so difficult to work with, I know. You deserve to be happy. I'm sure I should have loosened the rules for you long ago, and I'm sorry I didn't."

Yukito stepped back and bowed expertly to her before taking Touya's hand and leading him away down the hallway.

"That was amazing," Sakura said in the wake of silence.

But Tomoyo looked troubled, hardly even glancing at Sakura, her gaze fixed instead on the mask and spear left forgotten on the floor. "Why did it take me until now to really see Yukito as more than my personal guard?"

Sakura opened her mouth, but closed it when she couldn't think of anything to say. Though she and Touya had been raised the children of an Anatolian artistocrat, they had never been anything as grand as the Daidoujis. They had had servants in their household, and attended the palace, but Sakura had been jarred into a harsher life long ago. She understood the inner crisis Tomoyo was having now, and had no desire to judge her for it.

"You are the kindest person I know, Tomoyo," Sakura offered.

At last Tomoyo met her gaze, and her mouth turned up a little. "Thank you, Sakura. But I'm not without my flaws." She reached out and squeezed Sakura's hand.

That night, Sakura made her way to Syaoran's chambers. He must have anticipated her coming, because the doors opened just as she stepped in front of them.

The Pharaoh looked relieved to see her. "I'm glad you're here."

She looked sheepish. "I . . . ."

He held up a hand. "I just want to apologize for what I said earlier. I'm—" He exhaled in frustration, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm prejudiced. You knew that, of course, but I know you thought I'd changed my views. Honestly, I—I thought I had too. Just look at me, how hard I've fallen for you." Her heart fluttered at that. "But those words just slipped out so naturally in front of all those people, like a truth I've known—thought I'd known—my whole life." Cautiously, he stepped towards her, and when she made no movement to back away, he took her hands in his, twining their fingers together. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll do my best to set things right."

"Syaoran, I forgive you. Touya made me remember that I'm not exactly blameless either." She shook her head, laughing. "I mean, the horrible things I thought about you when we met!"

His mouth quirked in a smirk. "Oh, you didn't just think them. You said them. Like, right to my face."

She cupped his cheek in her hand. "We both have stupid, territorial biases. And we're both overcoming them. Maybe it's time our kingdoms stopped hating each other so much, and for what? Land wars?"

He shook his head. "That's not the kind of Pharaoh I want to be. And maybe . . . we are the solution."

She raised an eyebrow in question.

Syaoran leaned his forehead against hers. "With you as my queen, my love, our kingdoms will be united, whether they like it or not."

A smile blossomed on Sakura's face, and a buzzing began in her chest. She couldn't resist pressing her mouth against his, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders. He pulled her closer to him, fitting their bodies together.

The sound of a throat clearing near the doorway tore their attention away from one another. Sakura's stomach fell rapidly when she saw who stood there.

"Lady Tomoyo," Syaoran said.