Disclaimer: Sorry it took me quite some time to update I was having trouble writing this chap XD I really have to be careful with the chap you see so sorry for waiting
Thanks for reviewing everyone (smiles)
LilacBlu haha yep she's as clueless as ever. But that's what makes her and Syaoran really cute together XD thank you very much (smiles)
lady-water-dragon you'll find that out in this chap XD but don't worry I haven't really been that mean with Rika (smiles) thank you for reading
FlowerLover glad you loved it (smiles) thank you very much. I'll try to update fast but if I don't it only meant I have trouble with the chap or well the chapter's arrangement XD thank you!
Kirjava Deamon I do have difficulties in that. I always mixed up the past and present tenses but I'm doing my best. I guess I should really do my very best about it :P and I mean extra best. I'm not an expert with the language so sorry, this isn't really my national language (smiles) thank you for the review
DivineShana wow thank you! XD and I will do my best to update fast (smiles)
Kawaii Selene you're absolutely right, we intend to be irrational lol and it really made Syaoran a real Prince Charming for Sakura wouldn't you agree? XD anyway, here's the chap about Rika lol hope you'll like it (smiles)
shortygirl333 yep he sure is XD anyway, don't worry there won't be. Well as for now that is... just kidding :P thank you (smiles)
Prozacfairy glad to know that (smiles) well sorry for not updating as soon as possible though... This is a very troublesome chap, very troublesome lol. Anyway thank you! (smiles)
animefan518 thanks (smiles) and sorry for updating late. I really had trouble with this part, I was like rewriting and then edit again and rewrite again (eyes spinning) anyway at least I'm glad I get to finish it XD thanks
MysticMoonEmpress thank you XD honestly I have a lot of ways how to make him go but I thought that was the cutest and simplest way so there (smiles) I'm glad you liked it, thanks again
kawaii-animal wow thanks, that was really kind of you (smiles) I was really trying to make them act as in the anime since I liked them that way (smiles)
Pinaygrrl sure thing! Here you go (smiles)
lexyV105 hmm let's see how about... Oops false alarm thanks anyway lol XD. Here I go again anyway thanks for your time in reading and reviewing thank you very much (smiles)
donut I'm actually into those genre, I mean with the mystery things and cases and then the main character would investigate... okay enough of that :P anyway, glad you like that (smiles)
Fantasy-chick13 yep XD I'd have to kick him if he won't lol I'm just kidding, I can't do that to Syaoran wah hehe thanks (smiles)
review lord that is something that I cannot answer right now :P but don't worry you'll find soon XD thank you (smiles)
crazie-foe-u thanks I will do my best ;D
BitterSweetMel that's okay (smiles) and thanks for your time reading my fic. Thank you very much (smiles)
xxMeillionaxTruongxxthank you XD and I hope you'll excuse my grammatical errors anyway thanks for enjoying my fic (smiles)
Littlelonewolf thanks, I'm glad you think so too (smiles) don't worry about the festival everything will be fine XD thanks again
mare lol they sure does. But I can't really reply to the part about the bad guys dying XD but you'll find that out soon (smiles) thanks
Chapter 24:
Meeting at the Festival
Yamazaki watched, as the sky slowly turns crimson, 'So I guess there won't be any moon again tonight huh?' he thought. He turned towards the Shrine at his back and saw everyone busily preparing for the festivities later that day. He smiled to himself seeing all the happy faces of the townsmen. He could not believe that an attack actually occurred last night but he is grateful that everything had settled now.
'I wonder what Chiharu-chan's doing right now and...' a thought of the Prince of Li caught his mind. 'Where could that man be...?'
When Sakura and Syaoran arrived at the inn, Sakura has told him that she needs to check some things in town so he should just wait for her at the room. Syaoran had not bother to ask her what she is going to town for. He thought it is best for her to be alone for a while and he needed sometime alone as well.
Sakura visited Rika before going to town. She was not use to wander alone that is why she thought of Rika. She decided that she needed a girl to talk to and that Syaoran had done enough in agreeing to go to the celebration for her sake.
"So Tomoyo-chan's still not feeling well huh?" Rika asked as they were walking down the path to the station. Sakura smiled uneasily, "H-Hai." She still had trouble lying about Tomoyo to Rika. "That is just too bad. Are you sure, its okay for her to just rest? We can go see a doctor if you want," Rika offered. Sakura shook her head and smiled, "No that's fine. She's just exhausted from all the traveling we did so no need to worry," she lied.
"I hope she gets well soon," Rika said. They went inside the train station. Sakura was watching Rika as she started to talk about all the wonderful things about the festival.
"I really wish Tomoyo can be with us," she was saying as she inserted a card on the computer.
Sakura watched her guilty, 'I'm sorry for lying Rika-chan.' She suddenly thought of Tomoyo and before she knew it, Syaoran's face popped out in her mind. 'You told yourself that you mustn't feel sad about it already because if you do, Li-kun's kindness would just go to waste,' she reminded herself.
"Sakura-chan?" Rika's voice interrupted her thought.
"Hoe?" Sakura saw Rika already on the other side of the steel bar. "Oh!" she immediately inserted her card on the computer. The steel bar slide down and Sakura entered as well.
"So what do you want to do in town?" Rika asked her as soon as they had entered the train and found them a seat. Sakura smiled at her, "I wanted to buy clothes for the celebration. We haven't brought winter clothes with us you see," she told her.
"I see. That really is a must, it's pretty cold out there at the shrine at this time of the year," Rika agreed. "I thought so too," Sakura replied. "Tell me Sakura-chan, have you invited your special someone at the celebration?" Rika asked her with a teasing smile.
Sakura glowed bright red and shook her head, "H-He isn't really my special someone, I mean well I... He said he'd go with me to the celebration though."
Rika beamed at her, "That's wonderful! And you know what?"
"What?"
"There is a romantic story about the main spotlight of the shrine," she told Sakura.
Sakura stared at her puzzled, "Story? Main spotlight of the shrine?"
Rika nodded her head, "There's a huge tree there. There were stories about faeries guarding the tree. Every twenty-fifth day of December, the faeries bless all the couples, that'll kiss under the tree, happiness and everlasting love."
"Wow, that is romantic," Sakura said as a thought of Yukito crossed her mind. She reddened and shook away the image in embarrassment. She looked back at Rika who had a dreamy looked in her eyes too. She smiled, "Are you thinking about Ron-kun?" she asked. Rika flushed slightly, "N-No."
Sakura giggled at her reaction, she was grateful that Rika was with her. When a thought of Li crossed her mind once more, she had decided to thank him. "Nee Rika-chan, can I ask you something?" she asked.
Rika looked at her with a smile, "Of course Sakura-chan."
"Arigato."
At the palace, the servants were also busy preparing for the big feast. Chiharu with Naoko and her other attendants would be visiting the Shrine before the feast. As the Princess, she has to be present when the festivities there start.
Naoko brushed Chiharu's hair admiringly, "You really look good in a yellow gown Chiharu-sama."
Chiharu stared back at Naoko in the mirror. She is not in the mood to take praises but she also does not want to be rude. She suppressed a smile and shook her head, "It just happens that my dress is really beautiful. It doesn't concern me at all."
Naoko giggled at her reply. She had been anticipating her to say that anyway. 'She always does,' Naoko thought with a smile. Ever since Syaoran left the palace, Naoko had tried her best to look cheerful and forget about the person she had loved for a long time. It is very hard but she cannot do anything about it. She has to forget the Prince of Li.
Chiharu watched Naoko's reflection at the mirror. She had sensed about her sadness since Syaoran left. Naoko didn't really showed them but she could feel it. She wanted to comfort her but how could she, if she cannot comfort her own self?
"Let's enjoy the festivities at the Shrine okay, Naoko?" Chiharu told her with a smile.
Naoko nodded her head and beamed at her, "Hai."
Syaoran sat at the left side of the bed facing the entry to the balcony. He was deep in thought about getting inside the palace.
'We mustn't be seen, that is the first thing we have to consider. I still have my uniform so if I disguise myself with it, it will not be a problem but Kinomoto...' he was trying to figure out a way to get Sakura inside without being notice. She cannot use the cards with the Trump Card inside it is too risky. 'This is harder than I thought. Maybe I spoke too soon about going to the celebration. Come to think of it, tonight is the right time to sneak inside the palace because everyone is busy with the festival. The palace guards will surely be in the look out but still it will be easier to get in.' He sighed as he laid his back on the bed. He stared at the ceiling with his right hand resting on his forehead. 'What to do, what to do...? Come on Syaoran think!'
For about a couple of minutes he just lay there staring at the ceiling. Suddenly an image of an auburn haired girl crossed his mind. 'Damn it. This isn't the right time to think of her Syaoran no baka,' he scolded himself. Still his mind wandered off thinking what she might be doing right now. He was also wondering if she is feeling all right now. He took a deep breath while staring at the ceiling. 'Great, just great, I'm having trouble thinking of a plan and now I am thinking about other person's feelings. What had happened to me?' he thought gloomily.
After a couple of hours, the sun has almost set down the sky. Syaoran was still on his back in bed when he heard a soft knock on the door and a familiar voice called at the other side of door, "Li-kun?"
Syaoran just glanced at the door. Actually, he could not see a clear view of the door in his position but he saw it slowly open and Sakura came in. He sat up and turned his head to look at her. She was carrying three large paper bags with her and she had a smile on her face. "I've bought some clothes for you and me for the celebration," she said as she approached him on the bed.
Syaoran sweat dropped. 'Don't tell me that's what she had gone to the town for,' he thought.
"Here," she handed him two of the paper bags with a smile. "Come on, try it on," she ushered.
Syaoran stared at the paper bags, "You know you don't really have to—."
"That's non-sense," she cut his sentence and started pulling him up his feet.
"Hey!" he protested.
"You can't wear those clothes you had on the celebration. It would be very cold out there," she pointed at him and led him to the bathroom.
"Stop pushing me I can walk!" he snapped at her. "Well I know Li-kun. He does not want to be boss around so I have to be stern. Now go!" Sakura had led him in the bathroom. "Take your time Oji-sama!" she said with a smile.
Syaoran stared at the paper bags in his hands. He sweat dropped. 'She can be really persistent,' he thought. Feeling overpowered, he sighed and started taking out the clothes inside.
When Sakura heard sounds of paper bag on the other side of the door, she took a deep breath and leaned on the door. "Li-kun?" she called.
Syaoran placed the paper bags on the sink and hanged the clothes at a hanger inside the bathroom. He was starting to take off his top when he heard Sakura speak from the other side of the door. He stopped and stared at the door, "What?"
Sakura closed her eyes as she placed a hand on the door. She had asked Rika about her thoughts. She had not told her about Li, but she said it as if she's just asking for an advice about someone. After talking to Rika, she had decided to talk to Li about many things. She thought that in order to understand him more, she had to know what he had gone through. "I... I have been thinking," she started.
Syaoran was surprised at how serious she sounded. He wanted to tease her and tell her that 'her' thinking was new, but something tells him this conversation would not be something to kid around, "About what?" he asked her to go on.
"Well I... I wanted to know what happened... to you after... after we got separated at the cliff," she uttered nervously. Syaoran stared at the door appalled. He wasn't expecting this. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Sakura added. "I just thought that if I knew about Li-kun's hardships then I'll get to understand him better," she told him.
There was silence. Sakura hadn't heard any movements inside the bathroom. She lowered her head soberly, 'So I guess he didn't want to tell me.'
Syaoran was staring at his reflection on the mirror after Sakura had asked him about what he had gone through after their separation. He was surprised at her. He thought that what had happened to him does not matter to her.
After a couple of minutes, Sakura couldn't take the silence anymore. She sighed, "I'm sorry for the sudden—."
"What happened after the incident at the cliff seven years ago was..." Syaoran's voice suddenly spoke from behind the door.
Sakura stared at the door once again. She was listening at his every word keenly.
"... when I woke up, I was already inside one of the Lottuse's Fortresses," he continued.
Sakura's eyes grew wide, 'So... so it is true... He was taken to the Lottuse's Fortress,' she thought horrified.
"They didn't know who I was and that had been a relief," he went on. "I was kind of wondering what will happen to me if they knew. Not that I'm scared that if they knew about me, they'll kill me. I just wanted my identity be hidden so that, when the time comes, I could rebuild my kingdom and free my people."
'Even back then, he's still thinking of his kingdom and his people,' Sakura thought amazed. She felt sudden warmth in her heart. Then she felt herself feel egocentric. Here she was feeling all depress about her bestfriend and he comforted her while she didn't even realized that he needed more comforting that she should. "Li-kun..." she started but could not think of what else to say.
Sakura heard a soft laugh at the other side of the door, "Hoe?"
"You're such a pea brain Kinomoto," Syaoran said as he leaned his back on the door.
"And what do you mean about that!"
"I told you before that don't say my name if you've got nothing to say, don't tell me you've forgotten about that," he said.
Sakura stared at the door in disbelief. Now that she thought of it, she did remember him telling her those seven years ago. She found herself smile remembering that incident. She leaned her forehead on the door. "Gomen nasai," she replied just as she did back then.
"Li-kun?"
"What is it?"
"Tell me, did they treat you that badly?"
"What else would they do to me in the fortress?"
She fell silent. 'He was enslaved like the others... Oh Li-kun,' she thought somberly. After a moment's pause she went on, "How did you escape?"
"I didn't"
"Then how?"
"There had been an incident, after that the Princess of Lottuse had chose me as one of the few who'll have to serve at the palace."
"So that's why we saw you at the station with the Royal Family."
Syaoran paused for a while and answered, "Yeah."
Sakura smiled and closed her eyes, "Nee Li-kun, you know what?"
"What?" Syaoran did not know how or why but he found himself respond to her every word.
"I was really happy when I saw you at the station," she told him.
Syaoran was relieved that he was inside the bathroom or else she would have seen him go red.
"I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find you or that you might've..." her voice trailed off and Syaoran knew what she was about to say. She was worried of not finding him or that he might have died.
"I'm just happy that we get to see each other again," she continued.
He closed his eyes, "Me too."
Sakura opened her eyes in surprise after hearing him. 'Li-kun...' she turned bright pink.
"Kinomoto," Syaoran called. "Hai?" Sakura answered at once.
"We'll save your friend don't worry," he assured her. Sakura found herself smile at his words. She closed her eyes once again, "I know. I trust you, and Li-kun?"
"Hmm?"
"I promise you that I'll always be here, okay?"
There was another moment's pause before he replied, "Same goes here."
Neither of them knew that something very special was slowly growing between them.
(A/N why does these two have to be so cute together huh! Can someone tell me! lol)
Back at the palace, Chiharu and the others were ready to leave. Naoko had visited little Chiharu first before she went to meet the Princess at the front.
"How's Chiharu-chan?" Chiharu asked Naoko when they had gotten inside the white limousine. Naoko smiled at her, "She's doing fine now thanks to Yamazaki-sama's medicines."
"I'm glad to hear that," Chiharu said as the limo started to move.
From one of the Palace windows, Eriol was watching as the limousine in which the Princess was riding left. 'What's this feeling?' he asked himself. 'Why is that, something's telling me to go attend the festivities?' he wondered as he turn his eyes up in the sky. The moon had not appeared yet and he was growing impatient because of it.
Syaoran and Sakura were on their way to the shrine. Syaoran had inserted his hands inside the pocket of his winter jacket since he felt very cold. He just hated cold places. He never really felt the coldness before but maybe it was because he was busy thinking about many things to actually feel cold.
Sakura watched Syaoran as they walk. She noticed how uneasy he was when he slipped his hands at his pocket. "Li-kun, are you okay?" she asked.
"Don't mind me," he answered at once. He wasn't about to tell her that he didn't like being cold. He's sure that if she finds that out she'd insist on going back to the inn and spending the night alone with her at the room was the last thing he wanted. Not that he did not like her company, it's just that he suddenly felt awkward around her, not to mention, alone with her.
"So you've worked as a Palace Guard at the castle huh?" Sakura had asked Syaoran about what had happened to him next after they glimpsed at each other at the station, when they left the inn.
"Yeah," Syaoran answered bluntly. He was really getting very cold.
Sakura stared at the path ahead, "Wow you really had gone through a lot of things, so cool!"
"What's so cool about going through all those things?" he snapped at her.
Sakura looked at him and stuck her tongue out a little, "Well I've always wanted to have an adventure like that."
Syaoran sweat dropped. 'She's really weird,' he thought. If Sakura had been another girl, he might've yelled at her by now but somehow, for him, she made everything she say sounded like a funny thing.
"But now I know why you do not want to go to the celebration. It was because they already know about you and that they might be looking for you right now," she said in a low voice.
"That's right," he answered.
Sakura beamed at him, "Then all we have to do is avoid the Temple. Naturally if anyone from the palace went to the celebration, they would eventually stay there right?"
"I guess so."
"Yoshi! Anyway, they would not really think that you'd go to the celebration. Besides they might think that you've left the town already," she went on.
Syaoran sighed. He just cannot believe how dynamic this girl beside him could be.
It was already dark when they arrived at the shrine. It was already past eight and the Shrine was full of people. "Sugoi...!" Sakura exclaimed as she saw the decorations at the Shrine.
The Temple had ornamented with white lights and fancy Flower arrangements. The Trees alongside the path towards the Temple was also full of lights. It looked like little fireflies. Sakura saw the huge tree Rika had mentioned too. It was not that hard to miss, the townsmen had placed a fence around it and the tree branches had different colored lanterns decorated in it and it stood at the middle of the shrine.
There were booths of different games and food stall alongside and Sakura saw how happy the little ones looked. "This reminds me of Christmas Celebration back at the Kingdom," she said. A thought of her mother's performance with the Cards crossed her mind and she smiled sadly. 'I missed those times,' she thought.
Syaoran saw the sad look on her eyes once again. The kind of sadness she felt about her mother. Taking a deep breath, he took his right hand out his pocket and took Sakura's left hand, "Come on."
"Hoe?"
Syaoran avoided her surprised emerald eyes. He pulled her and they went further in the Shrine.
Stall after stall Sakura tried the games. She also bought something for her and Syaoran to eat. It was really degrading Syaoran. He was suppose to be the one to treat her not her treat him. But what can he do? He does not have any money. Sakura do not care about it at all. She was not thinking about it in fact. She just enjoyed her time as she and Syaoran explore the whole place.
After quite some time, Sakura saw a familiar figure of a young lady with curly short hair. "Rika-chan!" she called out.
Because Syaoran was facing Sakura, he didn't know who she called but the name had made him froze.
"Are...?" Rika spun around to see Sakura waving at her. She smiled, "Sakura-chan!" she run towards her. She had not noticed the young man Sakura was with because of the crowd.
Syaoran heard the familiar voice and he felt a cold shiver run up his spine. He did not dare turn his head but somehow his body moved on its own. He slowly turned around.
Rika smiled at Sakura, "There you are! I was looking all—." She froze when she finally saw who Sakura's company was.
Rika and Syaoran stared at each other for a moment. Sakura on the other hand, not knowing what is happening, beamed at Rika.
"I'm sorry, I got really thrilled with all the booths so we walk around a bit," she said. "By the way Rika-chan," she looked at Rika then at Syaoran. "I want you to meet Li-kun," she introduced him to her.
"He is my—."
"Fiancé," Syaoran put in.
(A/N how's that cliffhanger huh? XD sorry minna! I just have to leave it like that for the next chap (smiles)
Hope you liked this one. And next chapter I know you'd love it. I'm going to write about Tomoyo and Eriol there as well XD
RR pls! thank you everyone (smiles)