Daphne: "Mom, have you seen Kero?"
Sakura: Calling from downstairs "No, dear! Have you tried the game room? Perhaps he went in there to play video games!"
Daphne: "Thanks, mom!" walks down the hall to the game-room.
Kero: "Yes! Die, die! NO! No, No, No! Aw, man!"
Daphne: "Kero! It is time to start!"
Kero: Refuses to take his eyes away from the screen. "Yah, yah. Enjoy." Goes back to laying his game.
Daphne: *Sigh* "Well, at least he isn't as bad as yesterday!" Walks out of the game room and back into her bedroom.
~*~*~*~
Forgotten Past
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 3.
Li Palace
"Syaoran! Is it true? Did Princess Geia finally leave?"
"Yes, Meiling. She is gone." Syaoran answered his cousin. Meiling smiled grimly, and pushed a strand of her long black hair behind her ear.
"Well, it is about time! I thought that she would never leave! So tell me, Xiao-lang! How did you get rid of her?" As she asked this, Meiling went over to a side door and pushed it open, revealing a large, white balcony overlooking the Palace gardens. She walked out onto it and then turned to look at her cousin. He followed her outside and leaned against the railing.
"We went out for a walk in the forest and she got lost." Syaoran answered, his face expressionless. Meiling burst into laughter.
"Syaoran, you are the limit!" She managed to giggle out, as she leaned on the railing for support. Suddenly, she spotted someone wandering around the garden paths. The girl had shiny black hair and bright, amethyst-blue eyes.
"Tomoyo!" Meiling called, raising her hand in a greeting. Lady Tomoyo looked up and smiled at them. Meiling motioned for her to join them on the balcony, and Tomoyo lost no time in doing so.
"Meiling! You seem cheerful! Oh! Let me guess! Princess Geia has finally left!" Tomoyo saw the twinkle in Meiling's ruby-colored eyes and she knew that her assumption was right. "How did you do it this time?" Tomoyo asked Syaoran. Meiling answered for him.
"He left her alone in the forest last night! She got lost!" Meiling laughed. A wave of mirth swept over the two girls.
"Master?" Came the voice of Syaoran's personal butler, Wei. Syaoran gave him a cold nod, and the butler went on.
"The Head Guard is here to see you, Highness." Wei said, bowing. Syaoran gave another cold nod and went inside. The two girls followed quickly. When they reached the Throne Room, Syaoran went up to his throne, while Tomoyo and Meiling went over to stand by their other friends, Ladies Naoko, Rika, and Chiharu, and Lord Yamazaki. Suddenly, a side door opened quietly, revealing another of Syaoran's cousins, Lord Eriol. Eriol quietly walked over to Meiling, a sly smile on his face.
"It is quite a day for criminals, eh, Meiling?" He asked. Meiling looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean, Eriol?" She hissed. His smile widened.
"You'll see!" He said, turning his attention back to the door, where the Head Guard had just appeared. The Head Guard bowed to Syaoran.
"Your Highness! I have with me a young thief that we caught in the marketplace." The Head Guard announced. Syaoran didn't flinch.
"Why did you bring them here, then? You usually take care of that sort of thing on your own." Syaoran pointed out. The guard bowed again.
"We were hoping that you would accept this thief as a servant of your own." The guard explained.
"A thief?! My servant?" Syaoran asked, his voice filled with spite.
"Yes, Highness! I promise you that this thief will give you no trouble! Please, Highness…"
"Enough! Fine. Take this…person to the servant's quarters." Syaoran commended, tired of listening to the guard beg. The Head Guard turned to leave, but looked back over his shoulder.
"By the way, Highness. The thief is a girl."
~*~*~*~
Sakura woke up in a dark, unfamiliar room. She looked around in confusion, her large emerald-colored eyes glistening with tears.
"Where am I?" She wondered aloud.
"SAKURA!!"
"HOE! Kero!" Sakura shrieked. Kero flew in front of her face and looked at her with worry-filled eyes. She gave him a weak smile.
"Kero, where are we?" She asked.
"Well, we are in a big, dark room, which if part of a long hall of rooms, which is part of…"
"Kero! Just tell me where we are! Are we in…jail?" Sakura's eyes widened and her voice wavered a bit. Kero looked uncomfortable.
"Not exactly. The truth is, we are in the servant's hall in the Li Palace!"
"Hoe!? Why?" Sakura asked, pulling the blankets up under her chin. She noticed how nice and warm they were. Then she realized, with a start, how well furnished the room really was.
"Well, when the bracelet…and the guards grabbed you and you fainted, and then the Prince made you his servant…"
"Why?! What about mom and dad?" Sakura protested, her voice quivering even more. Kero shrugged.
Maybe it is for the best, Kiddo! Hey! Look what I found while you were asleep!" Kero quickly flew over to a window to the right of the bed and motioned Sakura to follow him. Sakura got out of the bed and walked over to where Kero hovered. He swooped down, pushed a handle down, and then the whole window swung outward. Sakura gave a cry of delight when she saw what was on the other side.
"Oh, Kero! Look! My very own balcony!" She squealed, running out onto the white-tiled balcony and leaning against the railing.
"Look Kero! Isn't it beautiful here? The sky is so gorgeous!" Sakura's voice was soft, but it attracted some attention anyway.
~*~*~*~
"Shhh!"
"Hurry!"
"Shhh!!"
"Why should I, Tomoyo?"
"Because we don't want anyone to know what we are doing, Meiling!"
"Why are we doing this anyway? She is only a thief!"
"She is not a thief anymore! She is your cousin's servant!" Tomoyo insisted, ducking into a bush and pulling Meiling after her. Tomoyo put a finger to her lips. "I think I just heard something!" She hissed.
"The sky is so gorgeous!" A sweet voice rang out. Tomoyo pointed up at one of the servant's balconies. Meiling turned and her mouth fell open. The girl above them had wavy, waist-length auburn hair and innocent, emerald- green eyes. Tomoyo motioned to the stairs leading up to the girl's balcony, and Meiling nodded silently. The quietly made their way to the stairs and climbed up them. The girl had her back to them, and was staring dreamily at the sky. Suddenly, Meiling felt a mischievous shiver run up her spine. Meiling grinned slyly at Tomoyo, and before the other girl could stop her, Meiling attacked.
"Boo!"
"HOEEE!!"
"Oh! Meiling, how dare you!" Tomoyo cried, putting her arm around the shaking servant girl. "It's all right! Meiling was only joking!" Tomoyo soothed. Meiling shifted uncomfortably.
"I am sincerely sorry! I really wasn't expecting you to get to frightened. You see, I get into these moods, and it just sort-of…slips out." Meiling explained. To her surprise, the girl started to laugh.
"I know exactly how you feel! It happens to me all the time! My name is Sakura, by the way." Sakura's voice was soft and lilting. Meiling smiled.
"I am Princess Meiling, and this is my friend, Lady Tomoyo. She lives here in the castle with us." Meiling pointed to Tomoyo, who smiled. Suddenly, her eyes started to sparkle.
"OH! I have the most kawaii idea! I am going to make you a dress, and it will be perfect for cleaning and washing and…" Tomoyo started to ramble on about the dress and Sakura turned surprised eyes to Meiling.
"Is she always like this?" Sakura asked. Meiling grinned.
"Sometimes she is much worse! She is completely obsessed with making clothes for the whole court. It is her one true hobby." Meiling explained. Sakura smiled.
"That sounds wonderful! Does she make clothes for everyone? Even the Prince?" Sakura's innocent question silenced Tomoyo for a moment, and made Meiling choke back a laugh.
"He rarely lets anyone do anything for him. He doesn't care about anything, not even himself!" Tomoyo sighed, looking at Meiling. Sakura looked at the Princess for confirmation.
"She is telling the truth! Syaoran is so careless about himself, that he is practically suicidal!"
"Meiling!" Tomoyo reprimanded, nodding towards Sakura, who was listening in wide-eyed horror.
"Oh, all right! He isn't that bad, yet. You see, ever since he was small, the Elders have made sure to squeeze all the emotion and compassion out of Syaoran. They believe that a Ruler that has too much emotion is a weak Ruler. So that is why Syaoran is the way he is. They have admitted to my aunt, though, that they think the squeezing went a bit too far." Meiling's voice turned sad. "I am absolutely sure that Syaoran has emotion! They are wrong! It is just hidden deep within him, waiting to escape! I'm sure of it!" Meiling insisted. Tomoyo nodded empathetically.
"I am sure that he has emotion too, Meiling. He just needs someone to release it for him!" Tomoyo sent a sly look to Meiling, and then gave a sharp nod to Sakura. Meiling's face lit up and a smile just as sly entered her face.
"I think that you are right! He just needs a little push!" She commented. Sakura looked back and forth at them, and then smiled happily.
"Oh, good! I hope that he finds that someone soon!" Sakura said, naïvely. The other two girls looked at each other and grinned.
"Sakura, it is very late, and we really must be getting back to our bed- chambers, but we will come again in the morning, all right?" Meiling said, taking Tomoyo's hand and practically dragging her down the stairs. Tomoyo waved 'goodbye' to Sakura, and then the two girls disappeared into the darkness.
~*~*~*~
Sakura turned around, and looked back towards her open door.
"You can come out now, Kero!" She called softly. Immediately, the tiny, yellow Guardian Beast was beside her. "You sensed them, didn't you Kero? Why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked, looking up at the stars. Kero smiled.
"I knew that they would do you no harm. They have kind aura's, Sakura. They are going to make your stay here a little easier, I think."
"I like them, Kero. They may be royal, but they are kind to me. I like that!" Sakura commented. Then she absentmindedly turned, and walked back into her room.
"I am going to sleep now, Kero." She said, climbing into the soft bed. She was asleep almost immediately. Kero hovered over her for a minute, and then frowned.
"They may be kind to you Sakura, but I am more worried about that GAKI of a Prince! He had better be on his best behavior for you, or else!" Kero threatened, nuzzling into the crook of Sakura's neck and falling fast asleep.
~*~*~*~
D.L.
Daphne: "This is the longest chapter yet! I know I promised that I would do some S+S, but it just didn't work out. I am so sorry!
Kero: "Who cares about the Chinese Gaki? I am sure that the readers are more interested about what happens to me and Sakura! By the way…did you like the way I behaved in this chapter! You see, Daphne! I can be good when I want to be!"
Daphne: *Sigh * "Kero! I have pudding!"
Kero: "Oh! Hand over the goods, sister! Lead me to the bowl from heaven!" He digs into the pudding, shoving as much as he could into his mouth.
Daphne: *Sweat drop* "Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Please review! I will try to make the next chapter more exiting, but some of the info. in this one will be important for later in the book! Enjoy!
Sakura: Calling from downstairs "No, dear! Have you tried the game room? Perhaps he went in there to play video games!"
Daphne: "Thanks, mom!" walks down the hall to the game-room.
Kero: "Yes! Die, die! NO! No, No, No! Aw, man!"
Daphne: "Kero! It is time to start!"
Kero: Refuses to take his eyes away from the screen. "Yah, yah. Enjoy." Goes back to laying his game.
Daphne: *Sigh* "Well, at least he isn't as bad as yesterday!" Walks out of the game room and back into her bedroom.
~*~*~*~
Forgotten Past
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 3.
Li Palace
"Syaoran! Is it true? Did Princess Geia finally leave?"
"Yes, Meiling. She is gone." Syaoran answered his cousin. Meiling smiled grimly, and pushed a strand of her long black hair behind her ear.
"Well, it is about time! I thought that she would never leave! So tell me, Xiao-lang! How did you get rid of her?" As she asked this, Meiling went over to a side door and pushed it open, revealing a large, white balcony overlooking the Palace gardens. She walked out onto it and then turned to look at her cousin. He followed her outside and leaned against the railing.
"We went out for a walk in the forest and she got lost." Syaoran answered, his face expressionless. Meiling burst into laughter.
"Syaoran, you are the limit!" She managed to giggle out, as she leaned on the railing for support. Suddenly, she spotted someone wandering around the garden paths. The girl had shiny black hair and bright, amethyst-blue eyes.
"Tomoyo!" Meiling called, raising her hand in a greeting. Lady Tomoyo looked up and smiled at them. Meiling motioned for her to join them on the balcony, and Tomoyo lost no time in doing so.
"Meiling! You seem cheerful! Oh! Let me guess! Princess Geia has finally left!" Tomoyo saw the twinkle in Meiling's ruby-colored eyes and she knew that her assumption was right. "How did you do it this time?" Tomoyo asked Syaoran. Meiling answered for him.
"He left her alone in the forest last night! She got lost!" Meiling laughed. A wave of mirth swept over the two girls.
"Master?" Came the voice of Syaoran's personal butler, Wei. Syaoran gave him a cold nod, and the butler went on.
"The Head Guard is here to see you, Highness." Wei said, bowing. Syaoran gave another cold nod and went inside. The two girls followed quickly. When they reached the Throne Room, Syaoran went up to his throne, while Tomoyo and Meiling went over to stand by their other friends, Ladies Naoko, Rika, and Chiharu, and Lord Yamazaki. Suddenly, a side door opened quietly, revealing another of Syaoran's cousins, Lord Eriol. Eriol quietly walked over to Meiling, a sly smile on his face.
"It is quite a day for criminals, eh, Meiling?" He asked. Meiling looked at him in confusion.
"What do you mean, Eriol?" She hissed. His smile widened.
"You'll see!" He said, turning his attention back to the door, where the Head Guard had just appeared. The Head Guard bowed to Syaoran.
"Your Highness! I have with me a young thief that we caught in the marketplace." The Head Guard announced. Syaoran didn't flinch.
"Why did you bring them here, then? You usually take care of that sort of thing on your own." Syaoran pointed out. The guard bowed again.
"We were hoping that you would accept this thief as a servant of your own." The guard explained.
"A thief?! My servant?" Syaoran asked, his voice filled with spite.
"Yes, Highness! I promise you that this thief will give you no trouble! Please, Highness…"
"Enough! Fine. Take this…person to the servant's quarters." Syaoran commended, tired of listening to the guard beg. The Head Guard turned to leave, but looked back over his shoulder.
"By the way, Highness. The thief is a girl."
~*~*~*~
Sakura woke up in a dark, unfamiliar room. She looked around in confusion, her large emerald-colored eyes glistening with tears.
"Where am I?" She wondered aloud.
"SAKURA!!"
"HOE! Kero!" Sakura shrieked. Kero flew in front of her face and looked at her with worry-filled eyes. She gave him a weak smile.
"Kero, where are we?" She asked.
"Well, we are in a big, dark room, which if part of a long hall of rooms, which is part of…"
"Kero! Just tell me where we are! Are we in…jail?" Sakura's eyes widened and her voice wavered a bit. Kero looked uncomfortable.
"Not exactly. The truth is, we are in the servant's hall in the Li Palace!"
"Hoe!? Why?" Sakura asked, pulling the blankets up under her chin. She noticed how nice and warm they were. Then she realized, with a start, how well furnished the room really was.
"Well, when the bracelet…and the guards grabbed you and you fainted, and then the Prince made you his servant…"
"Why?! What about mom and dad?" Sakura protested, her voice quivering even more. Kero shrugged.
Maybe it is for the best, Kiddo! Hey! Look what I found while you were asleep!" Kero quickly flew over to a window to the right of the bed and motioned Sakura to follow him. Sakura got out of the bed and walked over to where Kero hovered. He swooped down, pushed a handle down, and then the whole window swung outward. Sakura gave a cry of delight when she saw what was on the other side.
"Oh, Kero! Look! My very own balcony!" She squealed, running out onto the white-tiled balcony and leaning against the railing.
"Look Kero! Isn't it beautiful here? The sky is so gorgeous!" Sakura's voice was soft, but it attracted some attention anyway.
~*~*~*~
"Shhh!"
"Hurry!"
"Shhh!!"
"Why should I, Tomoyo?"
"Because we don't want anyone to know what we are doing, Meiling!"
"Why are we doing this anyway? She is only a thief!"
"She is not a thief anymore! She is your cousin's servant!" Tomoyo insisted, ducking into a bush and pulling Meiling after her. Tomoyo put a finger to her lips. "I think I just heard something!" She hissed.
"The sky is so gorgeous!" A sweet voice rang out. Tomoyo pointed up at one of the servant's balconies. Meiling turned and her mouth fell open. The girl above them had wavy, waist-length auburn hair and innocent, emerald- green eyes. Tomoyo motioned to the stairs leading up to the girl's balcony, and Meiling nodded silently. The quietly made their way to the stairs and climbed up them. The girl had her back to them, and was staring dreamily at the sky. Suddenly, Meiling felt a mischievous shiver run up her spine. Meiling grinned slyly at Tomoyo, and before the other girl could stop her, Meiling attacked.
"Boo!"
"HOEEE!!"
"Oh! Meiling, how dare you!" Tomoyo cried, putting her arm around the shaking servant girl. "It's all right! Meiling was only joking!" Tomoyo soothed. Meiling shifted uncomfortably.
"I am sincerely sorry! I really wasn't expecting you to get to frightened. You see, I get into these moods, and it just sort-of…slips out." Meiling explained. To her surprise, the girl started to laugh.
"I know exactly how you feel! It happens to me all the time! My name is Sakura, by the way." Sakura's voice was soft and lilting. Meiling smiled.
"I am Princess Meiling, and this is my friend, Lady Tomoyo. She lives here in the castle with us." Meiling pointed to Tomoyo, who smiled. Suddenly, her eyes started to sparkle.
"OH! I have the most kawaii idea! I am going to make you a dress, and it will be perfect for cleaning and washing and…" Tomoyo started to ramble on about the dress and Sakura turned surprised eyes to Meiling.
"Is she always like this?" Sakura asked. Meiling grinned.
"Sometimes she is much worse! She is completely obsessed with making clothes for the whole court. It is her one true hobby." Meiling explained. Sakura smiled.
"That sounds wonderful! Does she make clothes for everyone? Even the Prince?" Sakura's innocent question silenced Tomoyo for a moment, and made Meiling choke back a laugh.
"He rarely lets anyone do anything for him. He doesn't care about anything, not even himself!" Tomoyo sighed, looking at Meiling. Sakura looked at the Princess for confirmation.
"She is telling the truth! Syaoran is so careless about himself, that he is practically suicidal!"
"Meiling!" Tomoyo reprimanded, nodding towards Sakura, who was listening in wide-eyed horror.
"Oh, all right! He isn't that bad, yet. You see, ever since he was small, the Elders have made sure to squeeze all the emotion and compassion out of Syaoran. They believe that a Ruler that has too much emotion is a weak Ruler. So that is why Syaoran is the way he is. They have admitted to my aunt, though, that they think the squeezing went a bit too far." Meiling's voice turned sad. "I am absolutely sure that Syaoran has emotion! They are wrong! It is just hidden deep within him, waiting to escape! I'm sure of it!" Meiling insisted. Tomoyo nodded empathetically.
"I am sure that he has emotion too, Meiling. He just needs someone to release it for him!" Tomoyo sent a sly look to Meiling, and then gave a sharp nod to Sakura. Meiling's face lit up and a smile just as sly entered her face.
"I think that you are right! He just needs a little push!" She commented. Sakura looked back and forth at them, and then smiled happily.
"Oh, good! I hope that he finds that someone soon!" Sakura said, naïvely. The other two girls looked at each other and grinned.
"Sakura, it is very late, and we really must be getting back to our bed- chambers, but we will come again in the morning, all right?" Meiling said, taking Tomoyo's hand and practically dragging her down the stairs. Tomoyo waved 'goodbye' to Sakura, and then the two girls disappeared into the darkness.
~*~*~*~
Sakura turned around, and looked back towards her open door.
"You can come out now, Kero!" She called softly. Immediately, the tiny, yellow Guardian Beast was beside her. "You sensed them, didn't you Kero? Why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked, looking up at the stars. Kero smiled.
"I knew that they would do you no harm. They have kind aura's, Sakura. They are going to make your stay here a little easier, I think."
"I like them, Kero. They may be royal, but they are kind to me. I like that!" Sakura commented. Then she absentmindedly turned, and walked back into her room.
"I am going to sleep now, Kero." She said, climbing into the soft bed. She was asleep almost immediately. Kero hovered over her for a minute, and then frowned.
"They may be kind to you Sakura, but I am more worried about that GAKI of a Prince! He had better be on his best behavior for you, or else!" Kero threatened, nuzzling into the crook of Sakura's neck and falling fast asleep.
~*~*~*~
D.L.
Daphne: "This is the longest chapter yet! I know I promised that I would do some S+S, but it just didn't work out. I am so sorry!
Kero: "Who cares about the Chinese Gaki? I am sure that the readers are more interested about what happens to me and Sakura! By the way…did you like the way I behaved in this chapter! You see, Daphne! I can be good when I want to be!"
Daphne: *Sigh * "Kero! I have pudding!"
Kero: "Oh! Hand over the goods, sister! Lead me to the bowl from heaven!" He digs into the pudding, shoving as much as he could into his mouth.
Daphne: *Sweat drop* "Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Please review! I will try to make the next chapter more exiting, but some of the info. in this one will be important for later in the book! Enjoy!