Hello again! I'm so glad I'm getting reviews, even if it's only four. (Is
very happy that people are reading the story) And yes, I know Eriol is a
bit out of character, but I said some would be, didn't I? I wanted to
include as many CCS characters as possible, and what's a fic without him?
Anyway, same disclaimers apply, and they apply to the whole darned thing.
What else, what else . . . Hm, I can't think of anything, so let's continue
with the story, shall we?
Chapter Four: All Alone
Sakura walked along the dirt path slowly, dust rising from her footfalls. She didn't seem aware of much that early afternoon; her eyes gazed ahead of her, though they didn't see anything. Her expression was somber, matching the black of her garments. She spoke to no one. She had been silent from the moment Yukito had brought the answer from the oracle.
"Sakura?" A soft voice called. She looked up slightly; it was the first time she'd been addressed that week. "Sakura, we are here." Yukito said and the procession stopped. They stood at the summit of a barren hill. Large rocks jutted from the earth, and a single dead tree had wrapped its roots into the stony ground.
'A fitting place for my death.' She thought as she looked around. 'I would not want to die where there was joy.'
"Sakura . . ." Her sisters stepped up beside her then, but they didn't touch her. Tears flowed down her sisters' cheeks, and Meilin stepped forward. Tomoyo was clinging to old Nana, who couldn't bare to look at Sakura.
"Sister, won't you please reconsider? This is not . . ." Meilin's voice broke and Yukito touched her shoulder gently. "You can't die here, Sakura! We won't let you!"
"It is not your decision." She said tenderly but firmly, her voice grating from disuse. "This is my fate and I must answer to it." She looked from face to face. Her father was the only one who'd refused to come; one of the attendants said he had locked himself in his room.
"Why does it have to be you?" Her gaze finally landed on Touya, who spoke gruffly, and she knew he was fighting tears. "You've done nothing to deserve this, Sakura, and the gods should know this." He took a step towards her, and she shut her eyes to block out the tears that were coming. "Please don't do this, Sakura. We'll go to Athena or Artemis, or even Clow Reed! We'll make it so you don't have to be the wife to a serpent!"
"Brother." She said after a moment. "If you continue speaking, I know my resolve will falter, and at this moment I don't want that." She opened her eyes and her heart broke to see tears shining in Touya's eyes. "I care deeply about every single one of you, and I don't want to bring the anger of the gods down upon you as well." She took her brother's hands in her own. "I must do as Eriol says. If this is truly my destiny, then no matter how much we beg the other gods, it won't change. I might as well meet it now."
"Sakura . . ." Touya whispered and she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Please don't ask me again to re-think my decision." His arms tightened around her for a moment before releasing her. She did her best to smile up at him and she wiped away the tears that had trickled down his cheeks.
"We're losing you for a second time." He said, his gaze on the ground. "But this time, you'll never return . . ."
A long moment of silence prevailed, which was interrupted only by an occasional sob from Tomoyo or Meilin. Sakura finally stepped away from her family and sat down on a small boulder beneath the dead tree.
"I think it is time for you to leave me. The longer you stay, the more painful it will be for you." Yukito nodded at her words and old Nana started to lead her sisters back down the hill. Touya looked back up at Sakura and her fingers curled around the fabric of her garments.
"Please, brother. Go now." She whispered, a large lump forming in her throat. Yukito took his arm and turned him around slowly.
"Come on, Touya." He said gently, and they started after the women. Yukito glanced over his shoulder at her once and he gave her a small farewell smile, which Sakura returned until they were out of sight. After a sufficient time had passed, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
'Our gods really are cruel monsters!' She thought bitterly as she wept. 'First they take my mother from our family, and now they take me! Do they realize how much pain they are causing? Do they even care?!'
After a while, her sobs faded and she looked around the hill. Yukito hadn't said when the serpent would come to claim her; how long was she going to have to wait? What if he didn't come today? Could she go home tonight and then return tomorrow? No, that would be needlessly harsh on her family. Touya would have to give her up a third time.
"Little princess . . ." She blinked and sat up as a breathy voice called to her. She looked around, yet she saw no one.
"Who's there?" She returned, a small tremor of fear in her voice.
"Do not be afraid. I am here to take you to your new home." Sakura gasped as a strong wind began to lift her up. The rocky hill vanished from beneath her, and soon she was in a green grassy meadow, where flowers of all shapes and colors bloomed. Their strong fragrance was sweet but not enough to overpower, and Sakura was set beside a cheerful little brook.
"Where am I?" She asked, her terror replaced by wonder, but the wind had left her. After a moment, Sakura lay down on the soft grass, and it wasn't long before she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
***
Touya followed his sisters and Yuki into his father's throne room. They had just returned from leaving Sakura on the rocky hilltop, and the attendants that had met them at the door had said that the king wished to speak with them. A flash of anger had gone through Touya then, banishing the numbness that had plagued him ever since he'd learned of Sakura's fate.
'I wonder what the bastard wants now.' He thought crossly. 'I bet he's going to say something about finding me a wife now!'
"You summoned us, your majesty?" Yukito said, jarring Touya from his thoughts. He hadn't noticed that they'd reached the dais on which his father sat.
"I did." The king said gravely and he looked from face to face. Touya felt a stab of satisfaction that his father wasn't looking very well. "I presume Sakura is gone?" His eyes met Touya's, who did his best to hide his anger. "Judging by the sorrow you carry with you, it seems she is."
"We left her on the hilltop as the oracle instructed." Yukito seemed to be the only one among them with vocal chords; Meilin and Tomoyo were too distraught to speak, and Touya didn't dare open his mouth. With his anger as great as it was, he wasn't sure what he might say.
"My daughter is as good as dead then." The king said, his lips pressing into a thin line, and a long moment of silence passed. "Thank you, that will be all. I didn't want to know anything more." Everyone turned to leave, but Touya didn't move. He felt Yuki glance at him curiously, but his gaze remained glued on his father.
"Well?" He said after a while, and his father looked up at him questioningly.
"Well what?" His father's gaze locked with his own. "What is it you want to say, Touya? I don't read minds."
"Aren't you going to say something?" Touya fought to keep his voice steady as he spoke. "It seems as though you don't care about what has happened." His father's expression didn't change. "You were the exact same way when Mother died."
"You know nothing, Touya. Now leave." He waved his hand in dismissal and turned his attention elsewhere, but Touya didn't move. Yuki had now stepped up beside him, and he could sense his sisters watching curiously from the doorway.
"You don't care, do you? Your daughter has just been married off to a serpent, and you don't even give a damn!" His father's gaze snapped back to him and Touya took an angry step forward. "Hell, one could think that you've never cared about all your daughters! The weddings are proof enough of that! You never listen to them!"
"Silence." His father growled softly, but Touya glared at him defiantly.
"This is all your fault, you know that? Sakura wouldn't be dead right now if you had just listened to her!" His father had gotten to his feet, but Touya refused to be intimidated. He was old enough to hold his own. "She begged you to stop those damn offerings and the worships, but you refused! All you could think about was finding her a husband, and now look where she is!"
"Touya, that's enough." Yuki said softly but he silenced the silver haired man with a swift glare.
"Yuki, stay out of this." He turned back to his father and blinked. The king looked furious. Utterly furious.
"You understand nothing, Touya. How can you possibly judge me when you don't know what I'm feeling?" Touya took an unconscious step back; rage poured from his father and fear began to creep into him. "I'm not going to even bother arguing with you right now. I don't know what I might say." Touya suppressed a shudder. "Just get out of my sight. I'll tell you when I'm ready to talk to you again." His father thrust a finger in the direction of the door, and Touya did the first thing that came to mind. He ran.
Touya flew past Yuki and his sisters and he ran. He ran through the open hallways and past stunned attendants. He ran through congregations of mourning nobles who tried to speak to him, but he didn't stop. Tears were flowing down his cheeks now, blurring his vision. He ran and he ran, and he didn't stop until he finally reached the courtyard. He collapsed beneath the same tree he'd surprised Sakura under, and her smiling face appeared before him.
'My little monster . . .' Sobs choked his throat and his fingers clawed at the earth. 'Gone . . . gone forever . . .' He sat back on his heels, his hands resting helplessly in his lap. 'Sakura . . .is gone . . .' The thought rang through his brain and tears began to trickle down his neck. 'Gone . . .gone forever . . .' With that, Touya threw his head back and screamed. Grief had consumed him for the past week and it all began to pour out. He screamed and he screamed until finally his voice broke into sobs and a pair of arms encircled his chest.
"Oh Touya . . ." He leaned back against Yuki, who was kneeling behind him. "I'm so sorry . . .so very, very sorry . . ." Touya didn't bother in responding; he just let his tears fall silently.
"Gone . . ." Touya said quietly after a moment. He then reached up and his hands clasped Yuki's wrists, who was whispering soft words of comfort. "My little monster, she's gone . . ."
***
Sakura awoke to find that it was late afternoon. She sat up and stretched, her head clearer than it had been in a while. She actually felt refreshed for once. With that, she stood and looked around the meadow. The wind had said this was her new home, but . . . there was no where to live properly.
"Oh my . . ." She gasped as her eyes landed on a mansion of pure gold and silver. "How did I miss that?" She murmured and she began to walk towards it. Once she reached the door, she hesitated. It was open, but how could she jut walk in uninvited?
"Do not fear, young princess . . ." She started at the voice and spun to find the owner. But she was still very much alone. "This is your home, and we are your servants. A bath has been prepared for you, and then we shall serve you a meal."
"Who are you?" She asked the quiet voice. "Why can't I see you?"
"We are the spirits of this palace, and you never will see us." Sakura frowned at the answer. "Please, do not be afraid. We will not harm you." Sakura turned back to the entrance to the palace. "Freshen up and then we will direct you to the dining hall."
Against her better judgement, Sakura entered the palace. Never in her life had she seen such an ornate place. Paintings covered the ceilings and the walls, and the floor was covered with a rich, thick carpet. Sakura had removed her sandals and her bare feet sank into the carpet. It felt as though she were walking on air.
On her way to the baths, she looked everywhere for other people, but she found no one. Was she the only guest in this huge place? It seemed to be such a waste.
Once she had bathed and changed from her mourning robes, the voices spoke to her once more and led her to the dining room. The room was even more elaborate than the rest of the rooms. The domed ceiling was painted to look like a bright summer day, and the pillars that lined the walls were covered with precious gems. The walls were covered with pictures of the gods and goddesses of Olympus and Sakura shook her head with wonder.
"Will the master of the house be joining me?" She asked the voices as she sat at the small table in the middle of the room, which had been set with a delicious looking array of food. Sakura's stomach rumbled as the smells wafted up to her nose.
"You will meet him tonight. Until then, eat." Sakura frowned lightly, but sat and began to eat. The food was exquisite. Never had she tasted such scrumptious dishes. Each had been prepared in some artistic fashion, and Sakura had almost felt sad to eat them.
A choir struck up after she had taken her first bite of food, but Sakura didn't bother to look for the singers. Knowing this place, she wouldn't be able to see them either.
Once she had finished, the dishes vanished, and she leaned back in her chair to listen to the choir. Their singing was superb. Not once had she heard such beautiful or harmonious voices. After a while, her eyes began to droop and the singing stopped.
"Princess, the sun has long since set. Do you wish to retire for the night?" The soft voice asked, and she nodded drowsily. "We will direct you to your room." Sakura stood and looked up at the ceiling.
"Thank you to whoever was singing. That was wonderful." She called before following the directions of the voice. She reached her room, and it too was as highly wrought as the rest of the palace. A pale green carpet covered the floor, and it was as rich and thick as the others were. Several small white divans sat off to one side, and dark green pillows covered them. Her bed itself was lined with opaque veils that hung from the ceiling, and it looked big enough to fit three people comfortably.
'Incredible.' Sakura could barely think as she changed for bed. A small balcony was near her bed, and she stepped out on it for a moment to gaze up at the night sky. The stars twinkled down at her and she sighed. 'I wish I could find some way to tell my family that I'm safe. I hope they're not dying of grief . . .'
"But what if this is the palace of that awful winged serpent?" She murmured after a moment. Fear flooded her then and she did her best to stomp it down. "No. I don't think a serpent could own such a beautiful place." She then stepped from the balcony and shut the doors to it. She walked over to her bed and crawled beneath the covers, the white silk sheets like water on her skin.
'I hope . . . I get to meet the master of this house tomorrow . . .' She thought sleepily as she buried her face in the feather pillow. 'I'd really like to thank him . . .' And with that, she was asleep.
To be continued!
Chapter Four: All Alone
Sakura walked along the dirt path slowly, dust rising from her footfalls. She didn't seem aware of much that early afternoon; her eyes gazed ahead of her, though they didn't see anything. Her expression was somber, matching the black of her garments. She spoke to no one. She had been silent from the moment Yukito had brought the answer from the oracle.
"Sakura?" A soft voice called. She looked up slightly; it was the first time she'd been addressed that week. "Sakura, we are here." Yukito said and the procession stopped. They stood at the summit of a barren hill. Large rocks jutted from the earth, and a single dead tree had wrapped its roots into the stony ground.
'A fitting place for my death.' She thought as she looked around. 'I would not want to die where there was joy.'
"Sakura . . ." Her sisters stepped up beside her then, but they didn't touch her. Tears flowed down her sisters' cheeks, and Meilin stepped forward. Tomoyo was clinging to old Nana, who couldn't bare to look at Sakura.
"Sister, won't you please reconsider? This is not . . ." Meilin's voice broke and Yukito touched her shoulder gently. "You can't die here, Sakura! We won't let you!"
"It is not your decision." She said tenderly but firmly, her voice grating from disuse. "This is my fate and I must answer to it." She looked from face to face. Her father was the only one who'd refused to come; one of the attendants said he had locked himself in his room.
"Why does it have to be you?" Her gaze finally landed on Touya, who spoke gruffly, and she knew he was fighting tears. "You've done nothing to deserve this, Sakura, and the gods should know this." He took a step towards her, and she shut her eyes to block out the tears that were coming. "Please don't do this, Sakura. We'll go to Athena or Artemis, or even Clow Reed! We'll make it so you don't have to be the wife to a serpent!"
"Brother." She said after a moment. "If you continue speaking, I know my resolve will falter, and at this moment I don't want that." She opened her eyes and her heart broke to see tears shining in Touya's eyes. "I care deeply about every single one of you, and I don't want to bring the anger of the gods down upon you as well." She took her brother's hands in her own. "I must do as Eriol says. If this is truly my destiny, then no matter how much we beg the other gods, it won't change. I might as well meet it now."
"Sakura . . ." Touya whispered and she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Please don't ask me again to re-think my decision." His arms tightened around her for a moment before releasing her. She did her best to smile up at him and she wiped away the tears that had trickled down his cheeks.
"We're losing you for a second time." He said, his gaze on the ground. "But this time, you'll never return . . ."
A long moment of silence prevailed, which was interrupted only by an occasional sob from Tomoyo or Meilin. Sakura finally stepped away from her family and sat down on a small boulder beneath the dead tree.
"I think it is time for you to leave me. The longer you stay, the more painful it will be for you." Yukito nodded at her words and old Nana started to lead her sisters back down the hill. Touya looked back up at Sakura and her fingers curled around the fabric of her garments.
"Please, brother. Go now." She whispered, a large lump forming in her throat. Yukito took his arm and turned him around slowly.
"Come on, Touya." He said gently, and they started after the women. Yukito glanced over his shoulder at her once and he gave her a small farewell smile, which Sakura returned until they were out of sight. After a sufficient time had passed, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
'Our gods really are cruel monsters!' She thought bitterly as she wept. 'First they take my mother from our family, and now they take me! Do they realize how much pain they are causing? Do they even care?!'
After a while, her sobs faded and she looked around the hill. Yukito hadn't said when the serpent would come to claim her; how long was she going to have to wait? What if he didn't come today? Could she go home tonight and then return tomorrow? No, that would be needlessly harsh on her family. Touya would have to give her up a third time.
"Little princess . . ." She blinked and sat up as a breathy voice called to her. She looked around, yet she saw no one.
"Who's there?" She returned, a small tremor of fear in her voice.
"Do not be afraid. I am here to take you to your new home." Sakura gasped as a strong wind began to lift her up. The rocky hill vanished from beneath her, and soon she was in a green grassy meadow, where flowers of all shapes and colors bloomed. Their strong fragrance was sweet but not enough to overpower, and Sakura was set beside a cheerful little brook.
"Where am I?" She asked, her terror replaced by wonder, but the wind had left her. After a moment, Sakura lay down on the soft grass, and it wasn't long before she fell into a deep dreamless sleep.
***
Touya followed his sisters and Yuki into his father's throne room. They had just returned from leaving Sakura on the rocky hilltop, and the attendants that had met them at the door had said that the king wished to speak with them. A flash of anger had gone through Touya then, banishing the numbness that had plagued him ever since he'd learned of Sakura's fate.
'I wonder what the bastard wants now.' He thought crossly. 'I bet he's going to say something about finding me a wife now!'
"You summoned us, your majesty?" Yukito said, jarring Touya from his thoughts. He hadn't noticed that they'd reached the dais on which his father sat.
"I did." The king said gravely and he looked from face to face. Touya felt a stab of satisfaction that his father wasn't looking very well. "I presume Sakura is gone?" His eyes met Touya's, who did his best to hide his anger. "Judging by the sorrow you carry with you, it seems she is."
"We left her on the hilltop as the oracle instructed." Yukito seemed to be the only one among them with vocal chords; Meilin and Tomoyo were too distraught to speak, and Touya didn't dare open his mouth. With his anger as great as it was, he wasn't sure what he might say.
"My daughter is as good as dead then." The king said, his lips pressing into a thin line, and a long moment of silence passed. "Thank you, that will be all. I didn't want to know anything more." Everyone turned to leave, but Touya didn't move. He felt Yuki glance at him curiously, but his gaze remained glued on his father.
"Well?" He said after a while, and his father looked up at him questioningly.
"Well what?" His father's gaze locked with his own. "What is it you want to say, Touya? I don't read minds."
"Aren't you going to say something?" Touya fought to keep his voice steady as he spoke. "It seems as though you don't care about what has happened." His father's expression didn't change. "You were the exact same way when Mother died."
"You know nothing, Touya. Now leave." He waved his hand in dismissal and turned his attention elsewhere, but Touya didn't move. Yuki had now stepped up beside him, and he could sense his sisters watching curiously from the doorway.
"You don't care, do you? Your daughter has just been married off to a serpent, and you don't even give a damn!" His father's gaze snapped back to him and Touya took an angry step forward. "Hell, one could think that you've never cared about all your daughters! The weddings are proof enough of that! You never listen to them!"
"Silence." His father growled softly, but Touya glared at him defiantly.
"This is all your fault, you know that? Sakura wouldn't be dead right now if you had just listened to her!" His father had gotten to his feet, but Touya refused to be intimidated. He was old enough to hold his own. "She begged you to stop those damn offerings and the worships, but you refused! All you could think about was finding her a husband, and now look where she is!"
"Touya, that's enough." Yuki said softly but he silenced the silver haired man with a swift glare.
"Yuki, stay out of this." He turned back to his father and blinked. The king looked furious. Utterly furious.
"You understand nothing, Touya. How can you possibly judge me when you don't know what I'm feeling?" Touya took an unconscious step back; rage poured from his father and fear began to creep into him. "I'm not going to even bother arguing with you right now. I don't know what I might say." Touya suppressed a shudder. "Just get out of my sight. I'll tell you when I'm ready to talk to you again." His father thrust a finger in the direction of the door, and Touya did the first thing that came to mind. He ran.
Touya flew past Yuki and his sisters and he ran. He ran through the open hallways and past stunned attendants. He ran through congregations of mourning nobles who tried to speak to him, but he didn't stop. Tears were flowing down his cheeks now, blurring his vision. He ran and he ran, and he didn't stop until he finally reached the courtyard. He collapsed beneath the same tree he'd surprised Sakura under, and her smiling face appeared before him.
'My little monster . . .' Sobs choked his throat and his fingers clawed at the earth. 'Gone . . . gone forever . . .' He sat back on his heels, his hands resting helplessly in his lap. 'Sakura . . .is gone . . .' The thought rang through his brain and tears began to trickle down his neck. 'Gone . . .gone forever . . .' With that, Touya threw his head back and screamed. Grief had consumed him for the past week and it all began to pour out. He screamed and he screamed until finally his voice broke into sobs and a pair of arms encircled his chest.
"Oh Touya . . ." He leaned back against Yuki, who was kneeling behind him. "I'm so sorry . . .so very, very sorry . . ." Touya didn't bother in responding; he just let his tears fall silently.
"Gone . . ." Touya said quietly after a moment. He then reached up and his hands clasped Yuki's wrists, who was whispering soft words of comfort. "My little monster, she's gone . . ."
***
Sakura awoke to find that it was late afternoon. She sat up and stretched, her head clearer than it had been in a while. She actually felt refreshed for once. With that, she stood and looked around the meadow. The wind had said this was her new home, but . . . there was no where to live properly.
"Oh my . . ." She gasped as her eyes landed on a mansion of pure gold and silver. "How did I miss that?" She murmured and she began to walk towards it. Once she reached the door, she hesitated. It was open, but how could she jut walk in uninvited?
"Do not fear, young princess . . ." She started at the voice and spun to find the owner. But she was still very much alone. "This is your home, and we are your servants. A bath has been prepared for you, and then we shall serve you a meal."
"Who are you?" She asked the quiet voice. "Why can't I see you?"
"We are the spirits of this palace, and you never will see us." Sakura frowned at the answer. "Please, do not be afraid. We will not harm you." Sakura turned back to the entrance to the palace. "Freshen up and then we will direct you to the dining hall."
Against her better judgement, Sakura entered the palace. Never in her life had she seen such an ornate place. Paintings covered the ceilings and the walls, and the floor was covered with a rich, thick carpet. Sakura had removed her sandals and her bare feet sank into the carpet. It felt as though she were walking on air.
On her way to the baths, she looked everywhere for other people, but she found no one. Was she the only guest in this huge place? It seemed to be such a waste.
Once she had bathed and changed from her mourning robes, the voices spoke to her once more and led her to the dining room. The room was even more elaborate than the rest of the rooms. The domed ceiling was painted to look like a bright summer day, and the pillars that lined the walls were covered with precious gems. The walls were covered with pictures of the gods and goddesses of Olympus and Sakura shook her head with wonder.
"Will the master of the house be joining me?" She asked the voices as she sat at the small table in the middle of the room, which had been set with a delicious looking array of food. Sakura's stomach rumbled as the smells wafted up to her nose.
"You will meet him tonight. Until then, eat." Sakura frowned lightly, but sat and began to eat. The food was exquisite. Never had she tasted such scrumptious dishes. Each had been prepared in some artistic fashion, and Sakura had almost felt sad to eat them.
A choir struck up after she had taken her first bite of food, but Sakura didn't bother to look for the singers. Knowing this place, she wouldn't be able to see them either.
Once she had finished, the dishes vanished, and she leaned back in her chair to listen to the choir. Their singing was superb. Not once had she heard such beautiful or harmonious voices. After a while, her eyes began to droop and the singing stopped.
"Princess, the sun has long since set. Do you wish to retire for the night?" The soft voice asked, and she nodded drowsily. "We will direct you to your room." Sakura stood and looked up at the ceiling.
"Thank you to whoever was singing. That was wonderful." She called before following the directions of the voice. She reached her room, and it too was as highly wrought as the rest of the palace. A pale green carpet covered the floor, and it was as rich and thick as the others were. Several small white divans sat off to one side, and dark green pillows covered them. Her bed itself was lined with opaque veils that hung from the ceiling, and it looked big enough to fit three people comfortably.
'Incredible.' Sakura could barely think as she changed for bed. A small balcony was near her bed, and she stepped out on it for a moment to gaze up at the night sky. The stars twinkled down at her and she sighed. 'I wish I could find some way to tell my family that I'm safe. I hope they're not dying of grief . . .'
"But what if this is the palace of that awful winged serpent?" She murmured after a moment. Fear flooded her then and she did her best to stomp it down. "No. I don't think a serpent could own such a beautiful place." She then stepped from the balcony and shut the doors to it. She walked over to her bed and crawled beneath the covers, the white silk sheets like water on her skin.
'I hope . . . I get to meet the master of this house tomorrow . . .' She thought sleepily as she buried her face in the feather pillow. 'I'd really like to thank him . . .' And with that, she was asleep.
To be continued!