Titanic Grand
By Hippoclymae_66
Apologies again, for taking so long. This chapter is short, but the next one will be up soon.
When Sakura and Tomoyo had finally returned to the table, the fourth course was finished and being removed, while the fifth course was being introduced. Sakura was a little overwhelmed by all the food. This was much to elegant for her simple mind.
" Ms. Kinomoto, how many courses will we be partaking of?"
" Eleven."
" Eleven!!" Sakura's face went pale.
" Yes. It offers the guests a broad variety of different foods."
" Oh."
Sakura picked at most of it, taking a taste here and there, saving her stomach for the following course. The sixth course was very interesting, Punch Romaine, and icy fruit concoction with liquor. Sakura found this quite refreshing.
" It's to clean the palate for the next courses."
Mr. Harkins, or Peter, was sampling a great deal of the wine. He'd pour
a glass of one, drink it, then pour another. Around the 8th glass, he was
red-faced, and remembering his manners, offered wine to the others at the
table. Sakura accepted. He filled her glass, then continued to talk.
Sakura sipped at it, finding it would be quite unlady-like to get drunk
in such a classy place. The next time it was offered, she declined. That's
when it started.
" My dear, you must try this Sauterne, its quite marvelous."
" No thank you. I've had quite enough."
" Sakura, really I suggest you try it.." His eyes squinted dazedly in his
stupor.
" I'm fine, thank you. I've had enough."
" I INSIST."
Sakura backed off a little as he leaned dangerously across the table to pour her more wine. A hand went up to halt the bottle.
" Sir, I believe the lady has had her fill tonight." Syaoran spoke, much
to Sakura's relief.
" Dear boy, I know enough when I see it, and the girl has barely glimpsed
the tip of the iceberg."
" SIR." The word was enunciated," I believe, the lady has had her fill."
" THE LADY HAS NOT HAD HER FILL, UNTIL SHE LEAVES THE TABLE."
" In that case she shall," He stood up and turned to Sakura," Shall she
not?"
" If it is no trouble." She murmurred.
Syaoran nodded, and excusing himself, held out his hand to Sakura. Taking it, she found herself escorted back to her room. As they walked, Sakura felt a sense of relief. Syaoran watched her as they walked.
" I must apologize if your evening was cut short." She murmurred.
" No." Syaoran held back from saying anything else. Then," I'm tired anyway.
Retiring would be most desirable."
They walked the long hallways, but when they got to Sakura's cabin, Syaoran hissed and pulled her back around the corner. She teetered slightly, leaning against Syaoran's arm from support.
" What?"
" There's someone there.." He put a finger to his lips.
Sakura quietly peeked around the corner, and saw a dark figure picking at the lock to her cabin. She gasped quietly, but unfortunately it was still loud enough.
" huh?" The figure spun around, and out of his pocket pulled a small revolver.
" We'd better leave." Syaoran pulled her towards the opposite direction.
" But, he's stealing all of Madam's things."
" That will be the least of things he'll take, if we don't get out of here."
Syaoran murmurred.
" Don't you move!!!!"
The two spun around as the crook rounded the corner, pointing the revolver at them.
" I'm warning you. Don't move, or I'll blast both your heads off!"
Syaoran stood in front of Sakura, whispering behind him," Don't worry, Lady, he shan't harm you."
" Oh believe me, sir. I have every intention of harming you." The robber hissed," For if I let you go, I'll surely be caught. Now, I want you both to get into that corridor right now."
Sakura didn't move.
" DO IT!" The robber waved the gun dangerously at her, and she complied slowly backing into the hallway.
The robber motioned for Syaoran to follow. Syaoran looked in Sakura's direction, and back at the robber. Sensing something was up, the robber pointed the gun at Syaoran's forehead.
" If you try anything funny, I'll blast your head off!"
Sakura muttered under her breath. Why did these kind have to show up wherever she went. Maybe it was best, that she wasn't the simpering fool of a snob-girl that the robber thought she was. The gears in her brain turning, she decided on something right than. Force was not going to work. So, she'd turn to something else. Sakura started the waterworks. And she was right. As tears streaked down her face, with a few added mumbles that she was going to die, the robber turned in exasperation.
" Will you shut up?"
She closed her eyes, and continued slightly louder. He made the mistake of turning around, running at Sakura with the gun point.
" SHUT UP! QUIT BLUBBERING OR I'LL BLAST YOUR BLOCK OFF!"
He swung at her with the butt of the weapon, and caught her across the face. Instead of cowering as he expected her too, she looked up angrily, no more tears, and certainly no more fear. With a swing of her hand, she struck him, not caring that the gun was still pointed in her direction. He backed off in surprise, then grew enraged.
" Why you little..."
Suddenly, with a surprised grunt, the robber collapsed to the floor, Syaoran standing behind him rubbing his fist. He stared at Sakura for awhile, as if reading her character. Than, he smiled, one of amusement.
" Are you aspiring to be an actor someday with such brilliance?"
" Yes, and I shall win many an award for this performance." She said, wiping
away the tears that still stood on her face. Her eyes glittered, more from
laughter than from crying.
Syaoran gave the robber an extra kick for good measure, then moved to Sakura's side. She had a bruise on one side of her face. He frowned, and motioned to the hallway.
" We should get that treated."
" And, what about that gentleman?" She motioned to the motionless.
" He is no gentleman. Striking a lady." Syaoran murmured, before ushering
Sakura towards the medical ward.
______
" Sakura!!!" Tomoyo had rushed back to the cabin. Sakura was saddened not to see Ms. Kinomoto with her. " Oh, Syaoran told us about your run-in. Are you all right?"
Tomoyo fawned over the bruise, mumbling at how it would disfigure her poor Sakura, and adding French curses every other word, damning the evil that had made this misfortune fall upon her dear friend. Seeing Sakura's shocked face, Tomoyo smiled and motioned to some creams and make-up that she'd brought that would cover up the horrible bruise. Sakura refused.
" But, mon amie. You'll never attract anyone with that on your cheek. They'll
think you married and beaten by your husband."
" If they won't love me like this, they won't love me at all." Sakura said
simply," Besides, I hate being all dolled up. It makes me feel like a lady's
daughter."
" But, mon cherie, you are..."
" I'm not a lady's daughter. And no amount of make-up or riches will make
me one."
______
" Syaoran, you are quiet. You should sleep. Tomorrow is a big day."
" Yes, I know."
Eriol looked at his friend, sitting on the couch with a strange expression on his face, a cross between anger and some other emotion that isn't describable.
" Syaoran, what's on your mind?"
" Hmm?"
" Well, whenever you've got that look on your face, I know there's something
up. What is it?"
******
And this is where I cut off. Yes, that's right. It's short. But, I'm typing
up the next chapter, and that'll be up sooner than this one took, so don't
fret.