Hello! Oh yeah, I've already posted it the other day but if some of you had
noticed, I forgot to put comments in this PART! Well anyway, I know I've
broken every single promise I had with you. But oh well, at least I had
updated! Umm.what else? And thanks for reviewing my last chapter!!! Please,
once again, put your name on it so I could thank you.
*Sakura-chan = Check it out until Chapter10! *Hana-lai= I didn't know you're a Filipino! I guess you've seen my bio! Thanks for reviewing, wish you would do it again! *Pink CherryBlossom= Haha! No need to pound yourself! Neither did I thought I would make them twins at first though I first thought I I'll make them siblings. Thanks for reviewing! I remembered you had reviewed chapters ago, right?! *Devil =Nope, I'm not going to tell you! Just read the chapter below and you'll know his purpose! *Kinis= Of course I will make sure they'll fall in love with each other! ~wink~ After all, these is a S+S story! But I'm not going to tell when! It's a secret! ~Smiles~
*The anonymous reviewers! =Waahh! Thank you for reviewing my chapters! You almost occupied the last 2 pages of my review list! Thank you very much!!!! And please write your name at least to let me honor your names.
*Czeon27 *Lucifer *Honoria
Thanks! And Please, My first language is not English!!!! Now, to not further hold you back, I'll be on with the story!!!!
------------------------ Symbols' meanings
[ ]- its like additional thing which happens that I don't need to emphasis.
---} {--- - Flash backs
__* *__ - One person's point of view
*====*====* - another scene happening.
( ) - Author's notes, or at least what I think when that happens.
* - Japanese words, translations will be at the bottom with my goodbye address.
" " - the things they say.
' ' - thoughts.
Last Chapter's end.
"What's their play anyway?" Gien interrupted.
"It's called Cinderella. An ancient folk tale of our ancestors." Yamazaki answered.
"You mean the tale that is about the princess and prince right?" Meiling stated.
"Yep, but I don't want to tell you the story. It'll spoil the play." He said simply, stubbornly smiling.
"You have a point there." Gien said when he noticed someone's giving him a stare. He abruptly spun around and saw a young blue-eyed man winked at him. He knew him.
"Wait a minute, I'll be back." Gien said between their conversation and ran towards that person. The group just gave him strange looks at his back.
Gien round at the corner and saw the same man who looked at him.
"Brother." Gien muttered and the young man smiled.
"Nice to meet you again, my twin brother." He said solemnly.
"Did father send you? To find me or the pendant?" He asked hastily.
"Both." He replied simply.
"Are you turning against me, Eriol?" Gien asked Eriol and he just smiled at him. Gien knew Eriol has powers more than him and can detect the power of Li and of course, Sakura.
"I don't know."
To be Continued... ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The pendant Showed Us The Way To Our Hearts
Chapter: Exposition of the pendant mistress!
By Sakura2649
"What do you mean you don't know?" Gien asked his twin brother anxiously, cocking his head at his side.
"I mean what I said. You'll know once the time comes." He said calmly, his face plastered with a serene smile.
"It's not time to let me answer some of you riddles brother! I need to know if."
Eriol suddenly appeared at his side and put a finger to his lips to silence him. He immediately obeyed and gazed at his brother intently as if looking for answers.
"We can't say the name of her. They'll know." He whispered and Gien couldn't help but ask.
"Who?"
Eriol gave a quick glance over the sky and Gien followed suit. And he immediately looked back down. There were two soldiers in the top of the roof they just glanced and apparently, they're watching both of their moves. Eriol gave him a warning stare and his twin understood quickly.
"Okay, I'll go buy us some drinks to talk about what happened in our palace while I'm gone." Gien took off and just then, the blue-eyed sorcerer felt the sweet aura coming to his way.
"Gien-kun!" She called out from the crowd when she saw a man with blue eyes gazed at her and she immediately assumed it was Gien. Though she felt something's wrong with his aura, she skipped towards him and the others followed her curiously. Once again, Syaoran escaped a growl from his strained throat.
"Gien-kun, here you are! I thought you'll be back after a minute?!" She asked but the man wasn't listening to her but just observed her. 'She looked even more beautiful in personal.' he thought unconsciously before snapping out of his mind.
"Iie, you've mistaken. I'm not Gien." The strange man said, smiling at her confused cute face.
"Hoe?"
"You're not Gien?" Yamazaki interrupted and Eriol nodded. But before they could talk further, Gien came back with his hands full of drinking juice.
"Sakura!" He skipped happily towards her when he realized something about Eriol. The way his twin sorcerer looked at her is like he knew everything about her. When he turned to him, he gave Gien a meaningful look and walked towards him. Before he gave other signs, he immediately spun to the group. He already expected what to happen next.
"Gien-kun, what's happening? Are you playing a joke on us or something?" Tomoyo's voice was heard over the crowd that had made the group to look at her then back to Gien who sighed in defeat.
"He's. my twin brother, Eriol. uhh." Gien stuttered, gesturing his hand to his twin brother.
"Hirigizawa." Eriol filled for Gien, and his smile never wavered.
"Hirigizawa? That means you're a Hirigizawa too?" Meiling echoed and glanced at Gien and saw him nodded uncertainly.
"Sorry, I hadn't said it before." His hands found their way to the back of his head.
"And I'm Kinomoto Sakura." She bowed and he also did in return.
"This is Daidouji Tomoyo, my best friend. Li Meiling, Yamazaki Takashi, and Li Syaoran." She introduced one by one as they bowed. Though, all the while, Syaoran is busy glaring at them and at the same time, felt strange sensation. He narrowed his eyes for anything and at the back of his mind.
'There's magic around.' He silently cursed, cautiously looked around and of course, Sakura noticed his behavior.
"What is it?"
"Concentrate." He whispered, half glancing at her wondering face.
She nodded absently and concentrated on anything that could have interrupted Syaoran from glaring. Her eyes snapped open and began looking around them too, readying herself. Apparently, Eriol knew what is the cause of these actions. He closed his eyes briefly and immediately, the aura that was leaking sealed off. The couple glanced at each other, too shock to notice how their noses touched. It took them five seconds to know what they were in and quickly turned around, putting enough distance to keep feeling the heat from their body.
"It's gone." The girl stuttered.
"Yeah." 'How did that happened?' The chestnut haired young man wondered as well as the pendant mistress.
"What's gone, Syaoran?" Meiling asked curiously, half looking suspiciously at Sakura.
"Nothing. Must have been our imagination." Syaoran announced, straightening up. He glanced to Eriol's direction and growled at him. His reply was to wink.
"Well, I better go now, Gien. Father asked me an errand." With that, he stared at Gien for five seconds and left.
"Well, let's go too, we have to get back to your brother's hou." Yamazaki trailed off when Sakura suddenly collapsed at his side with a cry of 'hoe!' at his ear.
"Sakura!" Syaoran said when she had bumped again to a person. Dejavu runs through his veins when he looked up towards the woman she bashed with.
"You again." He groaned, glaring, as he saw a red haired woman with worry painted on her face. Sakura looked up as she straightened up, to see what caused Syaoran to groan, and gaped.
"Miss Mizuki!" She said and Mizuki smiled at her.
"Hello, Sakura-chan and sorry for making you fall. I'm just in a hurry."
"Don't worry, Mizuki-sensei, I'm fine, really. And let me introduce to you my friends. Li Syaoran, as you already knew,." Her statement received a growl from her certain comrade.
"This is Meiling-chan, Yamazaki-kun, Tomoyo-chan, Gien-kun." She happily said, counting how many times she had introduced herself and the others. The quietness of Mizuki brought Sakura to look at her and saw her puzzled expression. Her eyes were directed to someone on her right. Gien.
"Young Master." She muttered under her breath, hoping no one had heard her, but Sakura and Syaoran suddenly looked at her, baffled. The stern look on Gien told her to shut up and Kaho, immediately, looked at the two pair of eyes looking at her searchingly. She tried her best to make them forget all about what she said.
"Nice to meet you guys, but I really have to go. I'm late for the practice!" She exclaimed desperately, silently pleading to her friends to let her go now.
"What practice, Mizuki-sempai?" Tomoyo asked, she was completely unaware of their actions.
"You see, Seijou high is going to present for the coming festival and I'm their instructor. I'm already late for our rehearsal." She stated, making Sakura gasped. She smiled inwardly. 'That would make her forget my mistake.' She thought, glancing at Gien to see him gazing at her. She nodded quickly, understanding his unspoken request.
"You're the director?" Mizuki quickly snapped back and nodded urgently.
"Can we come? My brother, Kinomoto Touya, is a character in your play. I would like to see him." She pleaded.
"Sure, if you really want to come. And let's go." She said, and it received three squeals and one grunt.
*====*====*
"Cinderella! Cinderella!" The prince called out while coming down the stairs. He is trying to reach out towards Cinderella. Because when the bell rang, she mysteriously went out of the castle and just left one of her glassy slippers.
"Cut!" The prince stopped immediately and smiled sheepishly.
"You shouldn't shout like you're just shouting. You should call out with emotions. Imagine that it was your beloved who's going to leave you and you can't do anything." Mizuki said from the top box along with Sakura's group. They had been coming in this theatre ever since they met her, at least three days ago. They could see the Touya who played the prince nodded with determination as they went to their respective places again to wait for Kaho to let them repeat the scene all over again.
"Sorry, even though our play is going to be present in at least five days from now, (If you're wondering why it's five days when the festival happens on coming two days, it's because there are many activities in this festival, they decided to let it be for a week. Their play would be on the last day of festival. So, obviously, the festival started this day.).They still can't perfect it." She apologized. They shook their heads.
"No, I think its great." Tomoyo said calmly. The director smiled at them
"Yeah, I know my brother could do it." Sakura reassured her as Mizuki winked at Syaoran, who shrugged his shoulders, and at Sakura. The girl just wonder what she means with that.
"Okay, start all over that scene again." The glint in Mizuki's eyes told Syaoran that she's planning something.
They started moving again until the bell rang, which means the princess should leave the dance floor by now. It all went well since the prince did excellent job calling out with emotions, but something happened that they hadn't expected. While Cinderella was coming down stairs and the prince trying to catch up with her, the wooden stairs collapsed and the actors fall off.
"Touya-niichan!" Sakura yelled from the top box, tears started to form in her eyes. However, Syaoran felt magic the moment it crumpled. He looked around, trying to make sure the magic he felt wasn't his imagination. No one could assure him that he is feeling magic since obviously, Sakura hadn't sense it and the magic was now long gone.
"Come on, guys, help me with this." Mizuki stood up and went downstairs and assisted the other students getting the fallen woods form the injured Cinderella and Touya.
"Oniichan!" Sakura said, making her way towards her brother. He sat up and caressed his broken arm.
"I'm fine, Sakura." He said, wiping his imouto's tears.
"Are you all right, Kinomoto?" Kaho asked, genuine concern on her face. Touya looked at her disbelievingly and afterwards, relaxed, sighing.
"I'm fine though I think I've broken my arm." He gestured her to look at his arm and she gasped.
"Oh my."
"And I think I can't play either." A girl squeaked while others gasped. They saw her foot is still buried in big wood.
"My, class, please help me." Mizuki went towards her and tried to lift the big wood.
"We were trying, sensei, but it's too big." They explained, and she looked around helpless. Sakura gaped at them and tried to think of something to help them. A brilliant idea flashed on her mind and she glanced around for a hiding place. She soon hid over something and chanted.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Save the girl's life!" She said and soon, she felt her power drain a little.
A light pink struck towards the girl under the weight of the timber on her foot and lifted it a bit to let the people helping her could at least. The persons who had lifted it up earlier gasped when it suddenly felt lighter. They quickly put it aside and went to the girl's side as she groaned. Syaoran looked at the back stage and saw pale Sakura coming from it. He approached her side to support her balance.
"You shouldn't use your power too much. A while ago, I felt strong magic emanating around this town. They might track you down. And besides.it'll weaken you." She smiled weakly at his concern and gently held his shoulder.
"I'm all right. As long as I can help people around me, I'll be just fine. You don't have to bother yourself in concern of me. I can take care of myself." She said and Syaoran couldn't hide the blush creeping up to his cheeks.
"No, you still can't, miss stubborn little pendant mistress." He tapped her nose. Sakura was quite surprise with his unconscious action. "You got your aura weaken by just performing a small job. Don't drain yourself too much, miss good lady." He teased and she pouts playfully. He just loved her being that way. He hates it when things get awkward when she smiles.
All of a sudden, tower of shadow made them look in front of them to see Touya, his good hand on a scolding position on his hips, glaring at them. Syaoran scowled when he suddenly felt little at the tower man.
"What did you do to my sister?" He snatched her, with a little struggle from him, with a growl, which the boy gratefully returned.
"I did nothing to her, for your information. I just saw her pale at the back stage part." He stubbornly placed his arms on his chest and glanced shortly at her still pale face.
"Touya, don't shout at him! He had nothing to with me being weak!" The young woman said indignantly, defending for Syaoran. "I just felt migraine and I'm lucky that Syaoran saw me or I might have fall unconscious back there!" She lied, half true, but there's no need to tell anything to do with the pendant. Touya stared at the girl intently, searching for the whole truth, before he sighed and guided her to the nearest seat, followed by inquiring friends.
"You behave here while we clear all this mess up." He went back to his injured friends, thinking what he felt from Sakura's aura a while ago. He let the first-aid officers tend his arm.
"Did you use it again, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked suspiciously and the mistress couldn't help but stuck her tongue sheepishly, nodding.
"I'm glad you wanted to help people but like kero-chan said, it's best to 'only' perform it when necessary." She scolded and was about to do a lot more when Meiling interrupted something.
"Kero-chan?" She echoed from Tomoyo where the three, Tomoyo, Sakura and Syaoran, flinched.
"Don't tell me you're starting to be Yamazaki II, the tongue slipper?" Syaoran joked. The mistress had fits of laughter while Tomoyo pouted. The slit-eyed boy made a violent reaction and pound at Syaoran's ribs lightly.
"Hey! You're a meanie."
"Wait a second, guys. Who's this Kero-chan you were talking about, hn?" Meiling went back to the topic, completely unaffected by their changing topics. They went silent until sakura tried to let something out of her mouth but no sounds came out.
"Remember the uhh.doll back at Sirca? The one you always find at the kitchen?" Tomoyo uncertainly stated where Meiling nodded slowly.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It is him who they were talking about. He's the guardian of the sealed cursed box to protect the pendant. In short, it's Keroberus." Syaoran said bluntly, as if he had no interest about the subject. Meiling held the gasp and gave them expressionless face.
"No doubt. I always thought something is weird about that stuffed animal. Besides according to the elders, when the redeemer comes, the sealed beast named Keroberus will be awakened and guide its mistress." She announced her knowledge. Yamazaki fully understood it once it was explained, being around Syaoran for years had some good use but Gien, the new in the group, hadn't figured out what they were talking about.
"Hey, can somebody please explain what you all talking about?" He voiced out his thoughts, feeling a little out-of-place. They looked one another and all stopped to Sakura.
"You explain, since you have all the knowledge about it, pendant mistress." Syaoran grinned at her, gently patting her back. She gave him a unserious glare and explained and re-explained it all to Gien in whispers. They couldn't risk for others to hear about something as precious as this. Once in a while, Mizuki glanced to their side and then back to tending the injuries, brought by the incident, of the students.
After a few minutes, the whole crowd inside, what you could consider as a theatre, silenced with the clap of Mizuki.
"Everybody, please listen up!" All attention turned to her. "Five days to go before you all will go in a real stage. And unfortunately, the prince and Cinderella, the leading lady and man in this play is injured and couldn't possibly perform very well." They all looked down, dreading for her coming conclusion.
"Excuse me, I think you shouldn't postpone the play. I know I'm not supposed to do this but please believe me that many are excited to see your play. We saw it since three days ago and I can say it's really fantastic. Don't quit it now." Sakura pleaded, all turned to look at her. Some are expressionless, others are puzzled; others felt the same. One certain person smiled and came to her conclusion.
"Dear Sakura-chan, how could you think, after all this rehearsals and stuffs, we're going to quit?" She smiled warmly. They all felt hopes in their hearts but held the same question.
"Who will replace Cinderella and the prince?" Touya and Sakura blurted out. The siblings, huh? She thought. Their question brought her smile grew into a grin like Cheshire cat's as she scanned the crowd. Somehow, after few minutes of dreading, her eyes landed to Sakura and Syaoran and she pointed at them. Startled, they flinched backwards at the next words of Mizuki. 'I thought she has something on her mind.' The amber-eyed boy contemplated.
"Being only the available persons and seen the script with me in the top box, they will be Cinderella and the prince of the story in replaced of Touya and Yukino!" She said, as they staggered at her decision. But soon enough, the firmed look in the director's eyes made them feel that she wouldn't change her decision and live with it, they clapped their hands. It was better than to let the play postponed even though their leading actors now are younger than them. And cute, they soon realized how great the couple could be.
Sakura and Syaoran's protest were unheard due to the crowding of people at them (Kawaii! Some of them said.) and sighing in defeat, they just let God guide them in this days to come.
*====*====*
"Orkina town, enclosing to our place." A soldier stated over the overwhelming sandstorm. However, they were undaunted because of the support their serving vehicles. Soon enough, Orkina town went clear on their view as they saw the crowds all around. It was already festival week.
*====*====*
Five days passed by, and a couple found them exhausting and exciting days. They had bee practicing all day in place of leading man and lady in the play of Seijou high. Luckily, at their last day, they give them time to rest for the play that night. All morning and afternoon were given to them as a treat for being good, and they had a rehearsal-free that time. Although, they regretted it soon enough, they should have rest before the play.
"Sakura-chan, wake up. Mizuki sensei told you to be wearing your costume at seven and come with Li-kun at the theatre for final instructions." The sleepy girl heard Tomoyo and her tapping on her cheek.
"But I'm still sleepy, I cannot perform well at this state, let me sleep first." Before she knew, she was lifted up from her comfy bed and carried by a man. She opened her eyes and saw Syaoran, already wearing a creamed color tuxedo, carrying her towards the bathroom. Tomoyo, who was carrying her clothes and make-up, followed them closely as Syaoran deposited the girl to the bathroom with Tomoyo.
"Nice tuxs, Syaoran-kun." She said, pleasingly. Syaoran gave her lopsided grin as he closed the bathroom for her to change.
"Done!" Tomoyo exclaimed happily as she led the girl outside the bathroom after several minutes. Syaoran was already at the door, waiting for them, when he stared her.
The sides of her short hair was braided and tied with light green ribbon. Her first cloth was a maroon shabby dress going down to her ankle, with patches and on top was a dark gray apron with patches and artificial dirt, for the first sequence of scenes. They hadn't said anything about what she will wear in the dance for the following scenes but she knew it would be something gorgeous.
He smirked, "Let's go, my slave." He arched an arm to let it be held by her but it was pushed down by her poke.
"Mou, Syaoran-kun, you're such a meanie." She pouted, putting her arms at her chest before gazing up at her. He grinned at her.
"Forgive me?" He playfully said. She smiled but looked away to hide it.
"Apology accepted." She stated before smiling broadly at him, taking his free arm with her hand. He blushed at her unintentional action.
"Let's go, my prince." He joked but still, Syaoran found it hard not to chuckle.
"I'm willing to go with you, Cinderella." He played along. She looked startled at first but she soon smiled sweetly. 'When did he become so playful?' she thought as she ran her way towards the theatre.
*====*====*
"Eriol, I have found your brother."
"Yes, I've seen him too, along with my descendants." He answered calmly, not taking his eyes off the book, flipping one after another. The red haired woman seemed not to be too much affected by his reply.
He continued. "Syaoran and Sakura's auras seemed to be troubled and glad. What kind of test were you giving to put them into anyway?" Eriol finally looked up to find the woman smirking. He arched his eyebrow inquiringly at her.
"Well, let's just say, even if they knew how to fight or something like that, it doesn't proved that they trust each other and built up certain friendship and more." She said, smiling sweetly at her master.
"I see." He nodded his head several times; smile creeping up to his lips as he thought of her idea.
"But, you know, I think that's not all you wanted to proved in all this." Her smile grew bigger. "Friendship is an understatement." He concluded. She giggled slightly before he turned his rich blue eyes back to the book.
*====*====*
In they went, the soldiers passed the gates, looking around for women wearing any necklaces similar to the pearl wings pendant.
"Come on, we have to find the pendant now. They still might be here because of the festival." Juishito ordered and they all spread out.
*====*====*
"Now, are you sure you're all ready?" Mizuki asked the couple, for at least fifteen times, who nodded their heads in response.
They could hear the audiences from the backstage buzzing as the actors filed the stage. The listeners all went silent as the curtains open, revealing the stars of the play. Sakura was at the center, her head bowed, and sweeping the dirt on the floor. The backdrop shows a painting, an inside of a shabby house, lining up at the back to cover the backstage. Steps from the backstage, just behind the curtain, indicated it was her time to look up and put a curious look on her face. Her 'sisters' and 'stepmother' went towards the stage and stopped in front of her.
"Cinderella, I thought I told you to clean the house?! Why is it there are still dusts on the display plates." She yelled, the girl bowed her head and glanced secretly around.
"Yes, madam, but I'm still sweeping. I will do it after I finished this." Her whisper, with the help of the concrete wall, built an echo, which helped the audience to hear their voice.
"Forget about that. Just clean this clothes for me. It's for the dance at the castle with the prince." The girl piled bunch of lacy dresses to Sakura's hand.
Sakura nodded, though she didn't want to pry over, her throat found her voice. "Can I come? I promise I wouldn't be a bother!" She said eagerly, hoping they'll at least let her for her first and last dance. They looked at her with disgust.
"Yuck! How can we bring such filthy slave like you?!" her stepsister snapped.
"Just do what we want." The other told her and left, not bothering to see that she'd nodded, hoping the tears would come out. She felt sympathy towards her character. Her stepsisters treated her like a vermin.
The night ball at the castle came and her sisters left her with many chores to do, to keep herself busy. After they're gone, she felt to her knees and cried, sobbing hard. It's easy to let her cry, one person from the backstage thought, smiling. She's such a gentle and good person after all, He thought, watching scenes unfolded until she came back to the backstage as the curtains fall back to hide them.
"Nice work, Sakura." He grinned and Sakura smiled back.
She quickly pulled the shabby dress over her head and it revealed a light green with light pink ribbons at the end of the sleeves. It's slightly below the knee and it has a lot of laces at the sides. Sakura's hair was braided in a headband form tied with emerald green ribbon that matches the color of her eyes. The crew felt their jaws dropped in awe. She's beautiful in it, all thought the same but one thought beautiful is an understatement for him.
Tomoyo grinned at their faces. She had begged Mizuki to let her do the costume of Sakura. The dressed girl ran towards back to the stage, with couple of other actors, merely glancing at the reaction of Syaoran. The only reaction she saw, from him, tugged her lips with a smile as she positioned herself to continue the play. Murmurs were heard from the Seijou actors as they continued the fairy tale play.
Sakura entered with a new backdrop, inside of a castle, and many are now dancing. They all still looked at her in awe as Syaoran came into her view. As the script says, he would look in her direction and stare at her. She, too, gazed at him with admiration as he bowed to her and she to him. They started to dance, Syaoran holds her by the waist as she, in his neck. They stared at each other for a long time, everyone going 'hanyaan' because they made a good couple.
Deep inside, Syaoran felt he was burning internally. He was going ballistic at how Sakura felt so good in his arms. He resisted the blush that wanted to burst to his cheeks. However, he didn't know, Sakura was also having a heart attack at all this. She thought of Syaoran looking so handsome at his suit, trying hard to refrain from giggling.
The song died down and clock started to ring. Sakura abruptly stopped and looked from the prince to the clock. Reluctantly, she let go of him.
"I'm sorry, my prince, but I have to go. Please do not follow me." With that, she ran towards the backstage as the stunt crew fixed the backdrop.
*====*====*
"Let's go to the theatre, they might be there in any case. After all, Orkina is popular with plays." Juishito, a soldier-in-command, decided as they went in quietly inside the theatre. By the time they got in, Sakura clumsily fell down from the stairs when her glass slipper slipped from her feet purposely.
"That should hurt." A soldier smirked as the girl started to stand up.
That's when it happened. Juishito noticed, since they're close enough to the stage, a glimmer of a blue pearl, with northern star in it on Sakura's neck. He flinched back as if he can't believe his own eyes. Sakura hadn't perceived that the pendant slipped out by itself. The soldier looked more closely, unconsciously walking closer to the stage, and proved that he was right. It was the one described to him by the emperor. A small nasty smile tugged at his lips as he continued to watch the play. He'll pay the girl a visit later, he like to watch first. There's nothing to lose when he had found the pendant.
The play ended as Sakura and Syaoran separated from their embrace, the finale of the play. They giggled after, still not believing that they had been a part of the show. Touya congratulated her with a bit of insult and she stomped his foot. Suddenly, from the top box, they heard Mizuki started to thank the audiences and started to call in the actors who participated.
"Kinomoto Sakura, the Cinderella of the story." The girl bowed in response of the claps coming from the audiences. The soldier smiled as she looked at the audience.
"Li Syaoran, the prince." He, too, bowed down in appreciation as she introduced the other actors. At last, Mizuki ended it and she went down from the top box to congratulate her successful actors and actresses.
"Thank you so much for helping me, Sakura-chan and Li-kun. I'm most grateful of what you've done for me." She bowed to them, smiling sweetly. Sakura warmly returned it back and Syaoran just shrugged his shoulders. She left with other students after they packed up. Tomoyo and her other companions surrounded them like media men.
"You're great, Sakura-chan! You displayed a very Cinderella like!" Yamazaki exclaimed, his index finger snaked up. Meanwhile, Tomoyo clasped her hands together, her eyes twinkling.
"You're simply marvelous, Sakura-chan! And you looked excellent on my dresses!" She said, cupping her own cheek, sighing. Others sweat dropped at her liveliness.
However, what they hadn't expected, at least twelve large looking soldiers came and faced them, nasty smirks on their faces. Of course, our hero Syaoran, went in front of his friends protectively as his hand instinctively clutched his round ball with yin yang embedded on it (That transforms to a sword.).
"Hello, I'm soldier Juishito and I wished to let you come with me or your friends will get hurt." He stated calmly, staring daggers at Sakura who cowered at the boy's back. He probably understood her actions because a growl escaped from his lips. But, he was still contemplating why did they want Her. Dreadful thought entered his mind into frightful conclusion. They can't be. he was thoroughly interrupted by the soldier
"I'll take that as a no, Li Syaoran and Kinomoto Sakura, the pendant mistress." They all gasped in their realization. They advanced at them and Syaoran transformed the globe into a sword. He got ready to defend his friends and there were clashing of swords. Sakura stayed behind her friends while they protect her. Though she didn't stayed like that long enough when she heard a cloth stripped. She looked up above the heads of her friends and watched with horrified look on her face. She was not the only one who stared up but also her friends.
In the small battlefield, they could see blood dripping from his shoulder, pained look printed all over his face. His right shoulder had a big slash and it was spurting blood all over his costume. Tears blurred her eyesight as Syaoran stumbled back. The antagonist gave her nasty smile before advancing fast at her wounded companion. Her other friends gasped while she thought of something. She clutched the pendant tightly as she chanted.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Put barrier unto my friends!" Just as told, she spread her right arm into a reaching position as warm wind surrounded Syaoran and the others from their attackers. Power drained out from her constantly, since the barrier would take energy from her as it was consumed. And it was just in time when Juishito thrust towards Syaoran's heart. Though, that solved her little problem with the boy, it still doesn't stop them from getting Sakura, who left herself out of her barrier chant.
"Sakura, Watch out!" Syaoran yelled at her too late as Juishito grasped Sakura's arm in a hard grip. She winced in pain, holding back her scream. Drained power was hard enough to make stand up, what more if a guy suddenly gripped your arm tightly.
"L-let go of me!" She managed to say and the guys just laughed bitterly.
"How can you say that? After all this time, we managed to get you at last!" He exclaimed, excited to get his rightful award when he gave her to the emperor.
"Hey, she said let go so let her go. Never hurt a woman, that's the golden rule." A voice called out from a distance. They all looked up as if they thought the voice came from above. The soldiers narrowed their eyes.
"Who told you that? Our golden rule is to be number one!" One answered.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll try to be number one." The voice announced calmly as gust of wind surrounded them. Sakura and Syaoran felt strong power in all directions because of the wind. They could here people falling and the hand gripping Sakura was gone. She tended her arm as she saw the bad guys all unconscious on the floor. She let the barrier vanish by itself as she fell on her knees, her friends around her. One of them, however, hugged her tightly despite the pain his wound was causing him.
"Don't ever do that again, Sakura! How could you left yourself out of the barrier." He was completely unaware of the shocks on their faces while he unconsciously cradled her in his arms. Sakura's features softened at his care and pulled off to give him a warm sweet smile, making Syaoran completely breathless.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran. I just thought even if I made a barrier for myself, I would have drain myself too much that your barriers will not hold so long. You taught me how to fight and I thought I might hold them for a while until you could think of something." She smiled sheepishly; her hand snaked towards her back head.
"And what happened to that plan of yours?" Syaoran asked inquiringly; a smile tugged at his lips.
"Didn't work." She sighed before her thoughts built a new question. "Where do you think that magic came from? The one that had saved me?" She asked as he became thoughtful.
"That.I don't know but." He winced with a cry as his wound opened again and released blood. Sakura held him still as she thought of a good idea.
"Hold still, Syaoran-kun. I'll heal you." He gazed at her and saw her smile sweetly before closing her eyes.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Heal my friend with thy power!"
Once again, she unleashed fresh energy out of her, making its way to Syaoran's wound. It was deep so it took long. However, since Sakura is already drained, her body couldn't hold it anymore and she dropped unconscious. Her task to heal Syaoran was left unfinished, but the wound felt better now. He caught her in his arms just in time to not let her hit the floor. Her friends gasped at their dreading conclusion.
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo was the first to step to her friend's side but Syaoran held a finger to his lips.
"Don't wake her. She needs a lot of sleep." He said, staring at the sleeping beauty in his arms.
*====*====*
"Oh my god, Eriol-san, I'm terribly sorry!" Mizuki said, bowing down.
"Don't worry, they're already safe for now. Lucky that I had checked up on them on time or Skaura wouldn't have live another day." He stated, pushing his glasses up. She heaved a sigh of relief before Eriol continued.
"However, they will be in a lot of trouble from now on. The soldiers knew now who she is. I wish my descendants are good hiders or they'll be goners." He said with a bit of bitter laugh. He just hoped they will be, for when time comes, they might be in grave danger.
To be continued.... ~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~*
Finished! At last, there! I've updated! Wait for next okay? Be patient! Please READ AND REVIEW!!!!!
~Sakura2649
*Sakura-chan = Check it out until Chapter10! *Hana-lai= I didn't know you're a Filipino! I guess you've seen my bio! Thanks for reviewing, wish you would do it again! *Pink CherryBlossom= Haha! No need to pound yourself! Neither did I thought I would make them twins at first though I first thought I I'll make them siblings. Thanks for reviewing! I remembered you had reviewed chapters ago, right?! *Devil =Nope, I'm not going to tell you! Just read the chapter below and you'll know his purpose! *Kinis= Of course I will make sure they'll fall in love with each other! ~wink~ After all, these is a S+S story! But I'm not going to tell when! It's a secret! ~Smiles~
*The anonymous reviewers! =Waahh! Thank you for reviewing my chapters! You almost occupied the last 2 pages of my review list! Thank you very much!!!! And please write your name at least to let me honor your names.
*Czeon27 *Lucifer *Honoria
Thanks! And Please, My first language is not English!!!! Now, to not further hold you back, I'll be on with the story!!!!
------------------------ Symbols' meanings
[ ]- its like additional thing which happens that I don't need to emphasis.
---} {--- - Flash backs
__* *__ - One person's point of view
*====*====* - another scene happening.
( ) - Author's notes, or at least what I think when that happens.
* - Japanese words, translations will be at the bottom with my goodbye address.
" " - the things they say.
' ' - thoughts.
Last Chapter's end.
"What's their play anyway?" Gien interrupted.
"It's called Cinderella. An ancient folk tale of our ancestors." Yamazaki answered.
"You mean the tale that is about the princess and prince right?" Meiling stated.
"Yep, but I don't want to tell you the story. It'll spoil the play." He said simply, stubbornly smiling.
"You have a point there." Gien said when he noticed someone's giving him a stare. He abruptly spun around and saw a young blue-eyed man winked at him. He knew him.
"Wait a minute, I'll be back." Gien said between their conversation and ran towards that person. The group just gave him strange looks at his back.
Gien round at the corner and saw the same man who looked at him.
"Brother." Gien muttered and the young man smiled.
"Nice to meet you again, my twin brother." He said solemnly.
"Did father send you? To find me or the pendant?" He asked hastily.
"Both." He replied simply.
"Are you turning against me, Eriol?" Gien asked Eriol and he just smiled at him. Gien knew Eriol has powers more than him and can detect the power of Li and of course, Sakura.
"I don't know."
To be Continued... ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The pendant Showed Us The Way To Our Hearts
Chapter: Exposition of the pendant mistress!
By Sakura2649
"What do you mean you don't know?" Gien asked his twin brother anxiously, cocking his head at his side.
"I mean what I said. You'll know once the time comes." He said calmly, his face plastered with a serene smile.
"It's not time to let me answer some of you riddles brother! I need to know if."
Eriol suddenly appeared at his side and put a finger to his lips to silence him. He immediately obeyed and gazed at his brother intently as if looking for answers.
"We can't say the name of her. They'll know." He whispered and Gien couldn't help but ask.
"Who?"
Eriol gave a quick glance over the sky and Gien followed suit. And he immediately looked back down. There were two soldiers in the top of the roof they just glanced and apparently, they're watching both of their moves. Eriol gave him a warning stare and his twin understood quickly.
"Okay, I'll go buy us some drinks to talk about what happened in our palace while I'm gone." Gien took off and just then, the blue-eyed sorcerer felt the sweet aura coming to his way.
"Gien-kun!" She called out from the crowd when she saw a man with blue eyes gazed at her and she immediately assumed it was Gien. Though she felt something's wrong with his aura, she skipped towards him and the others followed her curiously. Once again, Syaoran escaped a growl from his strained throat.
"Gien-kun, here you are! I thought you'll be back after a minute?!" She asked but the man wasn't listening to her but just observed her. 'She looked even more beautiful in personal.' he thought unconsciously before snapping out of his mind.
"Iie, you've mistaken. I'm not Gien." The strange man said, smiling at her confused cute face.
"Hoe?"
"You're not Gien?" Yamazaki interrupted and Eriol nodded. But before they could talk further, Gien came back with his hands full of drinking juice.
"Sakura!" He skipped happily towards her when he realized something about Eriol. The way his twin sorcerer looked at her is like he knew everything about her. When he turned to him, he gave Gien a meaningful look and walked towards him. Before he gave other signs, he immediately spun to the group. He already expected what to happen next.
"Gien-kun, what's happening? Are you playing a joke on us or something?" Tomoyo's voice was heard over the crowd that had made the group to look at her then back to Gien who sighed in defeat.
"He's. my twin brother, Eriol. uhh." Gien stuttered, gesturing his hand to his twin brother.
"Hirigizawa." Eriol filled for Gien, and his smile never wavered.
"Hirigizawa? That means you're a Hirigizawa too?" Meiling echoed and glanced at Gien and saw him nodded uncertainly.
"Sorry, I hadn't said it before." His hands found their way to the back of his head.
"And I'm Kinomoto Sakura." She bowed and he also did in return.
"This is Daidouji Tomoyo, my best friend. Li Meiling, Yamazaki Takashi, and Li Syaoran." She introduced one by one as they bowed. Though, all the while, Syaoran is busy glaring at them and at the same time, felt strange sensation. He narrowed his eyes for anything and at the back of his mind.
'There's magic around.' He silently cursed, cautiously looked around and of course, Sakura noticed his behavior.
"What is it?"
"Concentrate." He whispered, half glancing at her wondering face.
She nodded absently and concentrated on anything that could have interrupted Syaoran from glaring. Her eyes snapped open and began looking around them too, readying herself. Apparently, Eriol knew what is the cause of these actions. He closed his eyes briefly and immediately, the aura that was leaking sealed off. The couple glanced at each other, too shock to notice how their noses touched. It took them five seconds to know what they were in and quickly turned around, putting enough distance to keep feeling the heat from their body.
"It's gone." The girl stuttered.
"Yeah." 'How did that happened?' The chestnut haired young man wondered as well as the pendant mistress.
"What's gone, Syaoran?" Meiling asked curiously, half looking suspiciously at Sakura.
"Nothing. Must have been our imagination." Syaoran announced, straightening up. He glanced to Eriol's direction and growled at him. His reply was to wink.
"Well, I better go now, Gien. Father asked me an errand." With that, he stared at Gien for five seconds and left.
"Well, let's go too, we have to get back to your brother's hou." Yamazaki trailed off when Sakura suddenly collapsed at his side with a cry of 'hoe!' at his ear.
"Sakura!" Syaoran said when she had bumped again to a person. Dejavu runs through his veins when he looked up towards the woman she bashed with.
"You again." He groaned, glaring, as he saw a red haired woman with worry painted on her face. Sakura looked up as she straightened up, to see what caused Syaoran to groan, and gaped.
"Miss Mizuki!" She said and Mizuki smiled at her.
"Hello, Sakura-chan and sorry for making you fall. I'm just in a hurry."
"Don't worry, Mizuki-sensei, I'm fine, really. And let me introduce to you my friends. Li Syaoran, as you already knew,." Her statement received a growl from her certain comrade.
"This is Meiling-chan, Yamazaki-kun, Tomoyo-chan, Gien-kun." She happily said, counting how many times she had introduced herself and the others. The quietness of Mizuki brought Sakura to look at her and saw her puzzled expression. Her eyes were directed to someone on her right. Gien.
"Young Master." She muttered under her breath, hoping no one had heard her, but Sakura and Syaoran suddenly looked at her, baffled. The stern look on Gien told her to shut up and Kaho, immediately, looked at the two pair of eyes looking at her searchingly. She tried her best to make them forget all about what she said.
"Nice to meet you guys, but I really have to go. I'm late for the practice!" She exclaimed desperately, silently pleading to her friends to let her go now.
"What practice, Mizuki-sempai?" Tomoyo asked, she was completely unaware of their actions.
"You see, Seijou high is going to present for the coming festival and I'm their instructor. I'm already late for our rehearsal." She stated, making Sakura gasped. She smiled inwardly. 'That would make her forget my mistake.' She thought, glancing at Gien to see him gazing at her. She nodded quickly, understanding his unspoken request.
"You're the director?" Mizuki quickly snapped back and nodded urgently.
"Can we come? My brother, Kinomoto Touya, is a character in your play. I would like to see him." She pleaded.
"Sure, if you really want to come. And let's go." She said, and it received three squeals and one grunt.
*====*====*
"Cinderella! Cinderella!" The prince called out while coming down the stairs. He is trying to reach out towards Cinderella. Because when the bell rang, she mysteriously went out of the castle and just left one of her glassy slippers.
"Cut!" The prince stopped immediately and smiled sheepishly.
"You shouldn't shout like you're just shouting. You should call out with emotions. Imagine that it was your beloved who's going to leave you and you can't do anything." Mizuki said from the top box along with Sakura's group. They had been coming in this theatre ever since they met her, at least three days ago. They could see the Touya who played the prince nodded with determination as they went to their respective places again to wait for Kaho to let them repeat the scene all over again.
"Sorry, even though our play is going to be present in at least five days from now, (If you're wondering why it's five days when the festival happens on coming two days, it's because there are many activities in this festival, they decided to let it be for a week. Their play would be on the last day of festival. So, obviously, the festival started this day.).They still can't perfect it." She apologized. They shook their heads.
"No, I think its great." Tomoyo said calmly. The director smiled at them
"Yeah, I know my brother could do it." Sakura reassured her as Mizuki winked at Syaoran, who shrugged his shoulders, and at Sakura. The girl just wonder what she means with that.
"Okay, start all over that scene again." The glint in Mizuki's eyes told Syaoran that she's planning something.
They started moving again until the bell rang, which means the princess should leave the dance floor by now. It all went well since the prince did excellent job calling out with emotions, but something happened that they hadn't expected. While Cinderella was coming down stairs and the prince trying to catch up with her, the wooden stairs collapsed and the actors fall off.
"Touya-niichan!" Sakura yelled from the top box, tears started to form in her eyes. However, Syaoran felt magic the moment it crumpled. He looked around, trying to make sure the magic he felt wasn't his imagination. No one could assure him that he is feeling magic since obviously, Sakura hadn't sense it and the magic was now long gone.
"Come on, guys, help me with this." Mizuki stood up and went downstairs and assisted the other students getting the fallen woods form the injured Cinderella and Touya.
"Oniichan!" Sakura said, making her way towards her brother. He sat up and caressed his broken arm.
"I'm fine, Sakura." He said, wiping his imouto's tears.
"Are you all right, Kinomoto?" Kaho asked, genuine concern on her face. Touya looked at her disbelievingly and afterwards, relaxed, sighing.
"I'm fine though I think I've broken my arm." He gestured her to look at his arm and she gasped.
"Oh my."
"And I think I can't play either." A girl squeaked while others gasped. They saw her foot is still buried in big wood.
"My, class, please help me." Mizuki went towards her and tried to lift the big wood.
"We were trying, sensei, but it's too big." They explained, and she looked around helpless. Sakura gaped at them and tried to think of something to help them. A brilliant idea flashed on her mind and she glanced around for a hiding place. She soon hid over something and chanted.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Save the girl's life!" She said and soon, she felt her power drain a little.
A light pink struck towards the girl under the weight of the timber on her foot and lifted it a bit to let the people helping her could at least. The persons who had lifted it up earlier gasped when it suddenly felt lighter. They quickly put it aside and went to the girl's side as she groaned. Syaoran looked at the back stage and saw pale Sakura coming from it. He approached her side to support her balance.
"You shouldn't use your power too much. A while ago, I felt strong magic emanating around this town. They might track you down. And besides.it'll weaken you." She smiled weakly at his concern and gently held his shoulder.
"I'm all right. As long as I can help people around me, I'll be just fine. You don't have to bother yourself in concern of me. I can take care of myself." She said and Syaoran couldn't hide the blush creeping up to his cheeks.
"No, you still can't, miss stubborn little pendant mistress." He tapped her nose. Sakura was quite surprise with his unconscious action. "You got your aura weaken by just performing a small job. Don't drain yourself too much, miss good lady." He teased and she pouts playfully. He just loved her being that way. He hates it when things get awkward when she smiles.
All of a sudden, tower of shadow made them look in front of them to see Touya, his good hand on a scolding position on his hips, glaring at them. Syaoran scowled when he suddenly felt little at the tower man.
"What did you do to my sister?" He snatched her, with a little struggle from him, with a growl, which the boy gratefully returned.
"I did nothing to her, for your information. I just saw her pale at the back stage part." He stubbornly placed his arms on his chest and glanced shortly at her still pale face.
"Touya, don't shout at him! He had nothing to with me being weak!" The young woman said indignantly, defending for Syaoran. "I just felt migraine and I'm lucky that Syaoran saw me or I might have fall unconscious back there!" She lied, half true, but there's no need to tell anything to do with the pendant. Touya stared at the girl intently, searching for the whole truth, before he sighed and guided her to the nearest seat, followed by inquiring friends.
"You behave here while we clear all this mess up." He went back to his injured friends, thinking what he felt from Sakura's aura a while ago. He let the first-aid officers tend his arm.
"Did you use it again, Sakura-chan?" Tomoyo asked suspiciously and the mistress couldn't help but stuck her tongue sheepishly, nodding.
"I'm glad you wanted to help people but like kero-chan said, it's best to 'only' perform it when necessary." She scolded and was about to do a lot more when Meiling interrupted something.
"Kero-chan?" She echoed from Tomoyo where the three, Tomoyo, Sakura and Syaoran, flinched.
"Don't tell me you're starting to be Yamazaki II, the tongue slipper?" Syaoran joked. The mistress had fits of laughter while Tomoyo pouted. The slit-eyed boy made a violent reaction and pound at Syaoran's ribs lightly.
"Hey! You're a meanie."
"Wait a second, guys. Who's this Kero-chan you were talking about, hn?" Meiling went back to the topic, completely unaffected by their changing topics. They went silent until sakura tried to let something out of her mouth but no sounds came out.
"Remember the uhh.doll back at Sirca? The one you always find at the kitchen?" Tomoyo uncertainly stated where Meiling nodded slowly.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"It is him who they were talking about. He's the guardian of the sealed cursed box to protect the pendant. In short, it's Keroberus." Syaoran said bluntly, as if he had no interest about the subject. Meiling held the gasp and gave them expressionless face.
"No doubt. I always thought something is weird about that stuffed animal. Besides according to the elders, when the redeemer comes, the sealed beast named Keroberus will be awakened and guide its mistress." She announced her knowledge. Yamazaki fully understood it once it was explained, being around Syaoran for years had some good use but Gien, the new in the group, hadn't figured out what they were talking about.
"Hey, can somebody please explain what you all talking about?" He voiced out his thoughts, feeling a little out-of-place. They looked one another and all stopped to Sakura.
"You explain, since you have all the knowledge about it, pendant mistress." Syaoran grinned at her, gently patting her back. She gave him a unserious glare and explained and re-explained it all to Gien in whispers. They couldn't risk for others to hear about something as precious as this. Once in a while, Mizuki glanced to their side and then back to tending the injuries, brought by the incident, of the students.
After a few minutes, the whole crowd inside, what you could consider as a theatre, silenced with the clap of Mizuki.
"Everybody, please listen up!" All attention turned to her. "Five days to go before you all will go in a real stage. And unfortunately, the prince and Cinderella, the leading lady and man in this play is injured and couldn't possibly perform very well." They all looked down, dreading for her coming conclusion.
"Excuse me, I think you shouldn't postpone the play. I know I'm not supposed to do this but please believe me that many are excited to see your play. We saw it since three days ago and I can say it's really fantastic. Don't quit it now." Sakura pleaded, all turned to look at her. Some are expressionless, others are puzzled; others felt the same. One certain person smiled and came to her conclusion.
"Dear Sakura-chan, how could you think, after all this rehearsals and stuffs, we're going to quit?" She smiled warmly. They all felt hopes in their hearts but held the same question.
"Who will replace Cinderella and the prince?" Touya and Sakura blurted out. The siblings, huh? She thought. Their question brought her smile grew into a grin like Cheshire cat's as she scanned the crowd. Somehow, after few minutes of dreading, her eyes landed to Sakura and Syaoran and she pointed at them. Startled, they flinched backwards at the next words of Mizuki. 'I thought she has something on her mind.' The amber-eyed boy contemplated.
"Being only the available persons and seen the script with me in the top box, they will be Cinderella and the prince of the story in replaced of Touya and Yukino!" She said, as they staggered at her decision. But soon enough, the firmed look in the director's eyes made them feel that she wouldn't change her decision and live with it, they clapped their hands. It was better than to let the play postponed even though their leading actors now are younger than them. And cute, they soon realized how great the couple could be.
Sakura and Syaoran's protest were unheard due to the crowding of people at them (Kawaii! Some of them said.) and sighing in defeat, they just let God guide them in this days to come.
*====*====*
"Orkina town, enclosing to our place." A soldier stated over the overwhelming sandstorm. However, they were undaunted because of the support their serving vehicles. Soon enough, Orkina town went clear on their view as they saw the crowds all around. It was already festival week.
*====*====*
Five days passed by, and a couple found them exhausting and exciting days. They had bee practicing all day in place of leading man and lady in the play of Seijou high. Luckily, at their last day, they give them time to rest for the play that night. All morning and afternoon were given to them as a treat for being good, and they had a rehearsal-free that time. Although, they regretted it soon enough, they should have rest before the play.
"Sakura-chan, wake up. Mizuki sensei told you to be wearing your costume at seven and come with Li-kun at the theatre for final instructions." The sleepy girl heard Tomoyo and her tapping on her cheek.
"But I'm still sleepy, I cannot perform well at this state, let me sleep first." Before she knew, she was lifted up from her comfy bed and carried by a man. She opened her eyes and saw Syaoran, already wearing a creamed color tuxedo, carrying her towards the bathroom. Tomoyo, who was carrying her clothes and make-up, followed them closely as Syaoran deposited the girl to the bathroom with Tomoyo.
"Nice tuxs, Syaoran-kun." She said, pleasingly. Syaoran gave her lopsided grin as he closed the bathroom for her to change.
"Done!" Tomoyo exclaimed happily as she led the girl outside the bathroom after several minutes. Syaoran was already at the door, waiting for them, when he stared her.
The sides of her short hair was braided and tied with light green ribbon. Her first cloth was a maroon shabby dress going down to her ankle, with patches and on top was a dark gray apron with patches and artificial dirt, for the first sequence of scenes. They hadn't said anything about what she will wear in the dance for the following scenes but she knew it would be something gorgeous.
He smirked, "Let's go, my slave." He arched an arm to let it be held by her but it was pushed down by her poke.
"Mou, Syaoran-kun, you're such a meanie." She pouted, putting her arms at her chest before gazing up at her. He grinned at her.
"Forgive me?" He playfully said. She smiled but looked away to hide it.
"Apology accepted." She stated before smiling broadly at him, taking his free arm with her hand. He blushed at her unintentional action.
"Let's go, my prince." He joked but still, Syaoran found it hard not to chuckle.
"I'm willing to go with you, Cinderella." He played along. She looked startled at first but she soon smiled sweetly. 'When did he become so playful?' she thought as she ran her way towards the theatre.
*====*====*
"Eriol, I have found your brother."
"Yes, I've seen him too, along with my descendants." He answered calmly, not taking his eyes off the book, flipping one after another. The red haired woman seemed not to be too much affected by his reply.
He continued. "Syaoran and Sakura's auras seemed to be troubled and glad. What kind of test were you giving to put them into anyway?" Eriol finally looked up to find the woman smirking. He arched his eyebrow inquiringly at her.
"Well, let's just say, even if they knew how to fight or something like that, it doesn't proved that they trust each other and built up certain friendship and more." She said, smiling sweetly at her master.
"I see." He nodded his head several times; smile creeping up to his lips as he thought of her idea.
"But, you know, I think that's not all you wanted to proved in all this." Her smile grew bigger. "Friendship is an understatement." He concluded. She giggled slightly before he turned his rich blue eyes back to the book.
*====*====*
In they went, the soldiers passed the gates, looking around for women wearing any necklaces similar to the pearl wings pendant.
"Come on, we have to find the pendant now. They still might be here because of the festival." Juishito ordered and they all spread out.
*====*====*
"Now, are you sure you're all ready?" Mizuki asked the couple, for at least fifteen times, who nodded their heads in response.
They could hear the audiences from the backstage buzzing as the actors filed the stage. The listeners all went silent as the curtains open, revealing the stars of the play. Sakura was at the center, her head bowed, and sweeping the dirt on the floor. The backdrop shows a painting, an inside of a shabby house, lining up at the back to cover the backstage. Steps from the backstage, just behind the curtain, indicated it was her time to look up and put a curious look on her face. Her 'sisters' and 'stepmother' went towards the stage and stopped in front of her.
"Cinderella, I thought I told you to clean the house?! Why is it there are still dusts on the display plates." She yelled, the girl bowed her head and glanced secretly around.
"Yes, madam, but I'm still sweeping. I will do it after I finished this." Her whisper, with the help of the concrete wall, built an echo, which helped the audience to hear their voice.
"Forget about that. Just clean this clothes for me. It's for the dance at the castle with the prince." The girl piled bunch of lacy dresses to Sakura's hand.
Sakura nodded, though she didn't want to pry over, her throat found her voice. "Can I come? I promise I wouldn't be a bother!" She said eagerly, hoping they'll at least let her for her first and last dance. They looked at her with disgust.
"Yuck! How can we bring such filthy slave like you?!" her stepsister snapped.
"Just do what we want." The other told her and left, not bothering to see that she'd nodded, hoping the tears would come out. She felt sympathy towards her character. Her stepsisters treated her like a vermin.
The night ball at the castle came and her sisters left her with many chores to do, to keep herself busy. After they're gone, she felt to her knees and cried, sobbing hard. It's easy to let her cry, one person from the backstage thought, smiling. She's such a gentle and good person after all, He thought, watching scenes unfolded until she came back to the backstage as the curtains fall back to hide them.
"Nice work, Sakura." He grinned and Sakura smiled back.
She quickly pulled the shabby dress over her head and it revealed a light green with light pink ribbons at the end of the sleeves. It's slightly below the knee and it has a lot of laces at the sides. Sakura's hair was braided in a headband form tied with emerald green ribbon that matches the color of her eyes. The crew felt their jaws dropped in awe. She's beautiful in it, all thought the same but one thought beautiful is an understatement for him.
Tomoyo grinned at their faces. She had begged Mizuki to let her do the costume of Sakura. The dressed girl ran towards back to the stage, with couple of other actors, merely glancing at the reaction of Syaoran. The only reaction she saw, from him, tugged her lips with a smile as she positioned herself to continue the play. Murmurs were heard from the Seijou actors as they continued the fairy tale play.
Sakura entered with a new backdrop, inside of a castle, and many are now dancing. They all still looked at her in awe as Syaoran came into her view. As the script says, he would look in her direction and stare at her. She, too, gazed at him with admiration as he bowed to her and she to him. They started to dance, Syaoran holds her by the waist as she, in his neck. They stared at each other for a long time, everyone going 'hanyaan' because they made a good couple.
Deep inside, Syaoran felt he was burning internally. He was going ballistic at how Sakura felt so good in his arms. He resisted the blush that wanted to burst to his cheeks. However, he didn't know, Sakura was also having a heart attack at all this. She thought of Syaoran looking so handsome at his suit, trying hard to refrain from giggling.
The song died down and clock started to ring. Sakura abruptly stopped and looked from the prince to the clock. Reluctantly, she let go of him.
"I'm sorry, my prince, but I have to go. Please do not follow me." With that, she ran towards the backstage as the stunt crew fixed the backdrop.
*====*====*
"Let's go to the theatre, they might be there in any case. After all, Orkina is popular with plays." Juishito, a soldier-in-command, decided as they went in quietly inside the theatre. By the time they got in, Sakura clumsily fell down from the stairs when her glass slipper slipped from her feet purposely.
"That should hurt." A soldier smirked as the girl started to stand up.
That's when it happened. Juishito noticed, since they're close enough to the stage, a glimmer of a blue pearl, with northern star in it on Sakura's neck. He flinched back as if he can't believe his own eyes. Sakura hadn't perceived that the pendant slipped out by itself. The soldier looked more closely, unconsciously walking closer to the stage, and proved that he was right. It was the one described to him by the emperor. A small nasty smile tugged at his lips as he continued to watch the play. He'll pay the girl a visit later, he like to watch first. There's nothing to lose when he had found the pendant.
The play ended as Sakura and Syaoran separated from their embrace, the finale of the play. They giggled after, still not believing that they had been a part of the show. Touya congratulated her with a bit of insult and she stomped his foot. Suddenly, from the top box, they heard Mizuki started to thank the audiences and started to call in the actors who participated.
"Kinomoto Sakura, the Cinderella of the story." The girl bowed in response of the claps coming from the audiences. The soldier smiled as she looked at the audience.
"Li Syaoran, the prince." He, too, bowed down in appreciation as she introduced the other actors. At last, Mizuki ended it and she went down from the top box to congratulate her successful actors and actresses.
"Thank you so much for helping me, Sakura-chan and Li-kun. I'm most grateful of what you've done for me." She bowed to them, smiling sweetly. Sakura warmly returned it back and Syaoran just shrugged his shoulders. She left with other students after they packed up. Tomoyo and her other companions surrounded them like media men.
"You're great, Sakura-chan! You displayed a very Cinderella like!" Yamazaki exclaimed, his index finger snaked up. Meanwhile, Tomoyo clasped her hands together, her eyes twinkling.
"You're simply marvelous, Sakura-chan! And you looked excellent on my dresses!" She said, cupping her own cheek, sighing. Others sweat dropped at her liveliness.
However, what they hadn't expected, at least twelve large looking soldiers came and faced them, nasty smirks on their faces. Of course, our hero Syaoran, went in front of his friends protectively as his hand instinctively clutched his round ball with yin yang embedded on it (That transforms to a sword.).
"Hello, I'm soldier Juishito and I wished to let you come with me or your friends will get hurt." He stated calmly, staring daggers at Sakura who cowered at the boy's back. He probably understood her actions because a growl escaped from his lips. But, he was still contemplating why did they want Her. Dreadful thought entered his mind into frightful conclusion. They can't be. he was thoroughly interrupted by the soldier
"I'll take that as a no, Li Syaoran and Kinomoto Sakura, the pendant mistress." They all gasped in their realization. They advanced at them and Syaoran transformed the globe into a sword. He got ready to defend his friends and there were clashing of swords. Sakura stayed behind her friends while they protect her. Though she didn't stayed like that long enough when she heard a cloth stripped. She looked up above the heads of her friends and watched with horrified look on her face. She was not the only one who stared up but also her friends.
In the small battlefield, they could see blood dripping from his shoulder, pained look printed all over his face. His right shoulder had a big slash and it was spurting blood all over his costume. Tears blurred her eyesight as Syaoran stumbled back. The antagonist gave her nasty smile before advancing fast at her wounded companion. Her other friends gasped while she thought of something. She clutched the pendant tightly as she chanted.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Put barrier unto my friends!" Just as told, she spread her right arm into a reaching position as warm wind surrounded Syaoran and the others from their attackers. Power drained out from her constantly, since the barrier would take energy from her as it was consumed. And it was just in time when Juishito thrust towards Syaoran's heart. Though, that solved her little problem with the boy, it still doesn't stop them from getting Sakura, who left herself out of her barrier chant.
"Sakura, Watch out!" Syaoran yelled at her too late as Juishito grasped Sakura's arm in a hard grip. She winced in pain, holding back her scream. Drained power was hard enough to make stand up, what more if a guy suddenly gripped your arm tightly.
"L-let go of me!" She managed to say and the guys just laughed bitterly.
"How can you say that? After all this time, we managed to get you at last!" He exclaimed, excited to get his rightful award when he gave her to the emperor.
"Hey, she said let go so let her go. Never hurt a woman, that's the golden rule." A voice called out from a distance. They all looked up as if they thought the voice came from above. The soldiers narrowed their eyes.
"Who told you that? Our golden rule is to be number one!" One answered.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll try to be number one." The voice announced calmly as gust of wind surrounded them. Sakura and Syaoran felt strong power in all directions because of the wind. They could here people falling and the hand gripping Sakura was gone. She tended her arm as she saw the bad guys all unconscious on the floor. She let the barrier vanish by itself as she fell on her knees, her friends around her. One of them, however, hugged her tightly despite the pain his wound was causing him.
"Don't ever do that again, Sakura! How could you left yourself out of the barrier." He was completely unaware of the shocks on their faces while he unconsciously cradled her in his arms. Sakura's features softened at his care and pulled off to give him a warm sweet smile, making Syaoran completely breathless.
"I'm sorry, Syaoran. I just thought even if I made a barrier for myself, I would have drain myself too much that your barriers will not hold so long. You taught me how to fight and I thought I might hold them for a while until you could think of something." She smiled sheepishly; her hand snaked towards her back head.
"And what happened to that plan of yours?" Syaoran asked inquiringly; a smile tugged at his lips.
"Didn't work." She sighed before her thoughts built a new question. "Where do you think that magic came from? The one that had saved me?" She asked as he became thoughtful.
"That.I don't know but." He winced with a cry as his wound opened again and released blood. Sakura held him still as she thought of a good idea.
"Hold still, Syaoran-kun. I'll heal you." He gazed at her and saw her smile sweetly before closing her eyes.
"O Pearl wings pendant, Pendant of power grant my wish... Let it happen as I command Heal my friend with thy power!"
Once again, she unleashed fresh energy out of her, making its way to Syaoran's wound. It was deep so it took long. However, since Sakura is already drained, her body couldn't hold it anymore and she dropped unconscious. Her task to heal Syaoran was left unfinished, but the wound felt better now. He caught her in his arms just in time to not let her hit the floor. Her friends gasped at their dreading conclusion.
"Sakura-chan!" Tomoyo was the first to step to her friend's side but Syaoran held a finger to his lips.
"Don't wake her. She needs a lot of sleep." He said, staring at the sleeping beauty in his arms.
*====*====*
"Oh my god, Eriol-san, I'm terribly sorry!" Mizuki said, bowing down.
"Don't worry, they're already safe for now. Lucky that I had checked up on them on time or Skaura wouldn't have live another day." He stated, pushing his glasses up. She heaved a sigh of relief before Eriol continued.
"However, they will be in a lot of trouble from now on. The soldiers knew now who she is. I wish my descendants are good hiders or they'll be goners." He said with a bit of bitter laugh. He just hoped they will be, for when time comes, they might be in grave danger.
To be continued.... ~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~*
Finished! At last, there! I've updated! Wait for next okay? Be patient! Please READ AND REVIEW!!!!!
~Sakura2649