Of Lions and Dragons

Chapter 9

Disclaimer:

What's the point of writing these anyway? Everyone knows CCS belongs to CLAMP, ne? If you didn't; you've been living under a rock.

Author's Notes:

Yatta! I'm already to Chapter 9! I know some of you have like 20 chapters but I just never find the time to write anymore, so gomen nasai. I'm sorry I've taken so long to update but enjoy Chapter 9!

Chapter 9

The small vessel sailed peacefully over the clear blue waters, the sun beginning to set on the horizon as the ship and its occupants made their way to their destination. The tranquil silence was soon disturbed by two very distinct high-pitched screams.

"You baka! That was mine!"

Kero licked his paws greedily and smirked at Rhyu, the small dragon who was presently emitting glares of death much like his master. "Guess you're too slow Lizard Boy!"

Rhyu raised his paw into the air and swiftly popped out five gleaming claws. "Lizard Boy? Lizard Boy?" He began to laugh in a devilish manner and Kero began to sweat with nervousness. Rhyu just laughed again. "Let's find out if this stupid negumi is really made of stuffing…"

Rhyu lunged forward at Kero; the small stuffed toy darting out of the way and causing Rhyu to fly past him into the wall, lodging his small claws into the woodwork of the doorway.

"Rhyu…"

The minute green dragon turned his head as best as he could, finding his master standing in the doorway of the galley. Rhyu pointed an accusing claw in Kero's direction. "Demo he started it! He ate all the pudding!" He whined sadly.

Syaoran chuckled and knelt by his guardian, carefully prying his claws from the doorframe and setting him back on the ground. "Alright Rhyu, just don't hurt him too bad."

"Nani?!" Kero expostulated. "I could take that little salamander any day!"

"Salamander! That's it, you're going down!" Anger flared in Rhyu's sapphire eyes and he dove at Kero; soon finding himself lodged into the floor without his claws in Kero. He angrily glanced up to find the golden guardian resting in the arms of his mistress.

Syaoran smiled and picked up Rhyu from the floor. "Sakura…"

The jade-eyed teen smiled to her friend. "It sounded like you could use some help, Syaoran-kun."

Rhyu rested his chin on his paws and tapped them exasperatedly on Syaoran's arm. "That stupid Negumi is the one who is going to need some help when I get through with him…"

Syaoran sweat dropped and clamped his hand over Rhyu's mouth, feeling a tiny dagger-like tooth begin to sink into his finger; causing the small warrior to flinch. Sakura suppressed a laugh behind her hand and stepped forward, her own body only inches away from Syaoran's. "Rhyu-chan, what did Kero-chan do to you now?"

"Nani?! HE started the WHOLE thing!" Kero yelled glaring.

Sakura looked down to Kero in her arms and gently chided him. "Kero-chan…you have to learn to get along with people…"

"Or dragons…" Rhyu whispered. "He ate all the pudding, and my bowl was the first one to go!"

Syaoran glanced to Sakura as she gently took Rhyu from his arms and placed them in her own. The young sorcerer's skin burned with electricity as her arm ran along the length of his own. "Sakura…what are you doing?"

The emerald-eyed teen closed her eyes and smiled. "Making Rhyu-chan a happy guardian."

"Nani?" Syaoran questioned, raising an eyebrow. He sighed as he watched her tap the sealing wand to a card, a large bowl appearing on the table nearby.

Rhyu blinked in pleasant surprise and immediately dove into the pudding bowl, Kero staring irritated to Sakura. "Mou, Sakura what was that for?"

"You've had enough pudding to last you this whole voyage, come on Syaoran-kun." Sakura gestured behind her and took Syaoran's hand in her own as she and the warrior left the galley, sweat dropping as more screams could be heard from inside. Soon both teens emerged onto the main deck of the small vessel, glancing around them at the sunset washing the deck with pale orange and pink light. Syaoran glanced down to his hand still in Sakura's, not wanting to move it. "Sakura…"

"Yes Syaoran-kun?"

"Arigatou."

Sakura looked perplexed. "For what?"

"Back there in the kitchen…arigatou."

The young sorceress blinked then smiled. "It's nothing really…" She began to blush and a small yawn escaped her throat as she tried to suppress it.

"Are you tired, Sakura?" Syaoran asked worriedly.

"Iie."

"Sakura…it's no use to lying to me anymore; I can already tell."

Before the jade-eyed teen could answer, Syaoran led her to a small spot on the deck, an extra sail lying on the ground. Lowering himself to the ground he motioned for Sakura to sit by him, to which she did without hesitation. A warm breeze blew past them, tousling their hair and tossing it about their faces. Sakura yawned and laid her head on Syaoran's shoulder, the young warrior tensing and then resting his head upon hers, a smile adorning both their lips as they drifted off to sleep.

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Sakura was the first to awaken, all her senses coming to life one after the other. First the starry night sky above, then the salty smell of the sea, another scent of incense and autumn coming to her as finally her sense of touch surfaced and she found herself laying on the shoulder of Li Syaoran. Pink began to rise in her cheeks as she gazed at him. He was unlike anyone she had ever met before. He was handsome, brave, kind, caring and compassionate; he was the invincible warrior with a heart of gold. He would defend your life and cause to the death, to anyone he cared about he would give his own life without regret. Sakura gazed at him tenderly, watching the temperate gentle wind play with his hair across his face. Being unable to resist she tilted her head, pressing her lips softly to the young warrior's cheek. Suddenly she gasped and held her hand to her heart. 'What is this? My heart…it feels as though it will pound right through me…as I look at him…I…wonder…no, I know that I won't be able to let him get hurt, ever. I made that promise to him and I'll keep it…I…I think that I'm falling in love with you Syaoran…'

As if hearing her thoughts, the young warrior opened his eyes slowly and nodded to Sakura. "Sleep well?"

"Hai…Syaoran-kun?"

"Nani?"

Sakura lay down on her back and rested her head on her arms, remaining silent. Syaoran turned on his side and rested his head on his hand as he gazed down at her. "Is something wrong Sakura?"

The emerald-eyed young woman closed her eyes and reopened them to gaze up at the stars. "Syaoran…do you believe in destiny?"

Syaoran blinked in surprise and lay down next to Sakura. "Depends…"

"On what?"

"On what you mean by destiny…"

Sakura sighed and tilted her head so she could look at Syaoran. "Do you…do you believe in…love?"

Syaoran sighed, feeling the familiar tug at his heart when he was with Sakura. He didn't answer for a long time until finally facing her. "Hai."

Sakura blinked in surprise. "You do? Is there…is there someone you love?"

"Hai…I love her very much."

Tears glistened in the corners of Sakura's eyes. 'He…he already loves someone. I can't explain it, demo my chest feels like it is being ripped apart…I know he could…he could never love me…' She forced a smile and rested her eyes on his. "Have you told her?"

"Iie."

"Doushite?"

Syaoran felt his chest tighten. "Because…she's very important to me…and I'm afraid if I told her, she wouldn't accept my feelings, then I'd lose her forever."

"I'm sure you wouldn't lose her."

Syaoran blinked. "How do you know?"

"Because…that girl is very lucky to have your heart."

'Sakura…if you only knew…You are the one that I love…I'm head over heels for you, can't you see that? You bring me such pain when you talk like that…I want to tell you demo…' He felt his chest tighten once more and proposed a question that had been eating him up inside. "What about you? Do you love someone?"

"Hai…"

"Who?"

Sakura felt as though her heart would pound through her chest… 'Should I tell him?' She sighed and opened her mouth to speak, feeling Syaoran's fingers upon her lips.

"Shhh…you don't have to tell me." He grimaced, he couldn't bear to hear her say the one she loved, he knew it couldn't be him…better to not know.

"Demo…" Sakura trailed off and closed her eyes. "Oyasumi Syaoran-kun."

Syaoran smiled and laid his vest over Sakura. Hesitating for a moment, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek, not even caring that she was still awake; he loved her, that's what mattered. Sakura gasped and touched her cheek where Syaoran's lips had been, silently crying and cheering at the same time. Sleep smiled upon the young couple and rested them for tomorrow.

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The first thing Syaoran felt was the pain, a searing pain in his body and a throbbing headache pulsating through him. He blinked and opened his eyes, almost blinded by the sun in front of him, shaking his head in an attempt to clear his migraine. He attempted to brush the chestnut locks from his eyes, finding his arms tied above him. "What the hell?"

"Looks like the kid finally woke up…" A gruff voice stated smugly.

Syaoran turned in the direction of the voice. A scruffy middle-aged man crossed his arms across his chest and gestured around the deck. Syaoran followed the man's finger and narrowed his eyes at the sight that greeted him. Meiling, Tomoyo, and Eriol were bound to one of the ships mast with strong rope, being guarded by ominous looking pirates from all sides. He glanced back and forth and glared accusingly at who he assumed to be the head buccaneer. "Where's Sakura?"

The captain tipped up his hat and laughed. "Oh that pretty woman you were sleeping with? We've got plans for her…"

Syaoran struggled; being hung from the overhanging pole wasn't the best place for him to be. His hands were tied to the pole and his feet hung a couple feet off the ground, pirates surrounding him from all sides. "What kind of plans?" He questioned through gritted teeth.

"I think she'll be able to satisfy me and my crew quite well, ne?"

Deep rage boiled in the depths of Syaoran's soul and his amber eyes ignited with fiery fury, a couple of the pirates taking a step back from the enraged warrior. "You damn bastard…I won't let you use Sakura like that."

"Oh really?" The disheveled pirated snapped his fingers, two pirates coming from the crowd with a disturbing sight. They held Sakura between them, holding two swords to her throat. Syaoran glared and sighed deeply. "Fine…if you let Sakura go…I'll give you all the money I have."

The pirate contemplated this for a moment and then nodded. "Hai, that will work…but that's not all you have to give to us."

"What else do you want?" He inquired clenching his teeth.

The pirate began to circle Syaoran and stopped dead in front of him. "It's simple…your life…for hers."

Sakura's eyes widened and she cried out in anger. "Don't you dare hurt Syaoran! Kill me instead!"

"No."

Jade-eyes widened in shock at the one word that had just escaped Syaoran's lips. "Syaoran-kun…"

"I'm not going to let you die Sakura…" He looked straight into her eyes and then bowed his head sadly. "My promise to you was simple; I'm never going to let you die, ever. Even if there was something I never got to tell you…just make it quick."

The pirate smirked. "Iie, because you called me names…I'm going to make this slow and painful and I'm going to murder in front of your little girlfriend too."

Sakura screamed at the top of her lungs and struggled with all her might against her captors, causing the captain to turn her way, foolish mistake. (AN: If you've ever watched Escaflowne this next part is like Episode 8 at the energist mine) Syaoran smirked as he noticed the captain's sword hanging from his belt. Slowly at first, he began to swing himself back and forth, gaining momentum with each passing swing. Striking out his leg, he kicked the sword from the man's side and propelled it into the air. The blade twirled wildly and swiftly cut the rope from Syaoran's hands; the fearless warrior landing on both feet, the rapier coming to rest in his hands. The captain turned and found himself pinned to the mast, a steel blade to his throat. Syaoran smirked. "You picked the wrong day to mess with Li Syaoran…" He growled menacingly.

The captain began to sweat with nervousness. "You…are of the Li Clan?" A smug smile appeared across his features. "Ha, foolish boy."

"What the hell are you so happy about?" Syaoran questioned. Suddenly he felt something pressing into his bare back and he cursed under his breath. "Damn."

"As you can see I have a faithful crew; however you are a formidable opponent, fight me and win and I'll spare your lives."

Syaoran smirked and felt the blade leave his back as he released the captain from his hold. "Here's your weapon, Captain."

The man glared and picked up the weapon from the ground. "And what will you use boy?" He tapped his foot impatiently and smirked.

Syaoran knitted his brows then smirked. "This." Carefully he took the pendant from his neck, concentrating his magic into his sword and pointing it in the captain's direction.

The captain grinned. "Are you ready?"

"Hai."

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Tee hee! Cliff hanger!

Please review, ne?