"
Wake up!" Syaoran turned over sleepily. " Come on, boy! Wake up!"
"
Huh? What?" Syaoran lifted his eyes cautiously.
"
Hurry, boy, you have to get up!" The slave girl shook Syaoran frantically.
"
Oh, what?" Getting up, the slave girl giggled; Syaoran's hair was a mess.
He looked up, and realized it was the 10 year old girl from the day before,
Timdes. " Oh."
Sakura
walked in, hair combed and face washed, only to see Syaoran blushing at
Timdes. She went green with envy. It suddenly struck her how impossible
this must look. Had she expected Syaoran to like her? After all, she was
mute, and handicapped by that ugly scar. Timdes wasn't. She quietly left,
and went back in the shower-room. Timdes
smiled at Syaoran.
"
Here, let me." Timdes pulled out an ivory comb, and began trying to straighten
out Syaoran's hair. Suddenly, he moved out her grasp.
"
Thanks, but I think I'm going to go find Sakura now..." Syaoran scooted
out.
______
As
soon as he was in the shower room, he sighed with relief. No offense to
Timdes, but he wasn't going to be fooled by her womanly wiles...there would
only be one girl for him...and with the choice available, he hadn't found
her yet. Looking around, he searched for Sakura. She wasn't anywhere in
sight. Shaking his head in disappointment, Syaoran left and found a plate
of food set out.
"
She'll show up when she smells food."
Sure
enough, within minutes, Sakura came in, dragging her feet ever so slightly.
She looked at, it resignedly, and sat quietly watching him eat. Sakura
had just begun to eat, when Timdes re-entered. And with a ploy, no doubt.
"
I was thinking, Syaoran." First name basis in one sitting, Sakura thought
bitterly, it was a pity she couldn't reprimand. " Since Ms. Karris, can't
come, why don't I accompany you?"
Sakura
swallowed involuntarily, and coughed. Syaoran gave her a concerned look,
Timdes scowled suspiciously. She carefully excused herself, and went back
to working in the kitchen. Sakura managed to calm herself, and stared at
Timdes' retreating back. Syaoran meanwhile explained the situation to an
oblivious Sakura.
"
So, anyway, Timdes wants to come along, and I think it would be a wonderful
idea." Sakura turned abruptly, and gave him a questioning look," Yes. She's
coming along with us to help on our journey."
Sakura
shook her head frantically, begging in her own way for Syaoran not to take
her along, which Syaoran mistook.
"
Don't worry Sakura, she won't be a burden. She's an excellent cook, as
far as I've heard." Sakura sighed in defeat.
******
BAM!
The gates of the
city slammed behind the trio, leaving them bewildered and unsure of where
to begin. Syaoran looked around, shielding his eyes from the sun, then
scratched his head ruefully.
" Uhm, let me see
here." He turned around some more, mumbling incoherent things.
Sakura meanwhile
was checking to see that all her medicinals were there, then looked at
Syaoran expectantly, waiting for his decision. Timdes was unusually quiet.
" Well, ladies,
I have to confess something. I have no clue where the Dark World is, or
where we have to go to find it." He shrugged helplessly.
" That was smart! How
are we going to survive in this world with a fool leading us!" Timdes complained.
Syaoran found her more to his disliking, and regretting taking her along.
Sakura was extremely
silent, and he expected her to be on his back about it too, but instead
she smiled, and shrugged cluelessly. She didn't have any idea either. She'd
never been outside city limits.
" Well, I guess
we'll have to wing it."
Sakura nodded and
Timdes groaned in exasperation. Syaoran did a sort of half turn. He closed
his eyes, mumbled a prayer to all the Gods in the heavens, then pointed.
Opening one eye a crack, he looked at Sakura. Her eyes were wide, and she
looked about ready to faint. Syaoran looked in the direction he pointed.
It was a dark land, clouds covering everything, and lightning 3 times more
deadly then normal.
" Well, that should
have been obvious."
Syaoran began to
walk, when he noticed he was alone with Timdes. Looking back, he saw Sakura,
glued to place. Running back, he pulled her by the arm.
" Come on!"
She tried to plant
her feet down, but the ground was not firm enough. Instead, Syaoran dragged
her backwards across the desert land, towards the ominous cloud strewn
lands of the Dark World.
******
Half an hour later, they were trudging through sludgy swamps. The muds
sucked at their boots, which luckily, were somewhat waterproof, and vines
from who-knows-where snagged at them. By the time they found a dry spot
to rest, they were dirty and sticky.
"
Ugh! If I'd wanted to go wandering through dirt, I'd go back to Marckas!"
Sakura covered her ears.
"
Timdes, we're not lost, we're just exploring!" Syaoran explained calmly.
"
Well, I'm tired of this exploring, I'm going to take a rest!"
"
Timdes, we can't, we have some things to do!" Timdes glared.
Syaoran
sat down, and Sakura sat down next to him. She was so exhausted, that she
found herself using Syaoran for a headrest. She was sweating, but it was
a sweet smell, almost like perfume. Intoxicating.
"
Stop it." He murmurred," You're suppose to be her protector."
He felt his eyelids droop, but refused. If he was to keep her safe, he
would have to stay watch. No matter what, he'd have to keep his eyes open.
Suddenly, there came a low rustling from the brush. Sakura's body twitched,
and she got up, ears moved toward the sound. He put a finger on her lip
to calm her, then got up. Sakura absently touched her mouth, it felt cold,
and tingled. The rustling stopped. Syaoran looked about suspiciously.
Carefully, he stepped around on the bogs, circling around, watchful...STRIKE!!!
Syaoran
was bowled off his feet, by a huge bird. Almost 2 heights taller then Syaoran,
the bird had a wickedly curved beak, and dark murky feathers lining a pair
of enormous wings. It's eyes were like two red gems, that glittered at
the sight of Syaoran - a potential meal.
"
Screeeee!!!" It screamed at him as it tried to rip at his bare arms with
its sharp beak.
Syaoran
yelped in pain as one of the talons sliced his arm. He grabbed the wound,
and swung the bird's legs out from under it, and jumped back up. The bird
did the same, fluffing up its feathers so as to appear larger, and screeching
threateningly. Sakura approached, but Syaoran waved her away.
"
Don't worry, Sakura. I got it." She began to back off. Suddenly, as she
bent down, something around her neck flashed in a beam of sunlight. It
wasn't a lot, but enough to catch the bird's eye.
"
Screeeeee!" The bird did a hop skip in Sakura's direction. Syaoran shouted.
"
Hey, bird! Over here." But, to no avail. It stepped closer, stalking her
like prey. She backed off, looking to Timdes for help. But, she was useless,
paralyzed by fear; so her eyes darted to Syaoran. He sighed in exasperation.
This would be a very tough job.
" Timdes!"
Timdes turned," See if you can get to her!"
" You expect
me to risk my life for that stupid.." Timdes stop short of saying girl,"
Bird..."
" Ugh..."
Syaoran shot Timdes a venomous look, before adlibbing.
The
bird's target backed up some more. Suddenly, the beak zipped out and...
Sakura
grabbed at the gash on her cheek; had she been any closer and her head
would have been gone.
She
winced as it stung, and tried to turn and run, but the mud of the swamp
was sucking her shoes. She tripped and fell face first in the mud, twisting
around in time to see the beak dodge towards her. She closed her eyes and...
CRACK!
Syaoran
smacked the bird hard with his expandable staff of gold. The bird squawked,
and fell in a graceless heap as Syaoran approached .
"
I'm...sick...and tired...of having...to deal...with you...turkey," Syaoran
hissed, punctuating each word with a sharp stab of the staff,"...so be
a nice bird...and flitter!"
The bird attempted to squawk, but with another glare from Syaoran, winged
it as the staff shoved threateningly. Syaoran heaved in exhaustion,
and turned to where Sakura sat. She looked paler then ever, and as he approached,
she pulled out the medicine bag, nearly dropping it as she attempted to
reach the medicines necessary. Syaoran seeing her in this shakened state,
mixed the potents himself, as she showed him, and despite her refusal,
treated her first. She winced with each appliance, but soon the pain numbed
as he covered the gash gently - dabbing with two fingers. To take her mind
off of things, he tried to talk to her, careful to say things that required
either a nod or no answer at all. Timdes found this annoying, and so saying,
plopped down right between the two.
"
Oh, Syaoran! You were so brave and," she tiptoed two fingers up his shoulder,"...cunning.
I'm glad to be with you."
"
You, know you're not helping my arm any better by tapping it, so I suggest
you lay off."
"
Ooh!!! Men!" Timdes stalked off in a fury, sitting far away and out of
sight of the two remaining. Silence.
"
What I can't understand," Syaoran cut in," is what that bird was
so interested in..."
Sakura
turned to look elsewhere, memories still sharp, and once again, the necklace
around her neck flashed.
"
Hello...what's that?" She looked down, and pulled it delicately off, putting
it in his hand.
He
examined it, a small silver locket in the shape of a heart, and when he
opened it, he gasped. A little light began to glow, and the faint image
of Sakura appeared. Someone else, shadow-fogged from view, bent over, and
kissed Sakura. The image faded. Syaoran felt a twinge of jealousy, but
hid it.
"
Who is that? Your father?" Sakura shook her head.
"
Who is it then?" He was afraid of what answer she might give.
Shrug.
"
You don't know?" This answer caught him off guard," But, how could you
not know?"
Sakura
made several gestures, but Syaoran didn't pick them up. So, she carefully
scrawled letters into the soft mud.
*
I JUST DON'T. THIS NECKLACE WAS GIVEN AT BIRTH. MYSTERY TO ME.*
Syaoran
nodded in understanding, much of his past was a mystery to him too. His
thoughts were interrupted by her delicate fingers running across the scar
on his forearm. He pulled it away slightly.
"
It's nothing, don't worry about it."
She
made what looked like a sigh of exasperation, and grabbed his arm firmly.
Before any more protests could escape, she'd gotten him bandaged. He looked
at her in mock anger.
"
Who's mothering who?"
She
covered her mouth as if to giggle, which was instead replaced by a yawn.
He noticed this, and his face softened.
"
Come on, Sakura, go to sleep. I'll keep watch."
She
shook her head to protest, and Syaoran tried all methods of persuasion.
Finally, he looked at her.
"
Is there anyway I can get you to go to sleep?"
She
thought about this for a second. Then, her quick fingers drew in the sand.
*
SING.*
Syaoran
looked at her thoughtfully for a second.
"
You're joking right?"
*NO.*
"
You honestly want me to sing?"
She
nodded.
"
Alright, but I warn you, it won't be pretty."
*****
Sakura
leaned on Syaoran's shoulder, ready to plug her ears if he was telling
the truth. Instead she found herself astounded.
^
Silver moon drifting on ebony night ^
^
All is quiet for thee ^
^
Hush now, ^
^
Sleep still, ^
^
Little one in my arms. ^
^
Soon the day breaks, and to you come no harm. ^
His voice
wasn't deep like a man's, and wasn't high like a boy's should be, more
of a soft rumbling tenor, and it was lulling her to sleep.
^
No bird will wake thee, with shrill chirrup song ^
^
Nor, crickets in grass with their strings. ^
^
Hush now, and sleep still, little one in my arms. ^
^
Soon, the day breaks, and to you come no harm. ^
Sakura
snuggled closer, feeling safer and more distant from the dangers of the
Dark World. Syaoran smiled, her sweet angelic face pleasantly reflecting
dreams known only to her. He brushed a strand of loose hair from her face.
For once in his life, he knew what it meant to be at peace with oneself.
Shaking away his dream trance, he kept alert all night, watching for anything
or anyone who would endanger the frail innocence he held so protectively.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I
have to tell you, that I was just so pleased with this chapter! ^^. Syaoran
singing was a last minute thing, original lyrics, that I found just sooooo....romantic....so,
until the next chapter, I'll see you reader's later!
Oh, wait. I got an idea.
If any of you happen to be promising musicians, you can compose music to
the lyrics; and if you're really really daring, send it to me by e-mail
or post it on your website and give me the address, so I can tell
you what I think! ^^
Yours Truly,
Hippoclymae @^y^@ (Oh,
and if any of you happen to be wondering, that symbol animal is suppose
to be a big horn sheep. If you have any better ideas for a signature, I'm
open to ideas...)
