Forever Branded Forever Branded
By Hippoclymae

Here's the long awaited 7th chapter. Sorry it took so long. There was a last minute plot change, to say the least.
*****

A scream echoed through the swamplands, rippling the waters.

" SAKURA, run!" Syaoran called desperately.

The headless figure continued to laugh, but it seemed to echo in his chest armor, rather then reverberate across the marsh. Sakura struggled to get away, slipping on the muddy grounds. Suddenly, the laughing figure jumped off the horse. Syaoran pulled with all his might, but the other soldiers held him firmly. The boots clanked as the horsemen strode calmly towards a cowering Sakura.

" You disgrace your family, girl..."

Syaoran struggled ruthlessly.

" I'll show you disgrace." He screamed rebelliously.
" After all these months, you don't even recognize your own kin."

Sakura stopped shaking, as her fear turned to recognition, and she calmed. Suddenly, after several shaky breaths, she narrowed her eyes and jumped at the horseman, pushing him to the ground. Syaoran was taken completely by surprise. The figure laughed, but it was relatively more boyish now.

" Oh! You are such an idiot! I should have known it was you...." Sakura muttered angrily.
" Sakura, who is this? Should I know him?" Syaoran was angry too.
" Syaoran, I apologize. This is my brother." She motioned.
" You're brother's....unusually lightheaded."

This had both the horseman and Sakura in a fit of laughter, and Syaoran struggling to figure out the joke in his comment. Suddenly, the horseman took off the enormous chest armour, and Syaoran found himself looking at a tall, but sinewy dark haired young man. The chest piece was obviously much bigger then him, covering his head from view. He slapped himself for not seeing it sooner. After they'd calmed a bit, Sakura's brother looked at her with amusement.

" Tell me, have you been in that castle so long you've forgotten the family's traditional travel method?"
" No. Just sort of slipped my mind."

Suddenly, she smacked him across the head, which required she jump a little.

" Ow! What was that for?"
" For calling me a whelp..." Sakura said.

He grumbled, then turned around.

" Well, who is this interesting boy?" Sakura's kin circled Syaoran with an arched eyebrow. " Not more then a travel companion, I hope."

Before she could answer, he did a double take, and grabbed her chin.

" My, god, sister, what has he done to you?!!"
" He's done nothing!!!" Sakura countered, aware of the soreness in her throat from the screaming and laughing, " In fact, he's saved me from a worse fate."
" I knew it was a mistake to allow you to that banquet." Growling, " If I ever catch that..."
" Touya, I want you to meet Syaoran."

Touya turned to Syaoran.

" Listen, boy, if you're here for my sister, I'll tell you now she won't be bedding for another 50 years."
" I-I-" Syaoran blushed profusely.
" Touya!" Sakura glared so sharply, Touya backed off, " Syaoran saved me. He's a very nice boy."
" Sure, that's what they all say. Come, then, 'boy'. Our father will have a word with you."

Sakura looked apologetically at Syaoran, though there was a hint of another emotion beneath. He tried his best not to make eye contact. Maybe if he pretended he was the mute one, it would all work out....

***

" Our tribe is very glad you have rescued our youngest from the emperor's clutches. No telling what tortures he had in store for her within his private chambers."
" Father," Sakura changed the subject," It is not wise of you to be helping us. There's a threat laid upon our heads."
" Nonsense, daughter. Your charms may entrance one as he," Syaoran blushed again, " but your father will not be dissuaded. We are not part of Marcka's rule, so there is no need for worry."
" Sakura," Touya pushed," we will revenge the emperor for the lost of your voice..."
" Touya..."
" Father, this is a direct insult to our clan! We must answer it."
" No! Touya, come with me!"

Touya stomped after his father towards the main hut. Meanwhile, another woman approached.

" Welcome to our humble dwellings, young sir. Welcome home, mistress, you may not recognize me, as I am new here. My name is Timdes."

Sakura's eyes widened, and she felt herself backing up slightly. The woman frowned, but caught her fear.

" Ah, I see you've met my other half so to speak...she's my sister..." She nodded knowingly.

Syaoran hushed Sakura softly, comforted by her still subconscious need for his protection, and turned to the woman.

" Yes, I'm afraid we have had the pleasure of her company."
" She was such a foolish soul, my sister." Timdes shook her head. " Such, a vain, little girl. I don't know how my mother dealt with such a little witch. "

Syaoran gazed at her suspiciously. She resembled Timdes a lot and it was only her apparent age and deep black hair, that differentiated them.

" Yes, I know. The resemblance is uncanny, isn't it? I guess it would have to be, considering I'm always the one to take all the blame for her doings." She sighed reflectively," One does, the other pays...."

Sakura was relaxing slightly, but she still regarded Timdes with caution. It was too much risk for her to take, even if this sister was nothing like the Timdes they knew.

" What I can't understand," Syaoran mumbled," Is why you have the same name."
" My mistake I'm afraid." Timdes answered. " Foolish of me to think she would turn out like me, if she had the same name."

Timdes laughed cruelly to herself.

" I was only 5 at the time...I didn't understand the concept of individuality...and now I have to suffer..."
" This is going to take some getting used to."
" I don't blame you. Let me just say, avoid me as you please, I won't like you any less. My sister was such a spoiled little brat. Nothing like mother. I just wish she'd turned out better. Pity." Timdes sighed.
" Is there any way, that we can tell you two apart?"
" My nickname is Tamaya. Call me that."
" All right, Tamaya."

***

As it turned out, Tamaya was indeed the complete opposite of her sister. Knowing her presence unsettled Sakura, she kept her distance respectfully. In the morning, when the two woke, they found breakfast set just outside their separate tent flaps, as well as a clean set of clothing. Sakura stayed under her father's care for a while, and his healers worked their magic on her throat. They'd begun to form a routine, but one day as they leaned out to get their breakfast and change of attire, they found a note in with it.

" Sakura, your father wants to see you. Please be prompt."
" Syaoran, Sakura's father wishes to see you promptly."

When they'd changed, and breakfast was settling in their stomachs, they headed to father's tent, and there Sakura made her decision.
" Father, as much as I appreciate your help," Sakura said slowly, " I must decline any further help. Syaoran and I have to accomplish this mission alone."
" I cannot hold you much longer...nor do I want to. You have a path to follow. Go. Your throat is healing well with the medicinals, there is no sign, except for the scar, that anything had ever happened to you."

Sakura smiled, but it was sad. Her father could tell something weighed her down, but he didn't ask. Daughters must grow on their own, their father's would be of little assistance as they learned in life. They turned to leave.

" Goodbye, my daughter." He whispered after her retreating figure, " Safe journey."

***

" Marckas is a fool..." A cloaked figure sat rigidly in front of his orb, watching the goings on.
" Not so much a fool. To send a boy to do a man's work....he's an absolute idiot."
" To believe that he can get my kingdom, simply by getting my staff." Skeletal fingers caressed the dark orb of his wand.
" Shall I send the troops?"

The figure in the darkness paused.

" No. I would like to see how this plays out."

***

Touya walked with Syaoran as Sakura skipped ahead.

" She seems so, vulnerable," Syaoran muttered.
" Don't under estimate her. We're the Karnivaling Kinomotos. As dorky as that sounds, its actually pretty cool." Touya said calmly," HEY squirt, SHOW THE KID YOUR ACT!"

Sakura stopped skipping, and turned around with an elaborate bow. As she bowed her fingers secretly picked out two tiny glass powder containers. Then, with a raise of her hand, she threw down the containers, and was enveloped in a puff of smoke. Syaoran watched as the smoke cleared and she'd disappeared. He looked around, only to nearly jump out of his skin as she tapped his shoulder from behind. He only gaped.

" How'd you do that?"
" Kinomoto secret." Touya muttered cool as ever," You've slowed down a bit, Squirt."
" Have not."
" He shouldn't even get the chance to realize you're gone. Watch."

Touya performed the same trick, only this time, just as the cloud appeared, there was a tap on Syaoran's shoulder. Syaoran felt his mouth drop even lower.

" And don't make such a big deal out of the bowing, that's not what your concentrating on."
" I guess having been there so long, I have gotten a little rusty." Sakura sighed.
" Hey, don't worry about it. You'll get it sooner or later....never would probably be the closest."

Sakura groaned and stomped on Touya's foot. Syaoran in the mean time was struck by this change in attitude. Sakura seemed so much more, open now then she did before...her voice must definitely have been a major factor in her life.

" Hey, squirt, you can sing again, yes?"
" No." Sakura blushed," No, I haven't tried yet."
" You should." Touya had on a devious smile," Oh,well. You managed to charm this little sucker without it."
" TOUYA!" Sakura hissed, bringing her foot down again.
" Hey, hey!" He moved out of the way, the last two times were pain enough," Watch it. I still have to use those."

She sighed in disgust, when there was a quick rustling from the bushes. Tamaya walked calmly out of the bushes, and presented a small leather sack to the two children, the last one held in her hand.

" Food, for the journey."
" Thank you." Syaoran stopped," Is Touya coming too?"
" No," Tamaya smiled," I am."

Sakura felt herself choke, and swallowed before, she turned startled.

" I know, you probably still don't trust me, but I have the strangest feeling my destiny lies with you two."
" I don't know..."
" Plus," Tamaya added hastily, her eyes twitching nervously," I just heard my sister was released from captive..."
" On, second thought...Do you have any skills?"
" Besides cooking." This was the first time Tamaya seemed so unsettled," no."
" Tell me, the truth. Why do you want to go along?"
" She's afraid of Timdes." Touya ducked as Tamaya moved to glare at him.
" Why? She's your sister, your older then her."
" Older doesn't necessarily mean anything..." Tamaya laughed nervously.
" When she came to us, she wasn't exactly in the best of shape, let me say," Touya stated," Her sister has a rather foul temper..."

Sakura hadn't forgotten. Her eyes glazed over as faint memories of that horrid night returned. Syaoran's hand pulled her back into the present.

" Needless to say, I didn't think it was safe for her here," Touya muttered," And thought maybe you'd take her along."

Sakura watched her brother. He seemed changed from the last time she knew him. For some reason, his protectiveness for her, had dwindled down to minimal. He was in love.

" All right, she can come. What about you?"
" Hey, I'd come along, but you know dad. If I go now, you can be sure that Headless Horsemen routine won't be a disguise anymore..."

Everyone was awkwardly silent. Finally, Touya turned and walked back towards the camp. In the mean time, Tamaya sat on the ground, wondering what to do next. Finally, Syaoran sighed.

" Okay. I just want to get one thing straight. We're going to the Dark Lands where the Staff of Ledinar is. That's our goal for now, in case you've forgotten. We can't side track to anything else. All other goals will have to wait, until we can get the Staff and bring it back."
" If we do get it, what'll stop Marckas from just making us captive again?"
" We'll just have to hope, that we're one step ahead of something he hasn't thought of yet...."

******

They were a trio again, but this time it wasn't so much a mistake. Everyone was compatible with everyone else, compatible in a sense that they got along fine, no one had any qualms about the others. Tamaya seemed to enjoy the idea of Sakura and Syaoran as a couple (All the better for us, huh? ^ ^) and spent most of her time listening to their doubts about each other. She found it interesting that these two couldn't see the other's obvious affections, and wondered even more how Sakura could believe Syaoran of all people was engaged to her demon sister.

" What?" Tamaya had been obviously shocked when Sakura had confessed her suspicions.

Shock was too mild a work. Horrified fit the description better.

" Timdes and Syaoran?" The whole idea was absolutely absurd.
" She's...."
" Not the first person I'd be jealous of, that's for sure." Tamaya snorted, eating a small piece of bread.

Sakura continued to fiddle with her food. Maybe Tamaya was right.

" But, she's so...pretty..."
" Sakura a beautiful cover sometimes hides a terrible story."
" Huh?"
" Look. In that respect, yes, she's probably got you there. But, that's all she's got. Beauty. I've never seen anyone so stubborn and blockheaded since my mule decided to walk right off the cliff."
" What happened?"
" There used to be a rope bridge there, but it broke. Having taken that route 40 billion times, it was too stubborn to change. But, the point is, that you have soooooo many things that Timdes doesn't have. Personality. She's a brat, your an angel. You've got the voice, she's got the screech. You've got the agility, she's got....well, that was a bad example...but you kind of get what I'm saying?"

Sakura nodded.

" I just hope, Syaoran thinks that way..." She murmurred.
" If he doesn't think that way now, he will later." Tamaya thought. ' I'll make sure of it.'

******

Syaoran watched as Tamaya and Sakura talked. He watched her wistfully, Sakura, until his eyes fell on her scar. It wasn't that it repulsed him. He just couldn't stand the pain. It hurt him a great deal, to know what she'd been through. And he was going to keep his vow, if it killed him.

After much consideration, he walked up and interrupted them.

" We have to get going," He licked his lips a little, as they were dry and cracked.

They walked on some more, not exactly sure of where they were going. Syaoran had a vague idea which direction the Dark Lands had been in, and so they pushed on. Little did they know that someone watched them. Someone who had every intention of foiling them, but not just yet...

******