Daphne: "Hi! I have the next chapter, and I am so happy to have it done! In
this chapter, you will meet Tory, who is really Kinomoto Touya, crown
prince of the Kinomoto kingdom. They are one and the same person, just with
a different name. Well, I think that is all you need to know! I just want
to thank all my reviewers out there! And please keep reviewing! It really
makes me feel nice to read all the comments…yes, even the flames, because
then I know I am doing something wrong! Well, that's all for now! Bye!
~*~*~*~
World Beyond the Mists
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 6.
"We have them, Auntie! It was almost too easy!" A girl with long, black pigtails gloated, her red/brown eyes sparkling. King Li's mother, Li Yelan turned and looked at her niece with pleasure.
"Good, Meiling. I expect Queen Daidouji has some valuable information on the whereabouts of Clow Reed's secret room." King Hiiragizawa Eriol stated slyly. King Li Syaoran growled.
"She had better!" He hissed, a deadly look in his eye. He was slightly stooped, because his cousin and fiancee, Li Meiling, was clinging to his neck. She had been spying for the Li kingdom over the past six years, and had come to dislike the queen. Tomoyo and Sakura, however, were a different story. She liked them well enough, and it had pained her to see them betrayed…but even so…it was nice to be home, and with her Syaoran!
"Oh, but I have to warn you! Yamazaki has betrayed us. Sided with them, and he even attacked one of the soldiers." Meiling said, making Yelan frown in anger.
"Yamazaki? My sister's son has betrayed us?! Curse him! He shall pay!" Yelan threatened, just as a guard stepped into the room with a bundle in his arms.
"Here they are, Majesty." He said, indicating his burden. With a slight heave, he threw it onto the floor, and out rolled…Yamazaki. He was unconscious and his forehead wielded a large, bloody bump. Six more bundles were tossed into the room, each revealing another prisoner. The second one held a girl wearing a light-green dress and a veil that covered her face. The second girl wore a light yellow dress and veil. The third wore blue. The fourth was obviously the queen, in her royal garments and heavy black veil. And the final two…held more girls. One wore a light lavender dress and veil, and the other wore a lovely pink ensemble with a pink veil shielding her face from view. The last girl was conscious, but just barely.
The one in pink weakly struggled over to the lavender girl, and rested a hand on her shoulder. Then her veiled head turned to Meiling, and simply stared at her. It was obvious she was upset and hurt by her betrayal, and that she was more than aware of what had happened.
"Oh, Meiling…" A soft, sweet voice trilled from the girl in pink, just before she fell limp, her head lulling onto the lavender girl's arm, and her pale hand gracefully falling across the other girl's heart, as if in an omen. Meiling started, and then looked down, tears filling her eyes.
"Sakura…" She breathed, realizing the extent of what she had just done. Yelan was staring at the girl in pink, her face pale, and Syaoran's eyes had widened, just a bit. Eriol was frowning slightly in pity. Then he turned to Yelan.
"We had best get them to the arena." He murmured, shaking his head, as though to clear it. Yelan nodded, and motioned to the guards. They came forward and dragged the girls and Yamazaki away.
~*~*~*~
"Sakura? Oh, Sakura! Please wake up!" A voice hissed. Sakura whimpered and tried to turn over, but something was trapping her hands above her head. She whimpered again, trying desperately to wake up, but something was pushing against her consciousness, keeping her mind black.
"Tomoyo!" She tried to yell, but no sound left her mouth. With one more superhuman attempt, she let out a terrified scream and broke through the barrier between consciousness and unconsciousness. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she screwed her eyes closed, hoping that her whole dream about Meiling had been false. But almost immediately, she knew that it hadn't. As she tentatively reached out with her magic, she felt Meiling's weak aura nearby. Next to it was a strong green aura, that Sakura had never felt before. But somehow, she knew who this one belonged to as well; King Li Syaoran. Sakura slowly opened her eyes, as she heard a sharp voice boom out.
"Shut up, foolish girl!" It was a man's voice, obviously the King's, and it frightened her, but fear did not stop the angry Yamazaki from stating his mind.
"You shut up! Can't you see she's frightened? And waking up in a strange place with strange, *BAKA* people in it, isn't helping her much!" The irate young man yelled, anger lacing his every word. After this speech, Sakura had to smile a bit, but it didn't last long, as she gazed at her new surroundings. They were in a large, arena-like place, with fairy people surrounding them at every corner. And all present were enemies.
Sakura looked over and spotted Tomoyo next to her. Beside Tomoyo was Chiharu and a very exhausted-looking Yamazaki. Beside him were Naoko and Rika, both girls looking shaken, but otherwise, fine. Mirror, or the 'queen', was on the other side of Rika, the black veil still covering her face. Then Sakura noticed that her hands were chained above her head, and her feet were bound up as well. In fact, all of the group was chained up. They were at the bottom of the arena, lined up along one wall, with the royalty across from them.
"What gives you the right to yell at me, traitor?" Sakura watched as a figure, obviously King Li, stood up. Through her veil, which hung over her face, it was hard to see him clearly. His voice was hard and had an edge of steel to it. Sakura knew that her friend was in trouble.
"Please! He meant no harm. He was only worried about me…" She trailed off, as the King turned his deadly glare on her. She may have not been able to see clearly, but she certainly could feel his hatred towards her, racing through the air between them. She faltered and cowered closer to the wall at her back.
"He meant every harm. You are and enemy, and he has no right to 'worry about' people like you." The king snapped, which caused something else to snap as well; Sakura's temper.
"I may be an enemy, but you are a monster! You have no right to offend us in such a way! You may talk big, but you are a coward if you insist on putting other people below your feet and crushing the wills out of them, just for your own amusement!" She hissed, her voice causing razors to cut at the royals consciousness' and making them back up a bit. It also caused a magical wind to whip around her, blowing the annoying veil away from her, and her friends faces; Only the 'Queen's' veil stayed in place. Sakura's friends stared at her in astonishment. She *never* lost her tamper, at anything! Sakura was the calmest of them all, and it unsettled her friends to see her so angry. Only Tomoyo understood the true reason of Sakura's anger. Sakura had caught sight of the one person who could have stopped this whole thing, if not for her hatred…King Li's mother, Li Yelan! Sakura's mother and Yelan had been close friends, and it hurt Sakura that Yelan would allow her son to invade the Daidouji kingdom, just because she was angry with Sakura's mother about 'betraying' the Li kingdom and marrying into the Kinomoto royalty.
It was obvious to Tomoyo because, not only was Sakura yelling words that applied to both Yelan, and her son, but she was also staring straight at Yelan, during and after her speech. Yelan seemed to notice this as well, because as soon as Sakura's veil had moved out of the way, she looked into the girl's emerald eyes and balked. With a stunned jerk, she stood up from her seat and looked at Sakura, as though she was gazing at a ghost.
"No! You disappeared years ago! You are dead!" Yelan breathed, clutching at the back of her seat, so she would not fall. Some of the hurt and anger melted from Sakura's eyes.
"I believe that you are speaking of Queen Nadeishiko, are you not?" Sakura asked softly. Yelan, as is hypnotized, nodded and sat back down in her seat, weakly. Now everyone's eyes were on Sakura, who looked as if she did not like it at all.
"You do hold an uncanny likeness of her…" A young man murmured, standing up and gliding down the stairs, toward the prisoners. Tomoyo shuddered and moved closer to Sakura.
"Don't let him touch you! That is King Hiiragizawa, reincarnate of Clow Reed! If he recognizes you, we are doomed!" Tomoyo breathed, her amethyst eyes wide with horror. Sakura nodded and eyed the King warningly. He simply smirked and moved closer to them.
"Your threatening me will do you no good, little servant girl." He simpered, his eyes roving over them. "Yelan, perhaps you would like to tell the prisoners why they are here?" He suggested, his eyes landing on Tomoyo and staying there, making the girl shift uncomfortably. Yelan nodded and stood up, still eyeing Sakura.
"We have reason to believe that you have information about the whereabouts of Clow Reed's secret room." Yelan stated, causing Tomoyo to jump, and look at the woman as is she were crazy.
"WHAT?!?!" She shouted.
"Nutters! The lot of them!" Chiharu raged.
"Ridiculous! I have been there two years, and I know for a fact that they have no idea where it is. They, however, are not looking for it either!" Yamazaki snapped, causing his family too look at him accusingly.
"She does not know!" Sakura added in her sweet voice, causing many people to gaze at her admiringly.
"I have no idea what you are speaking about." The 'queen' finally spoke up, her veiled head turning towards Yelan.
"Silence! We do not believe you, and for that, you are going on a journey!" King Li yelled, causing Sakura to turn pale and the others to back up against the wall.
"Wh…what do you mean?" The 'queen' asked. King Hiiragizawa grinned.
"King Li and I are going to escort you on a little…trip to find Clow Reed's room, Queen Daidouji. And to prove his loyalty to us, Yamazaki will accompany us.
"I'm coming too! I want to be with my Syaoran!" Meiling shrilled, clutching at King Li's arm, and causing him to glare at her.
"I am coming as well! I am not allowing Yamazaki to go with you, alone in his condition!" Chiharu stated, moving closer to Yamazaki. King Hiiragizawa smirked.
"Looks like we are going to have a procession. Anyone else?" He asked, turning his own glare to the rest of the girls. The 'queen' moved forward a bit.
"I wish only one thing. Allow my ladies-in-waiting, Sakura and Tomoyo to accompany me. I do not wish to be alone with *you*." She stated. Tomoyo and Sakura breathed sighs of relief as King Hiiragizawa nodded in agreement.
"What are to become of Rika and Naoko?" Tomoyo finally asked, indicating the pale, but defiant girls next to the 'queen'. Yelan eyed them for a moment, and then turned to some noble-looking men near her seat.
"King Magyar, Lord Ephrium, would you accept duty over these girls? They are your charges now." Yelan stated, as the young men nodded. Yelan turned back to the 'queen'.
"Are you happy now? They will be safe with King Magyar and Lord Ephrium, and *if* you return, they will be waiting here for you. They shall not be harmed, I promise." Yelan said, when the 'queen' began to protest.
"Now, we will provide you with everything you need. Tomorrow, you will begin on your journey." Yelan stated, as she stood up and dismissed them. Then she, her son, and everyone but King Hiiragizawa and some guards left.
"They really are decent, once you get to know them." The King mussed, eyeing Yelan's back. Tomoyo frowned at him.
"I highly doubt that any of you are decent, seeing as what happened today." She snapped, looking up at her wrists which were now red and bleeding for her struggles against the metal cuffs. The King sighed, and waved his hand as them. Immediately, the cuffs fell off, and their hands and feet were free! But he wasn't done yet. He waved his hand again and they were all healed. Tomoyo fingered her perfect wrists, and Sakura even managed to smile a 'thank-you' at him, before the guards jostled them away.
~*~*~*~
"Let me get this straight. Meiling was a spy as well, and *she* was the one who betrayed us?" Tomoyo breathed, after Yamazaki explained everything to them. They were sitting in a richly decorated room, in the Li palace. Guards surrounded the whole room, but none were allowed inside the room, on order from the King's mother, Li Yelan.
"Yes." Yamazaki and Sakura said in unison.
"I woke up last night, just after they 'presented' us to the royals. I saw her next to the King, and I figured everything out." Sakura whispered. She sighed and put her head in her hands.
"When are we to leave?" Chiharu whined listlessly. Earlier that morning, guards had come and taken Rika and Naoko away to their new homes, and everyone else was upset by their leaving.
"Well, just as soon as my cousin and his fiancee are ready…"
"Which they are. Time to go." King Eriol stated, coming into the room, and taking the 'queen's' arm. Everyone but Sakura found reason to glare at him and silently followed him out of the room.
~*~*~*~
"What is expected of us?" 'Queen Daidouji' asked, as they met up with the Li's in the front hall. Yelan turned to her and handed Meiling a knapsack full of what looked like food.
"You are going to show my son and King Hiiragizawa where Clow Reed's secret room is." She said calmly. Chiharu huffed.
"Why can't oh-great-and-mighty-I-am-the-reincarnate-of-Clow-Reed tell you where it is?" She muttered, causing Sakura and Tomoyo to giggle a bit. King Hiiragizawa sent her a tiny smile.
"Because just before Clow Reed died, he erased all his precious memories, to make things interesting for his next life. That would be me." The King pointed at himself and Tomoyo snorted.
"I pity the poor man! If he had to stoop low enough to become you…he must have been desperate!" She giggled, making Sakura burst out laughing.
"Oh, really Tomoyo! I am sure the Clow had no choice who he was reincarnated into. I just pity the fact that he lacks the Cards." Sakura stated, causing Yalan, her son, Meiling, and King Hiiragizawa to jump.
"What did you say?!" Yelan snapped, her face paling. Sakura frowned slightly, realizing what she had just done.
"I said, it is a pity that he doesn't…and never will…have the Clow Cards." Sakura mumbled, making the queen flush in anger. Even King Li looked unsettled, his amber eyes flickering from Sakura to his mother, and back again.
"You are right, because Nadeishiko took them." Yelan snapped. Sakura trembled but raised her chin a bit.
"I didn't mean it that way! What I meant was…the Clow Cards don't exist anymore. It would be pointless to look for them." She whispered.
"Impossible!" King Hiiragizawa shouted his blue eyes flashing.
"WHAT? How do you know?" Yelan shrieked. Sakura trembled again at their voices.
"It is not my place to say. Perhaps you should ask Queen Nadeishiko." Sakura murmured, turning away to place a bag over her shoulders. This caused her to miss the looks that Yelan, Syaoran, Meiling and Eriol sent her.
"Watch her. I don't like the way she knows things that we don't. She could have some valuable information for us." Yelan whispered to her kin. The three nodded, and then went back to placing bags on their back. Suddenly, the door was thrown open, and a shadow crossed the threshold of the door.
"You sent for me, you Majesty?" A voice asked. Everyone looked up to see a handsome young man of about twenty-five, with dark brown hair and piercing brown eyes standing in the doorway. He was quite muscular, and had the air about him of a soldier. For a moment, Meiling's mouth dropped open, and her eyes devoured his appearance. Then, as if being pulled out of a trance, she shook her head and blinked. Yelan, however, remained unfazed.
"Yes we did. Tory, I would like you to accompany these young people on their journey. With only Syaoran, they will need another skilled warrior along, just in case." She stated. The young man, Tory, nodded and then looked around at the younger people. His eyes caught on Sakura, and stayed there. She looked up at him, and smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling merrily at him. She had sensed that he was not a threat to her, so she had decided to make peace, instead of making an enemy. Besides, having half your traveling party mad at you was enough! He eyed her for a moment, and then sent her a small smile, that told her that everything would be fine. She breathed a sigh of relief and then secured another bag on her back. Standing straight, she decided that two heavy bags were enough for her to carry, and she waited for the others to finish packing.
"How is Kero?" A soft voice questioned. Sakura looked up in astonishment to see Tory standing next to her, his eyes on the others progress, but it was obvious that he had been the questioner.
"How did you…" She whispered back, as low as she could. Tory smiled softly.
"The Li's aren't the only kingdom with spies." He said, taking her arm and nodding towards the hallway. Sakura turned wild eyes toward King Li, and then she raised her voice.
"May I please use the restroom?" She called. Yelan looked over and nodded.
"Tory, please escort her to the restroom."
Tory bowed and then lead Sakura out of the room. He lead her down a hallway, and into a small room, that resembled a study.
"We can talk here without being heard, but we had best hurry." Tory suggested. Sakura nodded, and then eyed him.
"Who do you spy for?" She questioned, her sweet voice inquiring. He looked down at her and grinned.
"I spy for my own kingdom. The Kinomoto kingdom." He answered. Sakura gasped and looked him up and down.
"But how did you know that I…that Kero…" She stammered, trying to clear her thoughts. He chuckled.
"Well, you can't expect the prince of the Kinomoto Kingdom to be completely uninformed of goings on with his sister, now can you?" He questioned. Sakura's eyes widened and she choked on her breath of air.
"You what?!" She cried, her emerald eyes flashing shock and confusion. This caused him to chuckle harder.
"Dear, dear Sakura! Haven't you guessed who I am? I am Prince Kinomoto Touya, son of King Kinomoto Fujitaka and Queen Kinomoto Nadeishiko." He stated calmly, looking straight into her eyes. She took a sharp intake of breath and tears filled her eyes.
"They told me that you and daddy had disappeared. They said you were dead! And you have been here the whole time!" She sobbed. Touya quickly pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair.
"Don't cry, now. They will get suspicious if your eyes are red." He whispered, drying her tears with a handkerchief. She sniffed and smiled at her older brother.
"Mother is fine…I think. After I came here, something happened, but I don't know what it was. I can still feel her, though." Sakura whispered. Touya nodded.
"Good. Someday, our family will be reunited, and no more will hatred reign. Until then, you must hide the fact that you are the Card's mistress. By the way…where is Cerberus?" Touya asked, frowning slightly. Sakura giggled.
"In my pocket, asleep." She answered. He grinned and then walked towards the door.
"We had best be getting back. They will be wondering where we have gotten to. Oh, and do not become attached to me, or else they will become suspicious." He warned. She nodded, resolving not to tell anyone about her finding her brother. Then she followed her brother…no, Tory, out of the room and back to the front hall, where her friends…and enemies waited for her return.
~*~*~*~
~*~*~*~
World Beyond the Mists
by: Daphne Li
Chapter 6.
"We have them, Auntie! It was almost too easy!" A girl with long, black pigtails gloated, her red/brown eyes sparkling. King Li's mother, Li Yelan turned and looked at her niece with pleasure.
"Good, Meiling. I expect Queen Daidouji has some valuable information on the whereabouts of Clow Reed's secret room." King Hiiragizawa Eriol stated slyly. King Li Syaoran growled.
"She had better!" He hissed, a deadly look in his eye. He was slightly stooped, because his cousin and fiancee, Li Meiling, was clinging to his neck. She had been spying for the Li kingdom over the past six years, and had come to dislike the queen. Tomoyo and Sakura, however, were a different story. She liked them well enough, and it had pained her to see them betrayed…but even so…it was nice to be home, and with her Syaoran!
"Oh, but I have to warn you! Yamazaki has betrayed us. Sided with them, and he even attacked one of the soldiers." Meiling said, making Yelan frown in anger.
"Yamazaki? My sister's son has betrayed us?! Curse him! He shall pay!" Yelan threatened, just as a guard stepped into the room with a bundle in his arms.
"Here they are, Majesty." He said, indicating his burden. With a slight heave, he threw it onto the floor, and out rolled…Yamazaki. He was unconscious and his forehead wielded a large, bloody bump. Six more bundles were tossed into the room, each revealing another prisoner. The second one held a girl wearing a light-green dress and a veil that covered her face. The second girl wore a light yellow dress and veil. The third wore blue. The fourth was obviously the queen, in her royal garments and heavy black veil. And the final two…held more girls. One wore a light lavender dress and veil, and the other wore a lovely pink ensemble with a pink veil shielding her face from view. The last girl was conscious, but just barely.
The one in pink weakly struggled over to the lavender girl, and rested a hand on her shoulder. Then her veiled head turned to Meiling, and simply stared at her. It was obvious she was upset and hurt by her betrayal, and that she was more than aware of what had happened.
"Oh, Meiling…" A soft, sweet voice trilled from the girl in pink, just before she fell limp, her head lulling onto the lavender girl's arm, and her pale hand gracefully falling across the other girl's heart, as if in an omen. Meiling started, and then looked down, tears filling her eyes.
"Sakura…" She breathed, realizing the extent of what she had just done. Yelan was staring at the girl in pink, her face pale, and Syaoran's eyes had widened, just a bit. Eriol was frowning slightly in pity. Then he turned to Yelan.
"We had best get them to the arena." He murmured, shaking his head, as though to clear it. Yelan nodded, and motioned to the guards. They came forward and dragged the girls and Yamazaki away.
~*~*~*~
"Sakura? Oh, Sakura! Please wake up!" A voice hissed. Sakura whimpered and tried to turn over, but something was trapping her hands above her head. She whimpered again, trying desperately to wake up, but something was pushing against her consciousness, keeping her mind black.
"Tomoyo!" She tried to yell, but no sound left her mouth. With one more superhuman attempt, she let out a terrified scream and broke through the barrier between consciousness and unconsciousness. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she screwed her eyes closed, hoping that her whole dream about Meiling had been false. But almost immediately, she knew that it hadn't. As she tentatively reached out with her magic, she felt Meiling's weak aura nearby. Next to it was a strong green aura, that Sakura had never felt before. But somehow, she knew who this one belonged to as well; King Li Syaoran. Sakura slowly opened her eyes, as she heard a sharp voice boom out.
"Shut up, foolish girl!" It was a man's voice, obviously the King's, and it frightened her, but fear did not stop the angry Yamazaki from stating his mind.
"You shut up! Can't you see she's frightened? And waking up in a strange place with strange, *BAKA* people in it, isn't helping her much!" The irate young man yelled, anger lacing his every word. After this speech, Sakura had to smile a bit, but it didn't last long, as she gazed at her new surroundings. They were in a large, arena-like place, with fairy people surrounding them at every corner. And all present were enemies.
Sakura looked over and spotted Tomoyo next to her. Beside Tomoyo was Chiharu and a very exhausted-looking Yamazaki. Beside him were Naoko and Rika, both girls looking shaken, but otherwise, fine. Mirror, or the 'queen', was on the other side of Rika, the black veil still covering her face. Then Sakura noticed that her hands were chained above her head, and her feet were bound up as well. In fact, all of the group was chained up. They were at the bottom of the arena, lined up along one wall, with the royalty across from them.
"What gives you the right to yell at me, traitor?" Sakura watched as a figure, obviously King Li, stood up. Through her veil, which hung over her face, it was hard to see him clearly. His voice was hard and had an edge of steel to it. Sakura knew that her friend was in trouble.
"Please! He meant no harm. He was only worried about me…" She trailed off, as the King turned his deadly glare on her. She may have not been able to see clearly, but she certainly could feel his hatred towards her, racing through the air between them. She faltered and cowered closer to the wall at her back.
"He meant every harm. You are and enemy, and he has no right to 'worry about' people like you." The king snapped, which caused something else to snap as well; Sakura's temper.
"I may be an enemy, but you are a monster! You have no right to offend us in such a way! You may talk big, but you are a coward if you insist on putting other people below your feet and crushing the wills out of them, just for your own amusement!" She hissed, her voice causing razors to cut at the royals consciousness' and making them back up a bit. It also caused a magical wind to whip around her, blowing the annoying veil away from her, and her friends faces; Only the 'Queen's' veil stayed in place. Sakura's friends stared at her in astonishment. She *never* lost her tamper, at anything! Sakura was the calmest of them all, and it unsettled her friends to see her so angry. Only Tomoyo understood the true reason of Sakura's anger. Sakura had caught sight of the one person who could have stopped this whole thing, if not for her hatred…King Li's mother, Li Yelan! Sakura's mother and Yelan had been close friends, and it hurt Sakura that Yelan would allow her son to invade the Daidouji kingdom, just because she was angry with Sakura's mother about 'betraying' the Li kingdom and marrying into the Kinomoto royalty.
It was obvious to Tomoyo because, not only was Sakura yelling words that applied to both Yelan, and her son, but she was also staring straight at Yelan, during and after her speech. Yelan seemed to notice this as well, because as soon as Sakura's veil had moved out of the way, she looked into the girl's emerald eyes and balked. With a stunned jerk, she stood up from her seat and looked at Sakura, as though she was gazing at a ghost.
"No! You disappeared years ago! You are dead!" Yelan breathed, clutching at the back of her seat, so she would not fall. Some of the hurt and anger melted from Sakura's eyes.
"I believe that you are speaking of Queen Nadeishiko, are you not?" Sakura asked softly. Yelan, as is hypnotized, nodded and sat back down in her seat, weakly. Now everyone's eyes were on Sakura, who looked as if she did not like it at all.
"You do hold an uncanny likeness of her…" A young man murmured, standing up and gliding down the stairs, toward the prisoners. Tomoyo shuddered and moved closer to Sakura.
"Don't let him touch you! That is King Hiiragizawa, reincarnate of Clow Reed! If he recognizes you, we are doomed!" Tomoyo breathed, her amethyst eyes wide with horror. Sakura nodded and eyed the King warningly. He simply smirked and moved closer to them.
"Your threatening me will do you no good, little servant girl." He simpered, his eyes roving over them. "Yelan, perhaps you would like to tell the prisoners why they are here?" He suggested, his eyes landing on Tomoyo and staying there, making the girl shift uncomfortably. Yelan nodded and stood up, still eyeing Sakura.
"We have reason to believe that you have information about the whereabouts of Clow Reed's secret room." Yelan stated, causing Tomoyo to jump, and look at the woman as is she were crazy.
"WHAT?!?!" She shouted.
"Nutters! The lot of them!" Chiharu raged.
"Ridiculous! I have been there two years, and I know for a fact that they have no idea where it is. They, however, are not looking for it either!" Yamazaki snapped, causing his family too look at him accusingly.
"She does not know!" Sakura added in her sweet voice, causing many people to gaze at her admiringly.
"I have no idea what you are speaking about." The 'queen' finally spoke up, her veiled head turning towards Yelan.
"Silence! We do not believe you, and for that, you are going on a journey!" King Li yelled, causing Sakura to turn pale and the others to back up against the wall.
"Wh…what do you mean?" The 'queen' asked. King Hiiragizawa grinned.
"King Li and I are going to escort you on a little…trip to find Clow Reed's room, Queen Daidouji. And to prove his loyalty to us, Yamazaki will accompany us.
"I'm coming too! I want to be with my Syaoran!" Meiling shrilled, clutching at King Li's arm, and causing him to glare at her.
"I am coming as well! I am not allowing Yamazaki to go with you, alone in his condition!" Chiharu stated, moving closer to Yamazaki. King Hiiragizawa smirked.
"Looks like we are going to have a procession. Anyone else?" He asked, turning his own glare to the rest of the girls. The 'queen' moved forward a bit.
"I wish only one thing. Allow my ladies-in-waiting, Sakura and Tomoyo to accompany me. I do not wish to be alone with *you*." She stated. Tomoyo and Sakura breathed sighs of relief as King Hiiragizawa nodded in agreement.
"What are to become of Rika and Naoko?" Tomoyo finally asked, indicating the pale, but defiant girls next to the 'queen'. Yelan eyed them for a moment, and then turned to some noble-looking men near her seat.
"King Magyar, Lord Ephrium, would you accept duty over these girls? They are your charges now." Yelan stated, as the young men nodded. Yelan turned back to the 'queen'.
"Are you happy now? They will be safe with King Magyar and Lord Ephrium, and *if* you return, they will be waiting here for you. They shall not be harmed, I promise." Yelan said, when the 'queen' began to protest.
"Now, we will provide you with everything you need. Tomorrow, you will begin on your journey." Yelan stated, as she stood up and dismissed them. Then she, her son, and everyone but King Hiiragizawa and some guards left.
"They really are decent, once you get to know them." The King mussed, eyeing Yelan's back. Tomoyo frowned at him.
"I highly doubt that any of you are decent, seeing as what happened today." She snapped, looking up at her wrists which were now red and bleeding for her struggles against the metal cuffs. The King sighed, and waved his hand as them. Immediately, the cuffs fell off, and their hands and feet were free! But he wasn't done yet. He waved his hand again and they were all healed. Tomoyo fingered her perfect wrists, and Sakura even managed to smile a 'thank-you' at him, before the guards jostled them away.
~*~*~*~
"Let me get this straight. Meiling was a spy as well, and *she* was the one who betrayed us?" Tomoyo breathed, after Yamazaki explained everything to them. They were sitting in a richly decorated room, in the Li palace. Guards surrounded the whole room, but none were allowed inside the room, on order from the King's mother, Li Yelan.
"Yes." Yamazaki and Sakura said in unison.
"I woke up last night, just after they 'presented' us to the royals. I saw her next to the King, and I figured everything out." Sakura whispered. She sighed and put her head in her hands.
"When are we to leave?" Chiharu whined listlessly. Earlier that morning, guards had come and taken Rika and Naoko away to their new homes, and everyone else was upset by their leaving.
"Well, just as soon as my cousin and his fiancee are ready…"
"Which they are. Time to go." King Eriol stated, coming into the room, and taking the 'queen's' arm. Everyone but Sakura found reason to glare at him and silently followed him out of the room.
~*~*~*~
"What is expected of us?" 'Queen Daidouji' asked, as they met up with the Li's in the front hall. Yelan turned to her and handed Meiling a knapsack full of what looked like food.
"You are going to show my son and King Hiiragizawa where Clow Reed's secret room is." She said calmly. Chiharu huffed.
"Why can't oh-great-and-mighty-I-am-the-reincarnate-of-Clow-Reed tell you where it is?" She muttered, causing Sakura and Tomoyo to giggle a bit. King Hiiragizawa sent her a tiny smile.
"Because just before Clow Reed died, he erased all his precious memories, to make things interesting for his next life. That would be me." The King pointed at himself and Tomoyo snorted.
"I pity the poor man! If he had to stoop low enough to become you…he must have been desperate!" She giggled, making Sakura burst out laughing.
"Oh, really Tomoyo! I am sure the Clow had no choice who he was reincarnated into. I just pity the fact that he lacks the Cards." Sakura stated, causing Yalan, her son, Meiling, and King Hiiragizawa to jump.
"What did you say?!" Yelan snapped, her face paling. Sakura frowned slightly, realizing what she had just done.
"I said, it is a pity that he doesn't…and never will…have the Clow Cards." Sakura mumbled, making the queen flush in anger. Even King Li looked unsettled, his amber eyes flickering from Sakura to his mother, and back again.
"You are right, because Nadeishiko took them." Yelan snapped. Sakura trembled but raised her chin a bit.
"I didn't mean it that way! What I meant was…the Clow Cards don't exist anymore. It would be pointless to look for them." She whispered.
"Impossible!" King Hiiragizawa shouted his blue eyes flashing.
"WHAT? How do you know?" Yelan shrieked. Sakura trembled again at their voices.
"It is not my place to say. Perhaps you should ask Queen Nadeishiko." Sakura murmured, turning away to place a bag over her shoulders. This caused her to miss the looks that Yelan, Syaoran, Meiling and Eriol sent her.
"Watch her. I don't like the way she knows things that we don't. She could have some valuable information for us." Yelan whispered to her kin. The three nodded, and then went back to placing bags on their back. Suddenly, the door was thrown open, and a shadow crossed the threshold of the door.
"You sent for me, you Majesty?" A voice asked. Everyone looked up to see a handsome young man of about twenty-five, with dark brown hair and piercing brown eyes standing in the doorway. He was quite muscular, and had the air about him of a soldier. For a moment, Meiling's mouth dropped open, and her eyes devoured his appearance. Then, as if being pulled out of a trance, she shook her head and blinked. Yelan, however, remained unfazed.
"Yes we did. Tory, I would like you to accompany these young people on their journey. With only Syaoran, they will need another skilled warrior along, just in case." She stated. The young man, Tory, nodded and then looked around at the younger people. His eyes caught on Sakura, and stayed there. She looked up at him, and smiled, her emerald eyes sparkling merrily at him. She had sensed that he was not a threat to her, so she had decided to make peace, instead of making an enemy. Besides, having half your traveling party mad at you was enough! He eyed her for a moment, and then sent her a small smile, that told her that everything would be fine. She breathed a sigh of relief and then secured another bag on her back. Standing straight, she decided that two heavy bags were enough for her to carry, and she waited for the others to finish packing.
"How is Kero?" A soft voice questioned. Sakura looked up in astonishment to see Tory standing next to her, his eyes on the others progress, but it was obvious that he had been the questioner.
"How did you…" She whispered back, as low as she could. Tory smiled softly.
"The Li's aren't the only kingdom with spies." He said, taking her arm and nodding towards the hallway. Sakura turned wild eyes toward King Li, and then she raised her voice.
"May I please use the restroom?" She called. Yelan looked over and nodded.
"Tory, please escort her to the restroom."
Tory bowed and then lead Sakura out of the room. He lead her down a hallway, and into a small room, that resembled a study.
"We can talk here without being heard, but we had best hurry." Tory suggested. Sakura nodded, and then eyed him.
"Who do you spy for?" She questioned, her sweet voice inquiring. He looked down at her and grinned.
"I spy for my own kingdom. The Kinomoto kingdom." He answered. Sakura gasped and looked him up and down.
"But how did you know that I…that Kero…" She stammered, trying to clear her thoughts. He chuckled.
"Well, you can't expect the prince of the Kinomoto Kingdom to be completely uninformed of goings on with his sister, now can you?" He questioned. Sakura's eyes widened and she choked on her breath of air.
"You what?!" She cried, her emerald eyes flashing shock and confusion. This caused him to chuckle harder.
"Dear, dear Sakura! Haven't you guessed who I am? I am Prince Kinomoto Touya, son of King Kinomoto Fujitaka and Queen Kinomoto Nadeishiko." He stated calmly, looking straight into her eyes. She took a sharp intake of breath and tears filled her eyes.
"They told me that you and daddy had disappeared. They said you were dead! And you have been here the whole time!" She sobbed. Touya quickly pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair.
"Don't cry, now. They will get suspicious if your eyes are red." He whispered, drying her tears with a handkerchief. She sniffed and smiled at her older brother.
"Mother is fine…I think. After I came here, something happened, but I don't know what it was. I can still feel her, though." Sakura whispered. Touya nodded.
"Good. Someday, our family will be reunited, and no more will hatred reign. Until then, you must hide the fact that you are the Card's mistress. By the way…where is Cerberus?" Touya asked, frowning slightly. Sakura giggled.
"In my pocket, asleep." She answered. He grinned and then walked towards the door.
"We had best be getting back. They will be wondering where we have gotten to. Oh, and do not become attached to me, or else they will become suspicious." He warned. She nodded, resolving not to tell anyone about her finding her brother. Then she followed her brother…no, Tory, out of the room and back to the front hall, where her friends…and enemies waited for her return.
~*~*~*~