DISCLAIMER: As everyone before me has stated, Sakura and Syaoran belong to
CLAMP, and not me. All other characters, however, are of my own creation
and belong to me.
Author's note: Hey, this is my third chapter. ^_^ My second chapter today! Yay! LoL, hardworking me, no? Well, anyway, I can't figure out how to put italics in. Does anyone know how? I type it in Microsoft Word and upload it. anyone who can tell me how will get brownie points. ^-~
****
The two had been walking in silence for several minutes. Sakura finally broke the silence.
"How long will I be a prisoner?"
She was answered with a scowl. "Must you take a perfectly good silence and shape it into something that will only make me angry?"
She sighed. "If making you angry is the price of answers, yes."
"Making me angry will leave you with no money to buy answers with."
Sakura decided not to answer and let herself be led in silence for a little longer. Thinking over his words, she couldn't help but ask another question.
"Why are you so threatened by my father?"
He growled and turned abruptly to her, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do you want me to leave you here?"
She turned and, planting her hands firmly on her hips, countered his anger her own. "No. I want to go home."
For a few moments the two stood there, staring daggers at each other. Neither dared blink. One woman passing by raised an eyebrow, but continued walking.
The king was the first to break eye contact. He gestured around him. "This is your home now."
He stormed off, down another hallway. Sakura knew he was heading away from her room. She raced after him, stopping in front of him and blocking his pathway.
"Where are you going? I thought you were taking me to my room."
"You seem so damn sure of yourself. Find your own way back." He snorted and walked through her.
Taken aback, Sakura turned and yelled after his fleeting form, "Fine! I'll do it on my own!"
"How hard can it be to find my room. after all there's only about hundreds of hallways in this wing alone." she mumbled to herself. Letting out a sigh, she started wandering around.
****
"What do you mean you left her?!" yelled Hideaki, the king's chief advisor.
"Just what I said, Hideaki. I left her. She'll find her room eventually," answered the king guardedly.
"Your highness, don't you remember that time you got lost when you were five? You were a young prince, and had grown up in the palace, and you still got lost! It took us hours to find you! And that's with the entire staff looking for you," answered Hideaki.
Hideaki shook his head in anger. He was the king's chief advisor, ever since Syaoran's father had passed away. He had trained Syaoran, and at some times ruled, at least until the king became of suitable age to rule by himself. Over the many years, Hideaki had become more of a friend than an advisor.
"That's different, Hideaki. I was five. She's. . . at least fifteen. . ."
"But she's not accustomed to the palace. She's probably panicking this very moment. How could you let your anger get the better of you, Syaoran? You know better than that. I taught you better than that," he said, emphasizing the taught.
The king growled at the scorn in Hideaki's voice. "Know your place, Hideaki. I am king."
Hideaki's eyes widened in surprise. His mouth hardened and he bowed slightly, then turned and left.
No sooner had the doors shut then the king picked a goblet off his desk and flung it against the wall in his anger. He buried his head in his hands.
'Why must he always be right?'
With another growl, he raced out of the room to look for Sakura.
****
Her feet were starting to hurt. She wanted desperately to sit, but she knew she had to keep looking. Her mind drifted to the king's words and her anger pumped through her veins. She pushed herself harder.
'I will prove him wrong.'
She didn't even notice the green ribbon in her hair fall to the ground.
****
Tomoyo knocked on her lady's door, but there was no answer. She pushed the door open cautiously, looking for a sign of her lady Sakura. There was none to be found. She shrugged and turned to leave, thinking Sakura must have decided to go out for air, but then she noticed her lady's shawl was still draped across the chair.
'She wouldn't go to the gardens without her shawl, would she?'
Tomoyo was uneasy, and worried for her lady. Making up her mind, she snatched the shawl from the chair and raced to the gardens.
****
Sakura was starting to get discouraged when she saw a familiar staircase in front of her.
'Where have I seen this before?'
She raced up the stairs, finally recognizing the hallway. She smiled to herself. Her heart was doing cartwheels even if her feet were ready to fall off. She was only moments from reaching her room when something hit her, full impact. Sakura's mind registered only that whatever had hit her was purple before the breath was knocked from her.
****
Tomoyo rubbed her head and looked down anxiously to see whom she had hit. Her lady's dazed face met her own and Tomoyo's blush deepened.
"My lady!! I was looking for you! I thought you might be lost!!"
"Mmm. . . Tomoyo. . . yes, I was lost. I'm here now, though, albeit very tired."
Tomoyo helped her lady onto her feet and led her back into her room.
****
'Where is she? I left her here. If she had any sense, she would have just stayed where she was until someone came for her.'
The king was tired of looking for her. He had been searching for a little over an hour. While it was hard for someone to find their way through the palace, it was near impossible for someone to find another someone in these mazelike hallways.
He sighed, defeat heavy in his voice, when he found a piece of green ribbon. He recognized it as the one she had been wearing in her hair this morning.
'Is she hurt? Did someone grab her?'
He cursed himself. How could he be so stupid? There were men in the palace just looking for a lady to rape. He had let her wonder through the halls, unguarded, and only because his pride had been hurt.
'I truly am a horrible king. I know the dangers but I forgot her safety because I was angry! If anything happens to her. . .'
He let the thought hand unanswered.
****
'Sakura felt herself falling. She grasped for something to hold onto, but found nothing. Just when it seemed too late, a hand lurched out to pull her back to the top. She looked up and found herself staring into deep chocolate eyes.
"I'll always protect you."
Then she heard harsh laughter in her ears. She let go of the hand to cover her ears and felt herself falling again. The eyes turned sad.'
Sakura lurched upwards, sweating hard.
'A dream. It was only a dream. Nothing more.'
She got up and walked to her open balcony, staring out into the garden. She needed some fresh air.
'I know the way now. . .'
****
"I want an all-out search. Leave no corner untouched. I want her found. If there is anyone accompanying her, bring them to me. Now go," the king commanded.
The soldiers left his room in a hurry and the king breathed a sigh. He had searched for hours, but could not find another trace of Sakura. He looked down at the ribbon clasped in his palm.
'I let her down. . .'
He clasped his palm protectively over the ribbon. He walked out onto the balcony and looked into his garden, now covered in the beautiful moonlight. He squinted his eyes and gasped in surprise as he recognized a figure silhouetted in the light.
'Don't move, please don't move.'
****
"Oh beautiful moon, you shine upon me with your glorious light, and I should feel honored. But all I can think of is my family. Are you shining upon them too? What of my brother? My father? Do you grace them with the same beauty you bestow upon me?
"It's hard to imagine that as I stare at you this evening, they may very well be staring at you too. . . This kingdom is so large. . . and they so very far away. . . I wonder, is my father looking out the window at this very moment, thinking of me?"
Sakura was speaking softly to herself. A trance-like state had taken over her. A twig snapped behind her and she whirled around suddenly.
****
'She is beautiful indeed. . .' was the king's only thought when her face turned anxiously into his. He noticed her flawless skin, now slightly tinged with flustered pink. Her eyes glowed a sharp emerald, fear taking them. His stomach lurched when he realized he had caused that fear.
"You're alright." He breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't last for long. "Did anyone. . . did anyone. . . help you?"
He winced, hearing his voice crack slightly as he said "help".
She stared at him curiously, her walls blocking him from seeing deeper feelings. "I found my way back alone."
His eyes widened in surprise. "How?"
Her all-too-familiar smirk crawled its way back upon her lips. "It wasn't hard."
He recognized the lie in the air, but chose to ignore it.
"I was wrong in leaving you alone," he answered.
Her surprise was evident in every feature.
"I should have escorted you to your room, as I promised, or at least sent a servant for you. I was blinded by anger, and made a mistake," he finished.
She shifted her eyes to the floor. Something in his stomach clicked, sorry to lose sight of her beautiful eyes.
"I shouldn't have been so intent upon making you mad," she murmured.
****
"At least let me escort you to your room this time."
He smiled a charming smile, the first Sakura had seen from him. Without meaning to, she answered with her own smile. Suddenly something snapped in her head. Sekai's voice echoed in her head.
'What are you doing, my little cherry blossom? I told you to avoid him. He imprisoned you. He is the reason you are not with your family right now. Why are you smiling at him?'
Sakura's smile faded at Sekai's thought. His words rang true.
She turned her back to him and started to her room.
"It's fine. I can find it myself."
Before the king could answer, she was gone.
He stood there, surprise hindering his movement when he heard a laugh behind him.
"Little Wolf, you cannot have my little cherry blossom. She will never trust you."
He recognized the voice. He turned and angrily growled, "Sekai. What have you told her?"
"Only what she wants to be told, your highness, only what she wants to be told."
****
I hope this chapter was good! You guys asked for long chapters, so I made this longer! Instead of 3 pages, it's five! ^_^ Yay! Thanks for the reviews, I'm sure you guys all know just how good it feels to get reviews. It makes it worth writing, that's for sure! I did two whole chapters in one day! But it's 10 my time, so I'm gonna go to sleep now. ^-~ My school starts at 7:20 in the morning, the bus is here by 6:40. so. yea. I need all the sleep I can get. ^_^
Luv and such!
Author's note: Hey, this is my third chapter. ^_^ My second chapter today! Yay! LoL, hardworking me, no? Well, anyway, I can't figure out how to put italics in. Does anyone know how? I type it in Microsoft Word and upload it. anyone who can tell me how will get brownie points. ^-~
****
The two had been walking in silence for several minutes. Sakura finally broke the silence.
"How long will I be a prisoner?"
She was answered with a scowl. "Must you take a perfectly good silence and shape it into something that will only make me angry?"
She sighed. "If making you angry is the price of answers, yes."
"Making me angry will leave you with no money to buy answers with."
Sakura decided not to answer and let herself be led in silence for a little longer. Thinking over his words, she couldn't help but ask another question.
"Why are you so threatened by my father?"
He growled and turned abruptly to her, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do you want me to leave you here?"
She turned and, planting her hands firmly on her hips, countered his anger her own. "No. I want to go home."
For a few moments the two stood there, staring daggers at each other. Neither dared blink. One woman passing by raised an eyebrow, but continued walking.
The king was the first to break eye contact. He gestured around him. "This is your home now."
He stormed off, down another hallway. Sakura knew he was heading away from her room. She raced after him, stopping in front of him and blocking his pathway.
"Where are you going? I thought you were taking me to my room."
"You seem so damn sure of yourself. Find your own way back." He snorted and walked through her.
Taken aback, Sakura turned and yelled after his fleeting form, "Fine! I'll do it on my own!"
"How hard can it be to find my room. after all there's only about hundreds of hallways in this wing alone." she mumbled to herself. Letting out a sigh, she started wandering around.
****
"What do you mean you left her?!" yelled Hideaki, the king's chief advisor.
"Just what I said, Hideaki. I left her. She'll find her room eventually," answered the king guardedly.
"Your highness, don't you remember that time you got lost when you were five? You were a young prince, and had grown up in the palace, and you still got lost! It took us hours to find you! And that's with the entire staff looking for you," answered Hideaki.
Hideaki shook his head in anger. He was the king's chief advisor, ever since Syaoran's father had passed away. He had trained Syaoran, and at some times ruled, at least until the king became of suitable age to rule by himself. Over the many years, Hideaki had become more of a friend than an advisor.
"That's different, Hideaki. I was five. She's. . . at least fifteen. . ."
"But she's not accustomed to the palace. She's probably panicking this very moment. How could you let your anger get the better of you, Syaoran? You know better than that. I taught you better than that," he said, emphasizing the taught.
The king growled at the scorn in Hideaki's voice. "Know your place, Hideaki. I am king."
Hideaki's eyes widened in surprise. His mouth hardened and he bowed slightly, then turned and left.
No sooner had the doors shut then the king picked a goblet off his desk and flung it against the wall in his anger. He buried his head in his hands.
'Why must he always be right?'
With another growl, he raced out of the room to look for Sakura.
****
Her feet were starting to hurt. She wanted desperately to sit, but she knew she had to keep looking. Her mind drifted to the king's words and her anger pumped through her veins. She pushed herself harder.
'I will prove him wrong.'
She didn't even notice the green ribbon in her hair fall to the ground.
****
Tomoyo knocked on her lady's door, but there was no answer. She pushed the door open cautiously, looking for a sign of her lady Sakura. There was none to be found. She shrugged and turned to leave, thinking Sakura must have decided to go out for air, but then she noticed her lady's shawl was still draped across the chair.
'She wouldn't go to the gardens without her shawl, would she?'
Tomoyo was uneasy, and worried for her lady. Making up her mind, she snatched the shawl from the chair and raced to the gardens.
****
Sakura was starting to get discouraged when she saw a familiar staircase in front of her.
'Where have I seen this before?'
She raced up the stairs, finally recognizing the hallway. She smiled to herself. Her heart was doing cartwheels even if her feet were ready to fall off. She was only moments from reaching her room when something hit her, full impact. Sakura's mind registered only that whatever had hit her was purple before the breath was knocked from her.
****
Tomoyo rubbed her head and looked down anxiously to see whom she had hit. Her lady's dazed face met her own and Tomoyo's blush deepened.
"My lady!! I was looking for you! I thought you might be lost!!"
"Mmm. . . Tomoyo. . . yes, I was lost. I'm here now, though, albeit very tired."
Tomoyo helped her lady onto her feet and led her back into her room.
****
'Where is she? I left her here. If she had any sense, she would have just stayed where she was until someone came for her.'
The king was tired of looking for her. He had been searching for a little over an hour. While it was hard for someone to find their way through the palace, it was near impossible for someone to find another someone in these mazelike hallways.
He sighed, defeat heavy in his voice, when he found a piece of green ribbon. He recognized it as the one she had been wearing in her hair this morning.
'Is she hurt? Did someone grab her?'
He cursed himself. How could he be so stupid? There were men in the palace just looking for a lady to rape. He had let her wonder through the halls, unguarded, and only because his pride had been hurt.
'I truly am a horrible king. I know the dangers but I forgot her safety because I was angry! If anything happens to her. . .'
He let the thought hand unanswered.
****
'Sakura felt herself falling. She grasped for something to hold onto, but found nothing. Just when it seemed too late, a hand lurched out to pull her back to the top. She looked up and found herself staring into deep chocolate eyes.
"I'll always protect you."
Then she heard harsh laughter in her ears. She let go of the hand to cover her ears and felt herself falling again. The eyes turned sad.'
Sakura lurched upwards, sweating hard.
'A dream. It was only a dream. Nothing more.'
She got up and walked to her open balcony, staring out into the garden. She needed some fresh air.
'I know the way now. . .'
****
"I want an all-out search. Leave no corner untouched. I want her found. If there is anyone accompanying her, bring them to me. Now go," the king commanded.
The soldiers left his room in a hurry and the king breathed a sigh. He had searched for hours, but could not find another trace of Sakura. He looked down at the ribbon clasped in his palm.
'I let her down. . .'
He clasped his palm protectively over the ribbon. He walked out onto the balcony and looked into his garden, now covered in the beautiful moonlight. He squinted his eyes and gasped in surprise as he recognized a figure silhouetted in the light.
'Don't move, please don't move.'
****
"Oh beautiful moon, you shine upon me with your glorious light, and I should feel honored. But all I can think of is my family. Are you shining upon them too? What of my brother? My father? Do you grace them with the same beauty you bestow upon me?
"It's hard to imagine that as I stare at you this evening, they may very well be staring at you too. . . This kingdom is so large. . . and they so very far away. . . I wonder, is my father looking out the window at this very moment, thinking of me?"
Sakura was speaking softly to herself. A trance-like state had taken over her. A twig snapped behind her and she whirled around suddenly.
****
'She is beautiful indeed. . .' was the king's only thought when her face turned anxiously into his. He noticed her flawless skin, now slightly tinged with flustered pink. Her eyes glowed a sharp emerald, fear taking them. His stomach lurched when he realized he had caused that fear.
"You're alright." He breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't last for long. "Did anyone. . . did anyone. . . help you?"
He winced, hearing his voice crack slightly as he said "help".
She stared at him curiously, her walls blocking him from seeing deeper feelings. "I found my way back alone."
His eyes widened in surprise. "How?"
Her all-too-familiar smirk crawled its way back upon her lips. "It wasn't hard."
He recognized the lie in the air, but chose to ignore it.
"I was wrong in leaving you alone," he answered.
Her surprise was evident in every feature.
"I should have escorted you to your room, as I promised, or at least sent a servant for you. I was blinded by anger, and made a mistake," he finished.
She shifted her eyes to the floor. Something in his stomach clicked, sorry to lose sight of her beautiful eyes.
"I shouldn't have been so intent upon making you mad," she murmured.
****
"At least let me escort you to your room this time."
He smiled a charming smile, the first Sakura had seen from him. Without meaning to, she answered with her own smile. Suddenly something snapped in her head. Sekai's voice echoed in her head.
'What are you doing, my little cherry blossom? I told you to avoid him. He imprisoned you. He is the reason you are not with your family right now. Why are you smiling at him?'
Sakura's smile faded at Sekai's thought. His words rang true.
She turned her back to him and started to her room.
"It's fine. I can find it myself."
Before the king could answer, she was gone.
He stood there, surprise hindering his movement when he heard a laugh behind him.
"Little Wolf, you cannot have my little cherry blossom. She will never trust you."
He recognized the voice. He turned and angrily growled, "Sekai. What have you told her?"
"Only what she wants to be told, your highness, only what she wants to be told."
****
I hope this chapter was good! You guys asked for long chapters, so I made this longer! Instead of 3 pages, it's five! ^_^ Yay! Thanks for the reviews, I'm sure you guys all know just how good it feels to get reviews. It makes it worth writing, that's for sure! I did two whole chapters in one day! But it's 10 my time, so I'm gonna go to sleep now. ^-~ My school starts at 7:20 in the morning, the bus is here by 6:40. so. yea. I need all the sleep I can get. ^_^
Luv and such!
