Amber Eyes
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot!
Authoress Ramble: Yay! Over 150 reviews! =3 I love all of you! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. The plot moves forward a bit. Enjoy and review! 3
Note: If the Òs,Õs and ,s are not quotes and commas, go to View ------ Character Set in Internet Explorer and change it to Western (Mac)! Or change the character set some other way to fix it, itÕs possible!
Shouts To People Who Reviewed!: Thank you so much for reviewing! Much love to Azi, Amanda Panda, Eclipse, Little Wolf LOVER, Shorty, Draco, CardCaptorHikariWolfy, Kimi-chan and ÒREALLY LIKE UR FICÓ (you didnÕt leave a name for me, cutie pie o.o), DL@;~, Ongaku, SulliMike23, kawaiitenshisakura, Cherry, UrbanCinderella, darkemerald22, Sakura-miaka, Tigerdrake, Mika, WezL, hana no tenshi (Eva), Princess Kinomoto, Blossom190, Kwaii Canadian, SweetyPie, twilight-star, SweetCherryBlossom, diablo, Laura, Raymisha, Blozzomz, ZetaBee, Pink Sakura, Kinomoto, Shima And Tempis, HikariWolfSky, Riconne, Cherry Blossom, Kawaii-CherryWolf (cute name!), Rae-Rae (another cute name!), dangerous-beans, ZetaBee, Cute_Leen, Zara, Ebony Black, Shima And Tempis, Mini Sweety, Bloodlust Night, Meinien, :I, Lady Dez, Kat, *~*princess*~*, Jamie, silverymare, LilÕ Fairy, Feathers, CoolCat, Val (great idea!), D, Athar-Luna, Azn-Angel and finally, Kitty Neko (IÕm a big fan of yours! =3 I am honoured that you like my story!)! Thank you all again for your support!
Also, it seems that Little Wolf LOVER is quite the authoress. ^_^ Mini Sweety reviewed and told me how successful you are, so IÕm quite honoured! Thank you for reading my humble story! =3
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Syaoran ran as quickly as he could after Sakura, dodging the rocks and tree branches that obscured his path. A deep red blush still stained his cheeks, warmed by less than innocent thoughts of a certain emerald-eyed girl.
He could see flashes of her dress every once in a while, and as they ran, he called out to her.
ÒSakura!,Ó he yelled pleadingly, still running as quickly as he could, ÒSakura! Please, stop! Let me explain!Ó
Sakura ignored him, running blindly with tears falling down her cheeks, which were also stained with a blush. She was flustered and embarrassed. How much had he seen? That . . . that pervert!
ÒPlease wait!,Ó Syaoran shouted from behind her, ÒLet me explain! It was an accident! I didnÕt mean to-Ó
Sakura was growing tired and out of breath, as she had been running at full speed for several minutes. Frustrated, she stopped abruptly and spun around to face him.
Syaoran stopped in surprise, staring at SakuraÕs blushing face and into her deep emerald eyes, burning with fury. He winced.
ÒIÕm very sorry,Ó he began shakily. ÒI came down to the creek to take a bath, I had no idea that you would be there, I . . . I tried not to stare. Meiling pushed me forward and I lost my balance and fell in, and oh gods, IÕm sorry. Please accept my apology.Ó
Sakura blinked, surprised. Syaoran was usually not this open with his emotions, or at least, so she thought. She knew that he was a proud soul, and it touched her heart that he would become so humble in seeking her forgiveness.
Still blushing, she smiled a bit.
ÒSo you werenÕt spying on me?,Ó she inquired. SyaoranÕs blush deepened, and he adverted his eyes.
ÒNo,Ó he said finally, ÒI wasnÕt spying.Ó
ÒYou seem awfully embarrassed for someone who wasnÕt spying,Ó Sakura commented, suspicious. Syaoran looked at her nervously.
ÒI didnÕt mean to, ahh, see you that way,Ó he explained. ÒIÕm embarrassed because I saw you, well . . . Ò
ÒYou saw me nude?,Ó Sakura finished, blushing. Syaoran coughed suddenly.
ÒOnly partially,Ó he said shakily.
Sakura raised an eyebrow, her blush deepening.
ÒY-You were far away and the water was up to your waist, and, ahh,Ó Syaoran stuttered, nervous. Sakura couldnÕt help but smile a bit at his obvious discomfort, though she was still very embarrassed that he had seen so much of her.
ÒWhat exactly did you see?,Ó Sakura asked impulsively. Syaoran once again adverted his eyes.
ÒWell, ahh,Ó he began, still blushing. ÒI saw your, ahh. Y-Your . . .Ó
Sakura decided she could guess what he was about to say, and she kindly decided to put the poor, flustered boy out of his misery.
ÒItÕs alright,Ó she said gently. ÒI forgive you. I believe you when you say that you werenÕt trying to spy on me.Ó
Syaoran sighed in relief. ÒThank the gods,Ó he breathed.
Sakura smiled and walked forward, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace. Syaoran eagerly returned the affection, sliding his arms around her waist. She smiled, comforted.
ÒDid you think that I would not forgive you?,Ó Sakura questioned quietly. Syaoran breathed out heavily.
ÒI was worried,Ó he replied gently. ÒEven if that worry was irrational. YouÕre so kind, I suppose that I already knew that you would forgive me.Ó
Sakura smiled. ÒThank you,Ó she said softly.
ÒYouÕre welcome,Ó Syaoran replied simply. He pulled her closer.
ÒYou know,Ó he said playfully, ÒTheyÕre very pretty.Ó
Sakura blushed deeply. ÒS-Syaoran!Ó, she gasped, embarrassed.
ÒItÕs true,Ó Syaoran stated bravely. SakuraÕs blush deepened.
ÒI may be kind,Ó she said warningly, ÒBut that doesnÕt mean that I canÕt make exceptions.Ó
Syaoran laughed quietly, pulling Sakura even closer to him. Her eyes widened briefly in surprise, and then she laughed.
ÒSyaoran!,Ó she said, ÒYouÕre getting me all wet!Ó
He blinked and looked down at himself. His tunic was, of course, dripping wet, as was his chocolate brown hair. He grinned.
ÒYou were wet in the first place,Ó he commented knowingly. Sakura smiled.
ÒThatÕs true,Ó she said gently, content. Something in the tone of her voice made Syaoran smile back warmly.
ÒI definitely forgive you,Ó Sakura stated affectionately, raising herself onto her tiptoes as she leaned forward to kiss her soaking wet lover. He kissed back lovingly, running his hand through her wet red hair.
They pulled away from each other contentedly, both of them wearing warm, loving smiles.
ÒLetÕs go back,Ó Sakura said simply. Syaoran nodded, taking her small hand into his own.
Perhaps too perfectly, they walked back to the camp hand-in-hand.
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Meiling had returned to the camp and was sitting in front of the fire, numbly contemplating her current romantic situation. She sighed sadly.
ÒGood morning, Meiling!Ó
Her eyes widened in shock as a pair of warm lips pressed against her cheek. She blushed deeply, turning to face a cheerful pair of amethyst eyes.
ÒGood morning,Ó Meiling mumbled, irritated. Tomoyo appeared not to notice.
ÒWhere are Sakura and Prince Syaoran?,Ó she inquired. Meiling smirked at this.
ÒOh, they had a bit of a fight,Ó she purred. ÒSyaoran saw Sakura bathing in a creek near here.Ó
Tomoyo gasped. ÒAnd she saw him?Ó
Meiling nodded knowingly.
ÒYes,Ó she began. ÒShe seemed very angry about it. He ran after her just a little while ago.Ó
ÒOh,Ó Tomoyo said, dumbfounded. MeilingÕs eyes flashed with amusement.
ÒWell,Ó Tomoyo added optimistically, ÒIÕm sure theyÕre reconciling right now. TheyÕll walk back here hand-in-hand any moment now.Ó
ÒYouÕre probably right,Ó Meiling said calmly. She sighed sadly once again, but remembering her promise to always seek SyaoranÕs happiness before her own, she chose not to focus on her sadness. To do so would be selfish.
Its failure aside, it had still been a brilliant plan, Meiling thought. She smirked mischievously.
Tomoyo saw this and frowned, seeing straight through the ruby-eyed warrior.
ÒWait a moment,Ó she said suspiciously. ÒDid you plan for their fight to occur?Ó
MeilingÕs eyes widened in surprised, and she turned to Tomoyo, shocked.
ÒAh-hah!,Ó Tomoyo said accusingly. ÒSo you did! Are you truly that jealous?Ó
Meiling adverted her eyes sadly from TomoyoÕs accusing ones.
ÒIÕm not sure,Ó she said quietly. ÒI knew from the start that theyÕd only reconcile and be stronger lovers in the end, if that means anything. I want Syaoran to be happy, and if that means being with her, then . . .Ó
ÒSo you didnÕt set up their fight to break them apart?,Ó Tomoyo questioned softly. Meiling smiled sadly and shook her head.
ÒAgain,Ó she began, ÒI donÕt know. I think I did, but I also think that I knew it would fail. My heart wants too many things.Ó
Tomoyo looked at the ruby-eyed girl empathetically, somehow understanding her pain. She leaned forward and kissed Meiling tenderly on the cheek.
ÒIt will be alright,Ó she said gently. ÒYour heart will heal.Ó
Meiling blushed deeply at the kiss, adverting her eyes.
ÒP-Please stop that,Ó she said nervously, still blushing. ÒIÕm not . . . like that.Ó
Tomoyo frowned as Meiling continued.
ÒIÕm not a . . .Ó
ÒYes, I know,Ó Tomoyo said firmly, her expression serious and calm. ÒI know that youÕre in love with Syaoran, and conveniently enough, he has a pe-Ó
ÒTomoyo!,Ó Meiling gasped, cutting her off. Tomoyo smiled a bit at her shyness.
ÒItÕs not that I dislike . . . people who love . . . differently . . . itÕs just that I, myself, am not . . .,Ó Meiling continued nervously.
TomoyoÕs smile deepened, growing sadder. ÒI know,Ó she said gently.
ÒYour heart is not free right now, am I right?Ó
Meiling nodded calmly, looking away. Tomoyo smiled sadly, her eyes deep and wistful.
ÒJust remember,Ó she said warmly, ÒThat we all need love.Ó
With a sad smile, she winked at Meiling, who promptly blushed and coughed nervously.
Meiling stopped and finally looked at Tomoyo with sadness in her eyes.
ÒLove, aye,Ó she said softly. ÒBut what we truly need is peace.Ó
TomoyoÕs eyes grew darker at this; she had forgotten, for a moment, that greater battles outweighed her own.
ÒThat is very true,Ó she said calmly. ÒBoth of our kingdoms need it desperately.Ó
Meiling nodded affirmingly. ÒYes,Ó she stated. ÒThatÕs why we went through so much trouble to rescue you; we had to secure our only change at peace.Ó
ÒAm I your only chance?,Ó Tomoyo questioned quietly. Meiling nodded calmly in response.
ÒYou are,Ó she said. ÒYukito would never consider peace if his daughter were murdered.Ó
Tomoyo winced at these words. ÒI feel loved,Ó she said hesitantly.
Meiling frowned. ÒIt isnÕt that we wouldnÕt have rescued you anyway, itÕs just that-Ó
ÒYes, I know,Ó Tomoyo interrupted. She smiled gently at Meiling.
Meiling resisted smiling back. ÒWill you grant us the peace we seek, Tomoyo?Ó
TomoyoÕs eyes widened in surprise. ÒWhat?Ó, she questioned.
ÒPlease,Ó Meiling began pleadingly, her eyes desperate. ÒWe could make up a peace treaty right now. You could sign it, and Syaoran and I could return it to his father . . .Ó
ÒN-No,Ó Tomoyo said. MeilingÕs eyes widened in shock.
ÒWhy not?,Ó she gasped. ÒI thought that you wanted peace as much as we do!Ó
ÒI do!,Ó Tomoyo said, clearly upset. ÒBut I canÕt sign a peace treaty!Ó
ÒWhy not?Ó, said a deep, steady voice.
Meiling and Tomoyo turned in surprise to see Syaoran and Sakura enter the clearing from the Forest. The questioning voice had been his. Meiling frowned when she saw that the lovers were holding each otherÕs hand.
ÒWell,Ó Tomoyo began after a moment, having recovered from the slight surprise. ÒI see that you two have reconciled.Ó
Sakura smiled and nodded, but SyaoranÕs eyes remained serious. He gently let go of her hand, and she did not protest, understanding that now was not the time.
ÒWhy can you not sign a peace treaty?,Ó Syaoran asked again. Tomoyo sighed sadly.
ÒI wish that I could,Ó she said regretfully. ÒBut I cannot. Only my father can sign peace treaties, or make any other kind of peace agreement in the name of our kingdom, for that matter.Ó
ÒYour father . . . the king?,Ó Sakura questioned. Tomoyo nodded affirmingly.
MeilingÕs face fell. ÒWhat are we to do, then?,Ó she asked pleadingly. ÒThe only reason we are all here is because of our search for peace. We have to find it; our kingdoms are lost without it.Ó
Sakura frowned deeply, her eyes growing sad. She remembered all of the things she had seen: the burning homes, the dying people, the blood everywhere. She remembered her father and little brother, now dead . . .
ÒItÕs true!,Ó she suddenly exclaimed. ÒWe need peace! We need it as quickly as we can have it!Ó
Syaoran looked at her, worried, out of the corner of his eye. He frowned; she was about to cry.
Tomoyo also frowned, but only for a moment. Her eyes suddenly brightened with hope.
ÒThe answer is simple,Ó she said warmly, ÒWeÕll go see my father.Ó
Meiling sighed in relief. ÒThank the gods, itÕs not over yet.Ó
Sakura smiled a bit, though her eyes were still sad.
ÒDo you think he will agree to sign a peace treaty, Tomoyo?,Ó she questioned quietly, hope filling her. Tomoyo returned her weak smile.
ÒMy father hopes for peace as much as we all do,Ó she said warmly. ÒHe will.Ó
SakuraÕs smile deepened, and she turned to Syaoran, catching a glimpse of his smile, rarely revealed to anyone, less her.
ÒItÕs settled, then,Ó he said calmly. ÒWe will go to see your father, and once there, we will talk with him of peace.Ó
Tomoyo nodded with a warm smile.
ÒI would be honoured to be escorted home by all of you,Ó she said, pleased.
ÒWhere is your home?,Ó Meiling questioned.
ÒOur palace is in the city of Raena,Ó Tomoyo said. Suddenly, fear entered her beautiful amethyst eyes. ÒIÕm not sure how to get there from here, though!Ó
Sakura smiled confidently.
ÒIf I remember correctly,Ó she began, picturing a map of Kaera in her mind, ÒRaena isnÕt far from here. It isnÕt close, but it also isnÕt far. ItÕs to the West.Ó
Syaoran turned to Sakura in surprise. ÒYouÕre amazing with that,Ó he said, blinking.
ÒWith what?,Ó asked Sakura shyly, blushing slightly. Syaoran smiled a bit.
ÒKnowing where all the Kaeran cities are,Ó he said. Sakura nodded.
ÒWell,Ó she said hesitantly, ÒIÕm blessed with a good memory. That and when I was a little girl, I used to dream of visiting all the cities in Kaera. I would study its map often . . .Ó
ÒThat would explain it,Ó said Syaoran gently. He was about to make a comment about how he would gladly take her to all of them, but something stopped him from doing so.
ÔWill I be able to stay here with you,Õ he thought, thinking of Sakura, ÔAfter my father finds out what Meiling and I been doing? Even if we secure peace, IÕll be punished for disobeying his orders. HeÕll never allow me to stay here . . . he hates this kingdom . . .Õ
ÒWeÕll journey to the West, then,Ó Meiling said, masking her happiness with a calm face. ÒTo the city of Raena, to KaeraÕs king . . .Ó
ÒTo peace,Ó Tomoyo finished. She smiled at the ruby-eyed girl, and she smiled back slightly.
Syaoran frowned, still lost in his thoughts. He was snapped out of them when he felt SakuraÕs gentle touch. She had touched his arm lightly with her fingertips.
ÒAre you alright?,Ó she inquired, worried. ÒYou look so sad.Ó
Syaoran smiled, though weakly, for her. ÒIÕm fine,Ó he said. Sakura accepted this, but her frown remained.
ÒIÕm glad we have this chance,Ó he said to her reassuringly, trying to comfort her. When she smiled a bit, he sighed in relief.
ÒWe should leave immediately,Ó said Meiling confidently.
ÒI agree,Ó Tomoyo enthusiastically agreed. ÒThe sooner we can attain peace between our two kingdoms, the better.Ó
ÒWe will leave immediately, then,Ó Syaoran said. Sakura internally sighed in relief; he appeared much more at peace now, and appropriately so.
ÒEveryone,Ó he commanded in a prince-like fashion, ÒLetÕs pack up. We will leave as soon as possible.Ó
Seeing that Sakura was staring at him, Syaoran returned her gaze, his amber eyes filled with hope.
Sakura too was filled with hope, a hope that comforted her broken, though healing, heart. She could not bring back her father or her little brother, but she could do everything she could to make sure that not another soul lost someone they loved to the War. She could fight for peace.
She smiled softly to herself. They had much more than hope now.
They had a real chance.
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To be continued in the next chapter. Well, yay for plot-moving-on-ness. =3 IÕm starting to get a bit sad; this story only has two major parts left. Still a bunch of chapters, but, well ... well, youÕll see.
If you liked it, or better yet, have ideas, then please leave a review! I love reviews! Reviews = writer faster! =^^= IÕll even thank you personally because I love reviews so much! Hehe.
Special thanks to Azi, who helped me with a new summary! =3
I hope you liked this chapter! ^_^
And finally, just a note to all those ÒTomoyo and Meiling? What the hell?!Ó reviewers. Please donÕt be scared. =3 I promise I wonÕt do anything to scare you off.
In the next chapter: YouÕll see . . .
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot!
Authoress Ramble: Yay! Over 150 reviews! =3 I love all of you! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. The plot moves forward a bit. Enjoy and review! 3
Note: If the Òs,Õs and ,s are not quotes and commas, go to View ------ Character Set in Internet Explorer and change it to Western (Mac)! Or change the character set some other way to fix it, itÕs possible!
Shouts To People Who Reviewed!: Thank you so much for reviewing! Much love to Azi, Amanda Panda, Eclipse, Little Wolf LOVER, Shorty, Draco, CardCaptorHikariWolfy, Kimi-chan and ÒREALLY LIKE UR FICÓ (you didnÕt leave a name for me, cutie pie o.o), DL@;~, Ongaku, SulliMike23, kawaiitenshisakura, Cherry, UrbanCinderella, darkemerald22, Sakura-miaka, Tigerdrake, Mika, WezL, hana no tenshi (Eva), Princess Kinomoto, Blossom190, Kwaii Canadian, SweetyPie, twilight-star, SweetCherryBlossom, diablo, Laura, Raymisha, Blozzomz, ZetaBee, Pink Sakura, Kinomoto, Shima And Tempis, HikariWolfSky, Riconne, Cherry Blossom, Kawaii-CherryWolf (cute name!), Rae-Rae (another cute name!), dangerous-beans, ZetaBee, Cute_Leen, Zara, Ebony Black, Shima And Tempis, Mini Sweety, Bloodlust Night, Meinien, :I, Lady Dez, Kat, *~*princess*~*, Jamie, silverymare, LilÕ Fairy, Feathers, CoolCat, Val (great idea!), D, Athar-Luna, Azn-Angel and finally, Kitty Neko (IÕm a big fan of yours! =3 I am honoured that you like my story!)! Thank you all again for your support!
Also, it seems that Little Wolf LOVER is quite the authoress. ^_^ Mini Sweety reviewed and told me how successful you are, so IÕm quite honoured! Thank you for reading my humble story! =3
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Syaoran ran as quickly as he could after Sakura, dodging the rocks and tree branches that obscured his path. A deep red blush still stained his cheeks, warmed by less than innocent thoughts of a certain emerald-eyed girl.
He could see flashes of her dress every once in a while, and as they ran, he called out to her.
ÒSakura!,Ó he yelled pleadingly, still running as quickly as he could, ÒSakura! Please, stop! Let me explain!Ó
Sakura ignored him, running blindly with tears falling down her cheeks, which were also stained with a blush. She was flustered and embarrassed. How much had he seen? That . . . that pervert!
ÒPlease wait!,Ó Syaoran shouted from behind her, ÒLet me explain! It was an accident! I didnÕt mean to-Ó
Sakura was growing tired and out of breath, as she had been running at full speed for several minutes. Frustrated, she stopped abruptly and spun around to face him.
Syaoran stopped in surprise, staring at SakuraÕs blushing face and into her deep emerald eyes, burning with fury. He winced.
ÒIÕm very sorry,Ó he began shakily. ÒI came down to the creek to take a bath, I had no idea that you would be there, I . . . I tried not to stare. Meiling pushed me forward and I lost my balance and fell in, and oh gods, IÕm sorry. Please accept my apology.Ó
Sakura blinked, surprised. Syaoran was usually not this open with his emotions, or at least, so she thought. She knew that he was a proud soul, and it touched her heart that he would become so humble in seeking her forgiveness.
Still blushing, she smiled a bit.
ÒSo you werenÕt spying on me?,Ó she inquired. SyaoranÕs blush deepened, and he adverted his eyes.
ÒNo,Ó he said finally, ÒI wasnÕt spying.Ó
ÒYou seem awfully embarrassed for someone who wasnÕt spying,Ó Sakura commented, suspicious. Syaoran looked at her nervously.
ÒI didnÕt mean to, ahh, see you that way,Ó he explained. ÒIÕm embarrassed because I saw you, well . . . Ò
ÒYou saw me nude?,Ó Sakura finished, blushing. Syaoran coughed suddenly.
ÒOnly partially,Ó he said shakily.
Sakura raised an eyebrow, her blush deepening.
ÒY-You were far away and the water was up to your waist, and, ahh,Ó Syaoran stuttered, nervous. Sakura couldnÕt help but smile a bit at his obvious discomfort, though she was still very embarrassed that he had seen so much of her.
ÒWhat exactly did you see?,Ó Sakura asked impulsively. Syaoran once again adverted his eyes.
ÒWell, ahh,Ó he began, still blushing. ÒI saw your, ahh. Y-Your . . .Ó
Sakura decided she could guess what he was about to say, and she kindly decided to put the poor, flustered boy out of his misery.
ÒItÕs alright,Ó she said gently. ÒI forgive you. I believe you when you say that you werenÕt trying to spy on me.Ó
Syaoran sighed in relief. ÒThank the gods,Ó he breathed.
Sakura smiled and walked forward, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace. Syaoran eagerly returned the affection, sliding his arms around her waist. She smiled, comforted.
ÒDid you think that I would not forgive you?,Ó Sakura questioned quietly. Syaoran breathed out heavily.
ÒI was worried,Ó he replied gently. ÒEven if that worry was irrational. YouÕre so kind, I suppose that I already knew that you would forgive me.Ó
Sakura smiled. ÒThank you,Ó she said softly.
ÒYouÕre welcome,Ó Syaoran replied simply. He pulled her closer.
ÒYou know,Ó he said playfully, ÒTheyÕre very pretty.Ó
Sakura blushed deeply. ÒS-Syaoran!Ó, she gasped, embarrassed.
ÒItÕs true,Ó Syaoran stated bravely. SakuraÕs blush deepened.
ÒI may be kind,Ó she said warningly, ÒBut that doesnÕt mean that I canÕt make exceptions.Ó
Syaoran laughed quietly, pulling Sakura even closer to him. Her eyes widened briefly in surprise, and then she laughed.
ÒSyaoran!,Ó she said, ÒYouÕre getting me all wet!Ó
He blinked and looked down at himself. His tunic was, of course, dripping wet, as was his chocolate brown hair. He grinned.
ÒYou were wet in the first place,Ó he commented knowingly. Sakura smiled.
ÒThatÕs true,Ó she said gently, content. Something in the tone of her voice made Syaoran smile back warmly.
ÒI definitely forgive you,Ó Sakura stated affectionately, raising herself onto her tiptoes as she leaned forward to kiss her soaking wet lover. He kissed back lovingly, running his hand through her wet red hair.
They pulled away from each other contentedly, both of them wearing warm, loving smiles.
ÒLetÕs go back,Ó Sakura said simply. Syaoran nodded, taking her small hand into his own.
Perhaps too perfectly, they walked back to the camp hand-in-hand.
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Meiling had returned to the camp and was sitting in front of the fire, numbly contemplating her current romantic situation. She sighed sadly.
ÒGood morning, Meiling!Ó
Her eyes widened in shock as a pair of warm lips pressed against her cheek. She blushed deeply, turning to face a cheerful pair of amethyst eyes.
ÒGood morning,Ó Meiling mumbled, irritated. Tomoyo appeared not to notice.
ÒWhere are Sakura and Prince Syaoran?,Ó she inquired. Meiling smirked at this.
ÒOh, they had a bit of a fight,Ó she purred. ÒSyaoran saw Sakura bathing in a creek near here.Ó
Tomoyo gasped. ÒAnd she saw him?Ó
Meiling nodded knowingly.
ÒYes,Ó she began. ÒShe seemed very angry about it. He ran after her just a little while ago.Ó
ÒOh,Ó Tomoyo said, dumbfounded. MeilingÕs eyes flashed with amusement.
ÒWell,Ó Tomoyo added optimistically, ÒIÕm sure theyÕre reconciling right now. TheyÕll walk back here hand-in-hand any moment now.Ó
ÒYouÕre probably right,Ó Meiling said calmly. She sighed sadly once again, but remembering her promise to always seek SyaoranÕs happiness before her own, she chose not to focus on her sadness. To do so would be selfish.
Its failure aside, it had still been a brilliant plan, Meiling thought. She smirked mischievously.
Tomoyo saw this and frowned, seeing straight through the ruby-eyed warrior.
ÒWait a moment,Ó she said suspiciously. ÒDid you plan for their fight to occur?Ó
MeilingÕs eyes widened in surprised, and she turned to Tomoyo, shocked.
ÒAh-hah!,Ó Tomoyo said accusingly. ÒSo you did! Are you truly that jealous?Ó
Meiling adverted her eyes sadly from TomoyoÕs accusing ones.
ÒIÕm not sure,Ó she said quietly. ÒI knew from the start that theyÕd only reconcile and be stronger lovers in the end, if that means anything. I want Syaoran to be happy, and if that means being with her, then . . .Ó
ÒSo you didnÕt set up their fight to break them apart?,Ó Tomoyo questioned softly. Meiling smiled sadly and shook her head.
ÒAgain,Ó she began, ÒI donÕt know. I think I did, but I also think that I knew it would fail. My heart wants too many things.Ó
Tomoyo looked at the ruby-eyed girl empathetically, somehow understanding her pain. She leaned forward and kissed Meiling tenderly on the cheek.
ÒIt will be alright,Ó she said gently. ÒYour heart will heal.Ó
Meiling blushed deeply at the kiss, adverting her eyes.
ÒP-Please stop that,Ó she said nervously, still blushing. ÒIÕm not . . . like that.Ó
Tomoyo frowned as Meiling continued.
ÒIÕm not a . . .Ó
ÒYes, I know,Ó Tomoyo said firmly, her expression serious and calm. ÒI know that youÕre in love with Syaoran, and conveniently enough, he has a pe-Ó
ÒTomoyo!,Ó Meiling gasped, cutting her off. Tomoyo smiled a bit at her shyness.
ÒItÕs not that I dislike . . . people who love . . . differently . . . itÕs just that I, myself, am not . . .,Ó Meiling continued nervously.
TomoyoÕs smile deepened, growing sadder. ÒI know,Ó she said gently.
ÒYour heart is not free right now, am I right?Ó
Meiling nodded calmly, looking away. Tomoyo smiled sadly, her eyes deep and wistful.
ÒJust remember,Ó she said warmly, ÒThat we all need love.Ó
With a sad smile, she winked at Meiling, who promptly blushed and coughed nervously.
Meiling stopped and finally looked at Tomoyo with sadness in her eyes.
ÒLove, aye,Ó she said softly. ÒBut what we truly need is peace.Ó
TomoyoÕs eyes grew darker at this; she had forgotten, for a moment, that greater battles outweighed her own.
ÒThat is very true,Ó she said calmly. ÒBoth of our kingdoms need it desperately.Ó
Meiling nodded affirmingly. ÒYes,Ó she stated. ÒThatÕs why we went through so much trouble to rescue you; we had to secure our only change at peace.Ó
ÒAm I your only chance?,Ó Tomoyo questioned quietly. Meiling nodded calmly in response.
ÒYou are,Ó she said. ÒYukito would never consider peace if his daughter were murdered.Ó
Tomoyo winced at these words. ÒI feel loved,Ó she said hesitantly.
Meiling frowned. ÒIt isnÕt that we wouldnÕt have rescued you anyway, itÕs just that-Ó
ÒYes, I know,Ó Tomoyo interrupted. She smiled gently at Meiling.
Meiling resisted smiling back. ÒWill you grant us the peace we seek, Tomoyo?Ó
TomoyoÕs eyes widened in surprise. ÒWhat?Ó, she questioned.
ÒPlease,Ó Meiling began pleadingly, her eyes desperate. ÒWe could make up a peace treaty right now. You could sign it, and Syaoran and I could return it to his father . . .Ó
ÒN-No,Ó Tomoyo said. MeilingÕs eyes widened in shock.
ÒWhy not?,Ó she gasped. ÒI thought that you wanted peace as much as we do!Ó
ÒI do!,Ó Tomoyo said, clearly upset. ÒBut I canÕt sign a peace treaty!Ó
ÒWhy not?Ó, said a deep, steady voice.
Meiling and Tomoyo turned in surprise to see Syaoran and Sakura enter the clearing from the Forest. The questioning voice had been his. Meiling frowned when she saw that the lovers were holding each otherÕs hand.
ÒWell,Ó Tomoyo began after a moment, having recovered from the slight surprise. ÒI see that you two have reconciled.Ó
Sakura smiled and nodded, but SyaoranÕs eyes remained serious. He gently let go of her hand, and she did not protest, understanding that now was not the time.
ÒWhy can you not sign a peace treaty?,Ó Syaoran asked again. Tomoyo sighed sadly.
ÒI wish that I could,Ó she said regretfully. ÒBut I cannot. Only my father can sign peace treaties, or make any other kind of peace agreement in the name of our kingdom, for that matter.Ó
ÒYour father . . . the king?,Ó Sakura questioned. Tomoyo nodded affirmingly.
MeilingÕs face fell. ÒWhat are we to do, then?,Ó she asked pleadingly. ÒThe only reason we are all here is because of our search for peace. We have to find it; our kingdoms are lost without it.Ó
Sakura frowned deeply, her eyes growing sad. She remembered all of the things she had seen: the burning homes, the dying people, the blood everywhere. She remembered her father and little brother, now dead . . .
ÒItÕs true!,Ó she suddenly exclaimed. ÒWe need peace! We need it as quickly as we can have it!Ó
Syaoran looked at her, worried, out of the corner of his eye. He frowned; she was about to cry.
Tomoyo also frowned, but only for a moment. Her eyes suddenly brightened with hope.
ÒThe answer is simple,Ó she said warmly, ÒWeÕll go see my father.Ó
Meiling sighed in relief. ÒThank the gods, itÕs not over yet.Ó
Sakura smiled a bit, though her eyes were still sad.
ÒDo you think he will agree to sign a peace treaty, Tomoyo?,Ó she questioned quietly, hope filling her. Tomoyo returned her weak smile.
ÒMy father hopes for peace as much as we all do,Ó she said warmly. ÒHe will.Ó
SakuraÕs smile deepened, and she turned to Syaoran, catching a glimpse of his smile, rarely revealed to anyone, less her.
ÒItÕs settled, then,Ó he said calmly. ÒWe will go to see your father, and once there, we will talk with him of peace.Ó
Tomoyo nodded with a warm smile.
ÒI would be honoured to be escorted home by all of you,Ó she said, pleased.
ÒWhere is your home?,Ó Meiling questioned.
ÒOur palace is in the city of Raena,Ó Tomoyo said. Suddenly, fear entered her beautiful amethyst eyes. ÒIÕm not sure how to get there from here, though!Ó
Sakura smiled confidently.
ÒIf I remember correctly,Ó she began, picturing a map of Kaera in her mind, ÒRaena isnÕt far from here. It isnÕt close, but it also isnÕt far. ItÕs to the West.Ó
Syaoran turned to Sakura in surprise. ÒYouÕre amazing with that,Ó he said, blinking.
ÒWith what?,Ó asked Sakura shyly, blushing slightly. Syaoran smiled a bit.
ÒKnowing where all the Kaeran cities are,Ó he said. Sakura nodded.
ÒWell,Ó she said hesitantly, ÒIÕm blessed with a good memory. That and when I was a little girl, I used to dream of visiting all the cities in Kaera. I would study its map often . . .Ó
ÒThat would explain it,Ó said Syaoran gently. He was about to make a comment about how he would gladly take her to all of them, but something stopped him from doing so.
ÔWill I be able to stay here with you,Õ he thought, thinking of Sakura, ÔAfter my father finds out what Meiling and I been doing? Even if we secure peace, IÕll be punished for disobeying his orders. HeÕll never allow me to stay here . . . he hates this kingdom . . .Õ
ÒWeÕll journey to the West, then,Ó Meiling said, masking her happiness with a calm face. ÒTo the city of Raena, to KaeraÕs king . . .Ó
ÒTo peace,Ó Tomoyo finished. She smiled at the ruby-eyed girl, and she smiled back slightly.
Syaoran frowned, still lost in his thoughts. He was snapped out of them when he felt SakuraÕs gentle touch. She had touched his arm lightly with her fingertips.
ÒAre you alright?,Ó she inquired, worried. ÒYou look so sad.Ó
Syaoran smiled, though weakly, for her. ÒIÕm fine,Ó he said. Sakura accepted this, but her frown remained.
ÒIÕm glad we have this chance,Ó he said to her reassuringly, trying to comfort her. When she smiled a bit, he sighed in relief.
ÒWe should leave immediately,Ó said Meiling confidently.
ÒI agree,Ó Tomoyo enthusiastically agreed. ÒThe sooner we can attain peace between our two kingdoms, the better.Ó
ÒWe will leave immediately, then,Ó Syaoran said. Sakura internally sighed in relief; he appeared much more at peace now, and appropriately so.
ÒEveryone,Ó he commanded in a prince-like fashion, ÒLetÕs pack up. We will leave as soon as possible.Ó
Seeing that Sakura was staring at him, Syaoran returned her gaze, his amber eyes filled with hope.
Sakura too was filled with hope, a hope that comforted her broken, though healing, heart. She could not bring back her father or her little brother, but she could do everything she could to make sure that not another soul lost someone they loved to the War. She could fight for peace.
She smiled softly to herself. They had much more than hope now.
They had a real chance.
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To be continued in the next chapter. Well, yay for plot-moving-on-ness. =3 IÕm starting to get a bit sad; this story only has two major parts left. Still a bunch of chapters, but, well ... well, youÕll see.
If you liked it, or better yet, have ideas, then please leave a review! I love reviews! Reviews = writer faster! =^^= IÕll even thank you personally because I love reviews so much! Hehe.
Special thanks to Azi, who helped me with a new summary! =3
I hope you liked this chapter! ^_^
And finally, just a note to all those ÒTomoyo and Meiling? What the hell?!Ó reviewers. Please donÕt be scared. =3 I promise I wonÕt do anything to scare you off.
In the next chapter: YouÕll see . . .
