Amber Eyes
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot!
Authoress Ramble: Getting darker, mmm. It feels good to be away from fluff. Fluff is great, donÕt get me wrong! But I miss pain, angst, sadness, suspense. Rest assured that youÕll get your fill of all of the above soon enough.
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, Dark-Luv3, cherryblossom, Li-kyoko-cp, Mysticalia, AnimeObsessionFantasy, Cute Emerald, Friends4Eva08, Cherry13, LilDragonGurl28, Pink-CherryBlossoms, Flaming Sakura, MimiGhost, S+SObsession!, Kammy, Mel, Kate, Shauna, Asayuni, T-Man, Moonspell, Rosy-Ray-Lover, SweetCherryBlossom, Catrina, Mysticalia, Abc, Alflirtbabe, T-man, Aino Saori, Cherry Li, Ying, Stormy 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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ÒSakura,Ó a distant voice called. Warm fingers ran through her soft, albeit tangled, red locks, brushing them from her eyes. ÒSakura . . .Ó
She moaned in her sleep, willing the warm hand away as she rolled onto her side. Its owner sighed, shaking his head with a tired smile.
ÔMust she do this every morning?,Õ he thought in frustration. Still, he was smiling; her sleeping face was always adorable.
ÒItÕs time to get up, Sakura,Ó he said, shaking her shoulder gently. She moaned again, rolling onto her back once more.
Suddenly, a pair of warm, moist lips covered her own, holding in her breath. As her body began to panic slightly, her eyelids fluttered open in surprise.
Syaoran raised his head, amused. ÒGood morning,Ó he said with a grin.
Sakura merely closed her eyes once again. ÒItÕs much too early to get up, Syaoran. We need sleep,Ó she moaned. ÒSleep . . .Ó
ÒWe need to move quickly. Come on now, wake up. Open your eyes,Ó Syaoran commanded in a prince-like tone. Sakura only groaned again.
ÒYouÕre so stubborn,Ó he muttered. ÒIÕm not kissing you again. Up!Ó
Defeatedly, Sakura opened her eyes. She raised an eyebrow warily.
ÒWeÕve been at this for days,Ó she complained, still half-asleep. ÒWalking, walking, sleeping for a few hours, more walking . . .Ó
ÒYouÕve had more than a few hours. Look, the sun is rising,Ó Syaoran replied. Slowly, Sakura sat up, looking around at the trees that surrounded her. Indeed, the sky beyond them was rich with reds, pinks and golds.
ÒAye,Ó she said with a yawn. ÒBut who cares? Let it rise, and let me sleep.Ó
ÒLazy girl,Ó Syaoran scolded. ÒWe need to get going. Look, Meiling is already up.Ó
From her seat near the fire, MeilingÕs head jolted up at the mention of her name. She looked in their direction, frowning. She still disliked seeing them so close to one another.
ÒHow many more days until we get to the Li kingdom?,Ó Sakura asked curiously. Syaoran pondered this for a moment, then replied.
ÒA day or so,Ó he said, and then, with a smirk, ÒProvided we get going on time.Ó
ÒOh, shut up,Ó Sakura said teasingly. ÒI see your point. IÕm awake, arenÕt you happy now?Ó
ÒYes,Ó the amber-eyed prince answered. He leaned forward and quickly kissed the emerald-eyed peasant girl, who smiled gently at him.
ÒLetÕs get going,Ó Syaoran commanded good-naturedly, his eyes glistening with amusement. Sakura nodded, and as she gathered herself, Syaoran returned to Meiling. Together, the pair quietly packed up their things, dousing the fire.
Within less than fifteen minutes, they were back on the road, Sakura following Syaoran and Meiling as best she could. They moved quickly, as if they knew their way back to their home kingdom instinctively, as if its location was burned into their minds. They were both quiet and serious, which unnerved Sakura.
She was nervous enough about entering the Li kingdom, having heard dark rumors about it and its king; did they have to act like they were travelling to a funeral instead of a peace meeting?
She shivered at the thought of a funeral. Though their lives were not threatened- quite the opposite really, things seemed to be going well for them; they were, after all, about to bring peace between their two kingdoms- she could not escape the feeling that going to the Li kingdom was a mistake. Though she knew travelling there was something that had to be done, and that it was, in fact, the birthplace of Syaoran and Meiling, something about it made her doubt that things were going well for them at all.
The day they had left the palace, the last time she had seen her, TomoyoÕs eyes had been dark with fear and worry. They conveyed a warning to be cautious, a warning that danger was ahead of them. And yet, there was no danger. They were on a mission for peace, not war and conflict. It made no sense . . . nothing was threatening them . . .
ÒYouÕre too quiet,Ó Meiling said suddenly, looking back at Sakura as they walked. ÒItÕs unnerving.Ó
Sakura smiled nervously, trying to dismiss her feelings of dread.
ÒIÕm sorry,Ó she said hurridly. ÒItÕs just that . . . there is nothing left to say . . .Ó
Syaoran looked back at her as well, raising an eyebrow.
ÒNothing to say?,Ó he inquired suspiciously. ÒYouÕre never this quiet. ThatÕs why weÕre worried: you always seem to have something to say.Ó
Sakura laughed nervously, hiding her fears. How could they know her so well?
For the next few hours, she chatted aimlessly, trying her best not to be Òtoo quietÓ. This satisfied Syaoran and Meiling, who were quiet themselves. Though they were returning home, for some reason, the journey there was not a cheerful one for them.
ÔSomething is wrong here,Õ Sakura thought, frustrated. ÔIÕm afraid for no reason, TomoyoÕs eyes, and Syaoran and Meiling acting like theyÕre heading for war instead of home . . . it must be true that this kingdom is . . . darker than most . . .Õ
ÒSyaoran?,Ó Sakura inquired suddenly. Syaoran looked back at her for a moment, smiling weakly.
ÒYes?,Ó he replied. Sakura bit her lip nervously.
ÒIs there something I donÕt know about the Li kingdom? Something that . . . no one is telling me?Ó
Meiling turned back also, eying her strangely. She then turned her gaze to Syaoran, waiting for him to reply.
ÒNo,Ó he answered numbly. ÒItÕs just a kingdom, really, no different than any other . . .Ó
ÒYour father, then?,Ó Sakura pressed on. Syaoran narrowed his eyes, looking nervous. Meiling noticed this and spoke for him.
ÒSome might say that he is a tyrant,Ó Meiling began numbly, ÒBut he is a powerful ruler. A strong leader; many are loyal to him. He has gained much for our kingdom.Ó
ÒThrough war,Ó Sakura finished darkly. Meiling eyed her warily, but said nothing.
ÒYou should not be so outspoken when you meet him,Ó she warned. ÒIf heÕs angry, heÕll never sign a peace agreement. The odds are against us the way it is. You represent the entire Kaera kingdom for him, you and the unsigned peace contact. Remember that. He wonÕt make peace with disrespectful fools.Ó
ÒSheÕs just being honest,Ó Syaoran said suddenly, angry at the implied insult.
ÒToo honest,Ó Meiling replied. ÒIÕm being just as honest. ItÕs all well and good to be fearless, but not with him. He isnÕt the type of person to forgive easily.Ó
ÒThank you for reminding me,Ó Syaoran said coldly.
Sakura found herself becoming increasingly nervous. What would he do when he found about herself and Syaoran? If he told him, that is . . . no one ever said that he was that serious about her, to risk everything for one small girl . . .
ÒJust be respectful when you see him,Ó Meiling said, speaking to Sakura. ÒThatÕs all IÕm saying. DonÕt anger him.Ó
Sakura nodded numbly; she would not.
ÒHe hardly deserves respect,Ó Syaoran muttered. Sakura gasped.
ÒYou would say that about your own father?,Ó she said to him in disbelief. ÒYou shouldnÕt say such thin-Ó
ÒYou donÕt know my father,Ó Syaoran growled in response. Sakura fell silent, though after a moment she reached out and touched his arm comfortingly.
ÒWeÕre doing this in the name of peace,Ó she said gently. ÒThe gods are with us. WeÕll succeed.Ó
ÒHis father has succeeded before,Ó Meiling said darkly. ÒDoes that mean the gods were with him then as well?Ó
ÒThe gods are with people who strive to do what is right, not wrong,Ó Sakura replied.
ÒI think weÕll need more than gods to succeed at this,Ó Meiling said response.
ÒWhat, then, if not divine help?,Ó Syaoran asked, slightly unnerved by his second-cousinÕs negative approach to their quest.
ÒFaith,Ó Sakura said suddenly. ÒI think we need faith.Ó
ÒAye,Ó Syaoran said. ÒI agree. Faith.Ó
ÒI hope thatÕs all,Ó Meiling said darkly.
Silence then fell once again between the members of the threesome, the only sounds the crunching of leaves under feet, the swoosh of branches being shoved aside.
They hiked for hours more, sportaticly talking to pass the time. The farther they walked, the colder it became, so cold that it finally made Sakura shiver even though she was wrapped in her dress and cloak, rubbing her arms quickly to warm them. They were nearing it.
Finally, near sunset, Sakura decided to ask. She shivered, her breathe frozen and visible as she spoke.
ÒAre we near the Li kingdom yet, S-Syaoran?,Ó she asked. Syaoran, who appeared used to the cold, turned back to her, his amber eyes dark.
ÒWeÕve been in it for two hours now,Ó he replied. SakuraÕs eyes widened in surprise, and she looked around at the dark trees, shivering. Aside from the cold, little had changed.
ÔWeÕre here,Õ she thought bitterly. A shiver of fear ran down her spine.
ÔWeÕre finally here . . .Õ
Hours later, they approached the massive wooden gate of a dark city, lit only by the light from windows. Guards stood in front of the gate, their stances confident and strong. Their spears, sharp and ready, glistened in the moonlight.
ÒNiikan,Ó Meiling said to Sakura quietly, when they were still far from the gates. ÒWeÕre in the Li kingdom. This is the city of Niikan.Ó
Sakura blinked, slightly confused. ÒWhy is there a gate, and guards protecting it? IÕve never seen that for an entire city before . . .Ó
ÒTravel is restricted in the Li kingdom,Ó Meiling replied. ÒIt isnÕt like Kaera. You canÕt just come and go as you please, travel from city to city, leave the kingdom and enter it again. There are restrictions.Ó
ÒThat is . . . nearly frightening,Ó Sakura said. ÒDoesnÕt that take away some of the freedom that belongs to the people?Ó
ÒIn a way,Ó Meiling replied nonchalantly. ÒYou get used to it. Come, quietly. WeÕre going into Niikan. The palace is within it.Ó
Stelthily, the threesome appraoched the gates of Niikan. As their forms stepped out of the shadows, the guards tensed, gripping their spears.
ÒState your business in Niikan!,Ó one shouted at them. Syaoran stepped foreword with a cocky smirk.
ÒNone of your damn business,Ó he said loudly. The guard gasped, clentching his teeth in anger.
ÒWhy yo-Ó, he began. SyaoranÕs smirk only deepened as he stepped into the moonlight completely, revealing his face, smirk and all.
ÒI am Prince Syaoran,Ó he said confidently, ÒAnd I wish to see my father. Now move aside and let me pass.Ó
The guard gasped again, as did the other guards. Quickly, they all bowed deeply and moved aside, opening the gate for him.
ÒYour Highness,Ó the guard said as Syaoran hauntily walked past him. Meiling followed him closely with Sakura at her side, who was looking nervous and hesitant. Her eyes were wide, taking in the dark city as much as possible as they walked through it. It was quiet and cold, a sharp contrast to the beautiful city in which the royal palace of Kaera had been built.
They walked through dark, winding streets, mostly empty and quiet. None of them spoke, for it seemed almost sinful to do so. Sakura swallowed nervously, holding both her tongue and her breath; she still did not have a good feeling about this strange, quiet city.
All too soon, they approached the palace. Sakura looked up at it in awe; it was very tall, amazingly tall perhaps. She had never seen a building like it, with its tall spires and high peaks. She nearly gasped when she saw it. It was massive, nearly terrifying; the fact that the darkness made it appear black did not help this fact.
Syaoran confidently passed the guards at the palace gate, who bowed at his feet immediately. Meiling strolled just as confidently at his side. Hesitantly, Sakura followed the pair, peering around herself with fearful curiosity.
SakuraÕs eyes slid half-closed in thought as she walked behind her lover, watching his back. She could not, for some reason, accept that this dark place was his home. How could a place with such a cold aura give birth to his warm, caring soul? It made no sense to her, but then again . . . fate could be strange like that.
They walked up a dark stone pathway, and all too quickly, they were at the tall doors of the palace. Made from twisted iron and dark metal, they did not appear to be doors at all; they looked too impassable. Sakura swallowed her breath, taken aback; why on the godsÕ Earth was she here?
Guards framed the doors of the palace, and with a swift command from Syaoran, they opened them.
ÒI am Prince Syaoran! Open the doors, now!Ó, he barked, and hurridly, the guards did so. Sakura felt a shiver run down her spine; his voice sounded so cold. It was devoid of emotion, and this frightened her.
They entered the palace, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor. They had entered a great room, one similar to the throne room in the Kaera palace. It was dimly lit with torches that hung on the walls; the room was so huge that the torches could not light the room properly. Sakura gasped as she gazed upward; the ceiling was so high that she could not see the top of it. Far from the reach of the light of the torches, it disappeared into the darkness.
They walked forward, toward the roomÕs center. As they did so, Sakura realzed that it was, indeed, a throne room, for at the back of the room was a platroom covered in dark green fabric, a stage-like structure upon which was placed a great silver throne. It was eerily empty, half shrowded in darkness.
ÒSyaoran,Ó a cold voice calmly stated.
All three pairs of eyes turned to the right. Standing in the darkness was a tall man, his frame thin, but not enough to make him appear weak. A long black cloak hung from his shoulders, and his royal tunic was dark green with accents of black and a regal silver belt completing it.
His black hair contrasted with his pale skin, but paired strangely well with his smirk. Sakura once again swallowed her breath; this man felt dangerous.
ÒFather,Ó Syaoran said, surprised. ÒWhy are you not asleep?Ó
ÒOh, you know how I feel about sleeping,Ó he purred in response. ÒAs I often say, carpe noctem. Seize the night. And besides, the guards from the city gate sent someone to notify me of your arrival.Ó
Syaoran felt suddenly timid; his father appeared amused. He never looked amused unless he was about to do something terrible. Like a cruel feline, he teased his prey before going in for the kill.
ÒYouÕre angry,Ó Syaoran stated calmly, trying to mask his fear.
ÒRelived, actually,Ó he replied, his eyes flashing. ÒLady Meiling, IÕm happy to see that youÕre alive.Ó
ÒThank you, King Eriol,Ó she said with a deep bow. As she raised herself, Sakura saw that her ruby eyes were dark with fear. The tension in the air was thick enough to be sliced with a knife.
ÒMight I ask why you suddenly ran off to the Kaera kingdom?Ó, Eriol asked coldly. Meiling turned to Syaoran, reading his eyes; they were deep and serious. No, she decided; she could not risk lying to him.
ÒI went for a peace meeting with Princess Tomoyo, Sir,Ó Meiling said quickly. ÒI know that you did not approve of it, but I was acting with our kingdomÕs best interests in mind. Our people are suffering . . .Ó
ÒPeople are always suffering, my child, war or no war,Ó Eriol replied icily. ÒDid you not think that I, too, was acting in the best interests of our kingdom? What of that?Ó
ÒI did, Your Highness, but I-Ó, Meiling began pleadingly.
ÒBut you disagreed,Ó Eriol finished. His eyes darkened as he turned to his son.
ÒSyaoran. What do you think of this?Ó
Syaoran swallowed as sweat broke out on his forehead. He clutched his hand into a fist, his eyes unwavering.
ÒI think that Meiling is right,Ó he replied slowly. ÒI think that peace is the only thing that will get us anywhere.Ó
ÒI see,Ó Eriol responded coldly. ÒIÕm disappointed in you, Syaoran. I thought that at least my son would not betray me.Ó
ÒWe have not betrayed you, my Lord,Ó Meiling said quickly. ÒWe merely did what we thought was best.Ó
ÒYou went against my orders,Ó Eriol said icily. ÒDirectly disobeyed them. Peace is not so desirable, my children. Like glass, it is fragile, and once abtained it takes only one wrong touch to shatter it. Why give up so much for something that will soon break?Ó
ÒPeace is the only thing through which our kingdom can thrive,Ó Syaoran said strongly, ÒThrough which our people can live in happiness, without fear. That is always worth fighting for.Ó
ÒHmm,Ó Eriol said. ÒYour argument is impressive. I will . . . consider your words.Ó
ÒThank you, Father,Ó Syaoran said, sounding relieved. EriolÕs eyes turned from him.
ÒTell me,Ó he said with a frown, ÒWho is this girl?Ó
SyaoranÕs eyes widened in shock as he saw that his father was staring directly at Sakura. Realizing this herself, she began to sweat, suddenly feeling nervous.
ÒI-I . .,Ó she began shakily, ÒMy name is Sa-Ó
ÒThis is Sakura,Ó Syaoran began fluidly. ÒShe is our guide from the Kaera kingdom. She helped us to secure this, Father.Ó
ÒYour guide,Ó Eriol said suspicously, looking Sakura up and down. ÒI see.Ó
As he spoke, Syaoran reached into his cloak and pulled out a rolled-up scroll. He presented it to his father hesitantly, despite himself.
ÒThis is a peace agreement, Father,Ó he said with as much confidence as he could gather. ÒSign it and our men will cease fire on the Kaera kingdom. King Yukito has already signed it, and when you do so as well, his men will also cease fire. When this occurs, you and King Yukito can meet to discuss peace further. Please, Father, consider this as-Ó
Eriol grabbed the scroll quickly, glaring at his son angrily.
ÒI will indeed consider it,Ó he said roughly. ÒBut not now, in the middle of the night. IÕm sure youÕre tired; go now, leave me. You and Meiling both know where your rooms are. The girl may sleep, well. Find some room for her.Ó
ÒThank you, Your Highness,Ó Meiling said with a bow. Sakura bowed as well, but was too intimidated to say a word.
ÒGood night, Father,Ó Syaoran said, sounding relieved. The three turned away and began to walk toward the doors on the left side of the room.
ÒSyaoran,Ó Eriol said suddenly. ÒWait just a minute. You two, go. Let me have a private word with my son.Ó
Meiling nodded quickly. ÒYes, Your Highness.Ó
She touched SakuraÕs arm, pushing her forward slightly.
ÒCome,Ó she whispered quickly, ÒWeÕll find a guestroom for you.Ó
Sakura nodded, looking back at Syaoran a final time before allowing herself to be led by Meiling toward the doors. They reached them quickly, and disappeared beyond them into the palaceÕs dark hallways.
ÒTell me,Ó Eriol said coldly once the two had gone. ÒWhy did your guide come with you to the Li kingdom? Is she is guiding you around here as well?Ó
ÒShe is here to, ahh,Ó Syaoran said hesitantly, ÒTo see the treaty signed and returned properly.Ó
ÒI see,Ó Eriol replied icily. ÒYou know, my son, Yukito has sent at least twenty men here to speak with me about peace. Twenty-three, actually, and needless to say none of them have felt the need to return home. I find it difficult to belive that Yukito would send a young girl here to do the task that a grown man could not.Ó
ÒHe said that you wouldnÕt have the heart to kill her,Ó Syaoran said quickly, ÒAnd thatÕs why he sent her.Ó
ÒBullshit,Ó Eriol said with a smirk. ÒHe knows that I would.Ó
ÒPlease,Ó Syaoran said suddenly, ÒPlease donÕt, she is just . . .Ó
ÒPlease,Ó Eriol mocked, ÒPlease. Please . . . tell me who the hell she is.Ó
ÒShe is a friend of ours,Ó Syaoran said shakily, ÒOf Meiling and myself. She truly did help us, and we wanted to repay her by allowing her to come with us.Ó
ÒHow kind of you,Ó Eriol said suspiciously. His eyes suddenly flashed with anger. ÒTell me why you lied!Ó
ÒI didnÕt think you would understand!,Ó Syaoran growled, suddenly angry himself. Eriol saw this, and with one swift motion he brought his fist to his sonÕs face, punching him in the jaw. The blow sent Syaoran back a few steps, clutching his jaw in pain.
Blood dribbled from his lips, and Syaoran licked it away, tasting his own blood. He met his fatherÕs eyes.
ÒI may not understand you, boy,Ó Eriol barked, ÒBut I am easy to understand myself. Obey me and be rewarded, betray me and be punished. The only reason I will not punish you this time is because you are my son, but understand this. I can only forgive a son so many times.Ó
Syaoran stepped away from his father, wiping away fresh blood.
ÒWhat is the reward?,Ó he snapped. ÒTell me, what? You have given me nothing!Ó
ÒI have given you everything!,Ó Eriol shouted back. ÒUpon my death, you will have the throne, and even now you are blessed with my wealth. I raised you well. I trained you to be a great warrior, and I had you tutored to be intelligent enough to rule properly. And you, you ungrateful brat- you repay me with lies and betrayal!Ó
ÒI am sorry, Father,Ó Syaoran said between clentched teeth. ÒIt will not happen again.Ó
ÒI hope not,Ó Eriol growled. ÒFor your own sake.Ó
Syaoran swallowed more blood, narrowing his eyes. He said nothing.
Eriol stared him down easily, resisting the urge to smack him again.
ÒI will tell you what your reward is,Ó he said, narrowing his eyes as well. ÒYour reward is peace. Peace is the absense of the blood on your face, of the pain you now feel. And as you have learned, this peace is not attained through betrayal.Ó
ÒYes, father,Ó Syaoran said between clentched teeth. Eriol sneered in response.
ÒGo now,Ó he said icily. ÒLeave me. IÕll talk with you tomorrow.Ó
ÒGood night,Ó Syaoran said mockingly. He turned and, wiping off a final stream of blood from his chin, headed for the doors that Meiling and Sakura had passed through minutes before.
ÔPeace,Õ Syaoran thought coldly as he walked through the dark hallways.
ÔPeace is more than the absense of pain, Father. It is the opposite of it. And we will, despite you, find it.Õ
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To be continued in the next chapter. Not to sound morbid, but it felt good to write something that wasnÕt fluffy.
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 yes, Eriol is very OOC! But someone has to play the role, so, well. Eriol fans, just please forgive me this time. ^^;;;
In the next chapter: At what cost can peace be won? Find out soon, and who will pay it . . .
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot!
Authoress Ramble: Getting darker, mmm. It feels good to be away from fluff. Fluff is great, donÕt get me wrong! But I miss pain, angst, sadness, suspense. Rest assured that youÕll get your fill of all of the above soon enough.
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, Dark-Luv3, cherryblossom, Li-kyoko-cp, Mysticalia, AnimeObsessionFantasy, Cute Emerald, Friends4Eva08, Cherry13, LilDragonGurl28, Pink-CherryBlossoms, Flaming Sakura, MimiGhost, S+SObsession!, Kammy, Mel, Kate, Shauna, Asayuni, T-Man, Moonspell, Rosy-Ray-Lover, SweetCherryBlossom, Catrina, Mysticalia, Abc, Alflirtbabe, T-man, Aino Saori, Cherry Li, Ying, Stormy 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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ÒSakura,Ó a distant voice called. Warm fingers ran through her soft, albeit tangled, red locks, brushing them from her eyes. ÒSakura . . .Ó
She moaned in her sleep, willing the warm hand away as she rolled onto her side. Its owner sighed, shaking his head with a tired smile.
ÔMust she do this every morning?,Õ he thought in frustration. Still, he was smiling; her sleeping face was always adorable.
ÒItÕs time to get up, Sakura,Ó he said, shaking her shoulder gently. She moaned again, rolling onto her back once more.
Suddenly, a pair of warm, moist lips covered her own, holding in her breath. As her body began to panic slightly, her eyelids fluttered open in surprise.
Syaoran raised his head, amused. ÒGood morning,Ó he said with a grin.
Sakura merely closed her eyes once again. ÒItÕs much too early to get up, Syaoran. We need sleep,Ó she moaned. ÒSleep . . .Ó
ÒWe need to move quickly. Come on now, wake up. Open your eyes,Ó Syaoran commanded in a prince-like tone. Sakura only groaned again.
ÒYouÕre so stubborn,Ó he muttered. ÒIÕm not kissing you again. Up!Ó
Defeatedly, Sakura opened her eyes. She raised an eyebrow warily.
ÒWeÕve been at this for days,Ó she complained, still half-asleep. ÒWalking, walking, sleeping for a few hours, more walking . . .Ó
ÒYouÕve had more than a few hours. Look, the sun is rising,Ó Syaoran replied. Slowly, Sakura sat up, looking around at the trees that surrounded her. Indeed, the sky beyond them was rich with reds, pinks and golds.
ÒAye,Ó she said with a yawn. ÒBut who cares? Let it rise, and let me sleep.Ó
ÒLazy girl,Ó Syaoran scolded. ÒWe need to get going. Look, Meiling is already up.Ó
From her seat near the fire, MeilingÕs head jolted up at the mention of her name. She looked in their direction, frowning. She still disliked seeing them so close to one another.
ÒHow many more days until we get to the Li kingdom?,Ó Sakura asked curiously. Syaoran pondered this for a moment, then replied.
ÒA day or so,Ó he said, and then, with a smirk, ÒProvided we get going on time.Ó
ÒOh, shut up,Ó Sakura said teasingly. ÒI see your point. IÕm awake, arenÕt you happy now?Ó
ÒYes,Ó the amber-eyed prince answered. He leaned forward and quickly kissed the emerald-eyed peasant girl, who smiled gently at him.
ÒLetÕs get going,Ó Syaoran commanded good-naturedly, his eyes glistening with amusement. Sakura nodded, and as she gathered herself, Syaoran returned to Meiling. Together, the pair quietly packed up their things, dousing the fire.
Within less than fifteen minutes, they were back on the road, Sakura following Syaoran and Meiling as best she could. They moved quickly, as if they knew their way back to their home kingdom instinctively, as if its location was burned into their minds. They were both quiet and serious, which unnerved Sakura.
She was nervous enough about entering the Li kingdom, having heard dark rumors about it and its king; did they have to act like they were travelling to a funeral instead of a peace meeting?
She shivered at the thought of a funeral. Though their lives were not threatened- quite the opposite really, things seemed to be going well for them; they were, after all, about to bring peace between their two kingdoms- she could not escape the feeling that going to the Li kingdom was a mistake. Though she knew travelling there was something that had to be done, and that it was, in fact, the birthplace of Syaoran and Meiling, something about it made her doubt that things were going well for them at all.
The day they had left the palace, the last time she had seen her, TomoyoÕs eyes had been dark with fear and worry. They conveyed a warning to be cautious, a warning that danger was ahead of them. And yet, there was no danger. They were on a mission for peace, not war and conflict. It made no sense . . . nothing was threatening them . . .
ÒYouÕre too quiet,Ó Meiling said suddenly, looking back at Sakura as they walked. ÒItÕs unnerving.Ó
Sakura smiled nervously, trying to dismiss her feelings of dread.
ÒIÕm sorry,Ó she said hurridly. ÒItÕs just that . . . there is nothing left to say . . .Ó
Syaoran looked back at her as well, raising an eyebrow.
ÒNothing to say?,Ó he inquired suspiciously. ÒYouÕre never this quiet. ThatÕs why weÕre worried: you always seem to have something to say.Ó
Sakura laughed nervously, hiding her fears. How could they know her so well?
For the next few hours, she chatted aimlessly, trying her best not to be Òtoo quietÓ. This satisfied Syaoran and Meiling, who were quiet themselves. Though they were returning home, for some reason, the journey there was not a cheerful one for them.
ÔSomething is wrong here,Õ Sakura thought, frustrated. ÔIÕm afraid for no reason, TomoyoÕs eyes, and Syaoran and Meiling acting like theyÕre heading for war instead of home . . . it must be true that this kingdom is . . . darker than most . . .Õ
ÒSyaoran?,Ó Sakura inquired suddenly. Syaoran looked back at her for a moment, smiling weakly.
ÒYes?,Ó he replied. Sakura bit her lip nervously.
ÒIs there something I donÕt know about the Li kingdom? Something that . . . no one is telling me?Ó
Meiling turned back also, eying her strangely. She then turned her gaze to Syaoran, waiting for him to reply.
ÒNo,Ó he answered numbly. ÒItÕs just a kingdom, really, no different than any other . . .Ó
ÒYour father, then?,Ó Sakura pressed on. Syaoran narrowed his eyes, looking nervous. Meiling noticed this and spoke for him.
ÒSome might say that he is a tyrant,Ó Meiling began numbly, ÒBut he is a powerful ruler. A strong leader; many are loyal to him. He has gained much for our kingdom.Ó
ÒThrough war,Ó Sakura finished darkly. Meiling eyed her warily, but said nothing.
ÒYou should not be so outspoken when you meet him,Ó she warned. ÒIf heÕs angry, heÕll never sign a peace agreement. The odds are against us the way it is. You represent the entire Kaera kingdom for him, you and the unsigned peace contact. Remember that. He wonÕt make peace with disrespectful fools.Ó
ÒSheÕs just being honest,Ó Syaoran said suddenly, angry at the implied insult.
ÒToo honest,Ó Meiling replied. ÒIÕm being just as honest. ItÕs all well and good to be fearless, but not with him. He isnÕt the type of person to forgive easily.Ó
ÒThank you for reminding me,Ó Syaoran said coldly.
Sakura found herself becoming increasingly nervous. What would he do when he found about herself and Syaoran? If he told him, that is . . . no one ever said that he was that serious about her, to risk everything for one small girl . . .
ÒJust be respectful when you see him,Ó Meiling said, speaking to Sakura. ÒThatÕs all IÕm saying. DonÕt anger him.Ó
Sakura nodded numbly; she would not.
ÒHe hardly deserves respect,Ó Syaoran muttered. Sakura gasped.
ÒYou would say that about your own father?,Ó she said to him in disbelief. ÒYou shouldnÕt say such thin-Ó
ÒYou donÕt know my father,Ó Syaoran growled in response. Sakura fell silent, though after a moment she reached out and touched his arm comfortingly.
ÒWeÕre doing this in the name of peace,Ó she said gently. ÒThe gods are with us. WeÕll succeed.Ó
ÒHis father has succeeded before,Ó Meiling said darkly. ÒDoes that mean the gods were with him then as well?Ó
ÒThe gods are with people who strive to do what is right, not wrong,Ó Sakura replied.
ÒI think weÕll need more than gods to succeed at this,Ó Meiling said response.
ÒWhat, then, if not divine help?,Ó Syaoran asked, slightly unnerved by his second-cousinÕs negative approach to their quest.
ÒFaith,Ó Sakura said suddenly. ÒI think we need faith.Ó
ÒAye,Ó Syaoran said. ÒI agree. Faith.Ó
ÒI hope thatÕs all,Ó Meiling said darkly.
Silence then fell once again between the members of the threesome, the only sounds the crunching of leaves under feet, the swoosh of branches being shoved aside.
They hiked for hours more, sportaticly talking to pass the time. The farther they walked, the colder it became, so cold that it finally made Sakura shiver even though she was wrapped in her dress and cloak, rubbing her arms quickly to warm them. They were nearing it.
Finally, near sunset, Sakura decided to ask. She shivered, her breathe frozen and visible as she spoke.
ÒAre we near the Li kingdom yet, S-Syaoran?,Ó she asked. Syaoran, who appeared used to the cold, turned back to her, his amber eyes dark.
ÒWeÕve been in it for two hours now,Ó he replied. SakuraÕs eyes widened in surprise, and she looked around at the dark trees, shivering. Aside from the cold, little had changed.
ÔWeÕre here,Õ she thought bitterly. A shiver of fear ran down her spine.
ÔWeÕre finally here . . .Õ
Hours later, they approached the massive wooden gate of a dark city, lit only by the light from windows. Guards stood in front of the gate, their stances confident and strong. Their spears, sharp and ready, glistened in the moonlight.
ÒNiikan,Ó Meiling said to Sakura quietly, when they were still far from the gates. ÒWeÕre in the Li kingdom. This is the city of Niikan.Ó
Sakura blinked, slightly confused. ÒWhy is there a gate, and guards protecting it? IÕve never seen that for an entire city before . . .Ó
ÒTravel is restricted in the Li kingdom,Ó Meiling replied. ÒIt isnÕt like Kaera. You canÕt just come and go as you please, travel from city to city, leave the kingdom and enter it again. There are restrictions.Ó
ÒThat is . . . nearly frightening,Ó Sakura said. ÒDoesnÕt that take away some of the freedom that belongs to the people?Ó
ÒIn a way,Ó Meiling replied nonchalantly. ÒYou get used to it. Come, quietly. WeÕre going into Niikan. The palace is within it.Ó
Stelthily, the threesome appraoched the gates of Niikan. As their forms stepped out of the shadows, the guards tensed, gripping their spears.
ÒState your business in Niikan!,Ó one shouted at them. Syaoran stepped foreword with a cocky smirk.
ÒNone of your damn business,Ó he said loudly. The guard gasped, clentching his teeth in anger.
ÒWhy yo-Ó, he began. SyaoranÕs smirk only deepened as he stepped into the moonlight completely, revealing his face, smirk and all.
ÒI am Prince Syaoran,Ó he said confidently, ÒAnd I wish to see my father. Now move aside and let me pass.Ó
The guard gasped again, as did the other guards. Quickly, they all bowed deeply and moved aside, opening the gate for him.
ÒYour Highness,Ó the guard said as Syaoran hauntily walked past him. Meiling followed him closely with Sakura at her side, who was looking nervous and hesitant. Her eyes were wide, taking in the dark city as much as possible as they walked through it. It was quiet and cold, a sharp contrast to the beautiful city in which the royal palace of Kaera had been built.
They walked through dark, winding streets, mostly empty and quiet. None of them spoke, for it seemed almost sinful to do so. Sakura swallowed nervously, holding both her tongue and her breath; she still did not have a good feeling about this strange, quiet city.
All too soon, they approached the palace. Sakura looked up at it in awe; it was very tall, amazingly tall perhaps. She had never seen a building like it, with its tall spires and high peaks. She nearly gasped when she saw it. It was massive, nearly terrifying; the fact that the darkness made it appear black did not help this fact.
Syaoran confidently passed the guards at the palace gate, who bowed at his feet immediately. Meiling strolled just as confidently at his side. Hesitantly, Sakura followed the pair, peering around herself with fearful curiosity.
SakuraÕs eyes slid half-closed in thought as she walked behind her lover, watching his back. She could not, for some reason, accept that this dark place was his home. How could a place with such a cold aura give birth to his warm, caring soul? It made no sense to her, but then again . . . fate could be strange like that.
They walked up a dark stone pathway, and all too quickly, they were at the tall doors of the palace. Made from twisted iron and dark metal, they did not appear to be doors at all; they looked too impassable. Sakura swallowed her breath, taken aback; why on the godsÕ Earth was she here?
Guards framed the doors of the palace, and with a swift command from Syaoran, they opened them.
ÒI am Prince Syaoran! Open the doors, now!Ó, he barked, and hurridly, the guards did so. Sakura felt a shiver run down her spine; his voice sounded so cold. It was devoid of emotion, and this frightened her.
They entered the palace, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor. They had entered a great room, one similar to the throne room in the Kaera palace. It was dimly lit with torches that hung on the walls; the room was so huge that the torches could not light the room properly. Sakura gasped as she gazed upward; the ceiling was so high that she could not see the top of it. Far from the reach of the light of the torches, it disappeared into the darkness.
They walked forward, toward the roomÕs center. As they did so, Sakura realzed that it was, indeed, a throne room, for at the back of the room was a platroom covered in dark green fabric, a stage-like structure upon which was placed a great silver throne. It was eerily empty, half shrowded in darkness.
ÒSyaoran,Ó a cold voice calmly stated.
All three pairs of eyes turned to the right. Standing in the darkness was a tall man, his frame thin, but not enough to make him appear weak. A long black cloak hung from his shoulders, and his royal tunic was dark green with accents of black and a regal silver belt completing it.
His black hair contrasted with his pale skin, but paired strangely well with his smirk. Sakura once again swallowed her breath; this man felt dangerous.
ÒFather,Ó Syaoran said, surprised. ÒWhy are you not asleep?Ó
ÒOh, you know how I feel about sleeping,Ó he purred in response. ÒAs I often say, carpe noctem. Seize the night. And besides, the guards from the city gate sent someone to notify me of your arrival.Ó
Syaoran felt suddenly timid; his father appeared amused. He never looked amused unless he was about to do something terrible. Like a cruel feline, he teased his prey before going in for the kill.
ÒYouÕre angry,Ó Syaoran stated calmly, trying to mask his fear.
ÒRelived, actually,Ó he replied, his eyes flashing. ÒLady Meiling, IÕm happy to see that youÕre alive.Ó
ÒThank you, King Eriol,Ó she said with a deep bow. As she raised herself, Sakura saw that her ruby eyes were dark with fear. The tension in the air was thick enough to be sliced with a knife.
ÒMight I ask why you suddenly ran off to the Kaera kingdom?Ó, Eriol asked coldly. Meiling turned to Syaoran, reading his eyes; they were deep and serious. No, she decided; she could not risk lying to him.
ÒI went for a peace meeting with Princess Tomoyo, Sir,Ó Meiling said quickly. ÒI know that you did not approve of it, but I was acting with our kingdomÕs best interests in mind. Our people are suffering . . .Ó
ÒPeople are always suffering, my child, war or no war,Ó Eriol replied icily. ÒDid you not think that I, too, was acting in the best interests of our kingdom? What of that?Ó
ÒI did, Your Highness, but I-Ó, Meiling began pleadingly.
ÒBut you disagreed,Ó Eriol finished. His eyes darkened as he turned to his son.
ÒSyaoran. What do you think of this?Ó
Syaoran swallowed as sweat broke out on his forehead. He clutched his hand into a fist, his eyes unwavering.
ÒI think that Meiling is right,Ó he replied slowly. ÒI think that peace is the only thing that will get us anywhere.Ó
ÒI see,Ó Eriol responded coldly. ÒIÕm disappointed in you, Syaoran. I thought that at least my son would not betray me.Ó
ÒWe have not betrayed you, my Lord,Ó Meiling said quickly. ÒWe merely did what we thought was best.Ó
ÒYou went against my orders,Ó Eriol said icily. ÒDirectly disobeyed them. Peace is not so desirable, my children. Like glass, it is fragile, and once abtained it takes only one wrong touch to shatter it. Why give up so much for something that will soon break?Ó
ÒPeace is the only thing through which our kingdom can thrive,Ó Syaoran said strongly, ÒThrough which our people can live in happiness, without fear. That is always worth fighting for.Ó
ÒHmm,Ó Eriol said. ÒYour argument is impressive. I will . . . consider your words.Ó
ÒThank you, Father,Ó Syaoran said, sounding relieved. EriolÕs eyes turned from him.
ÒTell me,Ó he said with a frown, ÒWho is this girl?Ó
SyaoranÕs eyes widened in shock as he saw that his father was staring directly at Sakura. Realizing this herself, she began to sweat, suddenly feeling nervous.
ÒI-I . .,Ó she began shakily, ÒMy name is Sa-Ó
ÒThis is Sakura,Ó Syaoran began fluidly. ÒShe is our guide from the Kaera kingdom. She helped us to secure this, Father.Ó
ÒYour guide,Ó Eriol said suspicously, looking Sakura up and down. ÒI see.Ó
As he spoke, Syaoran reached into his cloak and pulled out a rolled-up scroll. He presented it to his father hesitantly, despite himself.
ÒThis is a peace agreement, Father,Ó he said with as much confidence as he could gather. ÒSign it and our men will cease fire on the Kaera kingdom. King Yukito has already signed it, and when you do so as well, his men will also cease fire. When this occurs, you and King Yukito can meet to discuss peace further. Please, Father, consider this as-Ó
Eriol grabbed the scroll quickly, glaring at his son angrily.
ÒI will indeed consider it,Ó he said roughly. ÒBut not now, in the middle of the night. IÕm sure youÕre tired; go now, leave me. You and Meiling both know where your rooms are. The girl may sleep, well. Find some room for her.Ó
ÒThank you, Your Highness,Ó Meiling said with a bow. Sakura bowed as well, but was too intimidated to say a word.
ÒGood night, Father,Ó Syaoran said, sounding relieved. The three turned away and began to walk toward the doors on the left side of the room.
ÒSyaoran,Ó Eriol said suddenly. ÒWait just a minute. You two, go. Let me have a private word with my son.Ó
Meiling nodded quickly. ÒYes, Your Highness.Ó
She touched SakuraÕs arm, pushing her forward slightly.
ÒCome,Ó she whispered quickly, ÒWeÕll find a guestroom for you.Ó
Sakura nodded, looking back at Syaoran a final time before allowing herself to be led by Meiling toward the doors. They reached them quickly, and disappeared beyond them into the palaceÕs dark hallways.
ÒTell me,Ó Eriol said coldly once the two had gone. ÒWhy did your guide come with you to the Li kingdom? Is she is guiding you around here as well?Ó
ÒShe is here to, ahh,Ó Syaoran said hesitantly, ÒTo see the treaty signed and returned properly.Ó
ÒI see,Ó Eriol replied icily. ÒYou know, my son, Yukito has sent at least twenty men here to speak with me about peace. Twenty-three, actually, and needless to say none of them have felt the need to return home. I find it difficult to belive that Yukito would send a young girl here to do the task that a grown man could not.Ó
ÒHe said that you wouldnÕt have the heart to kill her,Ó Syaoran said quickly, ÒAnd thatÕs why he sent her.Ó
ÒBullshit,Ó Eriol said with a smirk. ÒHe knows that I would.Ó
ÒPlease,Ó Syaoran said suddenly, ÒPlease donÕt, she is just . . .Ó
ÒPlease,Ó Eriol mocked, ÒPlease. Please . . . tell me who the hell she is.Ó
ÒShe is a friend of ours,Ó Syaoran said shakily, ÒOf Meiling and myself. She truly did help us, and we wanted to repay her by allowing her to come with us.Ó
ÒHow kind of you,Ó Eriol said suspiciously. His eyes suddenly flashed with anger. ÒTell me why you lied!Ó
ÒI didnÕt think you would understand!,Ó Syaoran growled, suddenly angry himself. Eriol saw this, and with one swift motion he brought his fist to his sonÕs face, punching him in the jaw. The blow sent Syaoran back a few steps, clutching his jaw in pain.
Blood dribbled from his lips, and Syaoran licked it away, tasting his own blood. He met his fatherÕs eyes.
ÒI may not understand you, boy,Ó Eriol barked, ÒBut I am easy to understand myself. Obey me and be rewarded, betray me and be punished. The only reason I will not punish you this time is because you are my son, but understand this. I can only forgive a son so many times.Ó
Syaoran stepped away from his father, wiping away fresh blood.
ÒWhat is the reward?,Ó he snapped. ÒTell me, what? You have given me nothing!Ó
ÒI have given you everything!,Ó Eriol shouted back. ÒUpon my death, you will have the throne, and even now you are blessed with my wealth. I raised you well. I trained you to be a great warrior, and I had you tutored to be intelligent enough to rule properly. And you, you ungrateful brat- you repay me with lies and betrayal!Ó
ÒI am sorry, Father,Ó Syaoran said between clentched teeth. ÒIt will not happen again.Ó
ÒI hope not,Ó Eriol growled. ÒFor your own sake.Ó
Syaoran swallowed more blood, narrowing his eyes. He said nothing.
Eriol stared him down easily, resisting the urge to smack him again.
ÒI will tell you what your reward is,Ó he said, narrowing his eyes as well. ÒYour reward is peace. Peace is the absense of the blood on your face, of the pain you now feel. And as you have learned, this peace is not attained through betrayal.Ó
ÒYes, father,Ó Syaoran said between clentched teeth. Eriol sneered in response.
ÒGo now,Ó he said icily. ÒLeave me. IÕll talk with you tomorrow.Ó
ÒGood night,Ó Syaoran said mockingly. He turned and, wiping off a final stream of blood from his chin, headed for the doors that Meiling and Sakura had passed through minutes before.
ÔPeace,Õ Syaoran thought coldly as he walked through the dark hallways.
ÔPeace is more than the absense of pain, Father. It is the opposite of it. And we will, despite you, find it.Õ
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To be continued in the next chapter. Not to sound morbid, but it felt good to write something that wasnÕt fluffy.
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 yes, Eriol is very OOC! But someone has to play the role, so, well. Eriol fans, just please forgive me this time. ^^;;;
In the next chapter: At what cost can peace be won? Find out soon, and who will pay it . . .
