Amber Eyes
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Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot!
Authoress Ramble: Well, I'm back from vacation already. ;_; I suppose that's a good thing for you, since I'm now able to get back to my stories, but it's a sad thing for me. I miss my lover very much already ... ahh, well. What can one do? If I could, I would take a knife to distance and murder it in cold blood. Heh. Well, enjoy the story as always! ^^;;
Note: If the s,'s 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, it's 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 REALLY LIKE UR FIC (you didn't 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, Lil' 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 (I'm a big fan of yours! =3 I am honoured that you like my story!)! Thank you all again for your support!
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Syaoran walked to his room in an enraged haze, wishing to himself that he could defy his father. He knew that his father willfully signing a peace agreement would be nothing less than a miracle. If left to him, their kingdom would be at war until his death. Syaoran fantasized about throwing him into the dungeons and overtaking the kingdom, ruling it himself so that he might bless it with a bright future.
This, he knew, was impossible. He'd be in the dungeons himself before he could even touch his father. Either that or he would be laying at his feet, a mangled body in a puddle of blood. He cringed at this morbid image of his own death. Was his father capable of such a thing- murdering his own son?
Syaoran dismissed this thought immediately, though part of him did not doubt it. If his father was pushed far enough, angered to a certain deadly point, he would undoubtedly go over the edge ... and take the person who had pushed him over it with him.
If only I could get that bastard off the throne,' Syaoran thought begrudgingly. It doesn't matter what he does to me, but the things he's willing to put our own people though ...'
He reached his room and, still lost in thought, absentmindedly opened the heavy oak door. When he stepped into the room, his eyes widened slightly with surprise.
A girl with long red hair sat shyly on the edge of his bed, stroking the dark green velvet hesitantly, as though she would somehow stain or tear it with her touch. She looked up suddenly when he stepped into the room, then smiled weakly.
she said, her voice tired but still sweet. Meiling couldn't find an unlocked room for me, so she told me to wait for you in here. She said that you might know where an open guestroom is, and ...
Syaoran smiled slightly at her shy rambling. He stepped forward into the lamplight. When she saw his face, Sakura gasped.
You're hurt!, she cried. She stood and rushed to him, resting her fingertips gingerly on the bruised blue-black flesh of his jaw. He winced, drawing away. She frowned deeply at the dried blood above his upper lip, looking up into his eyes.
What happened?, she asked worriedly. Syaoran sighed, looking away.
My father, he whispered sadly, Is not fond of my dreams for peace. They go against his own goals. This was a mere warning ...
I can't believe your own father would do this, Sakura said numbly, staring at his injury with wide eyes. Hurt you this way ...
It's nothing, Syaoran said quickly. Don't worry about it. I will be fine. I've had worse, after all.
You're not fine, Sakura said. You need to tend to this. Clean off the blood, and ... hmm. Please tell me where I can fetch some water and a cloth. I want to help you.
Her voice was firm but at the same time kind. Syaoran nodded, knowing that he couldn't force her not to worry. It went against her caring, nurturing nature. Realizing this brought a weak smile to his face; the gods had blessed him with her.
That door over there, he said, gesturing to a door near an armoire, Leads to my private bathroom. There's a sink there, and there should still be clean towels.
I'll be right back, Sakura said, turning toward the door. She smiled at him reassuringly before she disappeared through it. A moment later, Syaoran heard the faint sound of running water, and a minute after this sound ceased, the door opened once again.
Your bathroom is huge, Sakura stated in awe. That bathtub is nearly as big as a bed, and all marble. Those knobs and faucets, are they made of ...
Gold, yes, Syaoran said. A waste, I know. I could have fed a hundred people for a year if I'd had the money used to build that bathroom. Alas, it was here before I was born.
Sakura stared at him in wonder for a moment. She was on the verge of speech, her lips slightly parted. She finally spoke.
It's hard for me to imagine that you live here, she said suddenly. In this grand palace, in ... well ...
In the Li kingdom, Syaoran finished. I understand. You must have grown up thinking that everyone here was heartless.
Sakura nodded. We only knew your soldiers, and they...
I wouldn't like to hear it, Syaoran said, stopping her. Just know that I understand.
Sakura frowned. It's just that ... you're so ... down to Earth, so gentle, caring and wise, despite your... upbringing. I feel like I knew you always, like we grew up side by side in my village. It's not like that, though. Not in the least.
Maybe we met before our births, Syaoran offered. He grinned weakly, and she couldn't help but smile at him in return.
Suddenly, her eyes drifted to the warm, heavily damp handcloth in her hands. Flustered at having forgot her task, she walked up to Syaoran quickly, tabbing the cloth on his split lip gently. In a few minutes, she had cleansed it of the dried blood completely.
Thank you, Syaoran whispered to her, her face only a few inches from his. Sakura withdrew slightly and nodded with a shy smile.
It wasn't any trouble, she said. I'm only frustrated because there's nothing else I can do. If I could, I would heal it completely right now. Touch it and make it perfect again ...
Syaoran smiled. Maybe you can, he said playfully.
He reached his hand out to her cheek and, drawing her face near to his, kissed her gently. Sakura kissed him softly in return, closing her eyes and losing herself in an embrace that, for some unknown reason, felt more urgent than the others they had shared. As though they were running out of time.
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Eriol walked through the halls furious, his mood a dark and foul one. How dare his insolent son be so defiant! He was devious, nearly traitorous, leaving the kingdom only to return with not only Meiling, but also with the absurd idea that he and Yukito could somehow become allies. The thought alone disgusted him.
He was walking briskly though the shadowy hallways not to his own rooms, but rather to his son's, intending to with him further the importance of respect and loyalty. He reached Syaoran's door quickly, finding it slightly ajar.
He stopped in front of it, looking inside and expecting to see his son lying on his bed sulking like a child.
He was met with something quite different.
His son was standing in the center of the room, his arms folded around a fragile-looking girl, her red hair long and disheveled. A handcloth was clasped in hand, and as he watched, she dropped it to the floor in favor of running her hand through his chestnut hair. Their lips were pressed together in a passionate embrace, their kiss deep and long, a kiss that revealed their love for one another.
Eriol's hand curled into a tight fist. His fingernails dug into his pale skin, leaving crescent-shaped scars of wet red on the palm of his hand. He gritted his teeth, seething as he tried to control his anger.
Why is he kissing that wench from Kaera?,' Eriol's mind hissed. Please tell me he just wants to do her.'
Syaoran and Sakura finally drew apart, their kiss ending. His arms tightened around her body, and sighing, she leaned into his chest, her long hair draping his shoulder.
he said, just loudly enough for Eriol to hear, I love you.
I promise that we'll get through this somehow. We'll find a way to bring peace to our kingdoms.
We'll find a way to be together. I don't care that you're from Kaera, that you're a commoner. I won't let things be any other way. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Eriol narrowed his eyes at this, rage coursing through his veins. This was nothing compared to merely seeking peace. That was forgivable. This, however ... this was pure, direct betrayal. There was no other way of seeing it.
I love you too, Syaoran. I hope that what you say it true, because I ... I want to be with you also, I mean, I ... I pray every night that I won't have to leave you ...
Unforgivable. This was high treason, a crime punishable by certain execution. There were no exceptions.
You won't have to, Sakura. It is true. I won't let anything tear us apart from one another. I swear that I won't.
Eriol's dark mind was racing, rage overcoming his thoughts and replacing rationality with revenge, compassion with cruelty, mercy with madness. This could never be forgiven. Something had to be done. His son would be need to be punished. He would regret this little love affair dearly ...
I promise you, Sakura. I'll stand by your side until my death.
I'll take care of this tomorrow,' Eriol thought, narrowing his eyes. He turned from the slightly open door in a rage, nearly running to his rooms in his desire to be far from his insolent, betraying son. A son who was no longer a son, but a traitor. A traitor who deserved no mercy.
Let them have one final night together. One night before his fury would be soothed with sweetness of revenge ... one final night.
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Sakura yawned, slowly opening her eyes. She blinked in the shadowy lamplight and was about to move when she suddenly felt the pair of strong arms around her tighten, felt the warm breath upon her neck quicken.
Don't get up yet, a deep yet boyish voice muttered. Sleep forever, here, like this ...
You're awake, Sakura whispered. Syaoran nodded weakly, his grip on her body still firm.
he commanded in a prince-like tone that was spoiled by its sleepiness. She couldn't help but smile at this, and she willfully relaxed in his embrace, closing her eyes and reveling in the tranquility of the moment.
She opened them a moment later, however, suddenly worried.
It's long past daybreak, she said, flustered and suddenly feeling rushed. Your father will be expecting us, wanting to speak with us-
My father can go to Hell, Syaoran muttered loudly.
Outside the door, Eriol's mind growled at this comment. His hand was held out in front of the door, suspended in the air. As soon as he lowered it, the door would be unprotected, and it would all begin.
Sakura replied, eying him with slight disapproval of his rudeness. I think it best that we wake up soon.
Soon, yes, Syaoran said, pulling her closer to him, Now, no.
This is sickening, Eriol muttered to one of the guards. I can't bear to watch one more moment of this. Go, now.
He lowered his hand and the four guards rushed forward, barging through the door and into the room. Syaoran sat up in shock, moving so that Sakura was behind him, a movement designed to protect her.
What is the meaning of this?!, he shouted, reaching to draw his sword but finding that, as he had obviously not fallen asleep wearing it at his belt, it was not there.
You are being reprimanded for the crime of high treason, one of the guards haughtily replied, At the order of the king himself.
Sakura gasped, and Syaoran's eyes widened. In a half-second he realized this: he had been right about his father.
He had no more time to think. Two of the guards rushed forward and grabbed him roughly by the arms, dragging him out of his bed and toward the open door. He looked up toward it and saw his father there, standing in the doorway with a smile on his face.
His eyes were cold and unbearable to look into, and so Syaoran quickly looked away, back toward the bed. His eyes widened as he saw the remaining two guards grab Sakura, dragging her off the bed roughly, though she did not resist. Tears were falling down her face, her features in anguish. Confusion and fear clouded her emerald eyes.
Syaoran shouted. He tried to lunge toward her, but the guards held him back easily.
He spun back toward his father, his eyes burning with anger.
Why Sakura?!, he shouted as tears fell from his eyes. She's just an innocent girl! She's done nothing! Nothing!
She calibrated with you in your plans to go against me, Eriol said easily, as though it were a well-known fact that Sakura was traitorous. That and, well. We'll need her.
Need her for what?!, Syaoran shouted, though his anger was quickly collapsing into fear.
We'll need her to be there, Eriol replied calmly. To watch you die.
Syaoran heard Sakura gasp behind him, heard her choked sob. As desperation began to sweep over him, he felt his knees grow weak. This could not be happening to them. He had promised her that ...
Don't kill her, he pleaded, his voice strained with sadness. She's done nothing. You can kill me if you want to, but not her. Please, not her!
Eriol stared at his son, unmoved. He gestured to the guards, and they moved toward the door with their prisoners. Eriol stepped aside, allowing them passage. As Syaoran was moved through the door, he spoke to him.
You'll be dead before you find out what I decide to do with her, anyway, he said smoothly. What does it matter to you?
She's everything to me, Syaoran said pleadingly. His father merely stared back at him as though he were an animal, unable to speak nor understand his words.
You bastard, Syaoran muttered. Eriol gestured again to the guards, and they began to move from the doorway. In his anger, Syaoran spat at his father, and in response the guards slammed him against the wall, warning him harshly to not do things that he would later regret.
Sakura was dragged through the doorway, her eyes filled with sadness and her face with tears, her body weak and unresisting. She didn't dare to look at Eriol as she was moved past him.
Eriol wiped the spit off his cheek with the back of his hand. He's nothing more than a traitor, he thought to himself. Like a dog that goes for his owner's throat, he must be taken care of.
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To be continued in the next chapter, which will either be short and the second to last one not including the epilogue, or the last one ...*tear*.
If you liked it, or better yet, have ideas, then please leave a review! I love reviews! Reviews = writer faster! =^^= Hehe.
Special thanks to Azi, who helped me with a new summary! =3
I hope you liked this chapter! ^_^
In the next chapter(s): The conclusion to our story, with a final twist ...
