GOMEN NASAI!!!!! I'm sooo sorry that I haven't updated in two months!
That's a really really long time for me to not update, especially when you
guys are used to me updated every week. To be honest, I don't even have a
good excuse, just writer's block! I'm so sorry, I can't even begin to
apologize. I really hope I haven't lost some of my reviewers out there.
Here's my responses to some of your reviews of the last chapter:
Wezl.Thanks. I'm always happy to get a new reviewer. I hope the wait wasn't too long.
Hikaru Ayumi.Sorry about not updating as soon as you would have hoped. What was unexpected about the last chapter?
Dandy Mandy.Thanks! Out of all the praise I get, I love it when people think my story is original. I may make mistakes when writing or forget a detail or something, but as long as I have a solid story plot, I'm happy. And even I'm anxious to have Syao realize Saku's condition.
Anjuliet.Sorry about the wait! I hope I don't get a ton of flames for it.hehe. Thanks for the review!
Sweet captor.yeah, sorry about the length. But I get contradicting opinions on that, some people like it short, and some people like them long. I never know how long to make them!^^
Yamiyumetenshi.hehe, sorry about that. I don't know how to do the html formatting on my stories, so my writing gets all screwed up and squashed together. I'm going to hopefully have a friend of mine fix that on this chapter though..and thanks for the spellings too^^. I'm glad you like .Hack//Sign, I do too.^^
Anonymous T.Thanks so much for all of your feedback! I love it when other people give suggestions and let me know what they think of my writing. Thanks so much for the compliments, and in later chapters I'll try to make the story line a little less chaotic.
Kino Sakura.I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Don't worry, I don't plan on quitting with this story for a very long time, and even if I did, I'd let you guys know about it.
Lilangelwitluv.yeah, the story is pretty confusing. The story was inspired by .Hack//Sign, so I can see where people would get a little perplexed. Basically, there was a big war in the real world, which destroyed a lot of it. People became poor and all the forests and scenery of the world was destroyed, so a computer genius named Rayna created a virtual world, sort of like an extremely advanced video game, where you could go. This world wasn't ravaged by poverty or destruction, so most people decided to live there forever, while others just switched back and forth between the real world, K'un, and the virtual world, Ch'ien. Some people, who were old fashioned, stayed in the real world. The amazing thing about Ch'ien is that it is almost like a real world. When people go into it, their bodies stay behind in the real world, and their minds are transported into Ch'ien. But, if you eat something in Ch'ien, it really feeds you and you won't get hungry in reality. It's really quite confusing. Sorry about the chaos. Feel free to email me any of your questions.
Star Cherry.Thanks so much for EVERYTHING! I'm working on chapter 4 of our story too, so don't worry^^. Good job on chapter 3!
Pnaixr0se.hehe, you picked the wrong time to start reading this story. I usually update every week, I promise. I just had a bad case of writer's block. But I've got tons of inspiration now, so I should be back to my normal schedule of updating soon.
Sweet^sakura^star.Thanks for the suggestions for Yukito's name. A lot of people suggested the same thing, so his screename is something like that. Thanks soo much for all the compliments too, I'm glad everyone likes the plot line.
Stargirl-rebels.Thanks sooo much! I love reading your reviews, they always make me smile. You'll find out more about Sakura's sickness soon, and Tomoyo and Eriol will join up with them probably in the next chapter. Sorry about the wait!
If I left anyone out, sorry. My reviews have been getting lost in my email account, so I might have accidently left a few people out, and if I did, I'm sorry and I'm sure that I loved your review.
I'm too lazy to write all the updates on the story again here, so just read my responses to the reviewers and you'll find out a couple things...
Also, sorry if I confused you by deleting the chapter with the author's update, so now this chapter is the seventh. The administrators told me to do it, or else I'd get kicked off or something like that..
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CCS characters, but I do have rights to the story plot line and the characters of Kiran, Halma, Biret, Official Mentok, Star Blossom, etc. The setting of this story and other elements of it were inspired by the anime show .Hack//Sign.
On with chapter 7..The Clouded Following.
.......................................
"KERRROOOOOO! You stupid mutt! Get back here with my crossbow! I swear, I'll kill you if you get slobber all over my arrows!!!!" Halma screamed as she chased the grey and white beast as he bounded around the boulder, happily drooling over Halma's prized ebony crossbow in his large jaws, oblivious to Halma's death glare.
"That's it!!" she yelled, stalking over to her spirited chestnut mare and rifling through her cloth saddlebag. "Sakura, where did you put my daggers?! I'm gonna kill that dog if it's the last thing I do..slobbering all over my rare, highly valued, ebony carved crossbow that SwordSoul brought me all the way from Ragara Port." Halma cursed under her breath.
Sakura sweatdropped, approaching Halma cautiously as she laughed nervously.
"Ah, come on Halma. He's just a dog, he doesn't know any better, and besides if you keep chasing him he'll just think it's a game.."
"Don't take his side!!" Halma interrupted, brandishing her silver dagger in her hand dangerously.
Biret glanced at the hot headed blond from his position on the sun-streaked surface of the large granite rock. He rolled his eyes and called over his shoulder to the two of them, a piece of grass in the corner of his mouth.
"You do realize it's just a stupid dog, right? You're acting like he's a freakin' murderer. What's the big deal anyway? So there's some drool on your stupid bow thingy, just wipe it off."
Halma's face turned red with raging fury as she turned her attention to the thief relaxing on the boulder. "WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL!!!?? The big deal is that bow thingy happens to be a highly valued Ragara Port weapon!" she answered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Biret lifted an eyebrow lazily. "Somehow that doesn't seem neary as impressive as you seem to make it, considering we're on a hunt for the most valued weapon of all time."
"WHY YOU..!!!!" Halma yelled, lunging for him with the dagger. It was all Sakura could do to keep Halma from murdering the red-haired bandit.
"Just let her at him, if we're lucky maybe they'll kill each other." Syaoran spoke up from his perch atop the large, black stallion he had been riding.
Sakura frowned at him as she managed to wrestle the dagger out of Halma's hands, slipping it beneath her cloak. She sighed exasperatedly. It seemed she was the only one keeping any peace between the four of them. For the last week they'd been traveling north along the Zaurus River, heading towards the Rada' Han Mountains, and they'd been fighting the entire time! Especially Halma and Biret. And Syaoran wasn't helping much either.
"Hey! Give that back!" Halma yelled, unsuccessfully trying to steal her dagger back.
"Enough of this." Syao stated. He dismounted and crouched down to Kero's eye level. "Kero! Come here!". Amazingly, Kero obediently trotted over to Syaoran, dropping the crossbow at his feet and sitting down calmly.
Halma and Sakura gaped. "How the hell did you do that?!" Sakura exclaimed, looking at Syaoran wonderingly.
Syaoran glanced at Sakura suspiciously. "Since when do you swear?"
Sakura frowned, placing her hands on her hips. "What's wrong with me swearing?"
Syaoran just shrugged. "You just don't seem like the type, that's all."
Sakura glared even more. "And what type do I seem like?"
As Syaoran started to answer, Halma interrupted him. "Oh, shut up you lovebirds and tell me how the hell you managed to get my crossbow back." She stated, squatting down to pick up her crossbow, a look of disgust crossing her face as she peered down at the drool-covered surface.
Syaoran and Sakura's faces grew extremely red as they both yelled, "Her?/Him? No way!!"
Then the two of them turned to each other and exclaimed in unison, "Why? What's wrong with me?!!"
Biret jumped down from the rock, landing cleanly on the ground by the horses. "Jeez, just shut up already. We're already behind schedule, and we need to get to the Palace of Seiryu within the next two days or so."
Halma glared at him as she mounted her horse. "Well, we wouldn't have been so far behind schedule if you didn't keep stopping for breaks!"
Biret shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not my fault if I'm not used to riding horseback so often."
Sakura swung up into the saddle expertly, turning her horse toward the main road and ushering her horse into a fast trot, with the others following her. "Remind me again why we're going to the Palace of Seiryu and Seiryu city?"
Biret urged his dun colored stallion up next to hers. "Because the only way to get pass the Rada'Han mountains is to go through the Shinta Pass, but that pass if heavily guarded by the Ch'ien officials, and they'll already know our descriptions."
"Hoe? But if that's the only pass up there, then how do we get across them?"
Biret grinned at her, not noticing the heavy glare that Syaoran was aiming at him. "Well, my friend Tirak happens to know of another, secret pass behind Seiryu city. It's guarded by a huge monster supposedly, so nobody goes up there, not even the officials. But my friend assures me it's just a myth. We should be able to make it pass the mountains there with no problems."
Sakura bit her lip worriedly. "This monster, .it wouldn't happen to be a ghost or anything, would it?"
Biret looked at her strangely. "No, not according to the myth, if it even does exist. Why?"
Before Sakura could answer, Halma jumped at the chance to get revenge for Sakura stealing her dagger.
"Oh, that's easy. You see, Cherry Blossom here is especially afraid of ghosts." Halma answered simply, hiding the smile on her face.
"Crimson!" Sakura glared at her over her shoulder.
Biret settled his hand on Sakura's shoulder, an easy-going smile on his face.
"Don't you worry little lady, no ghosts there. And if we see any, I'll be sure to make sure nothing happens to your pretty little head." He assured in his heavy accent.
Syaoran abruptly urged his horse up between Biret and Sakura, turning to her as he bumped Biret out of the way. "Why are you afraid of ghosts?"
Sakura looked at him levelly to see if this was a joke, but he seemed generally curious. Nonetheless, she couldn't very well tell him it was because she might become one any day now.
Sakura just shook her head, a false smile plastered on her face. "Nothing, just a childhood fear. You know, too many horror movies and all that..hehe"
Syaoran just frowned suspiciously as he watched her pull ahead of him, urging her horse into a full gallop as she headed down the road.
"What are you hiding?" he muttered to himself before following after her.
....................................
"Biret! Did you say we're going to see Biret?!" Star Blossom asked anxiously.
Kiran glanced at her with a frown on his face. "So you do know him then?"
Star Blossom, whose real name was Masaya, blushed. "Well, I guess you could say that.."
Tomoyo looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
Masaya glanced down at the ground, not wanting to look into her brother's eyes. "Well, .um...I guess you could say we've met a couple of times.."
Kiran couldn't take it anymore. "Where?! Where could you possibly have met a thief like that!? I know you, Masaya, and you would never steal anything from anyone, much less join a gang of lying, cheating, sniveling."
"ENOUGH! You don't even know him!!! He's not as bad as you think he is! But, of course, you wouldn't know anyway since you seem to assume everyone except your precious girlfriend is an evil villain!!" she yelled angrily.
Kiran, Eriol, and Tomoyo's jaws dropped open at her outburst. Eriol was the first one to respond.
"Masaya, exactly what is your relationship with.."
"Just drop it!" Masaya yelled, blushing furiously as she galloped ahead of them, the hooves of her horse pounding the road furiously as the passed the first traveler's checkpoint.
"Masaya! Get back here!" Kiran yelled as the three of them chased after her.
....................................
Two Days later..
"Biret!"
"Tirak!"
The two friends greeted each other warmly, happily catching up on the past couple of weeks while Syao, Saku, and Halma followed from a distance. Halma was preoccupied with rubbing her crossbow furiously with an old rag, trying to clean it to it's original condition.
"So, where exactly are we?" Syaoran asked as he and Sakura hung back, glancing around at the wonderous castle around them.
Sakura turned from observing some of the statues around the entrance to what looked like a ballroom. "It's called the Palace of Seiryu. Haven't you ever heard of the four Chinese gods, Suzaku, Seiryu, Byako, and Genbu? I thought you said you were originally Chinese." Sakura looked at him questioningly.
Syaoran nodded. "I am, and I do know the four gods,.but why are they in Ch'ien?"
Sakura thought for a moment, trying to organize a way to portray the legend of Rayn. "Well, there are some people that think that Rayn was actually a goddess, while there are others who just think she was some type of computer genius. As the legend goes, whoever Rayn was, she fiercely believed in the presence of the ancient gods and goddesses. She was said to have traveled the world, looking for legendary items and ancient scrolls. Some people think that she discovered how to create Ch'ien through her adventures. Everybody's opinion varies, but when she created this world, she created four great cities, spread out throughout Ch'ien. They were supposed to be the largest cities in all of Ch'ien, but in actuality, some of them grew larger than others."
Syaoran vaguely recalled the map in the dirt that Kiran had drawn for him. "Where are these cities?"
Sakura continued as she glanced up at the stained glass windows in the vaulted ceiling. "Well, this is the Palace of Seiryu, the Dragon. Since it's close to the Rada' Han mountains, it's become the second largest of the Four Cities. You saw how large the city outside was."
Syaoran nodded. Seiryu city had been HUGE! He'd never seen a city so big. There were stone houses, walls, ramparts, marketplaces, plazas, and temples that seemed to reach to the heavens. It was even bigger than Hong Kong, or Tokyo. It's was like something straight out of a fairy tale.
"Then there's the Palace of Byako, which is back down south, at the very southeastern corner of Ch'ien on the side of the Bashura Ocean, in the bottom of the Pri Nuta Region. That city is the smallest of the Four Cities, but it's still bigger than most. That city is home to the Desert Wanderers, as they're called here. They're like a race of nomads, just wandering the deserts from coast to coast. You don't see them up here though, the closest they get is Mi'hen City, which is a couple of miles east of Souta Village."
Syaoran stopped to look at a large, tiled fountain of a woman in flowing robes, her head tilted up toward the heavens, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
Sakura stopped next to him. "Rayn, right?" Syaoran confirmed.
Sakura nodded. "That's her. In these big cities you'll see her everywhere."
Syaoran looked closer, thinking that she looked somewhat familiar when Sakura moved on, calling him.
"We shouldn't fall too far behind them," she said when he caught up with her, "it's easy to get lost in here."
Syaoran didn't doubt that fact at all, gazing at the roaming corridors that seemed to go on for miles.
"Next is the Palace of Genbu, the third largest. It's on the other side of the mountains, at the northwest corner of Ch'ien. They even have a pretty decent sized port on the coast of the Nebiros Ocean. They say that Genbu's City is filled with mercenaries and bandits though, some people have nicknamed it the City of Deceit." Sakura went on, watching as Halma yelled at a servant who had run into her.
Syaoran turned his head from the tall, stone pillars on either side of them in the great hall. "And are we going to be visiting this City of Deceit?"
Sakura shook her head. "I hope not. I don't think we'll have any need to travel there."
Syaoran folded his arms across his chest. "So where are we going?"
Sakura examined the tiled patterns on the floor. "We're going to Rayn's Tower."
Syaoran looked at her questioningly. "Rayn's Tower?"
Sakura nodded. "Yep." She sighed. "It's a huge fortress in the middle of the Ipirian Mountains."
Syaoran took one look at her emerald eyes and frowned. "What aren't you telling me?"
Sakura blushed guiltily. "That obvious?"
Syaoran shook his head. "No, I can just tell when you're lying."
Sakura blushed again before sighing and continuing. "Well, the Ipirian Mountains aren't exactly a very welcoming place.."
Syaoran snorted. "What do you mean?" he asked suspiciously.
"Well,.it's kind of a forbidden area."
"Why?"
"Well, there aren't any criminals or anything, so I'm not really sure why they'd call it something like that when there aren't any."
"Sakura, if I'm going to travel somewhere, I'd rather know what I'm getting into rather than walking in blind." Syao said warningly.
Sakura frowned. She wasn't planning on having the three of them go with her, it was too dangerous. And if she told him, she somehow knew he wouldn't want her going. Still, he couldn't force her to not go, and he did deserve to know, she supposed...
"Well, some people just think it's odd that the last couple people who have gone there have disappeared, that's all."
"just a few people?"
"Well...more like everyone who's ever gone there, actually."
Syaoran frowned, worry etched in the lines of his face. He didn't want Sakura disappearing in a range of forbidding mountains. He looked back at her face, and he could already tell she knew what he was thinking.
Before he could say anything she responded to his unanswered reply.
"Look, I have to go, and I don't expect you to go with me, but there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Syaoran sighed. "Why do you need this weapon anyway?"
"I don't need the weapon so much as I need the money I'll get when I sell it."
"You expect me to believe you're so greedy that you'd risk your life to obtain it?"
Sakura gulped at the mention of risking her life. 'Not that it would matter that much anyway.' she thought despondently. Suddenly she pushed those negative thoughts out of her mind, resolving not to give up hope yet. She put on one of her famous false smiles and nodded to Syaoran. "Yep, That's me! Greedy 'till the end."
"Yeah right. I don't believe you."
Sakura's face fell. "You don't?"
Syaoran shook his head. "Nope. But seeing how you're not going to tell me why, I guess I'll just have to settle for that."
Sakura gave him an unexpected answer. "I'm sorry, Little Wolf."
He gave her a surprised look. "Sorry for what?"
"For not telling you the truth. I would if I could.."
Syaoran shrugged, giving her a small, sideways smile that lit up his face. "Don't worry about it, you can tell me another time. And call me Syaoran."
Sakura smiled, a real smile. She hadn't smiled like that for ages, but she couldn't help it. He looked gorgeous with that smile on his face, it was infectious. She wished he could smile like that more often.
Syaoran was thinking the same thing, for once he could tell Sakura was really smiling, and he wanted to see more of it. He decided to change the subject.
"So, if we're going on what seem to me like such a long journey, then I'm going to need something better than this puny dagger." He said, pulling it out of it's small scabbard on his belt.
Sakura laughed, making Syaoran smile again. "Are you sure you can handle something else?" she teased.
Syaoran gave a look of mock hurt. "Of course I could! What would make you think otherwise?"
Sakura had to stifle a laugh. "Maybe the fact that you were captured by one thief who not only is smaller than you, but also only had a rusty old sword and an old pistol."
Syaoran grunted, but smiled slightly seeing Sakura trying very hard not to laugh.
Suddenly Sakura bumped into Halma, who had apparently stopped.
"Oh! Sorry Halma, I didn't see you, why'd you stop here...."
Sakura's voice faded when she saw the scene in front of her. A man with jet black hair and crystal pale blue eyes was holding a sword point at the throat of the man called Tirak. Biret now had his pistol pointed at the man, and the man's bodyguards were all aiming at Biret. Halma's crossbow was aimed at the head of the lead bodyguard, and the man with black hair had a small throwing dagger in his other hand, aimed at Halma.
Sakura could easily see it was a stalemate, and that Tirak seemed to be at the center of it. Her Kodachi's were instantly in her hands, aimed at two of the bodyguards, and Syaoran moved up beside her, his silver dagger poised to hit another bodyguard in the back. Sakura somehow felt safer with Syaoran next to her, but she knew that one small dagger wasn't going to protect him if they were attacked. She slipped one foot a little further forward, ready to jump in if anyone targeted him.
Suddenly both Syaoran and Sakura felt a swordpoint at their backs, and a small, feminine voice spoke to them, a voice that sounded extremely familiar to Sakura.
"Drop your weapons."
"Star Saber?"
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"Knighted Guardian! Stop fooling around! We have to go find Cherry Blossom, and we can't just stop every time you feel like messing around!" Meriko's cherry voice scolded.
"Yeah Daddy! We have to find Auntie Sakura!" Ayna pitched in, watching her father flailing his hands above his head at a large bird.
"MESSING AROUND??!!! You think I want this insane bird attacking me!!!!" Touya yelled angrily trying to murder the bird pecking at this head. "I hate this place!!! Sakura is never coming back here as long as I live!" he screamed at the bird, as if that would make it go away.
Fujitaka laughed. "Come on, Touya. Souta Village is just over that hill, and we should be able to find someone in the village to tell us what happened yesterday."
Sonomi glared at him. "Are you sure? You're always getting lost, how do we know we can trust you?"
Ayna started to run up the hill. "Come on! Auntie Sakura needs our help!" she yelled cutely, turning back to them. "Hurry up!"
....................................
"Cherry Blossom?"
Sakura turned around only to see her friend Rita standing behind her, lowering her swords.
"Rita! It is you!" Sakura exclaimed happily, hugging her friend.
Rita blushed. "Cherry Blossom, you know we're not supposed to use our real names!"
Sakura smiled. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. How did you get here?"
Rita grinned. "Amethyst Blade sent me an email, telling me to meet her at the Rada' Han Mountains at the Shinta Pass and that she was looking for you. But.," Rita blushed with an embarrassed look on her face. "But you know how bad I am at teleporting into Ch'ien, and I ended up in a closet here in the Palace this morning." She laughed.
Sakura giggled. "Well, for once I'm glad you ended up somewhere else. Did To, I mean Amethyst Blade tell you where she was?"
Rita shook her head. "Sorry, she just told me to meet her at the Shinta Pass. I guess that's where they thought you'd be going."
Sakura nodded. "Well, I guess it might be better that way."
Rita looked at her questioningly. "Why?"
Sakura glanced around at everyone staring at the two of them. She sweatdropped and whispered to Rita, "I'll tell you later. Now why don't you get this straightened out and tell me why we were being held at swordpoint." Sakura gestured toward the stalemate in the center of the room.
Rita looked where Sakura pointed and gasped. "Oh, I almost forgot, I'm sorry. Amiboshi!" she called the the black haired man. As soon as she called him, four of the bodyguards glared at her. "I,..I..mean Prince Amiboshi." She corrected herself, "Stop! Don't worry, these people are my friends, they won't hurt you, I swear!" Rita said.
Prince Amiboshi turned his head to look at Rita before nodding and lowering his weapons to the ground. The Bodyguards reluctantly followed suit.
"Halma, Biret! You too!" Sakura yelled warningly.
Halma reluctantly slipped her crossbow under her cloak, and Biret hesitated before slipping his pistol into his belt. "Whatever you say, little lady."
Sakura ignored him and turned back toward Rita questioningly.
Rita smiled. "I know, I have some explaining to do. But first, mind introducing me to your friends?"
Sakura smiled. "Oh, yeah. This is Little Wolf, and the two behind us are Crimson Heart and , uh,.Biret, what is your screename?"
Biret only shook his head. "Just call me Biret for now."
Rita nodded. "I'm Star Saber. And that.." she pointed to the black haired man who had moved up beside her, "is Prince Amiboshi of the Seiryu Royal Family."
Sakura smiled, she could tell Rita already had a thing for the tall, blue- eyed prince. She bowed slightly at the waist. "Please to meet you. Sorry about aiming a weapon at you." She smiled amiably.
The Prince smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about it. Although I think some explaining is in order. Why don't we retire to the library, I can have a few of my servants get us something to eat while we talk."
Biret immediately smiled at the mention of food. "Sounds like a plan to me." He said eagerly. " Just point me in the direction."
The Prince nodded and starting leading them down a large hallway.
Syaoran sidled up to Sakura, bending his head down close to her ear so he could whisper. "Are we sure we can trust this guy?"
Sakura could barely hear what he was saying as she shivered pleasantly feeling his warm breath on her ear. She shook her head to clear her mind before answering.
"I hope so."
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End of Chapter 7.
So, what did u guys think? I made this one a little longer as payback for not updating. There wasn't much action, but there will be more in later chapters, believe me.
I need screenames for Fujitaka and Sonomi.
Also, go check out a story I co-wrote with another author, Star Cherry. It's called, To Save the World, and it should be on my favorite stories list if you click on my profile. We wrote it under the pename Two Girls Fusion, and we have three chapters done but nobody's read it! So go review!!! It's a different type of story than this, but it's a really cute story, so go and read it, pretty please!!
And don't forget to review this story! (A/N: If I even have any readers left..) Just go push that little button and tell me what you think. ARIGATO!
Ja Ne! ~Vixie
Here's my responses to some of your reviews of the last chapter:
Wezl.Thanks. I'm always happy to get a new reviewer. I hope the wait wasn't too long.
Hikaru Ayumi.Sorry about not updating as soon as you would have hoped. What was unexpected about the last chapter?
Dandy Mandy.Thanks! Out of all the praise I get, I love it when people think my story is original. I may make mistakes when writing or forget a detail or something, but as long as I have a solid story plot, I'm happy. And even I'm anxious to have Syao realize Saku's condition.
Anjuliet.Sorry about the wait! I hope I don't get a ton of flames for it.hehe. Thanks for the review!
Sweet captor.yeah, sorry about the length. But I get contradicting opinions on that, some people like it short, and some people like them long. I never know how long to make them!^^
Yamiyumetenshi.hehe, sorry about that. I don't know how to do the html formatting on my stories, so my writing gets all screwed up and squashed together. I'm going to hopefully have a friend of mine fix that on this chapter though..and thanks for the spellings too^^. I'm glad you like .Hack//Sign, I do too.^^
Anonymous T.Thanks so much for all of your feedback! I love it when other people give suggestions and let me know what they think of my writing. Thanks so much for the compliments, and in later chapters I'll try to make the story line a little less chaotic.
Kino Sakura.I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Don't worry, I don't plan on quitting with this story for a very long time, and even if I did, I'd let you guys know about it.
Lilangelwitluv.yeah, the story is pretty confusing. The story was inspired by .Hack//Sign, so I can see where people would get a little perplexed. Basically, there was a big war in the real world, which destroyed a lot of it. People became poor and all the forests and scenery of the world was destroyed, so a computer genius named Rayna created a virtual world, sort of like an extremely advanced video game, where you could go. This world wasn't ravaged by poverty or destruction, so most people decided to live there forever, while others just switched back and forth between the real world, K'un, and the virtual world, Ch'ien. Some people, who were old fashioned, stayed in the real world. The amazing thing about Ch'ien is that it is almost like a real world. When people go into it, their bodies stay behind in the real world, and their minds are transported into Ch'ien. But, if you eat something in Ch'ien, it really feeds you and you won't get hungry in reality. It's really quite confusing. Sorry about the chaos. Feel free to email me any of your questions.
Star Cherry.Thanks so much for EVERYTHING! I'm working on chapter 4 of our story too, so don't worry^^. Good job on chapter 3!
Pnaixr0se.hehe, you picked the wrong time to start reading this story. I usually update every week, I promise. I just had a bad case of writer's block. But I've got tons of inspiration now, so I should be back to my normal schedule of updating soon.
Sweet^sakura^star.Thanks for the suggestions for Yukito's name. A lot of people suggested the same thing, so his screename is something like that. Thanks soo much for all the compliments too, I'm glad everyone likes the plot line.
Stargirl-rebels.Thanks sooo much! I love reading your reviews, they always make me smile. You'll find out more about Sakura's sickness soon, and Tomoyo and Eriol will join up with them probably in the next chapter. Sorry about the wait!
If I left anyone out, sorry. My reviews have been getting lost in my email account, so I might have accidently left a few people out, and if I did, I'm sorry and I'm sure that I loved your review.
I'm too lazy to write all the updates on the story again here, so just read my responses to the reviewers and you'll find out a couple things...
Also, sorry if I confused you by deleting the chapter with the author's update, so now this chapter is the seventh. The administrators told me to do it, or else I'd get kicked off or something like that..
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CCS characters, but I do have rights to the story plot line and the characters of Kiran, Halma, Biret, Official Mentok, Star Blossom, etc. The setting of this story and other elements of it were inspired by the anime show .Hack//Sign.
On with chapter 7..The Clouded Following.
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"KERRROOOOOO! You stupid mutt! Get back here with my crossbow! I swear, I'll kill you if you get slobber all over my arrows!!!!" Halma screamed as she chased the grey and white beast as he bounded around the boulder, happily drooling over Halma's prized ebony crossbow in his large jaws, oblivious to Halma's death glare.
"That's it!!" she yelled, stalking over to her spirited chestnut mare and rifling through her cloth saddlebag. "Sakura, where did you put my daggers?! I'm gonna kill that dog if it's the last thing I do..slobbering all over my rare, highly valued, ebony carved crossbow that SwordSoul brought me all the way from Ragara Port." Halma cursed under her breath.
Sakura sweatdropped, approaching Halma cautiously as she laughed nervously.
"Ah, come on Halma. He's just a dog, he doesn't know any better, and besides if you keep chasing him he'll just think it's a game.."
"Don't take his side!!" Halma interrupted, brandishing her silver dagger in her hand dangerously.
Biret glanced at the hot headed blond from his position on the sun-streaked surface of the large granite rock. He rolled his eyes and called over his shoulder to the two of them, a piece of grass in the corner of his mouth.
"You do realize it's just a stupid dog, right? You're acting like he's a freakin' murderer. What's the big deal anyway? So there's some drool on your stupid bow thingy, just wipe it off."
Halma's face turned red with raging fury as she turned her attention to the thief relaxing on the boulder. "WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL!!!?? The big deal is that bow thingy happens to be a highly valued Ragara Port weapon!" she answered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Biret lifted an eyebrow lazily. "Somehow that doesn't seem neary as impressive as you seem to make it, considering we're on a hunt for the most valued weapon of all time."
"WHY YOU..!!!!" Halma yelled, lunging for him with the dagger. It was all Sakura could do to keep Halma from murdering the red-haired bandit.
"Just let her at him, if we're lucky maybe they'll kill each other." Syaoran spoke up from his perch atop the large, black stallion he had been riding.
Sakura frowned at him as she managed to wrestle the dagger out of Halma's hands, slipping it beneath her cloak. She sighed exasperatedly. It seemed she was the only one keeping any peace between the four of them. For the last week they'd been traveling north along the Zaurus River, heading towards the Rada' Han Mountains, and they'd been fighting the entire time! Especially Halma and Biret. And Syaoran wasn't helping much either.
"Hey! Give that back!" Halma yelled, unsuccessfully trying to steal her dagger back.
"Enough of this." Syao stated. He dismounted and crouched down to Kero's eye level. "Kero! Come here!". Amazingly, Kero obediently trotted over to Syaoran, dropping the crossbow at his feet and sitting down calmly.
Halma and Sakura gaped. "How the hell did you do that?!" Sakura exclaimed, looking at Syaoran wonderingly.
Syaoran glanced at Sakura suspiciously. "Since when do you swear?"
Sakura frowned, placing her hands on her hips. "What's wrong with me swearing?"
Syaoran just shrugged. "You just don't seem like the type, that's all."
Sakura glared even more. "And what type do I seem like?"
As Syaoran started to answer, Halma interrupted him. "Oh, shut up you lovebirds and tell me how the hell you managed to get my crossbow back." She stated, squatting down to pick up her crossbow, a look of disgust crossing her face as she peered down at the drool-covered surface.
Syaoran and Sakura's faces grew extremely red as they both yelled, "Her?/Him? No way!!"
Then the two of them turned to each other and exclaimed in unison, "Why? What's wrong with me?!!"
Biret jumped down from the rock, landing cleanly on the ground by the horses. "Jeez, just shut up already. We're already behind schedule, and we need to get to the Palace of Seiryu within the next two days or so."
Halma glared at him as she mounted her horse. "Well, we wouldn't have been so far behind schedule if you didn't keep stopping for breaks!"
Biret shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not my fault if I'm not used to riding horseback so often."
Sakura swung up into the saddle expertly, turning her horse toward the main road and ushering her horse into a fast trot, with the others following her. "Remind me again why we're going to the Palace of Seiryu and Seiryu city?"
Biret urged his dun colored stallion up next to hers. "Because the only way to get pass the Rada'Han mountains is to go through the Shinta Pass, but that pass if heavily guarded by the Ch'ien officials, and they'll already know our descriptions."
"Hoe? But if that's the only pass up there, then how do we get across them?"
Biret grinned at her, not noticing the heavy glare that Syaoran was aiming at him. "Well, my friend Tirak happens to know of another, secret pass behind Seiryu city. It's guarded by a huge monster supposedly, so nobody goes up there, not even the officials. But my friend assures me it's just a myth. We should be able to make it pass the mountains there with no problems."
Sakura bit her lip worriedly. "This monster, .it wouldn't happen to be a ghost or anything, would it?"
Biret looked at her strangely. "No, not according to the myth, if it even does exist. Why?"
Before Sakura could answer, Halma jumped at the chance to get revenge for Sakura stealing her dagger.
"Oh, that's easy. You see, Cherry Blossom here is especially afraid of ghosts." Halma answered simply, hiding the smile on her face.
"Crimson!" Sakura glared at her over her shoulder.
Biret settled his hand on Sakura's shoulder, an easy-going smile on his face.
"Don't you worry little lady, no ghosts there. And if we see any, I'll be sure to make sure nothing happens to your pretty little head." He assured in his heavy accent.
Syaoran abruptly urged his horse up between Biret and Sakura, turning to her as he bumped Biret out of the way. "Why are you afraid of ghosts?"
Sakura looked at him levelly to see if this was a joke, but he seemed generally curious. Nonetheless, she couldn't very well tell him it was because she might become one any day now.
Sakura just shook her head, a false smile plastered on her face. "Nothing, just a childhood fear. You know, too many horror movies and all that..hehe"
Syaoran just frowned suspiciously as he watched her pull ahead of him, urging her horse into a full gallop as she headed down the road.
"What are you hiding?" he muttered to himself before following after her.
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"Biret! Did you say we're going to see Biret?!" Star Blossom asked anxiously.
Kiran glanced at her with a frown on his face. "So you do know him then?"
Star Blossom, whose real name was Masaya, blushed. "Well, I guess you could say that.."
Tomoyo looked at her suspiciously. "What do you mean?"
Masaya glanced down at the ground, not wanting to look into her brother's eyes. "Well, .um...I guess you could say we've met a couple of times.."
Kiran couldn't take it anymore. "Where?! Where could you possibly have met a thief like that!? I know you, Masaya, and you would never steal anything from anyone, much less join a gang of lying, cheating, sniveling."
"ENOUGH! You don't even know him!!! He's not as bad as you think he is! But, of course, you wouldn't know anyway since you seem to assume everyone except your precious girlfriend is an evil villain!!" she yelled angrily.
Kiran, Eriol, and Tomoyo's jaws dropped open at her outburst. Eriol was the first one to respond.
"Masaya, exactly what is your relationship with.."
"Just drop it!" Masaya yelled, blushing furiously as she galloped ahead of them, the hooves of her horse pounding the road furiously as the passed the first traveler's checkpoint.
"Masaya! Get back here!" Kiran yelled as the three of them chased after her.
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Two Days later..
"Biret!"
"Tirak!"
The two friends greeted each other warmly, happily catching up on the past couple of weeks while Syao, Saku, and Halma followed from a distance. Halma was preoccupied with rubbing her crossbow furiously with an old rag, trying to clean it to it's original condition.
"So, where exactly are we?" Syaoran asked as he and Sakura hung back, glancing around at the wonderous castle around them.
Sakura turned from observing some of the statues around the entrance to what looked like a ballroom. "It's called the Palace of Seiryu. Haven't you ever heard of the four Chinese gods, Suzaku, Seiryu, Byako, and Genbu? I thought you said you were originally Chinese." Sakura looked at him questioningly.
Syaoran nodded. "I am, and I do know the four gods,.but why are they in Ch'ien?"
Sakura thought for a moment, trying to organize a way to portray the legend of Rayn. "Well, there are some people that think that Rayn was actually a goddess, while there are others who just think she was some type of computer genius. As the legend goes, whoever Rayn was, she fiercely believed in the presence of the ancient gods and goddesses. She was said to have traveled the world, looking for legendary items and ancient scrolls. Some people think that she discovered how to create Ch'ien through her adventures. Everybody's opinion varies, but when she created this world, she created four great cities, spread out throughout Ch'ien. They were supposed to be the largest cities in all of Ch'ien, but in actuality, some of them grew larger than others."
Syaoran vaguely recalled the map in the dirt that Kiran had drawn for him. "Where are these cities?"
Sakura continued as she glanced up at the stained glass windows in the vaulted ceiling. "Well, this is the Palace of Seiryu, the Dragon. Since it's close to the Rada' Han mountains, it's become the second largest of the Four Cities. You saw how large the city outside was."
Syaoran nodded. Seiryu city had been HUGE! He'd never seen a city so big. There were stone houses, walls, ramparts, marketplaces, plazas, and temples that seemed to reach to the heavens. It was even bigger than Hong Kong, or Tokyo. It's was like something straight out of a fairy tale.
"Then there's the Palace of Byako, which is back down south, at the very southeastern corner of Ch'ien on the side of the Bashura Ocean, in the bottom of the Pri Nuta Region. That city is the smallest of the Four Cities, but it's still bigger than most. That city is home to the Desert Wanderers, as they're called here. They're like a race of nomads, just wandering the deserts from coast to coast. You don't see them up here though, the closest they get is Mi'hen City, which is a couple of miles east of Souta Village."
Syaoran stopped to look at a large, tiled fountain of a woman in flowing robes, her head tilted up toward the heavens, and her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
Sakura stopped next to him. "Rayn, right?" Syaoran confirmed.
Sakura nodded. "That's her. In these big cities you'll see her everywhere."
Syaoran looked closer, thinking that she looked somewhat familiar when Sakura moved on, calling him.
"We shouldn't fall too far behind them," she said when he caught up with her, "it's easy to get lost in here."
Syaoran didn't doubt that fact at all, gazing at the roaming corridors that seemed to go on for miles.
"Next is the Palace of Genbu, the third largest. It's on the other side of the mountains, at the northwest corner of Ch'ien. They even have a pretty decent sized port on the coast of the Nebiros Ocean. They say that Genbu's City is filled with mercenaries and bandits though, some people have nicknamed it the City of Deceit." Sakura went on, watching as Halma yelled at a servant who had run into her.
Syaoran turned his head from the tall, stone pillars on either side of them in the great hall. "And are we going to be visiting this City of Deceit?"
Sakura shook her head. "I hope not. I don't think we'll have any need to travel there."
Syaoran folded his arms across his chest. "So where are we going?"
Sakura examined the tiled patterns on the floor. "We're going to Rayn's Tower."
Syaoran looked at her questioningly. "Rayn's Tower?"
Sakura nodded. "Yep." She sighed. "It's a huge fortress in the middle of the Ipirian Mountains."
Syaoran took one look at her emerald eyes and frowned. "What aren't you telling me?"
Sakura blushed guiltily. "That obvious?"
Syaoran shook his head. "No, I can just tell when you're lying."
Sakura blushed again before sighing and continuing. "Well, the Ipirian Mountains aren't exactly a very welcoming place.."
Syaoran snorted. "What do you mean?" he asked suspiciously.
"Well,.it's kind of a forbidden area."
"Why?"
"Well, there aren't any criminals or anything, so I'm not really sure why they'd call it something like that when there aren't any."
"Sakura, if I'm going to travel somewhere, I'd rather know what I'm getting into rather than walking in blind." Syao said warningly.
Sakura frowned. She wasn't planning on having the three of them go with her, it was too dangerous. And if she told him, she somehow knew he wouldn't want her going. Still, he couldn't force her to not go, and he did deserve to know, she supposed...
"Well, some people just think it's odd that the last couple people who have gone there have disappeared, that's all."
"just a few people?"
"Well...more like everyone who's ever gone there, actually."
Syaoran frowned, worry etched in the lines of his face. He didn't want Sakura disappearing in a range of forbidding mountains. He looked back at her face, and he could already tell she knew what he was thinking.
Before he could say anything she responded to his unanswered reply.
"Look, I have to go, and I don't expect you to go with me, but there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Syaoran sighed. "Why do you need this weapon anyway?"
"I don't need the weapon so much as I need the money I'll get when I sell it."
"You expect me to believe you're so greedy that you'd risk your life to obtain it?"
Sakura gulped at the mention of risking her life. 'Not that it would matter that much anyway.' she thought despondently. Suddenly she pushed those negative thoughts out of her mind, resolving not to give up hope yet. She put on one of her famous false smiles and nodded to Syaoran. "Yep, That's me! Greedy 'till the end."
"Yeah right. I don't believe you."
Sakura's face fell. "You don't?"
Syaoran shook his head. "Nope. But seeing how you're not going to tell me why, I guess I'll just have to settle for that."
Sakura gave him an unexpected answer. "I'm sorry, Little Wolf."
He gave her a surprised look. "Sorry for what?"
"For not telling you the truth. I would if I could.."
Syaoran shrugged, giving her a small, sideways smile that lit up his face. "Don't worry about it, you can tell me another time. And call me Syaoran."
Sakura smiled, a real smile. She hadn't smiled like that for ages, but she couldn't help it. He looked gorgeous with that smile on his face, it was infectious. She wished he could smile like that more often.
Syaoran was thinking the same thing, for once he could tell Sakura was really smiling, and he wanted to see more of it. He decided to change the subject.
"So, if we're going on what seem to me like such a long journey, then I'm going to need something better than this puny dagger." He said, pulling it out of it's small scabbard on his belt.
Sakura laughed, making Syaoran smile again. "Are you sure you can handle something else?" she teased.
Syaoran gave a look of mock hurt. "Of course I could! What would make you think otherwise?"
Sakura had to stifle a laugh. "Maybe the fact that you were captured by one thief who not only is smaller than you, but also only had a rusty old sword and an old pistol."
Syaoran grunted, but smiled slightly seeing Sakura trying very hard not to laugh.
Suddenly Sakura bumped into Halma, who had apparently stopped.
"Oh! Sorry Halma, I didn't see you, why'd you stop here...."
Sakura's voice faded when she saw the scene in front of her. A man with jet black hair and crystal pale blue eyes was holding a sword point at the throat of the man called Tirak. Biret now had his pistol pointed at the man, and the man's bodyguards were all aiming at Biret. Halma's crossbow was aimed at the head of the lead bodyguard, and the man with black hair had a small throwing dagger in his other hand, aimed at Halma.
Sakura could easily see it was a stalemate, and that Tirak seemed to be at the center of it. Her Kodachi's were instantly in her hands, aimed at two of the bodyguards, and Syaoran moved up beside her, his silver dagger poised to hit another bodyguard in the back. Sakura somehow felt safer with Syaoran next to her, but she knew that one small dagger wasn't going to protect him if they were attacked. She slipped one foot a little further forward, ready to jump in if anyone targeted him.
Suddenly both Syaoran and Sakura felt a swordpoint at their backs, and a small, feminine voice spoke to them, a voice that sounded extremely familiar to Sakura.
"Drop your weapons."
"Star Saber?"
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"Knighted Guardian! Stop fooling around! We have to go find Cherry Blossom, and we can't just stop every time you feel like messing around!" Meriko's cherry voice scolded.
"Yeah Daddy! We have to find Auntie Sakura!" Ayna pitched in, watching her father flailing his hands above his head at a large bird.
"MESSING AROUND??!!! You think I want this insane bird attacking me!!!!" Touya yelled angrily trying to murder the bird pecking at this head. "I hate this place!!! Sakura is never coming back here as long as I live!" he screamed at the bird, as if that would make it go away.
Fujitaka laughed. "Come on, Touya. Souta Village is just over that hill, and we should be able to find someone in the village to tell us what happened yesterday."
Sonomi glared at him. "Are you sure? You're always getting lost, how do we know we can trust you?"
Ayna started to run up the hill. "Come on! Auntie Sakura needs our help!" she yelled cutely, turning back to them. "Hurry up!"
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"Cherry Blossom?"
Sakura turned around only to see her friend Rita standing behind her, lowering her swords.
"Rita! It is you!" Sakura exclaimed happily, hugging her friend.
Rita blushed. "Cherry Blossom, you know we're not supposed to use our real names!"
Sakura smiled. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. How did you get here?"
Rita grinned. "Amethyst Blade sent me an email, telling me to meet her at the Rada' Han Mountains at the Shinta Pass and that she was looking for you. But.," Rita blushed with an embarrassed look on her face. "But you know how bad I am at teleporting into Ch'ien, and I ended up in a closet here in the Palace this morning." She laughed.
Sakura giggled. "Well, for once I'm glad you ended up somewhere else. Did To, I mean Amethyst Blade tell you where she was?"
Rita shook her head. "Sorry, she just told me to meet her at the Shinta Pass. I guess that's where they thought you'd be going."
Sakura nodded. "Well, I guess it might be better that way."
Rita looked at her questioningly. "Why?"
Sakura glanced around at everyone staring at the two of them. She sweatdropped and whispered to Rita, "I'll tell you later. Now why don't you get this straightened out and tell me why we were being held at swordpoint." Sakura gestured toward the stalemate in the center of the room.
Rita looked where Sakura pointed and gasped. "Oh, I almost forgot, I'm sorry. Amiboshi!" she called the the black haired man. As soon as she called him, four of the bodyguards glared at her. "I,..I..mean Prince Amiboshi." She corrected herself, "Stop! Don't worry, these people are my friends, they won't hurt you, I swear!" Rita said.
Prince Amiboshi turned his head to look at Rita before nodding and lowering his weapons to the ground. The Bodyguards reluctantly followed suit.
"Halma, Biret! You too!" Sakura yelled warningly.
Halma reluctantly slipped her crossbow under her cloak, and Biret hesitated before slipping his pistol into his belt. "Whatever you say, little lady."
Sakura ignored him and turned back toward Rita questioningly.
Rita smiled. "I know, I have some explaining to do. But first, mind introducing me to your friends?"
Sakura smiled. "Oh, yeah. This is Little Wolf, and the two behind us are Crimson Heart and , uh,.Biret, what is your screename?"
Biret only shook his head. "Just call me Biret for now."
Rita nodded. "I'm Star Saber. And that.." she pointed to the black haired man who had moved up beside her, "is Prince Amiboshi of the Seiryu Royal Family."
Sakura smiled, she could tell Rita already had a thing for the tall, blue- eyed prince. She bowed slightly at the waist. "Please to meet you. Sorry about aiming a weapon at you." She smiled amiably.
The Prince smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about it. Although I think some explaining is in order. Why don't we retire to the library, I can have a few of my servants get us something to eat while we talk."
Biret immediately smiled at the mention of food. "Sounds like a plan to me." He said eagerly. " Just point me in the direction."
The Prince nodded and starting leading them down a large hallway.
Syaoran sidled up to Sakura, bending his head down close to her ear so he could whisper. "Are we sure we can trust this guy?"
Sakura could barely hear what he was saying as she shivered pleasantly feeling his warm breath on her ear. She shook her head to clear her mind before answering.
"I hope so."
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End of Chapter 7.
So, what did u guys think? I made this one a little longer as payback for not updating. There wasn't much action, but there will be more in later chapters, believe me.
I need screenames for Fujitaka and Sonomi.
Also, go check out a story I co-wrote with another author, Star Cherry. It's called, To Save the World, and it should be on my favorite stories list if you click on my profile. We wrote it under the pename Two Girls Fusion, and we have three chapters done but nobody's read it! So go review!!! It's a different type of story than this, but it's a really cute story, so go and read it, pretty please!!
And don't forget to review this story! (A/N: If I even have any readers left..) Just go push that little button and tell me what you think. ARIGATO!
Ja Ne! ~Vixie
