Chapter 2
Veiled
Arigatou for reading this fanfic. Welcome to the second chapter where Sakura loses her memories. Oh dear, I forgot the disclaimer! CLAMP owns Tsubasa, not me. Should I give Sakura a Kudan? Like someone she can talk to while she's asleep. Here are the replies to my reviewers … Arigatou! ^_^
Sunel: Arigatou! I really wanted someone to comment on the way I described Sakura's emotions. Arigatou gozaimasu! You're my first reviewer! XD
It-chan: There are many other fanfics, like this, It-chan. ;p Oh yeah I've already flamed you back! (SEE everyone! She's supposed to be my best friend but she's mean and she doesn't support me and she takes this as a compliment.)
-- Himitsu
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I ran the rest of the way back, tiptoeing carefully not to attract attention. It was dark by the time I arrived. I didn't realise how long I was out.
"SA – KU – RA. I can see you," said somebody loudly.
I glanced in the direction of the voice – it was Touya. "Tadaima - Nii-sama!" I said guiltily, hiding the golden apple behind my back. He was glaring at me heatedly.
"I suppose you were at that kid's place again," he said sulkily.
"He's not 'that kid'!" I shouted angrily. "He's Syaoran!" Touya had been calling him by that name for ages. He'd either call him 'that kid' or 'that brat'. I suppose I should be calling him 'that bully'.
" 'That kid' is a fine name for a brat like that," Touya scoffed.
"He's not a brat! He's living alone, he's working hard at his job, he's GREAT!" I nearly shrieked, dropping all my gentle and courteous princess's qualities, glaring at Touya.
"Yeah, a GREAT BRAT! A BRAT!" Touya glared at me.
"Is doing this helping anything? Ou-sama? Hime-sama?" chuckled Yukito, the Priest and the King's assistant. I had also known him for years. He was also Touya's best friend.
"Yukito-san! Have you finished all your work?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied with his usual warm smile. "The excavation went very well so, the King and his companions were waiting here."
"My brother was as big-headed as ever, I suppose?" I quipped.
"I think that's you actually," leered Touya.
"NANDE!?"
"Ah, he listened to it intently," said Yukito as I sent a frown to Touya. He looked the other way and merely ignored me.
"So, the excavations are still continuing?" I asked Yukito, trying to take no notice of Touya.
"It looks that way, yes."
"So they're nearly finished right?" I asked hopefully. If the ruins were almost over and done with, perhaps Syaoran would have more time off his work and we could be just as close as we were all those years ago.
"Nope," said Touya, gazing at the ruins. "It looks like there's more to these ruins than what's showing on the surface."
"Eh!?" I exclaimed.
"There seems to be a path continuing underground," said Yukito.
"The excavation still has a long way to go before it's finished," smirked Touya, cruelly. "That brat will still, still, still, still be very busy too … won't he?"
I squeezed the apple furiously, growling. If it were a little kumquat it would be juice and pulp by now. "I … I understand! Syaoran and his father are the same, they love the ruins, they both love history! I know that he'll be really happy if there are new ruins. It's a good thing!"
I ran to my room, slamming the door in rage. "Nii-sama! All he does is just make fun of me!" I threw myself on the bed, back to staring at the decorated ceilings. He was always this cruel and unkind. Maybe all big brothers are like that. I sighed.
I rose almost at once, opening the glass doors leading to my balcony. I had a grand view of the ruins. The moonless dark sky was glamorously adorned with millions of glittering stars, its astral beams illuminating the night with a heavenly ambience.
"It's so beautiful … I wonder what's under there still." People could spot the ruins from miles away, which was no big surprise seeing as it was very huge. "Syaoran will be happy for sure. I know! I'll bring him a packed lunch at lunchtime … and we can eat together. And tomorrow …" I blushed. " I'll say it. That I love Syaoran."
I gazed at the ruins, thinking of tomorrow. Syaoran would be there as always, working hard. He would surely be happy to see me again. What is he doing now? Maybe he is thinking of me now, like I'm thinking of him.
Ring.
A strange sound like distant echoing bells interrupted my thoughts. It rang again, probably coming from the direction of the ruins. "Eh? What's that sound? It's such a pretty clear sound," I whispered.
Ring.
"A bell? It sounds like someone's striking a bell … can I hear it coming from the ruins?" I murmured, as the sound rang over and over again.
Ring.
Slowly, my body started to float, totally out of control. "It's just like … it's calling me?" I whispered, in some kind of half-trance. An odd fatigue passed through my mind.
Ring …
Instantly images entered my mind. An unusual palace with foreign features … and another one with strange wing-like arches curving over it; a symbol of some kind; an empty glass cell; another symbol on a black robe; and … Syaoran beating on the glass, shouting something I couldn't hear. There was desperation on his face as he hit the glass barrier with all his strength, attempting to break it.
Suddenly I was on the floor again. I felt as though I had suddenly started breathing again. "What was it?" I went limp with shock. I scrambled to stand up.
I clutched my chest, trying to lessen the uneasiness I felt. I looked at the ruins, hoping it would give me some hint. The wing-shaped structure had an eerie ethereal atmosphere to it, sending a shiver down my spine. I shuddered as the chilly wind blew in my face, the bitter coldness seeping through my dress.
* * *
When I woke up, the chamber was dark. I got up and changed out of my nightdress. I adjusted the curtains to let in light. I peered at the ruins, recalling what had happened last night. The strange reverie. Maybe it was just a dream. I could scarcely remember what I had seen.
* * *
The yellow sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, warming the desert. Not many children played about, and the shopkeepers remained under their cool shades. It was too warm to do any actual hard work. Most of the villagers were taking a break in their hemispherical homes.
It was curious why Touya had agreed to let me follow him and Yukito to the ruins today. He decided before I could explain anything. I though he would refuse because I went out without permission yesterday. Even Yukito was a little hesitant.
When we arrived, many workers were working going in and out of the ruins but Syaoran was nowhere to be seen.
My heart started to beat loudly. I entered the ruins tentatively, careful not to cause an avalanche of rocks. As I went deeper, to the lowest pasage, cobwebby torches glimmered ahead, emitting a flickering insubstantial light over the coarse walls and uneven floor. The passage had an atmosphere of silence. I no longer met any other workers and the stillness was like being underwater.
I spotted Syaoran a few minutes later. "Syaoran!" The floor here was surprisingly smooth.
He turned around and I waved. "Wha … What are you doing her?" Syaoran asked as we held hands.
"I came to bring you lunch! People outside told me you were inside," I explained, showing him the basket of food.
"It's dangerous here. The ground is unstable and sometimes the rocks fall," Syaoran said. "That's why the King's worried." He glanced at the wires on the floor, and some other instruments.
I supposed he was the only one who dared to enter the deepest chamber of the ruins at lengthy periods. "It's ok!" I assured him. "My brother is here too. He's supervising the excavation." I handed him the food basket. "Here."
Behind Syaoran, on the floor was a strange symbol. It appeared familiar.
Ring.
"It looks like there's a pathway under here but it seems to be a dead end," explained Syaoran. "The rock is really hard and no machines have been able to dig through it so far." His voice grew distant. I wasn't paying attention to any of his words.
The eerie bell had begun again but this time it was louder.
Ring.
I remembered the vision …
I had seen it before. I had seen it the night before, when I was staring in the ruins and hearing the strange ringing. Ring. It was in my vision.
The symbol of wings. Ring. It echoed through the underground chamber. Ring. My body started to feel cold but I wasn't shivering.
I knelt down, touching the smooth stone. Ring. It was a beautiful and bizarre symbol. A symbol of wings, a sign of concealed power.
Ring …
"This symbol … I've seen it before."
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Should I give a Kudan to Sakura? So it won't be so dull when she sleeps. Please review.