Disclaimer: CCS doesn't belong to me.
Author's note(s): Sorry guys-I've had loads of hw n no time to update lately. I'm not sure when the next update will be either-football season's starting up and I'll be gone for at least two weekends in a row. Sorry!!
****
Her body bore awful marks. As she examined them closely, she realized they resembled something much like burns.
'Raw power,' she decided. 'The raw power pours through the bracelet and into me. . . and I can't contain it.'
Her thoughts were halted when she heard a door click closed. Wearily, she turned her head to face the intruder.
His eyes swept over her body, taking in the same marks she'd been examining. While he was eyeing her, she found herself eyeing him curiously. He was dressed in his usual green outfit-loose, comfortable and perfect for training. His chestnut hair shadowed his eyes in its usual rough manner. In his hands he carried a steaming bowl of porridge. Her stomach responded to it, letting out a huge growl. She realized she hadn't eaten since she'd arrived here.
His face curled up into a slight smile when he heard the sound and she felt a blush take her features.
"I'm a little hungry," she said unnecessarily.
He held up the bowl, showing it to her. "I have breakfast right here. Straight from the kitchen."
When she made to stand up, he quickly crossed the room, pushing her back down onto the bed, his eyes showing worry.
"You shouldn't try to stand just yet, Sakura," he said quickly, meeting her glare steadily. His own deathly glare made him immune to all others.
When she spoke, her words were harsh. "And what am I supposed to do? Just lie here and let you feed me?"
Blushing slightly, he drew a spoon from his pocket. "Would it be so awful?"
She gaped at him for a minute before shutting her mouth abruptly. "You're kidding."
He eyed her seriously for a minute. Coming to a decision, he turned and placed the bowl on the table and pulled a chair out. Motioning towards it, he asked, "Is that okay?"
She nodded briskly and started to push herself from the bed. Again, he crossed over to her, this time picking her up from the bed. She stiffened, surprised to find herself in his arms. He carried her, as though she weighed nothing, to the chair before gently dropping her into it.
She opened her mouth to fuss before closing it again. She let out a short nod and dove into the bowl of porridge.
Over her spoon, she watched Syaoran closely, her thoughts calculating.
'Can I trust him?' she asked herself for the millionth time that day. 'He may have saved me yesterday, but I can't forget-he's the prince of the Li Kingdom. Why would he help me, the champion of Alexandria?'
Her doubt was quickly cancelled out when she caught his eyes. He smiled slightly, obviously more comfortable with smirking than smiling. She couldn't help but reciprocate the smile, laughing lightly at his unease.
'He's trying, that's for sure,' she noted. She couldn't help but realize how charming he was.
She continued to eat her porridge, still watching him, when a lone thought entered her head.
'He still has your cards,' it said, the voice strangely unlike hers. It reminded her of someone else, but she couldn't quite place it. It spoke the truth-that was all she cared about at the moment.
She glared at Syaoran, causing the prince to jump in surprise. He'd grown slightly used to the kindness; he'd relaxed. A bit unruffled, he managed to voice his question. "What's wrong? Is the porridge bad?"
She snorted, a harsh sound to him. "It's not the food; it's the company."
Syaoran felt his jaw drop open. He managed to close it before it caught flies. "What?"
Her glared increased tenfold. "Did you honestly think I'd forget about my cards, prince pompous?"
It was the first time she had voiced the harsh nickname, but somehow she was angry enough to let it slip.
'Why should he be surprised?,' she asked herself. 'He deserved it. First he says he wants to help me, while at the same time he's holding my Cards hostage. Not to mention this piece of metal is still on my arm,' she added, sparing a glance toward her arm. It was the most burned of all.
His jaw had slipped open a second time when Sakura glanced his way. "Your Cards?" he asked faintly. "But. . . I haven't taken your cards. Your weapons, yes." When she raised an eyebrow, he quickly added, "But I'll gladly give them back."
As though to make good his words, he jumped up from the table and immediately rushed into his room. She felt a bolt of magic and heard a creaking door. Within seconds, he had returned, his arms full of her weapons. He deposited them onto the table, motioning towards the pile. Sakura quickly scanned over them, recognizing all of her war weapons-except her cards.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she nodded towards the pile. "My cards are not there."
Syaoran nodded his agreement, pointing towards the spot on her belt. "The first night you were here, I took them out to look at them. . . but then Einar came in. . . and I dropped them back on the bed." He shook his head. "I never touched them again."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "And who is this Einar person?"
Something clicked in Syaoran's brain and he let out a growl. Slamming his fist down onto the table, he nearly turned over the bowl of porridge in front of Sakura. She righted it quickly, her eyes never leaving Syaoran's frame. Eyeing him carefully, she searched for any signs of a lie. Finding none, she listened to what he had to say.
"Einar is the high advisor of the Li Kingdom." When Sakura's face turned skeptical, he continued quickly. "He has something against your beloved king. He's just using our country to get revenge. My mother is under his spell."
She took a sigh, still somewhat doubting his words. "And you just let him get away with this?"
He deflated instantly, catching the chair to hold him up. He refused to look at her as he answered. "Yes. I had the chance to stop him. . . and I didn't. I was a fool."
Sakura's eyes never left him-he had just admitted the war that had killed so many of her Elite was his fault. And yet. . . something about the way his very body shouted shame made it hard to condemn him. Instead, she passed over his words as if they were nothing.
"And this man, Einar, he has my cards?" she asked, her voice softer.
Syaoran's head bolted upwards, his eyes instantly searching hers with an intense emotion. Not able to hold the gaze, she dropped it, watching the door instead. She didn't even want to attempt to read what had been in his eyes.
His voice was soft, completely different from his gaze, when he finally answered her. "I'd guess he has something to do with it."
She picked up her spoon and took another bite of the now-cold porridge. "I tried calling them, the day before. I could feel them-but just barely. If they are in the castle, I should be able to feel them better." She glanced up briefly. He was still eyeing her. Returning her gaze to the porridge, she added, "He must be using something to contain them."
Syaoran grunted before falling silent. Sakura took the silence in hand, finishing the rest of the porridge and letting her thoughts roam. When the prince spoke again, his voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.
"I can't take the bracelet off, Sakura."
Sakura felt herself nodding. Some part of her had known that already.
He hurried on, trying to explain. "The entire castle knows about it by now. If I take it off, they will all notice. And I can't just release you-they would know it was me who did it. I need my reputation to be as strong as it can be if I have any chance in ending this war."
She nodded again. Once again, he was saying what she had already known. Wishing for a subject change, she spoke up, asking the question she'd been dying to ask.
"How many did your army kill?"
She looked up, watching as Syaoran's face twisted into puzzlement.
"At the battle-when you kidnapped me-how many did they kill before my men retreated?" she said, clearing up the details.
Syaoran's features relaxed slightly, but they were still a little puzzled. "You have had no news?"
Impatient, she snorted. "Would I ask if I knew?"
He smiled, slightly sheepish. "Your men finished their wall."
Sakura's mouth dropped open. "So then-"
"-our army has to take the long way."
She shook her head as though the thoughts were too heavy to be contained. "But-the wall-it could be destroyed," she said faintly.
He let out a short laugh. "Your guardians are much stronger than you'd believe, Sakura. None of the army could get near your precious wall."
She smiled faintly. "Then we have time."
He nodded in return. "We must hurry."
****
Einar was just returning from the servant's wing when he saw Syaoran walking by, carrying an empty bowl. The advisor crept back into the shadows, realizing the bowl must've come from the girl. Clucking his tongue, he frowned. She had one untainted meal in her body now-it would make her stronger.
Lisha would not be happy.
'Still,' he reasoned, 'she will be getting no more meals as such. Venga will take care of that.'
He continued down the hall until he was inside his room. Picking up the black bag, he set off to do his second errand of the day.
'Soon the girl will be gone and the king will be ours.'
Then, with the tiniest puff of smoke, he was gone.
****
Sakura heard a knock on the door. Puzzled, she called out, beckoning whoever it was to enter. A man's face peered in through the doorway. Upon seeing her, he quickly stepped in, shutting the door behind him.
He crossed the room in quick movements, arriving near her bedside before dropping into a bow.
At a loss, it took Sakura a second before she remembered custom. "No need to bow," she said hastily. People bowing had always made her nervous.
He rose, his eyes watching her closely. When he spoke, his voice was just as quick as his movements. She studied his face, her eyes tracing the lines of his strong, but nervous, jaw. He was very tan-obviously saw plenty of sun. His clothes identified him as a manservant; his blond hair was too clean for him to be a house servant. His deep gray eyes, however, were what caught her gaze. Right now they were a steely gray, telling her he was nervous. She suspected the color would change with his mood.
"My lady, your captivity is a great surprise to us," he said, breaking her thoughts.
Her eyes narrowed. No one in this household should address her as a lady.
"Your name?" she asked sharply.
He seemed somehow pleased with her question. "Toby, my lady. And you are right to be suspicious-you should be suspicious of anyone in this castle."
Sakura said nothing; she was too taken aback.
Casting a worried glance at the door behind him, he spoke up again. "I have little time, my lady, but I wanted you to know you are not alone. There are people stationed in this household who are loyal not to the Li kingdom." Something in Sakura's brain clicked-this man was a spy. Heedless of her thoughts, he rushed on. "We must hurry if we are to get you out of here, and yet we cannot act too rapidly or we will draw too much attention to ourselves."
He seemed to catch himself rambling. Shaking himself quickly, he started again. "I will see you soon-I will have a plan then. For now," he paused, pulling something from his pocket. He stretched his hand out to her, placing a necklace into her hand. She caught it, examining it briefly. It was a turtle pendant strung on a plain piece of cloth. He pointed at it. "That is our sign. Anyone wearing this is loyal."
He turned and started towards the door, speaking over his shoulder as he went. "I will be back soon," he repeated. "Though you cannot be in Alexandria, your orders can. I will bring you news as well. For now, though, I must be gone."
Without so much as a backward glance, the man was gone, leaving behind him a very confused champion.
****
Author's Note: I know, I know. Short. But I'm actually sitting here, staring out the window, and waiting for my friend to drive up the driveway. In fact-there she is, lol. I must go. As for the Partners update-I'm sorry! I started it, but it's on another computer. I'll try to get that updated soon. Sorry guys! Love! N sorry about the typos.
Author's note(s): Sorry guys-I've had loads of hw n no time to update lately. I'm not sure when the next update will be either-football season's starting up and I'll be gone for at least two weekends in a row. Sorry!!
****
Her body bore awful marks. As she examined them closely, she realized they resembled something much like burns.
'Raw power,' she decided. 'The raw power pours through the bracelet and into me. . . and I can't contain it.'
Her thoughts were halted when she heard a door click closed. Wearily, she turned her head to face the intruder.
His eyes swept over her body, taking in the same marks she'd been examining. While he was eyeing her, she found herself eyeing him curiously. He was dressed in his usual green outfit-loose, comfortable and perfect for training. His chestnut hair shadowed his eyes in its usual rough manner. In his hands he carried a steaming bowl of porridge. Her stomach responded to it, letting out a huge growl. She realized she hadn't eaten since she'd arrived here.
His face curled up into a slight smile when he heard the sound and she felt a blush take her features.
"I'm a little hungry," she said unnecessarily.
He held up the bowl, showing it to her. "I have breakfast right here. Straight from the kitchen."
When she made to stand up, he quickly crossed the room, pushing her back down onto the bed, his eyes showing worry.
"You shouldn't try to stand just yet, Sakura," he said quickly, meeting her glare steadily. His own deathly glare made him immune to all others.
When she spoke, her words were harsh. "And what am I supposed to do? Just lie here and let you feed me?"
Blushing slightly, he drew a spoon from his pocket. "Would it be so awful?"
She gaped at him for a minute before shutting her mouth abruptly. "You're kidding."
He eyed her seriously for a minute. Coming to a decision, he turned and placed the bowl on the table and pulled a chair out. Motioning towards it, he asked, "Is that okay?"
She nodded briskly and started to push herself from the bed. Again, he crossed over to her, this time picking her up from the bed. She stiffened, surprised to find herself in his arms. He carried her, as though she weighed nothing, to the chair before gently dropping her into it.
She opened her mouth to fuss before closing it again. She let out a short nod and dove into the bowl of porridge.
Over her spoon, she watched Syaoran closely, her thoughts calculating.
'Can I trust him?' she asked herself for the millionth time that day. 'He may have saved me yesterday, but I can't forget-he's the prince of the Li Kingdom. Why would he help me, the champion of Alexandria?'
Her doubt was quickly cancelled out when she caught his eyes. He smiled slightly, obviously more comfortable with smirking than smiling. She couldn't help but reciprocate the smile, laughing lightly at his unease.
'He's trying, that's for sure,' she noted. She couldn't help but realize how charming he was.
She continued to eat her porridge, still watching him, when a lone thought entered her head.
'He still has your cards,' it said, the voice strangely unlike hers. It reminded her of someone else, but she couldn't quite place it. It spoke the truth-that was all she cared about at the moment.
She glared at Syaoran, causing the prince to jump in surprise. He'd grown slightly used to the kindness; he'd relaxed. A bit unruffled, he managed to voice his question. "What's wrong? Is the porridge bad?"
She snorted, a harsh sound to him. "It's not the food; it's the company."
Syaoran felt his jaw drop open. He managed to close it before it caught flies. "What?"
Her glared increased tenfold. "Did you honestly think I'd forget about my cards, prince pompous?"
It was the first time she had voiced the harsh nickname, but somehow she was angry enough to let it slip.
'Why should he be surprised?,' she asked herself. 'He deserved it. First he says he wants to help me, while at the same time he's holding my Cards hostage. Not to mention this piece of metal is still on my arm,' she added, sparing a glance toward her arm. It was the most burned of all.
His jaw had slipped open a second time when Sakura glanced his way. "Your Cards?" he asked faintly. "But. . . I haven't taken your cards. Your weapons, yes." When she raised an eyebrow, he quickly added, "But I'll gladly give them back."
As though to make good his words, he jumped up from the table and immediately rushed into his room. She felt a bolt of magic and heard a creaking door. Within seconds, he had returned, his arms full of her weapons. He deposited them onto the table, motioning towards the pile. Sakura quickly scanned over them, recognizing all of her war weapons-except her cards.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she nodded towards the pile. "My cards are not there."
Syaoran nodded his agreement, pointing towards the spot on her belt. "The first night you were here, I took them out to look at them. . . but then Einar came in. . . and I dropped them back on the bed." He shook his head. "I never touched them again."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "And who is this Einar person?"
Something clicked in Syaoran's brain and he let out a growl. Slamming his fist down onto the table, he nearly turned over the bowl of porridge in front of Sakura. She righted it quickly, her eyes never leaving Syaoran's frame. Eyeing him carefully, she searched for any signs of a lie. Finding none, she listened to what he had to say.
"Einar is the high advisor of the Li Kingdom." When Sakura's face turned skeptical, he continued quickly. "He has something against your beloved king. He's just using our country to get revenge. My mother is under his spell."
She took a sigh, still somewhat doubting his words. "And you just let him get away with this?"
He deflated instantly, catching the chair to hold him up. He refused to look at her as he answered. "Yes. I had the chance to stop him. . . and I didn't. I was a fool."
Sakura's eyes never left him-he had just admitted the war that had killed so many of her Elite was his fault. And yet. . . something about the way his very body shouted shame made it hard to condemn him. Instead, she passed over his words as if they were nothing.
"And this man, Einar, he has my cards?" she asked, her voice softer.
Syaoran's head bolted upwards, his eyes instantly searching hers with an intense emotion. Not able to hold the gaze, she dropped it, watching the door instead. She didn't even want to attempt to read what had been in his eyes.
His voice was soft, completely different from his gaze, when he finally answered her. "I'd guess he has something to do with it."
She picked up her spoon and took another bite of the now-cold porridge. "I tried calling them, the day before. I could feel them-but just barely. If they are in the castle, I should be able to feel them better." She glanced up briefly. He was still eyeing her. Returning her gaze to the porridge, she added, "He must be using something to contain them."
Syaoran grunted before falling silent. Sakura took the silence in hand, finishing the rest of the porridge and letting her thoughts roam. When the prince spoke again, his voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.
"I can't take the bracelet off, Sakura."
Sakura felt herself nodding. Some part of her had known that already.
He hurried on, trying to explain. "The entire castle knows about it by now. If I take it off, they will all notice. And I can't just release you-they would know it was me who did it. I need my reputation to be as strong as it can be if I have any chance in ending this war."
She nodded again. Once again, he was saying what she had already known. Wishing for a subject change, she spoke up, asking the question she'd been dying to ask.
"How many did your army kill?"
She looked up, watching as Syaoran's face twisted into puzzlement.
"At the battle-when you kidnapped me-how many did they kill before my men retreated?" she said, clearing up the details.
Syaoran's features relaxed slightly, but they were still a little puzzled. "You have had no news?"
Impatient, she snorted. "Would I ask if I knew?"
He smiled, slightly sheepish. "Your men finished their wall."
Sakura's mouth dropped open. "So then-"
"-our army has to take the long way."
She shook her head as though the thoughts were too heavy to be contained. "But-the wall-it could be destroyed," she said faintly.
He let out a short laugh. "Your guardians are much stronger than you'd believe, Sakura. None of the army could get near your precious wall."
She smiled faintly. "Then we have time."
He nodded in return. "We must hurry."
****
Einar was just returning from the servant's wing when he saw Syaoran walking by, carrying an empty bowl. The advisor crept back into the shadows, realizing the bowl must've come from the girl. Clucking his tongue, he frowned. She had one untainted meal in her body now-it would make her stronger.
Lisha would not be happy.
'Still,' he reasoned, 'she will be getting no more meals as such. Venga will take care of that.'
He continued down the hall until he was inside his room. Picking up the black bag, he set off to do his second errand of the day.
'Soon the girl will be gone and the king will be ours.'
Then, with the tiniest puff of smoke, he was gone.
****
Sakura heard a knock on the door. Puzzled, she called out, beckoning whoever it was to enter. A man's face peered in through the doorway. Upon seeing her, he quickly stepped in, shutting the door behind him.
He crossed the room in quick movements, arriving near her bedside before dropping into a bow.
At a loss, it took Sakura a second before she remembered custom. "No need to bow," she said hastily. People bowing had always made her nervous.
He rose, his eyes watching her closely. When he spoke, his voice was just as quick as his movements. She studied his face, her eyes tracing the lines of his strong, but nervous, jaw. He was very tan-obviously saw plenty of sun. His clothes identified him as a manservant; his blond hair was too clean for him to be a house servant. His deep gray eyes, however, were what caught her gaze. Right now they were a steely gray, telling her he was nervous. She suspected the color would change with his mood.
"My lady, your captivity is a great surprise to us," he said, breaking her thoughts.
Her eyes narrowed. No one in this household should address her as a lady.
"Your name?" she asked sharply.
He seemed somehow pleased with her question. "Toby, my lady. And you are right to be suspicious-you should be suspicious of anyone in this castle."
Sakura said nothing; she was too taken aback.
Casting a worried glance at the door behind him, he spoke up again. "I have little time, my lady, but I wanted you to know you are not alone. There are people stationed in this household who are loyal not to the Li kingdom." Something in Sakura's brain clicked-this man was a spy. Heedless of her thoughts, he rushed on. "We must hurry if we are to get you out of here, and yet we cannot act too rapidly or we will draw too much attention to ourselves."
He seemed to catch himself rambling. Shaking himself quickly, he started again. "I will see you soon-I will have a plan then. For now," he paused, pulling something from his pocket. He stretched his hand out to her, placing a necklace into her hand. She caught it, examining it briefly. It was a turtle pendant strung on a plain piece of cloth. He pointed at it. "That is our sign. Anyone wearing this is loyal."
He turned and started towards the door, speaking over his shoulder as he went. "I will be back soon," he repeated. "Though you cannot be in Alexandria, your orders can. I will bring you news as well. For now, though, I must be gone."
Without so much as a backward glance, the man was gone, leaving behind him a very confused champion.
****
Author's Note: I know, I know. Short. But I'm actually sitting here, staring out the window, and waiting for my friend to drive up the driveway. In fact-there she is, lol. I must go. As for the Partners update-I'm sorry! I started it, but it's on another computer. I'll try to get that updated soon. Sorry guys! Love! N sorry about the typos.