Forgotten Cherry Blossom

Chapter 11: Love and life, that's what you are.

"Papa, where did mama go?"

"She went to stay with the angles, monster. She has to help them look after you from above."

"Where's above big brother?"

"It's a beautiful place where people go when they are tired and need to rest."

"Oh… Will mama be happy there?"

"She'll be very happy Sakura." The king picked up his small daughter and held her close to him. "She'll be very happy there."

Sakura watched the gravestone with cherry blossoms engraved in it. "Have a nice rest mama."

"Have a nice rest mama…" Sakura turned in her sleep. The orange light from the small fire played on her face before dying out as the last wood crumbled to coal and ash. The orange was replaced with the cold pail light from the haunting moon.

It swallowed her sleeping figure in its hungry grasp, refusing to let go it made her glow a pail blue. On her hands patterns curled out on her skin, like the winding ivy it swirled its mysterious symbols. Two small hands brushed hair out of a sleeping face and soft lips pecked her cheek. "Sweet dreams Sakura-chan."

"Sakura, wake up. Wake up Sakura." Yelan's soft voice filled her senses.

"Mmm…"

"Wake up honey. It's time for the winter festival to start. And we have to be there early."

"Oh…" She sat up and brushed her hair out of her face. She noticed Yelan's amazed look. "What? What's wrong?"

"Your hands."

"My hands?" she examined her hands. The swirling pattern was clearly visible in a dark blue on her skin. "Oh my… What the hell is this?"

"What is what?" Syaoran walked into her room and she lifted her hands to him. "Since when did you have tattoos?"

"Since never! I just woke up with these things on my hands!" She rubbed her hands hard making the skin red and sore. Li grabbed her hands to stop her from hurting herself. "No, no! Get it off, get it off."

"It won't come off Sakura, it's in your skin."

"No, no." She pulled her hands away and rubbed them again. "Get it off. Get it off."

"Sakura stop! You're hurting yourself." He grabbed her arms and held them tight to her body. "Stop it. Ignore it for now and get ready. The others are going to worry if we don't go." He held her tighter when she struggled more. "Sakura, please. There's nothing you can do about it. It's in your skin." He nodded to his mother that he had everything under control.

"I don't want it there."

"I know, I know." He soothed her with his voice and he felt her relax under his touch. "Look, my mother brought you a dress and there's gloves with it. Get ready, I'll wait for you outside then we can go to the winter festival together."

"As you wish." He let her go and left the room.

Sakura examined the dress on her bed. It was a white dress with a hint of blue in it when the light stroked the soft material. It was tight and warm, up to her neck and down to her toes. The sleeves were down to the half of her hands; it hid her bandages on her arm perfectly. Along with it were white boots and gloves.

She examined herself in the mirror. She looked like the snow queen from the stories she used to listen to a small child. Smiling slightly she put on a white fur hat and walked out to meet Syaoran. He grinned broadly at her and extended his arm, which she took. "You look lovely."

"Thank you. What are you wearing?" She looked at his formal green and white jacket and black pants. A large formal sword dangled from his side along with an extravagant dagger. On his jacket where several medallions and his hands where also gloved in black.

"Oh this. The normal formal wear one's required to wear during functions such as these."

"But you didn't wear it on Eriol and Tomoyo's wedding."

"Eriol had a say in what I was wearing, since it was his wedding."

"Oh." She looked at the floor and then at him again. "You look nice."

"I look like a palace brat. But thank you." He suddenly stopped in front of the huge doors. "If you feel uncomfortable at any time, you are more than welcome to leave. Do you understand?"

"Yes, thank you."

The huge doors where opened and Sakura found the palace grounds to have been transformed over night. People where every where attending to their small stalls or examining the goods on offer. On the other end of the garden large tables had been set and there where four large fires burning in the centre of the ring. Children ran around laughing and playing with each other. Sakura started laughing.

"What's so funny?" She dashed down the stairs and turned around in the crowd. Her face was filled with delight and her eyes were laughing with pleasure.

"This is wonderful! Show me everything! I want to see everything!"

"That's a lot."

"I don't care." She dashed back up the stairs and pulled him into the crowd by the hand. Syaoran blushed slightly, but it went unnoticed. She pulled him form one stall to the other. "Look at this! Look Syaoran!" She showed him a silver bangle with spiral patterns engraved on it. "It looks just like one I had."

"You had one like this miss?" The middle aged man smiled at her.

"Yes. Papa brought it home for me when I was five. But it got lost in the river when I climbed a tree over the water."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Very funny Syaoran. It was big brother's fault, he even took the blame for it. Papa was not happy."  She clipped it on her wrist. The man watched with keen interest, as the pattern seemed to start glowing a pail light.

"Do you want it?"

"I can't ask something like that."

"Yes you can." Syaoran smiled warmly at her. "It's my gift to you."

"But what do I give you then?"

He leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear. "It's a gift for that kiss I stole form you."

"Oh… Thank you!" She hugged him, causing several people to stare their way. Several women giggled softly when they realised that it was the prince the girl was hugging. "Thank you Syaoran." He blushed slightly and handed the man the money.

"It's my pleasure, just don't squeeze me to death next time."

"Sorry." She took his hand in hers and pulled him through the crowd once again. The man watched their figures disappearing and was startled when she turned back. "Thank you sir." She bowed politely in front of him and disappeared to the prince again.

"Sakura!" Sakura turned to pretty face framed with raven hair.

"Tomoyo! How was your honeymoon?"

"Lovely! I hope you didn't make Syaoran mad?"

"In what why?" They both laughed and the men stared at them.

"Good day Syaoran."

"Good day Eriol. I see your wife is once again in her elements."

"Indeed."

"Why so formal? One would think you are in a state meeting." Sakura frowned at the two men. "Oh Tomoyo, look a what Syaoran bought for me." She pulled up her sleeve and showed her the bangle.

"It's just like the one you lost."

"Uh-hu."

"Slick move man." Eriol whispered to Syaoran. "You got her."

"It's just a gift, what's wrong with a gift?" He hissed back, but smiled when Tomoyo rose an eyebrow at them. "Idiot."

"What ever man."

"Where did you learn that?"

"Locals. They are really very interesting. I have to tell you about the old man I met."

"It looks like they have some catching up to do. I need to show you something." Sakura dragged Tomoyo to the large cherry blossom tree. "What do you make of this?" She pulled of her glove and showed her hand to a shocked Tomoyo.

"I don't know. How?"

"I don't know. I woke up with it this morning. It's on my other hand as well. I pretend to have forgotten about it so Syaoran won't worry, but it's on my mind constantly. I can feel energy flowing through the patterns time and time again. Last night I even heard my mother's voice. I am loosing my mind; I am truly loosing my mind. I dream about things I don't remember, I remember things that I want forgotten. I hear voices I don't know and sense feelings I can't place." She pulled her glove back on and glanced around. "Everything around me is… is… is 'stronger'. I feel and see energy surrounding people. Yours is violet, like your lovely eyes. This is really frightening, I don't know how to make it go away." Her eyes pleaded with Tomoyo.

"You have magic in you Sakura, I can't make it 'go away', no one can. You have to learn how to control it, like your mother."

"Mom had magic?"

"Yes. So do you. It's in your blood. Every girl in your family has it, but there is always only one girl born."

"How do you know all this?"

"I was afraid of what might happen to you, that you to might die at an early age like your mother. I did some research in the last month before your capture. Sakura, I'm not really the one who's suppose to tell you this, but…" She leaned closer to Sakura, her voice was barley a whisper as she breathed the words that haunted her so long. "You are the Forgotten Cherry Blossom. You are the carrier of hope, freedom and prosperity. You don't fall in love, because you are love. Love and life, that's what you are."

AN: Tomoyo knows all. What's new? Ha ha! Umm… Yes. ^^;