This is undoubtedly going to be my longest chapter, but bear with it, I
realize it's the first. I would break it up into shorter chapters, but it'd
lose the feel, ne?
Disclaimer: I don't CCS. Wouldn't mind though. Lot's of money in it.
Chapter One: The Quickening
Three Months Later.
"Why don't you just leave my sister alone?"
"I am simply trying to do my job as her bodyguard and protect her. Even if it is just from her tendency to run around unsupervised."
"No, protecting her is MY job."
The two combatants stopped to glare at each other. But a moment later they were distracted by the subject under discussion. Namely Princess Sakura Kinomoto.
"Touya, leave Li alone! He hasn't done anything he is not supposed to do."
"He follows you everywhere, Sakura. No body guard has to be that precise."
"Then perhaps he's being a better one than most." She looked up into his eyes, a pleading look in her own startling green eyes. "Now, please, leave him alone."
Touya couldn't resist, not that look. "Fine. Just go already."
Sakura laughed and hugged her older brother before skipping off. Li bowed, in ironic respect, before following behind her. He walked behind her joyful skips for some time before reaching a completely walled garden. He watched as she seemed to peer at the walls, looking for something, for a few minutes before giving up and smiling at him.
"Somewhere they say there is a door into here, though nobody remembers where. There is even a special key to open it." She watched him expectantly for a moment but her smiled died as she noticed his stern look. Sighing she leaned against the wall among the pink roses.
Li Xiao Lang, or Syaoran in the language of the Capitol, watched his mistress with a critical eye. He had known that his training would require him to become no more than a castle guard, but he was still chaffing from the realization that he would be playing personal bodyguard to the Princess of the realm. While most other boys his age would gladly fight each other for the right to spend almost every waking hour in the company of this most exquisitely beautiful seventeen year old girl, he could only see the hassles.
Princess Sakura was flighty, carefree and so obviously used to getting her way. He was quite sure that she had never spent a day of hard work in her life nor that she put any real thought into anything. And nothing he had seen so far had convinced him otherwise. Since he had arrived two months ago she had spent most of the day planning a royal event with her mother!
"You don't like me do you, Li?" she asked rather painfully.
"Why do you think that, your highness?"
"You always frown when you look at me and have hardly spoken more than two words together to me since the day we met. That and I just FEEL like you don't."
Feel? Li thought.
"I'm not a conversationalist, your highness. I only speak when there is a purpose."
"What kind of purpose?"
"Getting and receiving important information. Making plans. Making decisions."
Sakura looked interested. "And you do this a lot?"
"It is my job."
"When you are home, you mean."
"Yes, when I'm home," he corrected.
"You should really tell me more about yourself, Li," she said smiling.
"Do you often talk with servants and guards and try to get to know them, your highness?" Li asked impatiently, almost rhetorically.
"Of course," she responded without hesitation.
For a moment, he was shocked. "Why?"
"Well, we put the most trust into those who serve us, guard us. They know all our secrets and our plans. It is most important to trust those who serve you and protect you if you are a leader. But how do you know you can trust someone if you do not know them? How can you earn their loyalty if you do not bother to learn about them?"
Of course this was a rule that he himself implemented but LI never expected the silly princess to say it so casually. So he merely nodded curtly.
"Does this mean you'll be willing to open up more?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"No, your highness."
She sighed. "Well then at least will you stop calling me your highness? It is too formal and kind of derogatory in its own way since it is something you can call anybody really. Call me by my name!"
"No, that is not proper." But he hesitated. "But I will call you Princess, if you prefer."
She rolled her eyes. "You refuse to call me by my name?"
Li nodded.
"Fine. Now why don't you want me to know anything about you?" Sakura asked with a curious look.
But thankfully Li was saved from answering when the Queen called her daughter back to help her with additional planning.
? ? ?
Sakura lay awake remembering the first time she had heard the story about Li's family from her father. She had been a very little girl and kept interrupting until she was swept away in the story which seemed more like a fairy tale than an account of actual history.
"A long, long time ago," her father began.
"How long?"
"Almost six hundred years ago."
"Oh, okay continue please."
"Anyway, a long time ago there was a powerful race of people who were being forced from their native country by an evil ruler. They sought refuge in Tomoeda, along the border of their old country."
"Where's that?"
"Well they came from the North East then they settled in the Middle East. Right along the border."
"Oh, okay. Please continue."
"Now the people were very respectful and had a great deal of honour so they sent a messenger to the new King of Tomoeda who was just a boy, barely ten. The people, named the Chinese, explained that they meant no harm but asked that the King allow them to stay in his country so they may live in peace once again.
"The King discussed it with his mother, who was helping him, and they agreed to let the Chinese be and invited the people of Tomoeda to greet with them and not persecute them for their different ways. As the years went by the two peoples intermarried until one day a child was born to a Chinese woman and a man from Tomoeda. Since the Chinese were gifted with magic in some families it came as no great surprise that the son grew to be a sourcerer, far more powerful than anyone that had ever come before him. The people hoped that this new sourcerer would help them win back the lands that had been stolen from them. But as the boy grew he refused to fight them saying that they owed their loyalty to the new King who had granted them freedom.
"However, the King who had then reached adulthood and had seen his mother die, was having problems of his own. The kingdom that had made the already powerful Chinese people flee was now attacking his own kingdom. When the sourcerer heard of this he journeyed far to the Capitol and offered his services to the King. The King was awed by this man who was so powerful and who could so easily have taken his thrown if he wished. But he accepted his help and trusted him and together with their peoples they over threw the evil ruler and annexed his kingdom into Tomoeda. The people of the poor kingdom rejoiced, for the ruler had been harsh and treated the common people as slaves. They welcomed their new ruler and paid homage to him.
"The King took care of his new lands well but knew he needed to repay his debts. He told the sourcerer and the Chinese people that they could retake their lands and would be granted the right of their own kingdom if they wished, in repayment for helping Tomoeda with the war."
"Isn't that a really nice thing to do?"
"Yes it is. It meant that he trusted them and respected them a lot."
"I bet they were worth it."
"You'll see if you listen."
"Sorry, daddy. Please continue."
"Now the sourcerer and his people were honoured and thought it over for a long time. But at last the Sourcerer came back to the Capitol and said, "You have cared for our people since you were king and never turned us away. You have fought for us and respected us. It is now our turn to respect you. We will happily take our lands and be treated as an independent state. But we wish to remain part of your kingdom, following your leadership and remaining loyal to you and your descendants.'
"The king heard them out and was honoured. The Chinese people went back to their lands and prospered. One family, the sourcerer's, grew strong in fighting skills and magic and became more powerful than the royal family easily. However to show their loyalty and honour each child of his family that was trained to fight spent two years at the Capitol, serving and protecting the royal family. And so it has been ever since."
But when Sakura had heard the story so long ago, no one had mentioned that there was anyone who would be coming to serve. Nor could she believe it that the boy who would come was as handsome as Li was. His piercing amber eyes and untamable brown hair had made Tomoyo and herself giggle for hours until he had shown his fierceness to her. And he didn't even bother to deny that he disliked her.
Sighing, Princess Sakura rolled onto her side so that she could stare at her favourite things, the stars. She didn't stay somber for long, though, because her disposition was naturally cheery. Everything would definitely be all right. That and Tomoyo was coming home at last from being gone for nearly two months.
? ? ?
"I can't believe you've only been gone for not even two months and you have already made, what, twelve dresses! Tomoyo you are amazing!" Sakura laughed with glee as her best friend laid out the dresses she had spent many an hour into completing. They were beautiful and had intricate embroidery. Each dress had its own unique theme: flowers, winter, summer, leaves, birds, rain. They were a masterpiece in and of themselves and one of the many things that the lady-in-waiting was highly praised about.
"It is my job to make these for you and occasionally your mother, Sakura."
"Yes, but you don't make mom nearly as many as me. Or yourself!"
Tomoyo could hardly explain to the princess that while the queen was a renowned beauty that everyone adored, Sakura, while lesser known, far surpassed her and was as such more delightful to make fitting dresses for. The girls soft brown hair that shone brightly in any light and her startling green eyes, so much like her mothers, that seemed to glow with their own light. She was almost perfect. But instead she said, "It's more fun to make dresses for you. You are smaller and allow for more fabric to be used decoratively."
"What about you then?" she said looking at her friend curiously.
"I suffice, Sakura." She smiled again. "Now you must try them all on. I need to see what adjustments need to be made."
"Ahem," Li coughed, gaining the attention of the two girls at last. "Shall I come back in an hour?"
"Oh, please stay, Li," Sakura begged with pleading eyes. "I would like an outside opinion since Tomoyo is so helplessly biased in everyway."
He sighed but couldn't say no to those eyes, so much like her elder brother. "As you wish, Princess."
"Yay!" Sakura grabbed the dresses and hurried into the dressing room next door.
"It is hard to say no to those eyes isn't it, Li?"
"Yes, it is, my lady," he sighed regretfully. The last thing he wanted to do was watch the beautiful girl play dress up. He would be no part to the flattery.
She laughed softly. "Don't be so formal. You out rank me."
Li was a bit surprised that the quiet girl knew what he had kept from her mistress. "How did you know?"
"The way you stand is like someone who gives orders rather than takes them."
"I see. You are very perceptive. However, I cannot address you informally."
"Then call me Daidouji. I just am unused to being called 'my lady' since everyone calls me by my first name."
"You are well known to everyone. You are Sakura's second cousin, am I right?"
"Actually, I'm the Duchess of Park. The current Queen would have been if she hadn't married the King. I inherited after my mother passed away a few years ago."
"So shouldn't I call you Duchess instead?"
Tomoyo's eyes grew very large. "Please don't! When people call me Duchess it reminds me that some my think me really important politically and I just wish to be helpful to those who make things happen. I like to stay small."
"Daidouji it is then."
At last they were interrupted when Sakura rushed out to show off her new gown. Li noticed that though the theme of the gown and a few things here and there were different it was very similar to many of the other gowns she already had, a low neckline, fitted waist and a very full skirt made out of slipper fabrics.
"What do you think?"
"Beautiful," Tomoyo gushed. "I knew that shade of storm grey would look good on you, looking like rain!"
Li nodded his approval.
Sakura smiled and rushed off back to the room. Li and Tomoyo carried on a light conversation, prompted by Tomoyo at all turns in between dress showings. Li somehow found it easier to talk with Tomoyo than anyone else he knew. He correctly guessed that this was probably why everyone knew her and liked her. However as he looked at the various dresses and noticed that only two varied from the other style a question arose that he only asked when she came out in the last dress.
"Princess, Daidouji, I realize that I come from a different society and we have different fashions, but I have noticed something odd. The dresses that you wear are not in keeping with what seems to be fashionable everywhere else in the Capitol. Is there any reason why almost all of your dresses are like that?"
The girls looked at each other with a grin.
"I can't believe he doesn't know already. You used to practice everyday for a couple hours at least!"
"Mother has been keeping me at her side from almost dawn till dusk to prepare for the celebration. Poor Li has barely seen anything else aside of the ball room and dining area since he got here." Sakura shot him an apologetic glance.
"Excuse me?" he asked feeling as if he missed something.
Sakura smiled. "I can't really answer your question easily unless I just show you. Come on!"
Mystified he followed the two girls through the next room and up a set of stairs which had been hidden behind a large wall tapestry. As the climbed he tried to look out the windows on the staircase to gauge where they were in the castle but he couldn't tell. Finally they reached a level that looked completely unfamiliar.
"I didn't know this was here."
"Most people don't," Sakura replied informatively. "The castle is filled with rooms and levels and even staircases that you can only access in certain ways. Some of it was built that way some of it is part of an enchantment your ancestor Clow.," she broke of questioningly.
"Reed."
"Yes, Clow Reed left on the castle. Because of what he did there are certain places that only 'worthy' people can access. Each room has its own requirement for who can enter them. Sometimes it is dependant on a person's mood or just who they are. Like there is one room that only the royal family can enter."
"Sounds useful for if ever your family goes under attack and you are in danger of being killed," Li commented and instantly regretted his words as he saw the look of dire concern on the princess' face. "But that is not likely in the least so don't worry."
"Ah.yes. And there are some rooms only Touya and I can get into. We don't know why though. One room only Tomoyo and I can get into so we use that to hide from him or whenever we want to discuss secrets. There is even one room where only I can get into it, though I never went all the way in when I realized that. It might have ghosts," she shivered in a terrified way.
An enchantment on the castle explains one of the aura's I felt, though not the more powerful one I think. But what was Clow thinking when he cast them so such a small and silly girl could get into what seemed like every room? Li mulled through his thoughts until he realized that the two girls were looking at him.
"Well it seems that the castle likes you a lot, Princess."
"Everyone likes her," Tomoyo replied with a knowing smile, correctly guessing some of Li's thoughts.
"Don't be silly, Tomoyo. I'm sure there are plenty of people who dislike me and even hate me," Sakura said, vaguely glancing at Li, causing him to regret that he had never denied her the previous day. "You just say that because you like me so much. Anyway, we are here!"
She pushed open the door, careful not to light the wooden door on fire with her candle. As Tomoyo and Li entered she walked up to a trough full of oil and carefully lit it so that the room was magnificently illuminated in a matter of moments showing Li that it was a training room very similar to the one he had at his own home with mats and even a few weapons on one wall. She put the candle on a small table and kicked off her shoes. She seemed anxious though and merely turned to Li instead of doing anything.
"What did you want to show me, your highness?" he asked a bit impatiently and very curiously about what she was going to show him in the last place he expected to be led to.
She blushed and glanced at Tomoyo who smiled encouragingly. Sakura didn't let most people know about this particular secret. In fact only Tomoyo and some of her previous body guards knew. She was nervous and for some reason was very anxious to get Li's approval. But after a minute she over came her nervousness and smiled at Li.
"This." Turning to face the mats she breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Then a moment later she opened them and began to execute a series of gymnastics. Li watched in amazement, and Tomoyo in pride, as the princess performed a series of flip flops into a back handspring, stepped out, did a round off into a walk over into an aerial twist and landed beautifully. But he also noticed that his question had indeed been answered. The fullness of the skirts allowed for the motion she needed while the silky fabrics slipped out of the way so not to impede her from moving into one move to another.
When she finished she ran back to her audience of two laughing gaily, obviously pleased with the exercise. "The look on your face is priceless, Li. I think I startled you."
"Perhaps I underestimated you," he admitted.
Tomoyo smiled a bit humourously but didn't comment.
"It isn't wise to underestimate someone, Li. You should know that best as a fighter."
He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the left handed insult. Pride hurt he nearly growled, "Well then perhaps you should tell me if there is anything else I should expect that a normal seventeen year old girl wouldn't do?"
Sakura lost her smile, not knowing really what she had said that had made Li so angry. However she just answered quickly, "There is nothing else. A bit of gymnastics aside and I'm just a perfectly average girl. I swear."
"Sakura!" Tomoyo sighed, having had this discussion with the girl before. But she didn't say anything else as she watched the brunette leave the room with a quiet smile.
"Does she really think she is perfectly normal, Daidouji?"
Tomoyo nodded solemnly. "While she does know that being a princess is not normal she thinks everything else is. She can see the good in everyone, even the worst kinds of people, but she can't see anything special in herself. Not that she doesn't have healthy self esteem, but she doesn't see what everyone else sees in her, what is so likeable, lovable."
Li thought on this. IN the past two days he had learned that the princess had both brains and agility to match the flawless beauty. He wondered how much further from normal Sakura had to be before she realized how spectacular she was.
Little did he know how soon his answer would come.
? ? ?
*'m standing somewhere I've never been before. I've never seen flowers like these. What's that light? I go towards it but I can't see. I look down and there is a symbol. Suddenly a drop falls and the ground ripples like water and the symbol is different. Where am I? Then a voice: 'Get up.you must come.it's time for you now.you are chosen." I don't know who that is.what is going on? Where am I? Where am I?!*
Sakura sat up quickly in bed, breathing heavily and looked around. The dream had seemed so real. She looked around and saw her familiar room and breathed quietly until she calmed herself. After a moment she realized that she was still too tense to sleep. Turning to the side she slipped her feet out of the bed and stood slowly, almost like she was in a dream still. As she stepped away she shivered as her silk nightgown slipped down her legs.
"I need to walk around some I think," Sakura whispered to herself. Grabbing the matching robe to her gown she slipped it on and went up the hidden stairway. The princess began to climb the stairs but didn't stop at the level with the training room like she usually did. No, something was telling her to continue. In her heart she knew where she was going but her tired brain was trying to figure it out still. Finally she reached the top of the stairs and looked at the only door on the level. It was the room she had told Li about earlier that day, the one that would only let her in. Sakura hesitated, scared.
"Go in. You must go in!" she heard the same voice from her dream say.
Hesitantly she pushed the door open and stepped into the dark room. She hadn't bothered to bring a candle with her, so familiar with her surroundings was she, but now she regretted it. The room was so dark that it seemed to swallow her. But the voice and her own feet prodded her to continue into the room fully. It was only then that she realized that there was a light in the room. On the far wall there seemed to be a table with something glowing on it.
Slowly Sakura walked the long distance across the dark room until she stood only a few feet away from the table. There was a box on the table that seemed to be both god and silver molten together in inseparable swirls. It glowed faintly, eerily.
"Open it."
The princess reached out her hand cautiously and opened the lid. Inside the only thing she could see was a small key. It looked odd, with a head that seemed to have sprouted wings. She reached to pick it up and the moment her flesh touched the cold metal a light flashed through the room. Startled, Sakura instinctively clutched the key in her hand and then began running. She raced down the stairs all the way until she reached the chamber that adjoined with hers. Breathing heavily she looked around and knew that she had to keep going. Quickly she ran to the door and raced out and down the hallway.
A few doors down, Tomoyo had heard the sounds of someone running and panting and had opened her door just in time to see Sakura turn the corner towards the main stairwell. She quickly went to grab her robe and hurried after her mistress to see what the matter was that she was running like she was. Almost as if she had seen a ghost.
Sakura continued running until she reached the doors that let out into the gardens. She opened them quickly and raced outside, knowing now in both heart and mind where she was going, no longer needing the strong voice to prod her into doing what needed to be done. She needed to go to the walled garden.
Tomoyo chased after her as quickly as she could, barely keeping the princess in view. It was because her eyes were trained on her mistress that she ran straight into Li.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped.
"Where is she going?" Li asked after nodding acknowledgement of her apology.
"I don't know! I just heard her run by my room. She seems very upset though."
"Something is the matter. I felt a strong magic and when I looked outside my window I saw something glowing outside. When I got out here I saw the princess running towards the walled garden."
"Come on then! She might be in trouble!" Tomoyo grabbed his arm and raced towards her mistress. Li seemed almost amused and pulled his arm away so that he could run better.
Sakura had reached the walled garden. She saw a faint light coming from one area and pulled the vines away from it revealing a small door. Unerringly she looked at the key and put it in the lock. Without even the smallest effort she turned the key and opened the door. The princess gasped as she recognized the scene she had seen in her dream. The flowers were the same, light. But this was much more real. The air was crisp and clung to her and her night dress. The light was more piercing.
Slowly she walked towards it, almost afraid. But unlike her dream, as she got closer she could see what was glowing. On a pedal stool, there was a book that glowed a soft gold colour. Around it was an intricate design, the one from her dream, of a sun inside a circle with a moon to one side. She looked at it a moment, afraid to step on it almost when she heard the voice again, urging her onwards. Sakura stepped forward onto the Seal and as she did a light grew up around her like a pillar into the sky.
Tomoyo and Li arrived at the open door just into to see her step onto the Seal. They watched in silent amazement as Sakura reached forward towards the golden glow. But after a moment she jerked her hand back and cried out in pain. The two at the door rushed in a little to see what had happened but stopped when they saw her looking at her index finger. Tomoyo was too far away to see, but Li, who had been trained for many years, saw the blood welling up from her finger until a single drop fell onto the Seal.
In a flash the seal changed and both Tomoyo and Li had to watch in agonized silence as their princess screamed in agony as the Power that had been sealed there many years ago awoke and rushed into her body. Her head was thrown back as light shown from each line in the Seal. As they watched the Seal changed, the sun shrinking and being pushed to the side to make way for a gigantic star that glowed under the princess' feet.
At last she collapsed forward onto the pedal stool in front of her. She looked down at the book and reached up tiredly to open it, knowing in her soul that she had to. As the cover fell back and bounced on the stone a series of little flashes of light zoomed from the opened book and jumped into place around the Seal. Fifty-two in all which after a moment formed themselves into cards with a different picture on each one. Then Sakura watched as one more thing came from the book, a large lion looking creature with wings and a jewel upon his forehead. The lion flew up and seemed to stretch his wings before coming back and landing on the book in front of her.
"Sakura Kinomoto?" it asked in a serious voice.
"Y-yes."
"I am Keroberos, Sun Guardian of the Cards. You are now my Mistress."
Princess Sakura looked at the Lion and very elegantly replied, "Hoe?"
"I don't have time to explain now, Mistress. I will eventually I promise but now you must leave. Now that you have awakened the Power of the Cards they will come here looking for you. You must pack some things quickly and leave the Capitol."
"B-but why?" she almost screamed. "I'm so confused!"
"I'm sorry, Sakura. But please. I will change forms now and the Cards will return." As soon as he finished talking his wings grew, if possible, larger and surrounded his body. A light flashed and then the wings unfolded to reveal what looked like a gold teddy bear with wings and a long tail. That was floating. After that all the flashes of light that had stationed themselves around the girl flew back into the book and the book closed itself.
"Take the book and let's go!" the teddy bear said.
In shock Sakura grabbed the book and turned to leave but stopped short when she saw Tomoyo and Li. The three stared at each other then Sakura ran and threw herself on Tomoyo. "I don't know what's going on!"
"Shh," Tomoyo said as she stroked her mistress' hair. "I think we should do what he says."
"You should," Li said. "That creature is Keroberos. Clow Reed created him. I'm sure he wouldn't tell you to do something without purpose."
Sakura looked at Li for a moment then nodded. "Thank you Li." Then she turned to rush out the walled garden, the two humans and one Guardian beast following her. "I need to pack some things. Kero, how long will I need to be gone?" she asked the teddy bear as it flew around her head.
"It's Keroberos. But I can't tell you how long right now, mistress. But I'm guessing for awhile."
"Okay. I'll bring a few things. But I can't bring that much and travel can I?" She sighed. "I don't even know where to go." "I know," Li said softly. "Meet me in the entrance hall in fifteen minutes and we'll leave."
Sakura turned to look at the body guard who she thought disliked her greatly. "You are coming with me, Li?"
"Of course," he replied, as if she were being stupid. "I'm your body guard. But you need to hurry."
She smiled at him with just genuine appreciation and liking that he almost stumbled as he turned to go to his room. "Okay. I will."
"What should I bring?" Tomoyo asked as the two of them continued.
"Oh I don't know," Sakura replied then stopped short. Tomoyo looked at her questioningly but the princess shook her head and continued into her room where she began to throw some of the new dresses into a bag. They were a bit much for travel but she didn't have much else. Except.she grabbed the training outfit Tomoyo had made and a few of the shorter skirts that had been made during winter. She stuffed them all into a bag before grabbing the storm grey dress to change into.
"Tomoyo, I need you to listen to me."
"Okay.," Tomoyo said suspiciously.
"I need you to stay here."
"But Sakura! We've already been apart too long! And now you are in trouble. I can't let you go without me; you are my best friend, my sister!" Tomoyo clutched at the other girl almost begging.
"I know Tomoyo and as soon as I know where I'm going I'll send you word somehow and you can come there. But I need someone to explain what I already know to my parents and Touya. Especially Touya. You know how angry he'll be and he'll come after me." Sakura paused and grasped Tomoyo's hand fearfully. "And I don't' know, Tomoyo. I get the feeling that whoever is after me wont stop for Touya. I don't want anyone getting hurt. But if I'm not here they won't bother you right?
"Just tell them what you saw, and you saw everything I'm guessing. And tell them it has something to do with Clow Reed. If you say that it might explain until I know more. Please Tomoyo, I'm begging you."
The Duchess looked at the Princess sadly. "Okay, I'll stay. But you have to tell me where you are going somehow, okay?"
"I will I promise," Sakura said as she turned to change into the gown. Tomoyo helped her into it and gave her a fierce hug. Sakura smiled encouragingly and grabbed her hooded cloak and bag, with the book in it, and rushed out the door.
When she reached the entrance hall she found Li waiting there. "Where's Kero?"
"Huh?"
"I thought he went with you because he didn't follow me."
"Dammit," Li muttered. "And he was telling us to rush."
But a moment later they saw the Sun Guardian fly into the room. With someone following him. When they got closer, Sakura and Li recognized that it was Touya's personal bodyguard, though one was hardly necessary, Yukito Tsukishiro. Sakura was trying to figure out why Kero had gone to Yukito of all people when they reached them.
"Princess Sakura, I have something to tell you," Yukito began. "Or more precisely, show you." Saying as much Yukito suddenly closed his eyes and began to rise up from the ground and grow wings. With light very much reminiscent of Kero's change the wings unfolded to reveal a tall man with long white hair and purple and white clothes in an unfamiliar style with a blue gem on his chest. And very large wings.
"Mistress," the man spoke. "I am Yue, the Moon Guardian of the Cards. Along with Keroberos, we are sworn to protect you and the Cards."
Sakura could do nothing but stare. "Have you always been like this, Yuki-I mean Yue?"
"Yes and no. I always knew that I would become this when you came into the Power but I became Yue when you opened the book."
She nodded slowly. Then realization struck. "Wait you want to come with us don't you? But that means Touya won't be protected if someone comes here looking for me!"
Yue looked at her with eyes that seemed cold and unfeeling but held great understanding. "I realized you would be afraid for him, Mistress, and told Keroberos that I would be staying. I will protect your brother." She sighed in relief. "However, I am bound to protect you, and so I will. I will come to see you every few days and deliver messages between you and your parents. And Tomoyo."
She looked at Yue, who while he was much more handsome than Yukito, wasn't the friend she had grown up with. But she knew she could trust him. "Thank you, Yue. I don't know where I'll be though, so how will you?"
He smiled. "I always know where you are. Now go! Keroberos will explain everything to you but you will be in danger if you do not leave soon."
She nodded and then looked at Li who nodded. They both hurried towards the door where Sakura paused to put on her cloak before rushing out. However they both were brought to a startled stop when they saw someone standing not to far from them.
"Mother!" Sakura cried and ran to her.
Nadeshiko hugged her daughter. "I knew this would come one day, Sakura. I will have a long talk with Yukito and explain everything to Touya."
"Thank you, Mother," Sakura smiled and watched as the queen pulled away and stepped in front of Li where she looked up at him.
"You look so much like your father, Li Xiao Lang."
Li looked shocked but didn't say anything.
"Yes, I knew him. He came and trained here when I was but a girl. Now I know you will protect my daughter well, just as he protected my husband." She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. "Say hello to Yelan for me."
He nodded, blushing, before bowing and taking her daughter's hand and leading her off into the night.
Nadeshiko watched her child go with sadness. It would be a long while before her daughter came back but she had known it was coming. That was the reason she begged Sakura to be with her all those times for the planning of the ball. But she was in good hands. The Queen of Tomoeda smiled softly as she turned to walk up the stairs into the grand hallway. No one saw as she tripped and fell neatly on her face.
? ? ?
Dawn rose as the two rode on horseback towards the north-east. Both had been riding since they were very young but it was tiring and they were both tired from the lack of sleep they had received that night. However, riding was better than walking, and so both of them realized when they dismounted the horse some few hours after they had taken it from the royal stables. Sakura stumbled and leaned against a tree in exhaustion.
"We have to get going again soon, princess. But you can rest for a few minutes."
"Where are we going, Li?" she asked tiredly. "You seem to know."
"Home."
Sakura looked at Li curiously. His tone had been curt and his face seemed like chiseled rock, but she heard the slight tinge of relief to his voice. She understood why, after all he was going home back to his family and what he had always known. However the idea made her extremely nervous. But she didn't say anything and merely nodded.
"We have to send the horse back to the stables, princess," Li said after a moment of silence.
"What? Why?" she asked almost shouting. Her voice finally awakened the Sun Guardian who had fallen asleep in Sakura's bag an hour or so ago.
"What are you yelling about, Mistress?" he yawned tiredly.
"Hang on, Kero. Why do we have to send the horse back, Li? Won't it be faster with him?"
"Yes it will. But we would be too conspicuous. It's true that my family has many horses, as does yours. But there are very few horses in the kingdom relatively. Only the richest and most powerful families own them. If we are trying to hide you then we can't come off as rich as a horse would make us seem."
Sakura took this in, not wanting to really since it meant a lot of walking, but understood. "All right. But' isn't he yours, Li? I know my mare would rather follow me rather than going back to the stables."
Li looked at her, surprised despite himself. She was proving to be less and less the person she thought she was by the moment. "It's all right, Princess. He knows to go back where I want him to."
"That's good. I wouldn't want him wandering around where he might get stolen." She smiled then sank to the ground to take a much deserved rest while Li removed the rest of the bags from his stallion and sent him home. Kero buzzed around in every direction, as if looking for something before stopping in front of his mistress.
"What do we have to eat? I'm starving. I've been in that book for a LONG time."
Sakura frowned and rummaged through her bag pulling out a tin of crackers she had grabbed in her haste. "It's all I have, Kero. But the next town isn't that far away I don't think. I'll buy you something once we get there."
"Yay! That is my kind of mistress!"
Li looked at the small creature with dislike. He may be important but he was certainly annoying. He listened as the princess and her new guardian chatted for about ten minutes before checking his pocket watch. It was almost seven.
"I think we should be on our way, princess."
"So soon?" she sighed, but quickly got up and dusted off her clothes. "How long do you suppose it will take to get to the next village, Li?"
"Only a couple of hours. We rode quite a distance on horse so it we don't have to hurry too much on foot. But I think it best we get there as quickly as possible since neither of us brought a water bag."
She blushed. "I didn't think about it. Sorry."
"I didn't either. Come."
They started off towards the sun and it shone brightly in their eyes. Sakura tried to keep her eyes down on the path so they wouldn't hurt but the temptation to look around was more than she could abide. She had never walked across the lands like this. The fields were beautiful, with grass just barely growing in around a few trees. The early morning mist hadn't dissipated yet and she felt as if she was in a completely different world than she had been a few hours before.
They had been walking in silence for a half hour before Sakura felt the need to break it. She wanted to talk, to get her mind off the situation they were in, but Li seemed foreboding. Instead she turned to the small yellow creature that was resting in her arms.
"Kero, wake up."
"Hmm?" he yawned, with a mouth much huger than one could possibly conceive something so small having.
"Kero, you said you would explain what was going on. Please, would you start? We have a long way to walk and you might as well begin now."
"I guess, mistress. Though some of it you have to see rather than hear. But I'll start with the history.
"Now most people remember Clow being a wonderful man who did a lot of good. And it's true that he did a lot of good, but he had his bad qualities as well. He was lazy and manipulative and often very caustic due to one side affect of his great Powers. So around your age he began to realize that he could channel all of his energy into separate entities, the Cards, and that would save on time and energy for him since it provided a medium. Some of the Cards have true purpose and some of them are just plain silly. However, all have their use in life, even the most mundane parts. But their first great usage was during the Great War and they turned the tides. Frequently, though, it was the smaller things that he did that won the battles. But I'll explain that later.
"Now after the Great War and all the settlements, Clow came to the Capitol once a year for two weeks to keep up good relations. Though actually I think he missed his children when they went for training. But it came that the old King died and his son, Miroku Miyazaki, inherited the throne. King Miroku had grown up with the powerful sourcerer always around and both trusted each other greatly. So when the day that Clow declared to his new king that he would die soon the Miroku didn't hesitate to help him in any small way. Even if his request seemed odd at first.
"Clow asked that the king allow a spell to be placed on the already intricate castle that gave partial access. Only people who met the qualifications could enter them. He made all sorts of different qualifications so that no one would be caught wary that in all of history only one little girl would be able to enter every room in the castle."
"Hoe? You mean me don't you?" Sakura asked almost scared. "But how did he know that would happen?"
"Well, what Clow didn't tell most people is that he was always able to see the future. IT was one of the reasons he seemed so dark and cruel to some. He knew the outcome of whatever event and often didn't want to lend a helping hand. But in some cases he knew that his actions must be taken to have what he had seen come to pass. Now this Power grew even stronger towards the end of his long life until the day he saw a vision of a young girl with startling green eyes wielding his Cards as if they were hers. It is because he saw that very image that he set the castle the way it was."
"Wow. That is a bit unbelievable, Kero." Sakura seemed a bit skeptical that she was the reason for any great thing. She barely managed to stand out in her amazing family as it was. Her father was brilliant, her mother beautiful and kind, her brother was a great fighter and even Tomoyo was more skilled with great artistic abilities and the most beautiful voice. Not to mention Yukito who was just good at everything.
Keroberos saw the skepticism in his mistress' face. "Then how come I knew your name?"
She blinked. "I-I don't know."
"I knew your name because Clow told it to me and Yue before he died. He told us that we would have to rest a long time but that a new Mistress would come and love us."
"Oh." She looked troubled and glanced over at Li who seemed to be a bit incredulous himself. However, Sakura had no idea that his incredulity had more to do with her refusal to believe that she was special than anything he had just heard. He had grown up learning these stories. Well all but about Sakura herself. It had actually been a hope of his family that he would one day possess the Cards. But he didn't feel envious of her in the least. He had Power enough of his own.
"Umm," Sakura said as she noticed that Li was staring at her. "Is there something wrong, Li?"
"No!" he responded to quickly and turned from her blushing.
"Okay.. But Kero, you didn't say anything about you? How long were you with Clow?"
"He created Yue and me shortly after he was done creating the Cards. He felt they needed Guardians to rule over them but under him. You see half the cards are loyal to Yue and the other half to me."
"Okay, but what are the Cards exactly? What do they do?"
"Each one does something different. Some of them can be used for protection, some for just helping a situation, some for attacking. Everything has a different purpose."
"Like what?"
"I'll show you when we have a chance to rest. I still feel uncomfortable. There isn't enough distance covered to make me feel comfortable about pausing now."
"Oh, okay, Kero." She smiled and turned her eyes back to the road. They had walked a good distance during their conversation and she could see the town in the distance.
The three travelers broke off into their own thoughts. Sakura couldn't help but wonder what made her so special that she was Destined to get the Cards. She didn't even really understand what they were yet but she could FEEL that there was something special about them. Something life changing. But she didn't want to think about that and instead started to sing in her head and wonder what Tomoyo was doing now and how Touya had taken the news of her departure.
Li was mentally kicking himself for not noticing her very powerful aura before then. Well actually he had felt it but while he was in the castle grounds he had never been able to place it since the magic was so spread out. He thought through the different things that the Sun Guardian had said and reasoned that some of the rooms had been only meant to allow magical people in them. True there was the one she had mentioned that would only allow her in, purposefully obviously, but what about the one that would only let her and the prince? Did he possess magic?
His thoughts were interrupted when Sakura unconsciously started to sing the song she had been humming. It was barely above a whisper but the tune was beautiful and very emotional.
"What song is that, princess?"
"Hmm? Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize I was humming out loud. It is a song that my father once heard playing in a music box he found while digging through the ruins and taught to my mother. She plays the piano, you know. He said it came from somewhere outside of Tomoeda, but maybe before it even existed. He has found many music boxes like that over the years and each song is so.haunting that it seems like they are always playing in my head."
"Does it have a name?" he asked, never having expected the long speech. But he found himself fascinated with the talk about finding things that maybe had existed a long time ago.
"If it does I don't know it. IT was written by a man named Chopin. It's not my favourite one, but my favourite you can't hum." She smiled at him so sweetly. "Maybe one day I'll get Touya or mother to play it for you."
"Why didn't you learn, mistress?" Kero asked, curiously.
She blushed. "They wanted me to sing instead. I learned how to play the flute a little but they really spent a lot of time teaching me songs to sing instead of play."
"Wai! Wai! You have to sing for us, Mistress!"
"NO!" she nearly shouted. "I mean, if you want to hear someone sing well you have to listen to Tomoyo. She has the best voice." Blushing red, the princess started to walk a little faster so that she was a bit ahead her two companions.
"What's with her?" Kero asked.
"I don't know, stuffed animal."
"I am NOT a stuffed animal!"
"You look like one."
The two glared at each other but broke off when they heard the princess humming again. The rest of the journey to the village was completed in silence except for the strangely moving songs of the princess.
Disclaimer: I don't CCS. Wouldn't mind though. Lot's of money in it.
Chapter One: The Quickening
Three Months Later.
"Why don't you just leave my sister alone?"
"I am simply trying to do my job as her bodyguard and protect her. Even if it is just from her tendency to run around unsupervised."
"No, protecting her is MY job."
The two combatants stopped to glare at each other. But a moment later they were distracted by the subject under discussion. Namely Princess Sakura Kinomoto.
"Touya, leave Li alone! He hasn't done anything he is not supposed to do."
"He follows you everywhere, Sakura. No body guard has to be that precise."
"Then perhaps he's being a better one than most." She looked up into his eyes, a pleading look in her own startling green eyes. "Now, please, leave him alone."
Touya couldn't resist, not that look. "Fine. Just go already."
Sakura laughed and hugged her older brother before skipping off. Li bowed, in ironic respect, before following behind her. He walked behind her joyful skips for some time before reaching a completely walled garden. He watched as she seemed to peer at the walls, looking for something, for a few minutes before giving up and smiling at him.
"Somewhere they say there is a door into here, though nobody remembers where. There is even a special key to open it." She watched him expectantly for a moment but her smiled died as she noticed his stern look. Sighing she leaned against the wall among the pink roses.
Li Xiao Lang, or Syaoran in the language of the Capitol, watched his mistress with a critical eye. He had known that his training would require him to become no more than a castle guard, but he was still chaffing from the realization that he would be playing personal bodyguard to the Princess of the realm. While most other boys his age would gladly fight each other for the right to spend almost every waking hour in the company of this most exquisitely beautiful seventeen year old girl, he could only see the hassles.
Princess Sakura was flighty, carefree and so obviously used to getting her way. He was quite sure that she had never spent a day of hard work in her life nor that she put any real thought into anything. And nothing he had seen so far had convinced him otherwise. Since he had arrived two months ago she had spent most of the day planning a royal event with her mother!
"You don't like me do you, Li?" she asked rather painfully.
"Why do you think that, your highness?"
"You always frown when you look at me and have hardly spoken more than two words together to me since the day we met. That and I just FEEL like you don't."
Feel? Li thought.
"I'm not a conversationalist, your highness. I only speak when there is a purpose."
"What kind of purpose?"
"Getting and receiving important information. Making plans. Making decisions."
Sakura looked interested. "And you do this a lot?"
"It is my job."
"When you are home, you mean."
"Yes, when I'm home," he corrected.
"You should really tell me more about yourself, Li," she said smiling.
"Do you often talk with servants and guards and try to get to know them, your highness?" Li asked impatiently, almost rhetorically.
"Of course," she responded without hesitation.
For a moment, he was shocked. "Why?"
"Well, we put the most trust into those who serve us, guard us. They know all our secrets and our plans. It is most important to trust those who serve you and protect you if you are a leader. But how do you know you can trust someone if you do not know them? How can you earn their loyalty if you do not bother to learn about them?"
Of course this was a rule that he himself implemented but LI never expected the silly princess to say it so casually. So he merely nodded curtly.
"Does this mean you'll be willing to open up more?" Sakura asked hopefully.
"No, your highness."
She sighed. "Well then at least will you stop calling me your highness? It is too formal and kind of derogatory in its own way since it is something you can call anybody really. Call me by my name!"
"No, that is not proper." But he hesitated. "But I will call you Princess, if you prefer."
She rolled her eyes. "You refuse to call me by my name?"
Li nodded.
"Fine. Now why don't you want me to know anything about you?" Sakura asked with a curious look.
But thankfully Li was saved from answering when the Queen called her daughter back to help her with additional planning.
? ? ?
Sakura lay awake remembering the first time she had heard the story about Li's family from her father. She had been a very little girl and kept interrupting until she was swept away in the story which seemed more like a fairy tale than an account of actual history.
"A long, long time ago," her father began.
"How long?"
"Almost six hundred years ago."
"Oh, okay continue please."
"Anyway, a long time ago there was a powerful race of people who were being forced from their native country by an evil ruler. They sought refuge in Tomoeda, along the border of their old country."
"Where's that?"
"Well they came from the North East then they settled in the Middle East. Right along the border."
"Oh, okay. Please continue."
"Now the people were very respectful and had a great deal of honour so they sent a messenger to the new King of Tomoeda who was just a boy, barely ten. The people, named the Chinese, explained that they meant no harm but asked that the King allow them to stay in his country so they may live in peace once again.
"The King discussed it with his mother, who was helping him, and they agreed to let the Chinese be and invited the people of Tomoeda to greet with them and not persecute them for their different ways. As the years went by the two peoples intermarried until one day a child was born to a Chinese woman and a man from Tomoeda. Since the Chinese were gifted with magic in some families it came as no great surprise that the son grew to be a sourcerer, far more powerful than anyone that had ever come before him. The people hoped that this new sourcerer would help them win back the lands that had been stolen from them. But as the boy grew he refused to fight them saying that they owed their loyalty to the new King who had granted them freedom.
"However, the King who had then reached adulthood and had seen his mother die, was having problems of his own. The kingdom that had made the already powerful Chinese people flee was now attacking his own kingdom. When the sourcerer heard of this he journeyed far to the Capitol and offered his services to the King. The King was awed by this man who was so powerful and who could so easily have taken his thrown if he wished. But he accepted his help and trusted him and together with their peoples they over threw the evil ruler and annexed his kingdom into Tomoeda. The people of the poor kingdom rejoiced, for the ruler had been harsh and treated the common people as slaves. They welcomed their new ruler and paid homage to him.
"The King took care of his new lands well but knew he needed to repay his debts. He told the sourcerer and the Chinese people that they could retake their lands and would be granted the right of their own kingdom if they wished, in repayment for helping Tomoeda with the war."
"Isn't that a really nice thing to do?"
"Yes it is. It meant that he trusted them and respected them a lot."
"I bet they were worth it."
"You'll see if you listen."
"Sorry, daddy. Please continue."
"Now the sourcerer and his people were honoured and thought it over for a long time. But at last the Sourcerer came back to the Capitol and said, "You have cared for our people since you were king and never turned us away. You have fought for us and respected us. It is now our turn to respect you. We will happily take our lands and be treated as an independent state. But we wish to remain part of your kingdom, following your leadership and remaining loyal to you and your descendants.'
"The king heard them out and was honoured. The Chinese people went back to their lands and prospered. One family, the sourcerer's, grew strong in fighting skills and magic and became more powerful than the royal family easily. However to show their loyalty and honour each child of his family that was trained to fight spent two years at the Capitol, serving and protecting the royal family. And so it has been ever since."
But when Sakura had heard the story so long ago, no one had mentioned that there was anyone who would be coming to serve. Nor could she believe it that the boy who would come was as handsome as Li was. His piercing amber eyes and untamable brown hair had made Tomoyo and herself giggle for hours until he had shown his fierceness to her. And he didn't even bother to deny that he disliked her.
Sighing, Princess Sakura rolled onto her side so that she could stare at her favourite things, the stars. She didn't stay somber for long, though, because her disposition was naturally cheery. Everything would definitely be all right. That and Tomoyo was coming home at last from being gone for nearly two months.
? ? ?
"I can't believe you've only been gone for not even two months and you have already made, what, twelve dresses! Tomoyo you are amazing!" Sakura laughed with glee as her best friend laid out the dresses she had spent many an hour into completing. They were beautiful and had intricate embroidery. Each dress had its own unique theme: flowers, winter, summer, leaves, birds, rain. They were a masterpiece in and of themselves and one of the many things that the lady-in-waiting was highly praised about.
"It is my job to make these for you and occasionally your mother, Sakura."
"Yes, but you don't make mom nearly as many as me. Or yourself!"
Tomoyo could hardly explain to the princess that while the queen was a renowned beauty that everyone adored, Sakura, while lesser known, far surpassed her and was as such more delightful to make fitting dresses for. The girls soft brown hair that shone brightly in any light and her startling green eyes, so much like her mothers, that seemed to glow with their own light. She was almost perfect. But instead she said, "It's more fun to make dresses for you. You are smaller and allow for more fabric to be used decoratively."
"What about you then?" she said looking at her friend curiously.
"I suffice, Sakura." She smiled again. "Now you must try them all on. I need to see what adjustments need to be made."
"Ahem," Li coughed, gaining the attention of the two girls at last. "Shall I come back in an hour?"
"Oh, please stay, Li," Sakura begged with pleading eyes. "I would like an outside opinion since Tomoyo is so helplessly biased in everyway."
He sighed but couldn't say no to those eyes, so much like her elder brother. "As you wish, Princess."
"Yay!" Sakura grabbed the dresses and hurried into the dressing room next door.
"It is hard to say no to those eyes isn't it, Li?"
"Yes, it is, my lady," he sighed regretfully. The last thing he wanted to do was watch the beautiful girl play dress up. He would be no part to the flattery.
She laughed softly. "Don't be so formal. You out rank me."
Li was a bit surprised that the quiet girl knew what he had kept from her mistress. "How did you know?"
"The way you stand is like someone who gives orders rather than takes them."
"I see. You are very perceptive. However, I cannot address you informally."
"Then call me Daidouji. I just am unused to being called 'my lady' since everyone calls me by my first name."
"You are well known to everyone. You are Sakura's second cousin, am I right?"
"Actually, I'm the Duchess of Park. The current Queen would have been if she hadn't married the King. I inherited after my mother passed away a few years ago."
"So shouldn't I call you Duchess instead?"
Tomoyo's eyes grew very large. "Please don't! When people call me Duchess it reminds me that some my think me really important politically and I just wish to be helpful to those who make things happen. I like to stay small."
"Daidouji it is then."
At last they were interrupted when Sakura rushed out to show off her new gown. Li noticed that though the theme of the gown and a few things here and there were different it was very similar to many of the other gowns she already had, a low neckline, fitted waist and a very full skirt made out of slipper fabrics.
"What do you think?"
"Beautiful," Tomoyo gushed. "I knew that shade of storm grey would look good on you, looking like rain!"
Li nodded his approval.
Sakura smiled and rushed off back to the room. Li and Tomoyo carried on a light conversation, prompted by Tomoyo at all turns in between dress showings. Li somehow found it easier to talk with Tomoyo than anyone else he knew. He correctly guessed that this was probably why everyone knew her and liked her. However as he looked at the various dresses and noticed that only two varied from the other style a question arose that he only asked when she came out in the last dress.
"Princess, Daidouji, I realize that I come from a different society and we have different fashions, but I have noticed something odd. The dresses that you wear are not in keeping with what seems to be fashionable everywhere else in the Capitol. Is there any reason why almost all of your dresses are like that?"
The girls looked at each other with a grin.
"I can't believe he doesn't know already. You used to practice everyday for a couple hours at least!"
"Mother has been keeping me at her side from almost dawn till dusk to prepare for the celebration. Poor Li has barely seen anything else aside of the ball room and dining area since he got here." Sakura shot him an apologetic glance.
"Excuse me?" he asked feeling as if he missed something.
Sakura smiled. "I can't really answer your question easily unless I just show you. Come on!"
Mystified he followed the two girls through the next room and up a set of stairs which had been hidden behind a large wall tapestry. As the climbed he tried to look out the windows on the staircase to gauge where they were in the castle but he couldn't tell. Finally they reached a level that looked completely unfamiliar.
"I didn't know this was here."
"Most people don't," Sakura replied informatively. "The castle is filled with rooms and levels and even staircases that you can only access in certain ways. Some of it was built that way some of it is part of an enchantment your ancestor Clow.," she broke of questioningly.
"Reed."
"Yes, Clow Reed left on the castle. Because of what he did there are certain places that only 'worthy' people can access. Each room has its own requirement for who can enter them. Sometimes it is dependant on a person's mood or just who they are. Like there is one room that only the royal family can enter."
"Sounds useful for if ever your family goes under attack and you are in danger of being killed," Li commented and instantly regretted his words as he saw the look of dire concern on the princess' face. "But that is not likely in the least so don't worry."
"Ah.yes. And there are some rooms only Touya and I can get into. We don't know why though. One room only Tomoyo and I can get into so we use that to hide from him or whenever we want to discuss secrets. There is even one room where only I can get into it, though I never went all the way in when I realized that. It might have ghosts," she shivered in a terrified way.
An enchantment on the castle explains one of the aura's I felt, though not the more powerful one I think. But what was Clow thinking when he cast them so such a small and silly girl could get into what seemed like every room? Li mulled through his thoughts until he realized that the two girls were looking at him.
"Well it seems that the castle likes you a lot, Princess."
"Everyone likes her," Tomoyo replied with a knowing smile, correctly guessing some of Li's thoughts.
"Don't be silly, Tomoyo. I'm sure there are plenty of people who dislike me and even hate me," Sakura said, vaguely glancing at Li, causing him to regret that he had never denied her the previous day. "You just say that because you like me so much. Anyway, we are here!"
She pushed open the door, careful not to light the wooden door on fire with her candle. As Tomoyo and Li entered she walked up to a trough full of oil and carefully lit it so that the room was magnificently illuminated in a matter of moments showing Li that it was a training room very similar to the one he had at his own home with mats and even a few weapons on one wall. She put the candle on a small table and kicked off her shoes. She seemed anxious though and merely turned to Li instead of doing anything.
"What did you want to show me, your highness?" he asked a bit impatiently and very curiously about what she was going to show him in the last place he expected to be led to.
She blushed and glanced at Tomoyo who smiled encouragingly. Sakura didn't let most people know about this particular secret. In fact only Tomoyo and some of her previous body guards knew. She was nervous and for some reason was very anxious to get Li's approval. But after a minute she over came her nervousness and smiled at Li.
"This." Turning to face the mats she breathed deeply and closed her eyes. Then a moment later she opened them and began to execute a series of gymnastics. Li watched in amazement, and Tomoyo in pride, as the princess performed a series of flip flops into a back handspring, stepped out, did a round off into a walk over into an aerial twist and landed beautifully. But he also noticed that his question had indeed been answered. The fullness of the skirts allowed for the motion she needed while the silky fabrics slipped out of the way so not to impede her from moving into one move to another.
When she finished she ran back to her audience of two laughing gaily, obviously pleased with the exercise. "The look on your face is priceless, Li. I think I startled you."
"Perhaps I underestimated you," he admitted.
Tomoyo smiled a bit humourously but didn't comment.
"It isn't wise to underestimate someone, Li. You should know that best as a fighter."
He narrowed his eyes dangerously at the left handed insult. Pride hurt he nearly growled, "Well then perhaps you should tell me if there is anything else I should expect that a normal seventeen year old girl wouldn't do?"
Sakura lost her smile, not knowing really what she had said that had made Li so angry. However she just answered quickly, "There is nothing else. A bit of gymnastics aside and I'm just a perfectly average girl. I swear."
"Sakura!" Tomoyo sighed, having had this discussion with the girl before. But she didn't say anything else as she watched the brunette leave the room with a quiet smile.
"Does she really think she is perfectly normal, Daidouji?"
Tomoyo nodded solemnly. "While she does know that being a princess is not normal she thinks everything else is. She can see the good in everyone, even the worst kinds of people, but she can't see anything special in herself. Not that she doesn't have healthy self esteem, but she doesn't see what everyone else sees in her, what is so likeable, lovable."
Li thought on this. IN the past two days he had learned that the princess had both brains and agility to match the flawless beauty. He wondered how much further from normal Sakura had to be before she realized how spectacular she was.
Little did he know how soon his answer would come.
? ? ?
*'m standing somewhere I've never been before. I've never seen flowers like these. What's that light? I go towards it but I can't see. I look down and there is a symbol. Suddenly a drop falls and the ground ripples like water and the symbol is different. Where am I? Then a voice: 'Get up.you must come.it's time for you now.you are chosen." I don't know who that is.what is going on? Where am I? Where am I?!*
Sakura sat up quickly in bed, breathing heavily and looked around. The dream had seemed so real. She looked around and saw her familiar room and breathed quietly until she calmed herself. After a moment she realized that she was still too tense to sleep. Turning to the side she slipped her feet out of the bed and stood slowly, almost like she was in a dream still. As she stepped away she shivered as her silk nightgown slipped down her legs.
"I need to walk around some I think," Sakura whispered to herself. Grabbing the matching robe to her gown she slipped it on and went up the hidden stairway. The princess began to climb the stairs but didn't stop at the level with the training room like she usually did. No, something was telling her to continue. In her heart she knew where she was going but her tired brain was trying to figure it out still. Finally she reached the top of the stairs and looked at the only door on the level. It was the room she had told Li about earlier that day, the one that would only let her in. Sakura hesitated, scared.
"Go in. You must go in!" she heard the same voice from her dream say.
Hesitantly she pushed the door open and stepped into the dark room. She hadn't bothered to bring a candle with her, so familiar with her surroundings was she, but now she regretted it. The room was so dark that it seemed to swallow her. But the voice and her own feet prodded her to continue into the room fully. It was only then that she realized that there was a light in the room. On the far wall there seemed to be a table with something glowing on it.
Slowly Sakura walked the long distance across the dark room until she stood only a few feet away from the table. There was a box on the table that seemed to be both god and silver molten together in inseparable swirls. It glowed faintly, eerily.
"Open it."
The princess reached out her hand cautiously and opened the lid. Inside the only thing she could see was a small key. It looked odd, with a head that seemed to have sprouted wings. She reached to pick it up and the moment her flesh touched the cold metal a light flashed through the room. Startled, Sakura instinctively clutched the key in her hand and then began running. She raced down the stairs all the way until she reached the chamber that adjoined with hers. Breathing heavily she looked around and knew that she had to keep going. Quickly she ran to the door and raced out and down the hallway.
A few doors down, Tomoyo had heard the sounds of someone running and panting and had opened her door just in time to see Sakura turn the corner towards the main stairwell. She quickly went to grab her robe and hurried after her mistress to see what the matter was that she was running like she was. Almost as if she had seen a ghost.
Sakura continued running until she reached the doors that let out into the gardens. She opened them quickly and raced outside, knowing now in both heart and mind where she was going, no longer needing the strong voice to prod her into doing what needed to be done. She needed to go to the walled garden.
Tomoyo chased after her as quickly as she could, barely keeping the princess in view. It was because her eyes were trained on her mistress that she ran straight into Li.
"I'm sorry!" she gasped.
"Where is she going?" Li asked after nodding acknowledgement of her apology.
"I don't know! I just heard her run by my room. She seems very upset though."
"Something is the matter. I felt a strong magic and when I looked outside my window I saw something glowing outside. When I got out here I saw the princess running towards the walled garden."
"Come on then! She might be in trouble!" Tomoyo grabbed his arm and raced towards her mistress. Li seemed almost amused and pulled his arm away so that he could run better.
Sakura had reached the walled garden. She saw a faint light coming from one area and pulled the vines away from it revealing a small door. Unerringly she looked at the key and put it in the lock. Without even the smallest effort she turned the key and opened the door. The princess gasped as she recognized the scene she had seen in her dream. The flowers were the same, light. But this was much more real. The air was crisp and clung to her and her night dress. The light was more piercing.
Slowly she walked towards it, almost afraid. But unlike her dream, as she got closer she could see what was glowing. On a pedal stool, there was a book that glowed a soft gold colour. Around it was an intricate design, the one from her dream, of a sun inside a circle with a moon to one side. She looked at it a moment, afraid to step on it almost when she heard the voice again, urging her onwards. Sakura stepped forward onto the Seal and as she did a light grew up around her like a pillar into the sky.
Tomoyo and Li arrived at the open door just into to see her step onto the Seal. They watched in silent amazement as Sakura reached forward towards the golden glow. But after a moment she jerked her hand back and cried out in pain. The two at the door rushed in a little to see what had happened but stopped when they saw her looking at her index finger. Tomoyo was too far away to see, but Li, who had been trained for many years, saw the blood welling up from her finger until a single drop fell onto the Seal.
In a flash the seal changed and both Tomoyo and Li had to watch in agonized silence as their princess screamed in agony as the Power that had been sealed there many years ago awoke and rushed into her body. Her head was thrown back as light shown from each line in the Seal. As they watched the Seal changed, the sun shrinking and being pushed to the side to make way for a gigantic star that glowed under the princess' feet.
At last she collapsed forward onto the pedal stool in front of her. She looked down at the book and reached up tiredly to open it, knowing in her soul that she had to. As the cover fell back and bounced on the stone a series of little flashes of light zoomed from the opened book and jumped into place around the Seal. Fifty-two in all which after a moment formed themselves into cards with a different picture on each one. Then Sakura watched as one more thing came from the book, a large lion looking creature with wings and a jewel upon his forehead. The lion flew up and seemed to stretch his wings before coming back and landing on the book in front of her.
"Sakura Kinomoto?" it asked in a serious voice.
"Y-yes."
"I am Keroberos, Sun Guardian of the Cards. You are now my Mistress."
Princess Sakura looked at the Lion and very elegantly replied, "Hoe?"
"I don't have time to explain now, Mistress. I will eventually I promise but now you must leave. Now that you have awakened the Power of the Cards they will come here looking for you. You must pack some things quickly and leave the Capitol."
"B-but why?" she almost screamed. "I'm so confused!"
"I'm sorry, Sakura. But please. I will change forms now and the Cards will return." As soon as he finished talking his wings grew, if possible, larger and surrounded his body. A light flashed and then the wings unfolded to reveal what looked like a gold teddy bear with wings and a long tail. That was floating. After that all the flashes of light that had stationed themselves around the girl flew back into the book and the book closed itself.
"Take the book and let's go!" the teddy bear said.
In shock Sakura grabbed the book and turned to leave but stopped short when she saw Tomoyo and Li. The three stared at each other then Sakura ran and threw herself on Tomoyo. "I don't know what's going on!"
"Shh," Tomoyo said as she stroked her mistress' hair. "I think we should do what he says."
"You should," Li said. "That creature is Keroberos. Clow Reed created him. I'm sure he wouldn't tell you to do something without purpose."
Sakura looked at Li for a moment then nodded. "Thank you Li." Then she turned to rush out the walled garden, the two humans and one Guardian beast following her. "I need to pack some things. Kero, how long will I need to be gone?" she asked the teddy bear as it flew around her head.
"It's Keroberos. But I can't tell you how long right now, mistress. But I'm guessing for awhile."
"Okay. I'll bring a few things. But I can't bring that much and travel can I?" She sighed. "I don't even know where to go." "I know," Li said softly. "Meet me in the entrance hall in fifteen minutes and we'll leave."
Sakura turned to look at the body guard who she thought disliked her greatly. "You are coming with me, Li?"
"Of course," he replied, as if she were being stupid. "I'm your body guard. But you need to hurry."
She smiled at him with just genuine appreciation and liking that he almost stumbled as he turned to go to his room. "Okay. I will."
"What should I bring?" Tomoyo asked as the two of them continued.
"Oh I don't know," Sakura replied then stopped short. Tomoyo looked at her questioningly but the princess shook her head and continued into her room where she began to throw some of the new dresses into a bag. They were a bit much for travel but she didn't have much else. Except.she grabbed the training outfit Tomoyo had made and a few of the shorter skirts that had been made during winter. She stuffed them all into a bag before grabbing the storm grey dress to change into.
"Tomoyo, I need you to listen to me."
"Okay.," Tomoyo said suspiciously.
"I need you to stay here."
"But Sakura! We've already been apart too long! And now you are in trouble. I can't let you go without me; you are my best friend, my sister!" Tomoyo clutched at the other girl almost begging.
"I know Tomoyo and as soon as I know where I'm going I'll send you word somehow and you can come there. But I need someone to explain what I already know to my parents and Touya. Especially Touya. You know how angry he'll be and he'll come after me." Sakura paused and grasped Tomoyo's hand fearfully. "And I don't' know, Tomoyo. I get the feeling that whoever is after me wont stop for Touya. I don't want anyone getting hurt. But if I'm not here they won't bother you right?
"Just tell them what you saw, and you saw everything I'm guessing. And tell them it has something to do with Clow Reed. If you say that it might explain until I know more. Please Tomoyo, I'm begging you."
The Duchess looked at the Princess sadly. "Okay, I'll stay. But you have to tell me where you are going somehow, okay?"
"I will I promise," Sakura said as she turned to change into the gown. Tomoyo helped her into it and gave her a fierce hug. Sakura smiled encouragingly and grabbed her hooded cloak and bag, with the book in it, and rushed out the door.
When she reached the entrance hall she found Li waiting there. "Where's Kero?"
"Huh?"
"I thought he went with you because he didn't follow me."
"Dammit," Li muttered. "And he was telling us to rush."
But a moment later they saw the Sun Guardian fly into the room. With someone following him. When they got closer, Sakura and Li recognized that it was Touya's personal bodyguard, though one was hardly necessary, Yukito Tsukishiro. Sakura was trying to figure out why Kero had gone to Yukito of all people when they reached them.
"Princess Sakura, I have something to tell you," Yukito began. "Or more precisely, show you." Saying as much Yukito suddenly closed his eyes and began to rise up from the ground and grow wings. With light very much reminiscent of Kero's change the wings unfolded to reveal a tall man with long white hair and purple and white clothes in an unfamiliar style with a blue gem on his chest. And very large wings.
"Mistress," the man spoke. "I am Yue, the Moon Guardian of the Cards. Along with Keroberos, we are sworn to protect you and the Cards."
Sakura could do nothing but stare. "Have you always been like this, Yuki-I mean Yue?"
"Yes and no. I always knew that I would become this when you came into the Power but I became Yue when you opened the book."
She nodded slowly. Then realization struck. "Wait you want to come with us don't you? But that means Touya won't be protected if someone comes here looking for me!"
Yue looked at her with eyes that seemed cold and unfeeling but held great understanding. "I realized you would be afraid for him, Mistress, and told Keroberos that I would be staying. I will protect your brother." She sighed in relief. "However, I am bound to protect you, and so I will. I will come to see you every few days and deliver messages between you and your parents. And Tomoyo."
She looked at Yue, who while he was much more handsome than Yukito, wasn't the friend she had grown up with. But she knew she could trust him. "Thank you, Yue. I don't know where I'll be though, so how will you?"
He smiled. "I always know where you are. Now go! Keroberos will explain everything to you but you will be in danger if you do not leave soon."
She nodded and then looked at Li who nodded. They both hurried towards the door where Sakura paused to put on her cloak before rushing out. However they both were brought to a startled stop when they saw someone standing not to far from them.
"Mother!" Sakura cried and ran to her.
Nadeshiko hugged her daughter. "I knew this would come one day, Sakura. I will have a long talk with Yukito and explain everything to Touya."
"Thank you, Mother," Sakura smiled and watched as the queen pulled away and stepped in front of Li where she looked up at him.
"You look so much like your father, Li Xiao Lang."
Li looked shocked but didn't say anything.
"Yes, I knew him. He came and trained here when I was but a girl. Now I know you will protect my daughter well, just as he protected my husband." She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. "Say hello to Yelan for me."
He nodded, blushing, before bowing and taking her daughter's hand and leading her off into the night.
Nadeshiko watched her child go with sadness. It would be a long while before her daughter came back but she had known it was coming. That was the reason she begged Sakura to be with her all those times for the planning of the ball. But she was in good hands. The Queen of Tomoeda smiled softly as she turned to walk up the stairs into the grand hallway. No one saw as she tripped and fell neatly on her face.
? ? ?
Dawn rose as the two rode on horseback towards the north-east. Both had been riding since they were very young but it was tiring and they were both tired from the lack of sleep they had received that night. However, riding was better than walking, and so both of them realized when they dismounted the horse some few hours after they had taken it from the royal stables. Sakura stumbled and leaned against a tree in exhaustion.
"We have to get going again soon, princess. But you can rest for a few minutes."
"Where are we going, Li?" she asked tiredly. "You seem to know."
"Home."
Sakura looked at Li curiously. His tone had been curt and his face seemed like chiseled rock, but she heard the slight tinge of relief to his voice. She understood why, after all he was going home back to his family and what he had always known. However the idea made her extremely nervous. But she didn't say anything and merely nodded.
"We have to send the horse back to the stables, princess," Li said after a moment of silence.
"What? Why?" she asked almost shouting. Her voice finally awakened the Sun Guardian who had fallen asleep in Sakura's bag an hour or so ago.
"What are you yelling about, Mistress?" he yawned tiredly.
"Hang on, Kero. Why do we have to send the horse back, Li? Won't it be faster with him?"
"Yes it will. But we would be too conspicuous. It's true that my family has many horses, as does yours. But there are very few horses in the kingdom relatively. Only the richest and most powerful families own them. If we are trying to hide you then we can't come off as rich as a horse would make us seem."
Sakura took this in, not wanting to really since it meant a lot of walking, but understood. "All right. But' isn't he yours, Li? I know my mare would rather follow me rather than going back to the stables."
Li looked at her, surprised despite himself. She was proving to be less and less the person she thought she was by the moment. "It's all right, Princess. He knows to go back where I want him to."
"That's good. I wouldn't want him wandering around where he might get stolen." She smiled then sank to the ground to take a much deserved rest while Li removed the rest of the bags from his stallion and sent him home. Kero buzzed around in every direction, as if looking for something before stopping in front of his mistress.
"What do we have to eat? I'm starving. I've been in that book for a LONG time."
Sakura frowned and rummaged through her bag pulling out a tin of crackers she had grabbed in her haste. "It's all I have, Kero. But the next town isn't that far away I don't think. I'll buy you something once we get there."
"Yay! That is my kind of mistress!"
Li looked at the small creature with dislike. He may be important but he was certainly annoying. He listened as the princess and her new guardian chatted for about ten minutes before checking his pocket watch. It was almost seven.
"I think we should be on our way, princess."
"So soon?" she sighed, but quickly got up and dusted off her clothes. "How long do you suppose it will take to get to the next village, Li?"
"Only a couple of hours. We rode quite a distance on horse so it we don't have to hurry too much on foot. But I think it best we get there as quickly as possible since neither of us brought a water bag."
She blushed. "I didn't think about it. Sorry."
"I didn't either. Come."
They started off towards the sun and it shone brightly in their eyes. Sakura tried to keep her eyes down on the path so they wouldn't hurt but the temptation to look around was more than she could abide. She had never walked across the lands like this. The fields were beautiful, with grass just barely growing in around a few trees. The early morning mist hadn't dissipated yet and she felt as if she was in a completely different world than she had been a few hours before.
They had been walking in silence for a half hour before Sakura felt the need to break it. She wanted to talk, to get her mind off the situation they were in, but Li seemed foreboding. Instead she turned to the small yellow creature that was resting in her arms.
"Kero, wake up."
"Hmm?" he yawned, with a mouth much huger than one could possibly conceive something so small having.
"Kero, you said you would explain what was going on. Please, would you start? We have a long way to walk and you might as well begin now."
"I guess, mistress. Though some of it you have to see rather than hear. But I'll start with the history.
"Now most people remember Clow being a wonderful man who did a lot of good. And it's true that he did a lot of good, but he had his bad qualities as well. He was lazy and manipulative and often very caustic due to one side affect of his great Powers. So around your age he began to realize that he could channel all of his energy into separate entities, the Cards, and that would save on time and energy for him since it provided a medium. Some of the Cards have true purpose and some of them are just plain silly. However, all have their use in life, even the most mundane parts. But their first great usage was during the Great War and they turned the tides. Frequently, though, it was the smaller things that he did that won the battles. But I'll explain that later.
"Now after the Great War and all the settlements, Clow came to the Capitol once a year for two weeks to keep up good relations. Though actually I think he missed his children when they went for training. But it came that the old King died and his son, Miroku Miyazaki, inherited the throne. King Miroku had grown up with the powerful sourcerer always around and both trusted each other greatly. So when the day that Clow declared to his new king that he would die soon the Miroku didn't hesitate to help him in any small way. Even if his request seemed odd at first.
"Clow asked that the king allow a spell to be placed on the already intricate castle that gave partial access. Only people who met the qualifications could enter them. He made all sorts of different qualifications so that no one would be caught wary that in all of history only one little girl would be able to enter every room in the castle."
"Hoe? You mean me don't you?" Sakura asked almost scared. "But how did he know that would happen?"
"Well, what Clow didn't tell most people is that he was always able to see the future. IT was one of the reasons he seemed so dark and cruel to some. He knew the outcome of whatever event and often didn't want to lend a helping hand. But in some cases he knew that his actions must be taken to have what he had seen come to pass. Now this Power grew even stronger towards the end of his long life until the day he saw a vision of a young girl with startling green eyes wielding his Cards as if they were hers. It is because he saw that very image that he set the castle the way it was."
"Wow. That is a bit unbelievable, Kero." Sakura seemed a bit skeptical that she was the reason for any great thing. She barely managed to stand out in her amazing family as it was. Her father was brilliant, her mother beautiful and kind, her brother was a great fighter and even Tomoyo was more skilled with great artistic abilities and the most beautiful voice. Not to mention Yukito who was just good at everything.
Keroberos saw the skepticism in his mistress' face. "Then how come I knew your name?"
She blinked. "I-I don't know."
"I knew your name because Clow told it to me and Yue before he died. He told us that we would have to rest a long time but that a new Mistress would come and love us."
"Oh." She looked troubled and glanced over at Li who seemed to be a bit incredulous himself. However, Sakura had no idea that his incredulity had more to do with her refusal to believe that she was special than anything he had just heard. He had grown up learning these stories. Well all but about Sakura herself. It had actually been a hope of his family that he would one day possess the Cards. But he didn't feel envious of her in the least. He had Power enough of his own.
"Umm," Sakura said as she noticed that Li was staring at her. "Is there something wrong, Li?"
"No!" he responded to quickly and turned from her blushing.
"Okay.. But Kero, you didn't say anything about you? How long were you with Clow?"
"He created Yue and me shortly after he was done creating the Cards. He felt they needed Guardians to rule over them but under him. You see half the cards are loyal to Yue and the other half to me."
"Okay, but what are the Cards exactly? What do they do?"
"Each one does something different. Some of them can be used for protection, some for just helping a situation, some for attacking. Everything has a different purpose."
"Like what?"
"I'll show you when we have a chance to rest. I still feel uncomfortable. There isn't enough distance covered to make me feel comfortable about pausing now."
"Oh, okay, Kero." She smiled and turned her eyes back to the road. They had walked a good distance during their conversation and she could see the town in the distance.
The three travelers broke off into their own thoughts. Sakura couldn't help but wonder what made her so special that she was Destined to get the Cards. She didn't even really understand what they were yet but she could FEEL that there was something special about them. Something life changing. But she didn't want to think about that and instead started to sing in her head and wonder what Tomoyo was doing now and how Touya had taken the news of her departure.
Li was mentally kicking himself for not noticing her very powerful aura before then. Well actually he had felt it but while he was in the castle grounds he had never been able to place it since the magic was so spread out. He thought through the different things that the Sun Guardian had said and reasoned that some of the rooms had been only meant to allow magical people in them. True there was the one she had mentioned that would only allow her in, purposefully obviously, but what about the one that would only let her and the prince? Did he possess magic?
His thoughts were interrupted when Sakura unconsciously started to sing the song she had been humming. It was barely above a whisper but the tune was beautiful and very emotional.
"What song is that, princess?"
"Hmm? Oh I'm sorry I didn't realize I was humming out loud. It is a song that my father once heard playing in a music box he found while digging through the ruins and taught to my mother. She plays the piano, you know. He said it came from somewhere outside of Tomoeda, but maybe before it even existed. He has found many music boxes like that over the years and each song is so.haunting that it seems like they are always playing in my head."
"Does it have a name?" he asked, never having expected the long speech. But he found himself fascinated with the talk about finding things that maybe had existed a long time ago.
"If it does I don't know it. IT was written by a man named Chopin. It's not my favourite one, but my favourite you can't hum." She smiled at him so sweetly. "Maybe one day I'll get Touya or mother to play it for you."
"Why didn't you learn, mistress?" Kero asked, curiously.
She blushed. "They wanted me to sing instead. I learned how to play the flute a little but they really spent a lot of time teaching me songs to sing instead of play."
"Wai! Wai! You have to sing for us, Mistress!"
"NO!" she nearly shouted. "I mean, if you want to hear someone sing well you have to listen to Tomoyo. She has the best voice." Blushing red, the princess started to walk a little faster so that she was a bit ahead her two companions.
"What's with her?" Kero asked.
"I don't know, stuffed animal."
"I am NOT a stuffed animal!"
"You look like one."
The two glared at each other but broke off when they heard the princess humming again. The rest of the journey to the village was completed in silence except for the strangely moving songs of the princess.