Yay, more reviews!
Lavenda: Thank you I plan on updating often until, of course, I get to the point where I haven't written anymore. But I still have at least four or five more updates worth before that happens. and hopefully writers block will stop. anyway
Jessica: Thank you, I realize that longer paragraphs, especially when spacing isn't computing can be more tedious. I'm trying to make them smaller, which they are mostly on there own due to dialogue, but I'll try to keep the paragraphs smaller, it's just habit.
Thank you for your comments! ^.^
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. But one day I will. oh yes. one day. *cackles evilly*
Chapter Three: Old Allies
Sakura woke to Li conversing with a vaguely familiar voice. She listened to them, feeling too tired to open her eyes, much less ask who it was.
"We flew for maybe three quarter's of an hour or more. I figure we were going maybe a mile and a half or more per minute, also," Li said, sounding very official to Sakura's ears.
"That sounds about right, "the other voice agreed. "Though, she shouldn't have been flying so long.
"I realize that and it's regretful that she's tired herself out."
Sakura began to feel upset. She's obviously caused them a lot of problems and Li was helping her without complaining. She felt bad for burdening him and would have apologized immediately but she still felt too tired to move.
"However, sir," Sakura heard Li continue, "despite the momentary inconvenience, walking we make, at best, three miles an hour over flat terrain, less since we are in the woods. Even if we walked all day from sun up to after sun down that isn't more than 39 miles a day and in reality its more like 28-30 including breaks for food, rest and rough terrain. So in reality she saved us three or more days of walking."
"One of which you used up waiting for her to regain consciousness, descendant of Clow," the voice reprimanded.
Sakura slowly managed to open her eyes and was turning her head towards the two conversationalists when she hears Li say, "No, because I carried her all of today. We had only been stopped for a quarter hour when you arrived."
It was hard to focus her eyes in the dark night but finally Sakura made out the figures sitting around the fire. She saw Keroberos asleep on his side and then Li who was facing.Yue! She sat up quickly and instantly regretted it, falling backwards.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo cried out rushing to her best friend's side. "You are awake!"
"I didn't see you Tomoyo!" she grinned at her friend. "I'm glad you made it! I missed you terribly. How is my family?"
"You can ask her that later, Mistress. You need to rest now." Yue leaned knelt beside her, looking at her. "Your colour is much better now though."
"Yue, thank you for bringing Tomoyo to us. How is my brother? Is he fine?"
"The Prince is doing just fine, Mistress. He was a bit worried and angry at first but I think he is resigned now."
She sighed in relief and tried to sit up again. Yue quickly reached to help her sit against the tree not to far behind her. "Thank you again." She smiled winningly at Yue who seemed taken aback a moment.
"It's nothing. I am here to check on you. And to bring Her Grace."
"Her grace? Oh Tomoyo." Sakura looked at the other girl and both began to giggle.
"I kept telling him to call me Tomoyo but he said it wasn't appropriate. Keroberos does though."
Sakura turned to Yue and her smile faded into a look of concentration. "Yue, can we speak in private a moment."
"Of course, Mistress." He picked her up and carried her a few feet away from the others before gently setting her down.
She was quiet for a minute, searching for what to say, before looking at Yue and beginning. "I've heard most of the story from Kero, but he barely mentioned himself and you and how you fit in to all of it. I know you are Yukito, but you are also Yue. Was he born to be you, or was he born at all? Will you please explain to me, Yue? I'd really like to know."
The Moon Guardian crossed his arms and looked down at her. "You probably heard that Yukito was found when he was young, seemingly to be your brother's age. When asked he said he had no parents but didn't remember why not, just that he was alone. Your mother took him in and your brother became friends with him. Eventually he became your brother's private body guard."
"Yes, I know all this."
"Well, more or less what he said was true. On the day you were born, I was unlocked from the sleep Clow had put on me. He had cast a spell, so many years ago, that when the Mistress of the Cards was born, I should be incarnated into a human being, someone who could stay close to you until you were ready. Yukito is Yukito and I am me. We are different people, but we do share the same, soul, you may say. But no, he wasn't born and you didn't steal him from a family so that he could one day be fated to be me."
"And did he know what would happen?"
"No. Well not fully and consciously. IN the past few years he had begun to suspect that he was different and that there was something beyond him that caused him to be alive. But he understands and accepts."
"I'm guessing that when you are him, or he is you, you still see and know everything that goes on, right?"
"Yes, Mistress."
"What about him?"
"We discuss back and forth, in our collective head," Yue smirked, "but, no, he doesn't know what is happening when I am in control."
"Then may I speak with him?" Sakura asked pleadingly, but politely.
"Of course, Mistress. But only for a short while, I do need to return to the castle so they may have word of you."
"Thank you, Yue." She watched silently as the Moon Guardian changed form and Yukito came back into being.
"Sakura!" he smiled. "I am glad to know you are all right."
She ran over and hugged him. When she was younger she had had a crush on him, but it soon passed and now he was the best of friends. "Yukito, I'm so glad to see you. How is Touya? Is he very angry?"
"A little bit. But otherwise he is well. As are both your parents. They send their love."
"Tell everyone I love them too and I'm fine. I don't know precisely what is going on yet, though I suspect you do," she said with a wry smile, which he nodded to, "but I'm fine."
"Okay."
She drew a long breath and then sighed, obviously fighting for words. "Yukito.I know that you love my brother, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Does being someone completely different upset that?"
Yukito looked down into the worried eyes of his princess and the closest thing he had to a sister. He kneeled down and hugged her to him.
"Don't worry about us Sakura. There is nothing that has changed so drastically. You need to worry about yourself though. You are in very great danger, even if it doesn't seem like it right now. Personally, I'm glad that I can be one of the people who protects you. Touya is too, I think. So don't worry."
She nodded, tears in her eyes. "I think we should return to the group before they think we ran off or something."
Sakura grinned infectiously and tried to stand. Some of her strength had come back but she was still wobbly enough to need Yukito's help to reach the fire. Tomoyo hurried to her and helped her sit by the fire. Li handed her food and demanded that she eat.
Keroberos woke enough to say farewell to Yue. "If you hear anything, come to us, Yue. We'll need it most likely."
"Of course, Keroberos. Take care of our mistress."
"Hoe. Yue, Kero, can you please just call me Sakura? I'd rather be your friend than your mistress."
"Of course, Sakura," the both replied, smiling softly. Yue waved goodbye one last time before flying off.
"He's terribly handsome, isn't he Tomoyo?"
"Y-yes, he is. And he hugged me to him the whole time we were flying!"
They looked at each other and giggled. Li, who had heard the stories about how the young princess had fallen in love with his fellow body guard, suddenly felt ten times grumpier than he had been a moment before.
"I can't carry you all day tomorrow, Princess, so eat and get rest," he growled.
"O-okay, Li. I'm sorry you had to carry me. It won't happen again, I swear!" she looked at him pleadingly but he brushed her off and walked towards the small river they had set up camp near. "I'm going to take a bath. Then I'm going to bed, it's late."
Everyone watched as he walked away.
Sakura sighed. "Hoe. I keep inconveniencing him. No wonder he hates me."
Tomoyo looked at her friend with sparkling eyes. "Oh I don't think he hates you, Sakura. He's probably just tired."
"I hope so." Sakura finished her meal in silence and helped Tomoyo lay out another pallet beside hers and they both went to bed before Li returned.
Sakura lay awake for awhile, watching where Li had stormed off earlier. She listened to the deep measured breathing of her two companions and wondered how long this trip would be, and why Li didn't just leave her and go home on his own. Probably because of his training, she thought, he can't just leave if he wants to finish his training. Maybe when we get to his home I can convince them that this time was enough of an effort and pain for him for them to consider it like two years.
As if her thoughts conjured him up, Li came through the brush, topless, with a towel around his neck and his brown hair wet and tussled. In the dying light of the fire he looked incredibly handsome to Sakura. He went to his own bedding and laid down looking up at the stars for a moment before drifting off himself.
Of course, thought the princess before she fell asleep, I think I like having him around.
?
"So let me see if I remember correctly, Kero. The second most powerful Cards are the Element Cards: Windy, Watery, Firey and Earthy. Then the two most powerful Cards are Light and Dark. That's it right?"
"Yes, that's it. Now name which of those Cards follow me and which follow Yue."
They had been traveling for three day's since Tomoyo arrived. The day before they had passed through a village but didn't stop because it was still only early morning and Li pressed on. No body argued too much and they only stayed long enough to refresh their supplies and fill their water bags.
Mostly on the road Sakura and Tomoyo kept up an idle conversation to brighten their spirits, but the incident with Fly had opened the princess' eyes and she was now determined more than ever to quickly and efficiently master her new Powers. Thus, everyday for at least a couple hours, she and Kero would go over the basics. She hadn't tried anything out since Fly, and was slightly afraid to, honestly.
But Li and Kero assured her that as long as she understood what she was doing and didn't take too many risks they she would be fine. Nonetheless, she practiced.
"Now, Light follows you and Dark follows Yue. Also you have Firey and Earthy while Yue has Windy and Watery."
"Very good. It is important that you understand the nature of the Card before you use it. Card's like Illusion, Mirror and Shadow, or things that alter perception, are Card's that Yue, the Moon rules over. "Card's that are more straight forward like, Power, Dash and Fight, usually attack Cards, are ruled by me, the Sun. Over time you will understand this instinctively but for now it will help you realize how they can be used."
She nodded, trying to absorb the information. Lost in her thoughts, Sakura jumped when Li put his hand on her shoulder.
"We are stopping for the night, princess. There is a small pool, probably from an aquifer, over that way. You can bathe there if you want."
"Thank you, Li." She walked off distractedly, unaware of the eyes of her companions which focused on her.
"She's quite determined to master years' worth of information and tutelage in only a few days. Mistress is quite determined."
Li nodded in assent as he began to set up camp. "But she is still afraid of the Power. Do you think she can do it?"
"Of course she can, it's Sakura," Tomoyo instantly chimed in without a doubt in her voice. "No matter what she tries, if she sets her mind to it she accomplishes it, and quickly."
"She DID master the Key and Wand rather quickly," Kero ceded. "But until she masters her fear of the Power, it doesn't matter how quick and good a learner she is."
"She will." Tomoyo smiled and trailed off after her friend.
Li watched after her for a moment before gathering wood for a fire. "Those two are very devoted to each other."
"Maybe too much on Tomoyo's side," the Sun Guardian yawned before flitting about in search for food.
Li looked at him oddly but merely shrugged. The stuffed animal said all sorts of weird things. Li didn't know if he should be impressed by observation or irritated that he was being idiotic. Instead he did neither and set out food for the girls to eat when they returned.
Sakura and Tomoyo came back hand in hand and laughing. It was a sweet sound that no one ever tired of hearing but it quickly died when she saw that the fire hadn't been lit. For a moment she was confused then she realized that they had been waiting for her.
"Mistress, Sakura, will you please light the fire?"
"Hoe.are we out of flint?" she asked almost pleadingly.
"Please, Sakura," Tomoyo smiled. "I want to see your magic. I haven't been able to witness any at all yet."
Sakura looked at her dear friend and finally sighed in resignation. She unlooped the ribbon around her neck and held it out. Steadily she recited the chant and Tomoyo watched in wonder as light shot up around her and the winds began to stir, encircling Sakura as if she were the only being present. When it all died down Sakura once again held the 'Wand' and reached into her pocket to pull out a Card. For a moment she grew still then she threw it calmly into the air and shouted, "Firey!"
From the light above Sakura a strange looking figure flew out and turned to look at his new Mistress, as if measuring her up for a moment. Then he bowed slightly and lit the logs before returning to his Card form.
Tomoyo almost shrieked with pleasure.
"That was amazing, Sakura! I've never seen something so amazing."
Sakura nodded vaguely then watched, almost unseeingly as the Wand shrank down in her hand again and she looped it around her neck once more. "Kero, did Clow create the Cards or did he just trap spirit's that already existed into them."
"Why do you ask?" he said as he stuffed a muffin he had stolen from the village into his mouth.
"Because they seem so.alive, so real. More like I am letting them free and then capturing them again rather than accessing their Power."
Kero seemed to think for a moment, wondering what to say precisely. "The Cards are in their way alive, yes. That's why when you touch them they have a presence. But no, he created them on his own and you are actually RE- creating them yourself when you use them. That first night you gave up a lot of energy, but just enough to change them most basically into your own Cards, to use your own magic on them. But now, every time you use a new one, you are finishing what you started, giving them more magic and letting them know you. But the more you change the less tired you will be every time."
"Oh? Why?"
"Well, every time you give the Card some of your magic it triggers more of your Power to awaken and replace what you just lost, like growing more ready magic. But then, when the Card turns back into a Card, some of the magic you use comes back. "That little bit at first wont make a difference to your energy loss, but as your Power awakens more and starts producing more and more magic, it starts to balance out, leaving you just as you were before. Provided you do not strain yourself so much you affect your Power directly. Do you understand?"
She nodded slowly, and then grinned. "Thank you, Kero!" She hugged the small guardian to her tightly and swung him around in a circle before stumbling a bit and sitting heavily on the ground.
"Idiot. You just heard all that about losing some energy after you change a Card then you start dancing. Here, eat." Li shoved a small loaf of bread and some cuts of the ham they had bought to her and stalked away. "I'm going to go bathe. I suggest you get some sleep, princess, Tomoyo. There is a village coming nearby but we won't get there until late at night."
Sakura shrugged at ate her food. Slowly she was beginning to get used to Li's seemingly harsh ways. She was realizing that the more brusque he was the more worried or concerned he was feeling. Some how the idea that he was concerned for her made her smile, though she didn't know why.
Tomoyo watched the small smile appear on her friend's mouth and glanced off towards the small pond. In the three day's since she had joined them she quickly noticed how often Li glanced at the princess and how often she could be seen with a small smile on her face after he had said something to her.
Leaning over she whispered, "He looks quite nice when he comes back from his baths doesn't he?"
Unabashedly, Sakura nodded. They had often discussed how nice the men around them looked. However, lately it seemed like Li had far surpassed everyone else, aside of maybe Touya or Yue. "His hair is all wet and he's topless."
The girls giggled loudly, causing to look at them curiously.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing that you would find amusing, Keroberos," Tomoyo smiled.
"Nope. You'd probably yell at us, Kero."
"Yell at you about what?" Li asked as he stepped back into the circle around the fire. He was, predictably, topless and his hair was dripping with excess water. When the girls looked at him they immediately glanced at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Li looked vaguely disconcerted before he looked down at himself and guessed, accurately, what they were thinking. Blushing bright red he hurried to pull a clean shirt on. "Er, I think I'll sleep now. Please bank the fire before you fall asleep."
They nodded, laughing harder from his embarrassed expression. Eventually they stopped and wiped the tears from their eyes in a satisfied way. "Poor, Li. I think we scared him."
"I think so, Sakura. Anyway, he's right we should get to bed. If you bank the fire I'll finish setting up our bedding and put the food away."
"Okay," the princess said looking at the fire, which was still going strong.
Closing her eyes she concentrated and could feel the remnants of magic, feeding into the fire. Intuitively she knew that it would take magic to beat out this magic and resignedly drew out the Key. She tried to remain quiet, just in case Li had really fallen asleep, but even whispering couldn't stop the bright flashes of light which caused him to sit up and look at her curiously.
"Watery!" she whispered forcefully. The spritely figure formed from the Card and circled her twice, an almost fierce grin on its face, before it rushed to the fire and quickly extinguished it. Before it turned back into a Card, Watery looked at the Card Mistress and bowed slightly, just as Firey and Windy had done. Then in a few long blue wisps it was gone and into a Card again.
Sakura tucked it back into her pocket with the rest of them and returned the Key around her neck before wobbling unsteadily to her bedding. Li watched her concernedly until he heard her breathing slow into even steady breaths. Only then did he allow himself to sleep.
But in sleep, Li Xiao Lang found himself dreaming about a pair of beautiful green eyes.
?
"Um, princess, there is something you need to know if you aren't already aware of it. And I'm sure you already are but maybe you need reminding."
"What is it Li?" she asked, looking at him unblinkingly.
For a moment Li lost his train of thought then brought himself back to the matter at hand. "Your eyes."
"What about them?"
"Only royalty and highest nobility have green eyes, princess. Everyone knows this. In fact every time a commoner is born with hazel eyes leaning towards green there is much rejoicing and belief that they will go far in life."
Sakura leaned her head to one side in consideration. "I think I heard that once. It's the reason why nobody really objected when my father married my mother when she was so young. She had amazingly green eyes, still does." She smiled.
Li thought that the queen's were nothing when compared with her daughters but didn't voice it out loud. Instead he merely intoned, "Then you won't object when I tell you that under all circumstances you have to look down and keep your hood of your cloak up."
She frowned. "But why? It's not like my own people are going to hurt me are they? I have never heard that anyone had issues with me or my father's policies."
"That may be so, but, Princess, try to remember that you are fleeing for your life."
"I know that, Li. Don't say it like I'm a simpleton." Sakura was getting increasingly irritated. First he told her she had to be rude, or act like some kind of slave, and then he implied she was stupid or forgetful.
Li sighed and counted to ten, watching as Kero and Tomoyo carried on a bright conversation a few paces ahead of them. "Princess, I am not trying to insult you or your people. I merely meant that with people pursuing us, they may ask if anyone had seen the princess in the villages. They may even try to hurt people to get information. But with your green eyes and fair looks you are easily recognizable. It is best that the villagers didn't know you were even in town rather than having to hide it later."
The princess sighed but saw his point, no matter how much it went against the grain. She had been raised as royalty and had been taught pride and self-assurance were key to being a good ruler one day. But hiding her eyes and her presence made her feel like she was ashamed of whom she was. However, she merely nodded her head and turned to look at the countryside in the fading light.
Li regretted the conversation. He knew that she was proud and would hate hiding but he knew that there was no other alternative. He was thinking only of her life and the well being of her people. With a sigh he searched for idle conversation, something to distract her. Finally he came upon something.
"The first week I came to you, you and the prince went to classes together, what were they?"
Sakura looked at him for a moment, searchingly, and then realized what he meant. "Oh, those were training classes."
"Training for what?"
"And you imply that I'm a simpleton," she giggled. "It's training for inheriting the throne so that we can rule well."
"But why both of you?" he asked genuinely curious now. There had always only been one person to go through such training in his Clan and had never heard of a tradition like this.
"Well, most people don't realize it because there is usually only one King or Queen during someone's life time, but the line for the throne doesn't go from father to son, or even from ruler to oldest child. Instead all children are taught how to rule as if they were the sole heir. That way if one of them wants to do something aside of rule the country, which does happen, they aren't burdened with the responsibility of having to inherit the throne because there is someone else who already knows everything they know."
Li listened to her fascinated. It made sense the way she said it. But it also made him feel a little saddened. His own family did not follow this way of thinking and he and his entire family had suffered for it in their own ways.
"But," she continued, unaware of his inner turmoil, "say if neither Touya nor I want to separate ourselves from our duty, well then it would be an argument over who inherited. This happened many years ago and the people were worried that war would break out between the royal siblings in their battle for who got the throne.
"However, being of sound mind, they devised a way of settling it between themselves that could also be used if such a thing happened again. The three of them asked their long time tutors to devise a test that covered logic, economics, justice and law, as well as protocol, all subjects essential to a good ruler. The prince who passed with highest marks inherited the throne and the other two kicked themselves for not studying harder but went their separate ways."
"So that is what will happen when your father dies, hopefully many years from now."
"With two notable exceptions, yes."
"Oh, what are those?"
"If mother conceives a child and father dies before it is born and by little brother or sister survives birth, then mother would inherit the throne until either her own death or the child is old enough to take the test with us. The other is if Touya or I died before my father did."
Li swallowed hard at the idea of the princess dying; something which she spoke about so casually. Shaking away his irrational response he asked, "Who do you think will inherit? Pass the test I mean?"
"To be perfectly honest I'm not sure there will be a test," she sighed.
"Why?" he inquired wondering if she herself was going to give up her throne. The idea strangely both pleased and saddened him at once. Li was beginning to worry about the weird emotions he was always having and tried to ignore them.
"I don't think Touya wants to rule particularly. He'd be a great King but he is in love with someone who cannot legally sit beside him on the throne. Besides he has always been more of a fighter and protector than a ruler. I think he'd make a good general." The princess looked away from Li, thinking about her older brother and Yukito who were suffering because of her and, in a way, each other. But she knew they were happy.
Li, himself, grew quiet in thought. He wondered what was so unacceptable about the prince's chosen partner that made it impossible for them to marry. Maybe he was in love with a commoner, or maybe a foreigner. Maybe someone from his own Clan. But then did that make him also unacceptable? The idea shook him hard but he couldn't really tell why and they continued the journey in silence until they reached the small village.
When they were a little more than half a mile from the marked boundary of the village, the group stopped to assess the situation. It was dark, probably ten or later, and no matter how small, any village could mean thieves. To be safe they decided to give all the money to Li who was, obviously, the most intimidating one of the group. He kept it separate but tucked it away in unobvious places. While he did that Tomoyo looked at Sakura.
"I think you need to change, Sakura. That dress is a bit too fine for a commoner or even someone with a little more money to have. Did you bring the short white one?"
Sakura nodded and looked through her bag. At last she pulled out a dress and handed the bag and her cloak to Tomoyo. "I'll change behind that tree. No peeking!" she giggled, causing Li to blush and turn away and Tomoyo's eyes to sparkle.
A few minutes later she emerged in a deceptively simple white dress that reached just above her knees. It also differed from her usual pattern with quarter length sleeves that belled out a little. In reality the dress was still too nice for who they were pretending to be, but it was less noticeably so. Quickly she donned her storm grey cloak and drew the hood over her face.
Li frowned for a moment before leading them towards the village. They made their way quickly through the streets and at last came upon a small inn. It didn't seem too crowded and when they asked for two rooms the innkeeper just smiled and said, "Sure, loves. That'll be three gold pieces."
Li nodded and handed them to her quickly. "We would also like a meal before we go to bed. Is that inconvenient for you, mistress, or is there something readily available?"
"I'm sure I can find something still warm for you dears. You are so young to be traveling so late. I hope there is nothing the matter."
"Nothing, mistress. We are just traveling to his home. It is far in the east so we try to keep walking to lessen the travel time." Tomoyo smiled at her.
"Why are you traveling so far? If I may ask?" the innkeeper asked as she led them to a table where they could sit comfortably and rest their weary bones.
"My friends here are getting married and they wish to have his family at the ceremony since hers passed away some time ago."
Li nearly choked on the water he was drinking but nodded. "My mother demanded the right to welcome her to the family."
Sakura nodded stiffly and glanced at Tomoyo who was smiling serenely. But then, Sakura thought smiling, Tomoyo did always lie like the devil.
"A wedding! So young too! Well, on that account, why don't you stay here another day. There is a lovely store here where you can buy silks and satins to make wedding dresses. Too fine for most, but I'm sure for your wedding you can manage."
The two girls looked at Li hopefully, since both of them were tired of sleeping on hard ground and hoped that maybe they could pretend things were normal for a few hours.
Rolling his eyes, Li nodded. "I'm sure they will put the time to good use."
"That's wonderful, loves. Now, I'll be right back with some foodstuff for you to eat. Plenty of it too since your lovely bride looks so thin, almost as if she were to waste away."
Sakura shook her head. "I'm fine, mistress. Just a little tired."
"Whatever you say, deary. Now just give me a moment."
After she had safely entered the kitchen and left hearing range, Li turned to Tomoyo with awe. "Daidouji you are the smoothest liar I have ever met. But why that story?"
"She seemed like a romantic. Besides Sakura and I were both hoping you would let us stay here for another day and night since we are so tired. This way we have a plausible story for being here that they can tell anybody who asks without rising suspicions. After all why would anyone care about two people getting married when there is a princess to chase?"
Li nodded and sipped his water. "But, why getting married, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked shyly without looking at Li.
"I thought it was appropriate," she smiled as the innkeeper came back. As they watched the mistress place all the food before them Sakura figured she knew better than to ask what Tomoyo had meant by that and Li wasn't quite sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"Now, dears, you finish this up and go straight up the stairs until you end at the hallway. Unfortunately I could only get you one room but it has too beds and a couch if you need it. But I figure that since you are getting married and all it won't matter sharing a room, especially with a lady friend with you two." She smiled. "Oh and you will be staying here tomorrow night too?"
"Yes, mistress," Li answered.
"Then I'll keep the second room's fee for tomorrow as well and for dinner. Enjoy yourselves and get to sleep."
The three watched as the innkeeper exited the dining area to go back to the main desk. When they were sure she was gone, Sakura dug Kero from her bag and invited him to eat some. The food was good and all of them ate more than their fill before heading upstairs. Li unlocked the door and lit the hall candle to the one just inside the room, revealing two nice sized beds and a small looking couch.
"You two sleep on the beds, I'll take the couch." His voice was more than a little resigned and it was obvious that he wanted a bed as much as they did but was too much of a gentleman to demand one.
"No, Li. Take one of the beds. They are large enough that Tomoyo and I can share one. Right, Tomoyo?"
"Mm-hmm. We've done it many times before, Li. Besides you need a soft bed as much as we do and if we get uncomfortable I can take the couch since it's been less time that I've had to sleep on the ground."
Li looked at the two girls and sighed in relief. Quickly he stripped off his shirt, not even remembering the way the girls had reacted the night before and crashed into the bed.
"Li?" Sakura asked softly.
"Hmm?" he groaned in return.
"Nothing important, but what is that you wear around your neck?" She took off her cloak and set it over the couch while Tomoyo removed her upper layer of clothes.
He didn't even turn to look at her but answered almost through the pillow. "It's my sword. You've seen it a few times I know."
"Oh, I didn't know it was a magic sword. Okay, I'm sorry for bothering you. Sweet dreams!"
She watched as Li's breathing evened and looked at Tomoyo who smiled. They took turns braiding each other's long hair so it wouldn't get tangled while they slept and blew out the candle. Tomoyo climbed into bed quickly but Sakura hesitated, finally going to Li and pulling his blanket up and over him.
Li felt her soft hands on his bare flesh and bare suppressed a small shiver. This bare slip of a girl who thought about everyone and kept forgetting about herself, this girl who was absolutely amazing, learning to tumble, spout politics and wield the greatest source of Power, she was making him act so differently than he had before and he didn't know why. Nor did he really want to know. He was sure that in that answer there was a mountain of trouble.
Lavenda: Thank you I plan on updating often until, of course, I get to the point where I haven't written anymore. But I still have at least four or five more updates worth before that happens. and hopefully writers block will stop. anyway
Jessica: Thank you, I realize that longer paragraphs, especially when spacing isn't computing can be more tedious. I'm trying to make them smaller, which they are mostly on there own due to dialogue, but I'll try to keep the paragraphs smaller, it's just habit.
Thank you for your comments! ^.^
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. But one day I will. oh yes. one day. *cackles evilly*
Chapter Three: Old Allies
Sakura woke to Li conversing with a vaguely familiar voice. She listened to them, feeling too tired to open her eyes, much less ask who it was.
"We flew for maybe three quarter's of an hour or more. I figure we were going maybe a mile and a half or more per minute, also," Li said, sounding very official to Sakura's ears.
"That sounds about right, "the other voice agreed. "Though, she shouldn't have been flying so long.
"I realize that and it's regretful that she's tired herself out."
Sakura began to feel upset. She's obviously caused them a lot of problems and Li was helping her without complaining. She felt bad for burdening him and would have apologized immediately but she still felt too tired to move.
"However, sir," Sakura heard Li continue, "despite the momentary inconvenience, walking we make, at best, three miles an hour over flat terrain, less since we are in the woods. Even if we walked all day from sun up to after sun down that isn't more than 39 miles a day and in reality its more like 28-30 including breaks for food, rest and rough terrain. So in reality she saved us three or more days of walking."
"One of which you used up waiting for her to regain consciousness, descendant of Clow," the voice reprimanded.
Sakura slowly managed to open her eyes and was turning her head towards the two conversationalists when she hears Li say, "No, because I carried her all of today. We had only been stopped for a quarter hour when you arrived."
It was hard to focus her eyes in the dark night but finally Sakura made out the figures sitting around the fire. She saw Keroberos asleep on his side and then Li who was facing.Yue! She sat up quickly and instantly regretted it, falling backwards.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo cried out rushing to her best friend's side. "You are awake!"
"I didn't see you Tomoyo!" she grinned at her friend. "I'm glad you made it! I missed you terribly. How is my family?"
"You can ask her that later, Mistress. You need to rest now." Yue leaned knelt beside her, looking at her. "Your colour is much better now though."
"Yue, thank you for bringing Tomoyo to us. How is my brother? Is he fine?"
"The Prince is doing just fine, Mistress. He was a bit worried and angry at first but I think he is resigned now."
She sighed in relief and tried to sit up again. Yue quickly reached to help her sit against the tree not to far behind her. "Thank you again." She smiled winningly at Yue who seemed taken aback a moment.
"It's nothing. I am here to check on you. And to bring Her Grace."
"Her grace? Oh Tomoyo." Sakura looked at the other girl and both began to giggle.
"I kept telling him to call me Tomoyo but he said it wasn't appropriate. Keroberos does though."
Sakura turned to Yue and her smile faded into a look of concentration. "Yue, can we speak in private a moment."
"Of course, Mistress." He picked her up and carried her a few feet away from the others before gently setting her down.
She was quiet for a minute, searching for what to say, before looking at Yue and beginning. "I've heard most of the story from Kero, but he barely mentioned himself and you and how you fit in to all of it. I know you are Yukito, but you are also Yue. Was he born to be you, or was he born at all? Will you please explain to me, Yue? I'd really like to know."
The Moon Guardian crossed his arms and looked down at her. "You probably heard that Yukito was found when he was young, seemingly to be your brother's age. When asked he said he had no parents but didn't remember why not, just that he was alone. Your mother took him in and your brother became friends with him. Eventually he became your brother's private body guard."
"Yes, I know all this."
"Well, more or less what he said was true. On the day you were born, I was unlocked from the sleep Clow had put on me. He had cast a spell, so many years ago, that when the Mistress of the Cards was born, I should be incarnated into a human being, someone who could stay close to you until you were ready. Yukito is Yukito and I am me. We are different people, but we do share the same, soul, you may say. But no, he wasn't born and you didn't steal him from a family so that he could one day be fated to be me."
"And did he know what would happen?"
"No. Well not fully and consciously. IN the past few years he had begun to suspect that he was different and that there was something beyond him that caused him to be alive. But he understands and accepts."
"I'm guessing that when you are him, or he is you, you still see and know everything that goes on, right?"
"Yes, Mistress."
"What about him?"
"We discuss back and forth, in our collective head," Yue smirked, "but, no, he doesn't know what is happening when I am in control."
"Then may I speak with him?" Sakura asked pleadingly, but politely.
"Of course, Mistress. But only for a short while, I do need to return to the castle so they may have word of you."
"Thank you, Yue." She watched silently as the Moon Guardian changed form and Yukito came back into being.
"Sakura!" he smiled. "I am glad to know you are all right."
She ran over and hugged him. When she was younger she had had a crush on him, but it soon passed and now he was the best of friends. "Yukito, I'm so glad to see you. How is Touya? Is he very angry?"
"A little bit. But otherwise he is well. As are both your parents. They send their love."
"Tell everyone I love them too and I'm fine. I don't know precisely what is going on yet, though I suspect you do," she said with a wry smile, which he nodded to, "but I'm fine."
"Okay."
She drew a long breath and then sighed, obviously fighting for words. "Yukito.I know that you love my brother, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Does being someone completely different upset that?"
Yukito looked down into the worried eyes of his princess and the closest thing he had to a sister. He kneeled down and hugged her to him.
"Don't worry about us Sakura. There is nothing that has changed so drastically. You need to worry about yourself though. You are in very great danger, even if it doesn't seem like it right now. Personally, I'm glad that I can be one of the people who protects you. Touya is too, I think. So don't worry."
She nodded, tears in her eyes. "I think we should return to the group before they think we ran off or something."
Sakura grinned infectiously and tried to stand. Some of her strength had come back but she was still wobbly enough to need Yukito's help to reach the fire. Tomoyo hurried to her and helped her sit by the fire. Li handed her food and demanded that she eat.
Keroberos woke enough to say farewell to Yue. "If you hear anything, come to us, Yue. We'll need it most likely."
"Of course, Keroberos. Take care of our mistress."
"Hoe. Yue, Kero, can you please just call me Sakura? I'd rather be your friend than your mistress."
"Of course, Sakura," the both replied, smiling softly. Yue waved goodbye one last time before flying off.
"He's terribly handsome, isn't he Tomoyo?"
"Y-yes, he is. And he hugged me to him the whole time we were flying!"
They looked at each other and giggled. Li, who had heard the stories about how the young princess had fallen in love with his fellow body guard, suddenly felt ten times grumpier than he had been a moment before.
"I can't carry you all day tomorrow, Princess, so eat and get rest," he growled.
"O-okay, Li. I'm sorry you had to carry me. It won't happen again, I swear!" she looked at him pleadingly but he brushed her off and walked towards the small river they had set up camp near. "I'm going to take a bath. Then I'm going to bed, it's late."
Everyone watched as he walked away.
Sakura sighed. "Hoe. I keep inconveniencing him. No wonder he hates me."
Tomoyo looked at her friend with sparkling eyes. "Oh I don't think he hates you, Sakura. He's probably just tired."
"I hope so." Sakura finished her meal in silence and helped Tomoyo lay out another pallet beside hers and they both went to bed before Li returned.
Sakura lay awake for awhile, watching where Li had stormed off earlier. She listened to the deep measured breathing of her two companions and wondered how long this trip would be, and why Li didn't just leave her and go home on his own. Probably because of his training, she thought, he can't just leave if he wants to finish his training. Maybe when we get to his home I can convince them that this time was enough of an effort and pain for him for them to consider it like two years.
As if her thoughts conjured him up, Li came through the brush, topless, with a towel around his neck and his brown hair wet and tussled. In the dying light of the fire he looked incredibly handsome to Sakura. He went to his own bedding and laid down looking up at the stars for a moment before drifting off himself.
Of course, thought the princess before she fell asleep, I think I like having him around.
?
"So let me see if I remember correctly, Kero. The second most powerful Cards are the Element Cards: Windy, Watery, Firey and Earthy. Then the two most powerful Cards are Light and Dark. That's it right?"
"Yes, that's it. Now name which of those Cards follow me and which follow Yue."
They had been traveling for three day's since Tomoyo arrived. The day before they had passed through a village but didn't stop because it was still only early morning and Li pressed on. No body argued too much and they only stayed long enough to refresh their supplies and fill their water bags.
Mostly on the road Sakura and Tomoyo kept up an idle conversation to brighten their spirits, but the incident with Fly had opened the princess' eyes and she was now determined more than ever to quickly and efficiently master her new Powers. Thus, everyday for at least a couple hours, she and Kero would go over the basics. She hadn't tried anything out since Fly, and was slightly afraid to, honestly.
But Li and Kero assured her that as long as she understood what she was doing and didn't take too many risks they she would be fine. Nonetheless, she practiced.
"Now, Light follows you and Dark follows Yue. Also you have Firey and Earthy while Yue has Windy and Watery."
"Very good. It is important that you understand the nature of the Card before you use it. Card's like Illusion, Mirror and Shadow, or things that alter perception, are Card's that Yue, the Moon rules over. "Card's that are more straight forward like, Power, Dash and Fight, usually attack Cards, are ruled by me, the Sun. Over time you will understand this instinctively but for now it will help you realize how they can be used."
She nodded, trying to absorb the information. Lost in her thoughts, Sakura jumped when Li put his hand on her shoulder.
"We are stopping for the night, princess. There is a small pool, probably from an aquifer, over that way. You can bathe there if you want."
"Thank you, Li." She walked off distractedly, unaware of the eyes of her companions which focused on her.
"She's quite determined to master years' worth of information and tutelage in only a few days. Mistress is quite determined."
Li nodded in assent as he began to set up camp. "But she is still afraid of the Power. Do you think she can do it?"
"Of course she can, it's Sakura," Tomoyo instantly chimed in without a doubt in her voice. "No matter what she tries, if she sets her mind to it she accomplishes it, and quickly."
"She DID master the Key and Wand rather quickly," Kero ceded. "But until she masters her fear of the Power, it doesn't matter how quick and good a learner she is."
"She will." Tomoyo smiled and trailed off after her friend.
Li watched after her for a moment before gathering wood for a fire. "Those two are very devoted to each other."
"Maybe too much on Tomoyo's side," the Sun Guardian yawned before flitting about in search for food.
Li looked at him oddly but merely shrugged. The stuffed animal said all sorts of weird things. Li didn't know if he should be impressed by observation or irritated that he was being idiotic. Instead he did neither and set out food for the girls to eat when they returned.
Sakura and Tomoyo came back hand in hand and laughing. It was a sweet sound that no one ever tired of hearing but it quickly died when she saw that the fire hadn't been lit. For a moment she was confused then she realized that they had been waiting for her.
"Mistress, Sakura, will you please light the fire?"
"Hoe.are we out of flint?" she asked almost pleadingly.
"Please, Sakura," Tomoyo smiled. "I want to see your magic. I haven't been able to witness any at all yet."
Sakura looked at her dear friend and finally sighed in resignation. She unlooped the ribbon around her neck and held it out. Steadily she recited the chant and Tomoyo watched in wonder as light shot up around her and the winds began to stir, encircling Sakura as if she were the only being present. When it all died down Sakura once again held the 'Wand' and reached into her pocket to pull out a Card. For a moment she grew still then she threw it calmly into the air and shouted, "Firey!"
From the light above Sakura a strange looking figure flew out and turned to look at his new Mistress, as if measuring her up for a moment. Then he bowed slightly and lit the logs before returning to his Card form.
Tomoyo almost shrieked with pleasure.
"That was amazing, Sakura! I've never seen something so amazing."
Sakura nodded vaguely then watched, almost unseeingly as the Wand shrank down in her hand again and she looped it around her neck once more. "Kero, did Clow create the Cards or did he just trap spirit's that already existed into them."
"Why do you ask?" he said as he stuffed a muffin he had stolen from the village into his mouth.
"Because they seem so.alive, so real. More like I am letting them free and then capturing them again rather than accessing their Power."
Kero seemed to think for a moment, wondering what to say precisely. "The Cards are in their way alive, yes. That's why when you touch them they have a presence. But no, he created them on his own and you are actually RE- creating them yourself when you use them. That first night you gave up a lot of energy, but just enough to change them most basically into your own Cards, to use your own magic on them. But now, every time you use a new one, you are finishing what you started, giving them more magic and letting them know you. But the more you change the less tired you will be every time."
"Oh? Why?"
"Well, every time you give the Card some of your magic it triggers more of your Power to awaken and replace what you just lost, like growing more ready magic. But then, when the Card turns back into a Card, some of the magic you use comes back. "That little bit at first wont make a difference to your energy loss, but as your Power awakens more and starts producing more and more magic, it starts to balance out, leaving you just as you were before. Provided you do not strain yourself so much you affect your Power directly. Do you understand?"
She nodded slowly, and then grinned. "Thank you, Kero!" She hugged the small guardian to her tightly and swung him around in a circle before stumbling a bit and sitting heavily on the ground.
"Idiot. You just heard all that about losing some energy after you change a Card then you start dancing. Here, eat." Li shoved a small loaf of bread and some cuts of the ham they had bought to her and stalked away. "I'm going to go bathe. I suggest you get some sleep, princess, Tomoyo. There is a village coming nearby but we won't get there until late at night."
Sakura shrugged at ate her food. Slowly she was beginning to get used to Li's seemingly harsh ways. She was realizing that the more brusque he was the more worried or concerned he was feeling. Some how the idea that he was concerned for her made her smile, though she didn't know why.
Tomoyo watched the small smile appear on her friend's mouth and glanced off towards the small pond. In the three day's since she had joined them she quickly noticed how often Li glanced at the princess and how often she could be seen with a small smile on her face after he had said something to her.
Leaning over she whispered, "He looks quite nice when he comes back from his baths doesn't he?"
Unabashedly, Sakura nodded. They had often discussed how nice the men around them looked. However, lately it seemed like Li had far surpassed everyone else, aside of maybe Touya or Yue. "His hair is all wet and he's topless."
The girls giggled loudly, causing to look at them curiously.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing that you would find amusing, Keroberos," Tomoyo smiled.
"Nope. You'd probably yell at us, Kero."
"Yell at you about what?" Li asked as he stepped back into the circle around the fire. He was, predictably, topless and his hair was dripping with excess water. When the girls looked at him they immediately glanced at each other and burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Li looked vaguely disconcerted before he looked down at himself and guessed, accurately, what they were thinking. Blushing bright red he hurried to pull a clean shirt on. "Er, I think I'll sleep now. Please bank the fire before you fall asleep."
They nodded, laughing harder from his embarrassed expression. Eventually they stopped and wiped the tears from their eyes in a satisfied way. "Poor, Li. I think we scared him."
"I think so, Sakura. Anyway, he's right we should get to bed. If you bank the fire I'll finish setting up our bedding and put the food away."
"Okay," the princess said looking at the fire, which was still going strong.
Closing her eyes she concentrated and could feel the remnants of magic, feeding into the fire. Intuitively she knew that it would take magic to beat out this magic and resignedly drew out the Key. She tried to remain quiet, just in case Li had really fallen asleep, but even whispering couldn't stop the bright flashes of light which caused him to sit up and look at her curiously.
"Watery!" she whispered forcefully. The spritely figure formed from the Card and circled her twice, an almost fierce grin on its face, before it rushed to the fire and quickly extinguished it. Before it turned back into a Card, Watery looked at the Card Mistress and bowed slightly, just as Firey and Windy had done. Then in a few long blue wisps it was gone and into a Card again.
Sakura tucked it back into her pocket with the rest of them and returned the Key around her neck before wobbling unsteadily to her bedding. Li watched her concernedly until he heard her breathing slow into even steady breaths. Only then did he allow himself to sleep.
But in sleep, Li Xiao Lang found himself dreaming about a pair of beautiful green eyes.
?
"Um, princess, there is something you need to know if you aren't already aware of it. And I'm sure you already are but maybe you need reminding."
"What is it Li?" she asked, looking at him unblinkingly.
For a moment Li lost his train of thought then brought himself back to the matter at hand. "Your eyes."
"What about them?"
"Only royalty and highest nobility have green eyes, princess. Everyone knows this. In fact every time a commoner is born with hazel eyes leaning towards green there is much rejoicing and belief that they will go far in life."
Sakura leaned her head to one side in consideration. "I think I heard that once. It's the reason why nobody really objected when my father married my mother when she was so young. She had amazingly green eyes, still does." She smiled.
Li thought that the queen's were nothing when compared with her daughters but didn't voice it out loud. Instead he merely intoned, "Then you won't object when I tell you that under all circumstances you have to look down and keep your hood of your cloak up."
She frowned. "But why? It's not like my own people are going to hurt me are they? I have never heard that anyone had issues with me or my father's policies."
"That may be so, but, Princess, try to remember that you are fleeing for your life."
"I know that, Li. Don't say it like I'm a simpleton." Sakura was getting increasingly irritated. First he told her she had to be rude, or act like some kind of slave, and then he implied she was stupid or forgetful.
Li sighed and counted to ten, watching as Kero and Tomoyo carried on a bright conversation a few paces ahead of them. "Princess, I am not trying to insult you or your people. I merely meant that with people pursuing us, they may ask if anyone had seen the princess in the villages. They may even try to hurt people to get information. But with your green eyes and fair looks you are easily recognizable. It is best that the villagers didn't know you were even in town rather than having to hide it later."
The princess sighed but saw his point, no matter how much it went against the grain. She had been raised as royalty and had been taught pride and self-assurance were key to being a good ruler one day. But hiding her eyes and her presence made her feel like she was ashamed of whom she was. However, she merely nodded her head and turned to look at the countryside in the fading light.
Li regretted the conversation. He knew that she was proud and would hate hiding but he knew that there was no other alternative. He was thinking only of her life and the well being of her people. With a sigh he searched for idle conversation, something to distract her. Finally he came upon something.
"The first week I came to you, you and the prince went to classes together, what were they?"
Sakura looked at him for a moment, searchingly, and then realized what he meant. "Oh, those were training classes."
"Training for what?"
"And you imply that I'm a simpleton," she giggled. "It's training for inheriting the throne so that we can rule well."
"But why both of you?" he asked genuinely curious now. There had always only been one person to go through such training in his Clan and had never heard of a tradition like this.
"Well, most people don't realize it because there is usually only one King or Queen during someone's life time, but the line for the throne doesn't go from father to son, or even from ruler to oldest child. Instead all children are taught how to rule as if they were the sole heir. That way if one of them wants to do something aside of rule the country, which does happen, they aren't burdened with the responsibility of having to inherit the throne because there is someone else who already knows everything they know."
Li listened to her fascinated. It made sense the way she said it. But it also made him feel a little saddened. His own family did not follow this way of thinking and he and his entire family had suffered for it in their own ways.
"But," she continued, unaware of his inner turmoil, "say if neither Touya nor I want to separate ourselves from our duty, well then it would be an argument over who inherited. This happened many years ago and the people were worried that war would break out between the royal siblings in their battle for who got the throne.
"However, being of sound mind, they devised a way of settling it between themselves that could also be used if such a thing happened again. The three of them asked their long time tutors to devise a test that covered logic, economics, justice and law, as well as protocol, all subjects essential to a good ruler. The prince who passed with highest marks inherited the throne and the other two kicked themselves for not studying harder but went their separate ways."
"So that is what will happen when your father dies, hopefully many years from now."
"With two notable exceptions, yes."
"Oh, what are those?"
"If mother conceives a child and father dies before it is born and by little brother or sister survives birth, then mother would inherit the throne until either her own death or the child is old enough to take the test with us. The other is if Touya or I died before my father did."
Li swallowed hard at the idea of the princess dying; something which she spoke about so casually. Shaking away his irrational response he asked, "Who do you think will inherit? Pass the test I mean?"
"To be perfectly honest I'm not sure there will be a test," she sighed.
"Why?" he inquired wondering if she herself was going to give up her throne. The idea strangely both pleased and saddened him at once. Li was beginning to worry about the weird emotions he was always having and tried to ignore them.
"I don't think Touya wants to rule particularly. He'd be a great King but he is in love with someone who cannot legally sit beside him on the throne. Besides he has always been more of a fighter and protector than a ruler. I think he'd make a good general." The princess looked away from Li, thinking about her older brother and Yukito who were suffering because of her and, in a way, each other. But she knew they were happy.
Li, himself, grew quiet in thought. He wondered what was so unacceptable about the prince's chosen partner that made it impossible for them to marry. Maybe he was in love with a commoner, or maybe a foreigner. Maybe someone from his own Clan. But then did that make him also unacceptable? The idea shook him hard but he couldn't really tell why and they continued the journey in silence until they reached the small village.
When they were a little more than half a mile from the marked boundary of the village, the group stopped to assess the situation. It was dark, probably ten or later, and no matter how small, any village could mean thieves. To be safe they decided to give all the money to Li who was, obviously, the most intimidating one of the group. He kept it separate but tucked it away in unobvious places. While he did that Tomoyo looked at Sakura.
"I think you need to change, Sakura. That dress is a bit too fine for a commoner or even someone with a little more money to have. Did you bring the short white one?"
Sakura nodded and looked through her bag. At last she pulled out a dress and handed the bag and her cloak to Tomoyo. "I'll change behind that tree. No peeking!" she giggled, causing Li to blush and turn away and Tomoyo's eyes to sparkle.
A few minutes later she emerged in a deceptively simple white dress that reached just above her knees. It also differed from her usual pattern with quarter length sleeves that belled out a little. In reality the dress was still too nice for who they were pretending to be, but it was less noticeably so. Quickly she donned her storm grey cloak and drew the hood over her face.
Li frowned for a moment before leading them towards the village. They made their way quickly through the streets and at last came upon a small inn. It didn't seem too crowded and when they asked for two rooms the innkeeper just smiled and said, "Sure, loves. That'll be three gold pieces."
Li nodded and handed them to her quickly. "We would also like a meal before we go to bed. Is that inconvenient for you, mistress, or is there something readily available?"
"I'm sure I can find something still warm for you dears. You are so young to be traveling so late. I hope there is nothing the matter."
"Nothing, mistress. We are just traveling to his home. It is far in the east so we try to keep walking to lessen the travel time." Tomoyo smiled at her.
"Why are you traveling so far? If I may ask?" the innkeeper asked as she led them to a table where they could sit comfortably and rest their weary bones.
"My friends here are getting married and they wish to have his family at the ceremony since hers passed away some time ago."
Li nearly choked on the water he was drinking but nodded. "My mother demanded the right to welcome her to the family."
Sakura nodded stiffly and glanced at Tomoyo who was smiling serenely. But then, Sakura thought smiling, Tomoyo did always lie like the devil.
"A wedding! So young too! Well, on that account, why don't you stay here another day. There is a lovely store here where you can buy silks and satins to make wedding dresses. Too fine for most, but I'm sure for your wedding you can manage."
The two girls looked at Li hopefully, since both of them were tired of sleeping on hard ground and hoped that maybe they could pretend things were normal for a few hours.
Rolling his eyes, Li nodded. "I'm sure they will put the time to good use."
"That's wonderful, loves. Now, I'll be right back with some foodstuff for you to eat. Plenty of it too since your lovely bride looks so thin, almost as if she were to waste away."
Sakura shook her head. "I'm fine, mistress. Just a little tired."
"Whatever you say, deary. Now just give me a moment."
After she had safely entered the kitchen and left hearing range, Li turned to Tomoyo with awe. "Daidouji you are the smoothest liar I have ever met. But why that story?"
"She seemed like a romantic. Besides Sakura and I were both hoping you would let us stay here for another day and night since we are so tired. This way we have a plausible story for being here that they can tell anybody who asks without rising suspicions. After all why would anyone care about two people getting married when there is a princess to chase?"
Li nodded and sipped his water. "But, why getting married, Tomoyo?" Sakura asked shyly without looking at Li.
"I thought it was appropriate," she smiled as the innkeeper came back. As they watched the mistress place all the food before them Sakura figured she knew better than to ask what Tomoyo had meant by that and Li wasn't quite sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"Now, dears, you finish this up and go straight up the stairs until you end at the hallway. Unfortunately I could only get you one room but it has too beds and a couch if you need it. But I figure that since you are getting married and all it won't matter sharing a room, especially with a lady friend with you two." She smiled. "Oh and you will be staying here tomorrow night too?"
"Yes, mistress," Li answered.
"Then I'll keep the second room's fee for tomorrow as well and for dinner. Enjoy yourselves and get to sleep."
The three watched as the innkeeper exited the dining area to go back to the main desk. When they were sure she was gone, Sakura dug Kero from her bag and invited him to eat some. The food was good and all of them ate more than their fill before heading upstairs. Li unlocked the door and lit the hall candle to the one just inside the room, revealing two nice sized beds and a small looking couch.
"You two sleep on the beds, I'll take the couch." His voice was more than a little resigned and it was obvious that he wanted a bed as much as they did but was too much of a gentleman to demand one.
"No, Li. Take one of the beds. They are large enough that Tomoyo and I can share one. Right, Tomoyo?"
"Mm-hmm. We've done it many times before, Li. Besides you need a soft bed as much as we do and if we get uncomfortable I can take the couch since it's been less time that I've had to sleep on the ground."
Li looked at the two girls and sighed in relief. Quickly he stripped off his shirt, not even remembering the way the girls had reacted the night before and crashed into the bed.
"Li?" Sakura asked softly.
"Hmm?" he groaned in return.
"Nothing important, but what is that you wear around your neck?" She took off her cloak and set it over the couch while Tomoyo removed her upper layer of clothes.
He didn't even turn to look at her but answered almost through the pillow. "It's my sword. You've seen it a few times I know."
"Oh, I didn't know it was a magic sword. Okay, I'm sorry for bothering you. Sweet dreams!"
She watched as Li's breathing evened and looked at Tomoyo who smiled. They took turns braiding each other's long hair so it wouldn't get tangled while they slept and blew out the candle. Tomoyo climbed into bed quickly but Sakura hesitated, finally going to Li and pulling his blanket up and over him.
Li felt her soft hands on his bare flesh and bare suppressed a small shiver. This bare slip of a girl who thought about everyone and kept forgetting about herself, this girl who was absolutely amazing, learning to tumble, spout politics and wield the greatest source of Power, she was making him act so differently than he had before and he didn't know why. Nor did he really want to know. He was sure that in that answer there was a mountain of trouble.