Look, I'm updating! ^.^
Thanks to all those who reviewed! I love you people .seriously!
Anyway, to answer questions:
First and fore most, this IS an SS pairing. It just has to get there. And no it is not, unless something miraculous occurs, an ET pairing. I'm keeping it as close to the original as possible.
Also, no the Big Bad (Buffy quote!) is not related to Li.
Oh and I tried something new with my formatting, Hopefully it will work. If it doesn't I'll repost it as soon as I find that out.
Disclaimer: I Do not own CCS. But I'm over it now. Took a while.*sniff*
Chapter Seven: Mistaken Words and Tired Princess
"Well it's official Tomoyo. I have no more clean clothing. That I can wear to travel in at least."
The girls were about to take a long bath in the stream nearby the campsite they had started. Bedding was already laid out, food had been eaten but the girls needed to be clean. Yet, traveling for weeks could severely diminish the amount of wearable clothing.
"Why don't you use Bubble?" a smooth voice asked them calmly.
"What did you say Eriol?" Sakura asked, turning to face him.
"He said to use Bubble," Kero chimed in. "Before I could tell you to, too! Hmph! Bubble is a Card of cleaning. You can even use it on yourself if you needed to."
"Oh so I can clean all our clothes? Yatta!" Sakura quickly pulled out the clothes from her pack. Eriol stared in wonder as she pulled out a surprising number of dresses for such a small bag that also contained a large book and a few cooking supplies. It was true that they had been using Little on the bedding for the past week or more but still, she didn't use Big to bring the dresses out.
"Tomoyo give me your clothes too, and Li give me yours, as well as the shirt and cloak you're wearing now. Obviously not your pants but," she shrugged. She was facing away from Li as she spoke and thus didn't realize that he wasn't paying any attention to her. She didn't notice at all until after she had gathered everyone's, including Eriol's, clothing except for his.
"Li, give me your dirty clothes. Li? Li!" Finally exasperated she grabbed his bag for him and pulled out the cloths, tossing them to Tomoyo who added them to the large pile on the spread out bedding. When she was done she looked at Li again.
"Li, take off your clothes!" she yelled finally.
He jumped and turned to face her and blushed furiously. She was obviously serious and impatient, kneeling in front of him, hands between her knees and leaning close to where his ear at been. He looked around furiously and only found Daidouji standing to one side covering her mouth and laughing evilly while the sourcerer smirked in amusement.
"I-I," he stuttered.
"Come on, Li, it isn't that hard! Give me your cloak and shirt so I can wash them!" Sakura sighed. When he didn't seem to be moving any time soon she reached forward to untie the string that tied his cloak around his neck. Li jumped back and looked at her with wide eyes. Did she want him undressed that badly? Then her words sank in.
"My-oh," he said, realization dawning at last, much to the dismay of Tomoyo. "Sure," he mumbled as he pulled off his shirt, hoping it would cover his furious blushes.
"Thank you," the princess smiled as she took his clothes from him. "You should get some sleep, Li. I'll bring your clothes back when I'm done with my bath so don't worry. But you are really out of it so sleep."
He nodded, still looking down and watched out of the corner of his eye as the Card Mistress pulled out Bubble and set it to work. He didn't look up at all until the two girls were safely out of sight. When he did glance around he immediately found Hiiragizawa looking at him in barely contained amusement, also sitting shirtless.
"Shut up," Li muttered glaring at him.
Eriol merely held up his hands in silent surrender but still looked thoroughly amused.
The girls, meanwhile, were having a splendid time bathing for the first time in a few days. The water was a bit cold but Sakura used Fiery to warm it up without making it boil and Tomoyo brought lavender soap. It was pure bliss. As they bathed they giggled and scrubbed they chatted back and forth.
"Eriol and Li definitely look handsome without their shirts on, don't they Sakura?" Tomoyo slyly insinuated, looking at Sakura out of the corner of her eye.
"Hmm," Sakura blushed. "They do don't they? So much manly chest to look at," she giggled.
Both girls were blushing furiously, but they were, after all, girls of that age.
"It reminds me of that time when we slipped onto the balcony that looks over the training grounds. Touya looked really well without his shirt on," Tomoyo said dreamily.
"Ew, that's my brother!" the princess nearly shrieked.
"Well, you didn't mind looking at Yukito and you call him a brother now."
"He's still not blood related. But the rest of them still looked nice too."
"What do you say we don't dry off the boy's shirts until last?" Tomoyo laughed.
"Sounds like an excellent idea, your grace."
"Why thank you, your highness."
"You said that you wanted to learn other magic from me as well, Sakura," Eriol intoned as he watched the princess carefully dry each of the clothing one by one with Windy. She had even dried her own clothes like that, sitting by the fire with wet hair and only a towel wrapped around her. The sourcerer didn't know what he wanted to look at more: the beautiful princess looking like a goddess, barely clothed, or the look on Li Xiao Lang's face as he watched her, shifting from awe to longing and to protectiveness back and forth until she slipped off to dress.
But now she was dry, clothed and answering his statement.
"I do wish to learn more. I just don't know where to start. I want to learn so much! I feel so foolish now." She blushed slightly, unaware of the fact that the seemingly simple process of washing and drying her clothes was far beyond what many could do, even blessed with the Power.
"Well, why don't I do this. While I am journeying with you, instead of teaching you spells, I will write them for you to learn later, at your own pace. That way not only will you not have to try to learn them while walking and unable to concentrate fully on the spell you are learning. Also that will leave time for you to perfect working with your aura and a few other things I can teach you more easily. Well that and we can converse and get to know one another better instead of only speaking of magic."
She nodded then frowned. "But what if I have problems learning those things you write down for me?"
"I'm sure Li and his family will help you if you need it. They are Powerful themselves. Especially this Li," he said looking at the figure who was pretending to sleep to one side.
"Wow, Li is that Powerful? He never told me!" The princess frowned at the shadow behind her but looked back at Eriol quickly. "However, that sounds fine. Oh, wait. What will you write on?"
"I have paper and ink, Sakura." Tomoyo, who had been sitting quietly to one side of camp for some time now reached in her bag and pulled out blank paper and ink. She gave it to Eriol who received it with a smile.
"Hoe, you are doing it again aren't you Tomoyo?" the brunette cried.
"Sakura is just too cute!" the raven haired beauty replied with a laugh.
"What are you talking about?" Eriol asked confusedly.
"Don't show him, Tomoyo!"
"Sakura, that is no fun! Here, you may look, Eriol." She held the book she had been writing in to him and he took it carefully.
Sakura, who was finally finished with the clothes and was repacking her own, sighed and shook her head mournfully. "Are you going to archive until I die, Tomoyo?"
"I hope so," her friend replied with sparkling eyes.
Eriol looked at the book curiously. Inside he found carefully done ink drawings of the princess. Some were done in coloured ink but most were black and all of them were so precise that they almost looked real. He looked and noticed that on the back of each picture there were descriptions of the scene they captured. He admired Tomoyo's precise memory which managed to record exact dialogue in many cases.
Towards the end he noticed a few more recent events. One was obviously the first time the princes and Li had met. Another two or three portrayed the new Mistress as she unleashed the Cards. The latest one she was working on, however, made him laugh out loud.
"Oh, what is she drawing now?" Sakura sighed as she packed up Tomoyo's and Li's bags as well.
"The conversation you and Li had earlier, Sakura." He looked to Tomoyo. "One day I will have to ask how you managed to make his face look so red without red ink."
"Trade secret," she replied with twitching lips.
The next night Li heard shuffling noises long after everyone was supposed to be asleep. The noises were coming from where the princess had been asleep and so he started to turn towards the noises until he realized he knew that sound, the sound of someone changing clothes. His cheeks flushed red and he kept his position, remembering the night before all too well. He had no clue why the princess was changing her clothes in the middle of the night when she should be sleeping and getting rest, but he wasn't about to ask her.
Soon the noises stopped and the camp grew quiet again. The young body guard allowed himself to drift off into sleep, missing the fact that the noises had stopped because the princess had left.
Sakura picked her way carefully through the woods thankful for the one outfit she had hidden from everyone that allowed her to move so easily. The further and further east they traveled the more wooded area's they came upon, the more hill's they had to climb. When she thought she was far enough away, the young girl looked around and found a clearing large enough for her use. She pulled out a Card and cast it into the air.
"Fight!"
The Card whirled around in swirls of magic until at last a new figure stood in front of her. The white figure wore her long white hair in oblong buns on her head and the only colour to the woman at all was the blue outfit she wore. It looked her up and down carefully, measuringly, then bowed in respect. She then rose to a fight stance.
Sakura bowed in return. "Please, help me learn."
"Sakura, what is that bruise on your face from?" Tomoyo asked concernedly. The Card Mistress was very relieved that the discolouration on her face was the only visible sign of what she had done the night before. Of course, all her other aches and bruises were covered by her long dress and cloak.
"It's nothing Tomoyo. I just stumbled last night when I went to ahem, relieve myself last night. I didn't see a root on the ground and tripped and hit my face." She smiled. "I'm sure it will be gone by tomorrow."
Tomoyo nodded, though looked at her friend curiously.
"In the meantime, Sakura, why don't we continue our lessons?" Eriol inquired.
"I'd love that Eriol. I think I can almost hide my aura now. Not the most impressive thing I know but," she broke off shrugging.
Eriol and Li marveled silently, and separately, at how quickly the new Card Mistress was learning her magic. She had unheard of adaptive abilities and could control things easily that others couldn't spend years learning to do. It was awing, most especially since she thought it was nothing.
They spent the day traveling easily. Sakura spent time talking with everyone, though most usually Kero who flitted around her at all times. Even more she didn't just have small talk, she had serious conversations with everyone. She was learning all about Eriol and where he had been, what he had done. Tomoyo was talking about new ideas she had for outfits and how she would buy more cloth in the next town so that the princess could have warmer clothes.
But Li never said much. He spent most of his time avoiding questions about himself. However eventually he conceded that he lived with his four elder sisters, his mother and that his father had died when he was still a very young child.
"Four sisters?" Sakura gasped. "Hoe.I can't imagine that many. Are they like you?" she asked curiously.
"No!" he nearly growled. "They are so annoying. They squeal and giggle and get all into everything I'm doing." He let out a sigh of exasperation. Then he smirked in amusement. "Heaven help you when they see you."
"Huh? What does that mean, Li?" she asked curiously.
But the only reply she got from him was a satisfied smirk. Suddenly Sakura felt very uneasy about going to Li's home. However, she realized that it was Li's home and that he wouldn't take her anywhere she wasn't safe. At least, she thought not. Hoped not. "Hoe.."
"Sakura, Eriol tells me that the next village is only another day away. He's been there too and says that we can buy fabrics." Tomoyo's eyes were glimmering with glee. "I can make more outfits for Sakura and then draw her in them!" She walked away with a starry eyed look and was firmly planted in her own little world.
Li and Sakura looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
The next week and a half passed calmly. Tomoyo bought fabrics and astonished the boys with how quickly she finished her creations and with how detailed they still were. The days were spent more and more quietly as the terrain got harder and harder to cross. The princess had quickly become a master at not only hiding her aura but being able to sense aura's long distance and was learning some ability at sensing other's thoughts, which she really objected to actually since she figured they were personal property and none of her business.
Most interestingly though was the Card Mistress herself. Kero was the first to comment on how tired she was looking the past few days and did so loudly.
"Sakura, you look like you've been fighting a war! You've already changed enough Cards that the slow rate of change you have been at now shouldn't affect you like this. What's the matter?" The Sun Guardian was obviously very concerned but Sakura brushed him off. "I'm just not sleeping that well, Kero. It's hard to get used to all the roots we have to sleep on now." She smiled and changed the subject. But more bruises appeared and she was looking more and more tired as the days passed. Finally, after a week of denial, Li stopped at the village he had originally meant to just pass through. She wouldn't tell them what the matter was but it was obvious she needed sleep and a soft bed at an inn would do well for at least a night.
When Li broke the news to the travelers everyone was relieved and a little happy.
"PUDDING! I can eat PUDDING again!" Kero chanted as he flew in excited circles. His insatiable appetite had been shoved aside during the past week since they all knew it would be a while before they could buy rations again. But now he was ecstatic.
"Yes, yes, Kero, I'll buy you some pudding. Just quiet down a little, okay?"
"Yes, Sakura." He grinned and continued to fly around silently mouthing PUDDING!
Sakura grinned at everyone else, the first full fledged grin with heart behind it in a week or more. In her heart she knew she should confess why she had been so tired and so bruised, but she wanted to do this on her own. She wanted to surprise everyone. So she kept her silence and was gladdened a little for her sore aching muscles that they got a night's rest from the strain they had been receiving.
Li led the way to an inn and paid for two rooms, all that was available. Tomoyo immediately went to shop for various things and Eriol settled in at a table in the dining area and began to write spells for Sakura to learn. Sakura herself was too tired to do either and agreed when Li suggested she go to bed.
"Wake me up in time to eat will you Li?" she asked with a yawn.
"Yes, pr- Sakura. Just get some rest."
She looked at him oddly. He had always refused to call her by her first name so ardently and he used it almost in passing then. But she was too tired to think about it and too exhausted to realize that they were in a public place that could very well tell their location to the enemy. Instead she tiredly carried her belongings up the stairs and settled into her bed. The princess was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
Li glanced at the sourcerer, hard at work in his writing, with distaste and distrust. He didn't feel comfortable with leaving only Hiiragizawa to watch over the princess but he needed to get supplies. They would only be there for the single night and he wanted to get it out of the way before dark. Finally with a sigh he resigned to be quick with his business and that so far the man had showed no signs of wanting to harm her. Quite the opposite in fact.
Li growled but left the inn, while Eriol watched in amusement. The bodyguard was long gone before Eriol returned to writing down the spells he knew the young sourceress would need to use in the coming days. He was also, in his mind, arguing whether to let Li claim the princess he so unwittingly adored or if he should stake his own claim. Ah, but that was for later to decide. Instead he returned to his work and smiled to himself.
"Sakura.Sakura.SA-KU-RA!" Kero shouted.
His Mistress instantly sat up straight in bed, searching for the fire or impeding doom. "What? What's the matter? Are we being attacked?"
Kero rolled his eyes. "The brat told me to wake you up. It's time for food! And you owe me pudding!" His eyes grew big and teary as he gave the perfect puppy dog look.
Sakura laughed and gave her Guardian a hug. "Come on Kero. I'll buy you your pudding. But you have to behave in the dining room okay?"
"PUDDING!" he cried with glee.
"Promise?" the princess asked again.
"Yes, my favourite person Sakura."
The princess was still laughing over the antics of her pesky little guardian when she entered the dining area. Her party looked at her surprised, having not heard the tinkling laughter for some time. Unconsciously, everyone relaxed just a little when they saw how rested she looked. Tomoyo raced over to her friend and pulled on her hand.
"Sakura, Sakura I have news! I have a surprise for you!"
"What, what?" the brunette asked, giggling at her friend.
"You'll have to wait. Only a few more minutes I think. However come eat while you wait. You look famished."
"I am!" she laughed. Sakura obediently followed her best friend to the table where Li and Eriol were already seated. Eriol immediately rose and pulled out the chair between himself and Li for her to use. While most girls would be nervous or flattered, Sakura, being a princess and used to such behavior, merely thanked him and looked at the food.
Eriol seemed a bit put out that his romantic effort had basically gone unnoticed and didn't miss the look of amused smugness that radiated from Li. Yet, he managed to ignore it admirably and sat himself down. Unconsciously, everyone waited for Sakura to take the first bite before eating themselves. Whether it was out of respect or to just make sure that she was eating at all, it couldn't be said. Whatever the reason, the action didn't go unnoticed by a pair of blue eyes sitting across the way.
The group of four dined casually and talked about various things, none of them particularly important, for near half and hour. The whole time they were observed. Most of all, the stranger kept his eyes on the beautiful woman with honey gold hair and emerald green eyes. She captivated him, for more reasons than one. After some time, he himself was finished eating and realized that he would have to leave soon or else be commented upon. As he exited the small inn he passed by a couple on their way in. He would have been curious to see where the couple were headed but was gone before they reached their party.
"Chiharu!" Sakura gasped. In an instant she was on her feet and hugging her dear friend.
The girl with brown hair tied on either side with blue ribbons to match her dress and chocolate eyes squealed with delight herself. "Sakura, it's been so long since I've seen you! You would believe the surprise I felt when I ran into Tomoyo in a cloth shop."
"I can believe it!" The princess looked behind her childhood friend and noticed the boy who accompanied her. He had dark hair and for some peculiar reason his eyes were closed. "Who is this, Chiharu?"
The girl gasped. "I almost forgot. This is Takashi Yamazaki. He's the reason I left the Capitol."
"Really?" Tomoyo and Sakura asked in unison.
Li stood up, calling attention to himself for the first time since the two entered the room. Both looked startled and for a moment couldn't speak. Finally, Yamazaki broke the silence.
"Li, what are you doing here? I thought you were training!"
"Does your mother know you are here?" Chiharu questioned.
Sakura and Tomoyo looked at Li then back at their friend and her.friend. "Li, you know them?"
With a smirk, Li nodded. "Yeah, I know them. Have you eaten, Mihara, Yamazaki?" They nodded. "Why don't we all go up to the girls room then? I'll explain everything from there."
Everyone agreed and Li led the way while the three girls trailed at the back, giggling over the way they all looked now and how funny things were that they met like that. There wasn't much room in the two bed compartment so everyone was forced to squish together. Everyone that is, except for Li, who looked much more commanding than usual.
Li began to explain the situation to Chiharu and Yamazaki. He was succinct and precise. He didn't leave out much but he also didn't embellish. After a quarter hour of talking the two were brought up to speed on what was going on and were staring at Sakura in awe.
"H-hoe. stop staring at me. It's unnerving."
"But, your highness, you are the Card Mistress. That is pretty amazing," Yamazaki said, looking serious.
Tomoyo frowned. "I thought that only the Li family knew about the Cards. How come Yamazaki does?"
Chiharu giggled. "Again, this is the reason why I left the Capitol. So let me explain, Li." The boy nodded. "Now, you should both remember that my family estate is not too far away from the Li lands. Because of that I grew up with Yamazaki here. Now, while I was raised in the Capitol, I still would spend summers at my estate so I got to know Yamazaki more and well," she started blushing.
Yamazaki rolled his eyes. "She fell madly in love with me and three years ago when I asked her to come with me she came. Once there we proceeded to unite our love and.." He stopped when Chiharu began to strangle him.
"Stop lying!" she screamed, blushing. Eventually she let go of him and turned to her two friend again. "Yes, basically that is why I left. However, when I left with him I found out that he has ties with the Li clan and is loyal to his family. Because of that of course I know Li. I mean everyone knows the fu-," she stopped when she noticed the glare that Li was giving her. "Anyway, that still isn't as interesting as your story, Sakura."
The princess rolled her eyes. "I disagree."
"You will be returning with us," Li said to Chiharu and Yamazaki. This was a command as well as a statement.
"Yes, sir," the agreed.
He nodded. "Now, the princess needs her sleep so why don't you two meet us here tomorrow around noon?"
They nodded. Giving Sakura and Tomoyo one last hug, Chiharu drug Yamazaki out. The two girls looked at each other in confusion for a moment then burst out laughing. Eventually they stopped and Sakura turned to Li who was making to leave the room with Eriol in tow.
"Li, wait. Why would everyone know you?" she asked. She had a feeling she already knew the answer but wanted him to tell her.
"Because I'm too handsome for words," he replied, looking serious. He smirked at the look on the princess' face and left the room without answering her question for real.
"Tomoyo, that boy is weird. He really is."
(A/N: Can anyone help me with Syaoran's sister's names and ages? I think I got them down but I'd like to be sure. Oh and, Happy Hanukah ( I don't think I spelled that right but it's what word told me to) Happy Yule and. incase I don't update before then, Happy Christmas too. Ja!)
Anyway, to answer questions:
First and fore most, this IS an SS pairing. It just has to get there. And no it is not, unless something miraculous occurs, an ET pairing. I'm keeping it as close to the original as possible.
Also, no the Big Bad (Buffy quote!) is not related to Li.
Oh and I tried something new with my formatting, Hopefully it will work. If it doesn't I'll repost it as soon as I find that out.
Disclaimer: I Do not own CCS. But I'm over it now. Took a while.*sniff*
Chapter Seven: Mistaken Words and Tired Princess
"Well it's official Tomoyo. I have no more clean clothing. That I can wear to travel in at least."
The girls were about to take a long bath in the stream nearby the campsite they had started. Bedding was already laid out, food had been eaten but the girls needed to be clean. Yet, traveling for weeks could severely diminish the amount of wearable clothing.
"Why don't you use Bubble?" a smooth voice asked them calmly.
"What did you say Eriol?" Sakura asked, turning to face him.
"He said to use Bubble," Kero chimed in. "Before I could tell you to, too! Hmph! Bubble is a Card of cleaning. You can even use it on yourself if you needed to."
"Oh so I can clean all our clothes? Yatta!" Sakura quickly pulled out the clothes from her pack. Eriol stared in wonder as she pulled out a surprising number of dresses for such a small bag that also contained a large book and a few cooking supplies. It was true that they had been using Little on the bedding for the past week or more but still, she didn't use Big to bring the dresses out.
"Tomoyo give me your clothes too, and Li give me yours, as well as the shirt and cloak you're wearing now. Obviously not your pants but," she shrugged. She was facing away from Li as she spoke and thus didn't realize that he wasn't paying any attention to her. She didn't notice at all until after she had gathered everyone's, including Eriol's, clothing except for his.
"Li, give me your dirty clothes. Li? Li!" Finally exasperated she grabbed his bag for him and pulled out the cloths, tossing them to Tomoyo who added them to the large pile on the spread out bedding. When she was done she looked at Li again.
"Li, take off your clothes!" she yelled finally.
He jumped and turned to face her and blushed furiously. She was obviously serious and impatient, kneeling in front of him, hands between her knees and leaning close to where his ear at been. He looked around furiously and only found Daidouji standing to one side covering her mouth and laughing evilly while the sourcerer smirked in amusement.
"I-I," he stuttered.
"Come on, Li, it isn't that hard! Give me your cloak and shirt so I can wash them!" Sakura sighed. When he didn't seem to be moving any time soon she reached forward to untie the string that tied his cloak around his neck. Li jumped back and looked at her with wide eyes. Did she want him undressed that badly? Then her words sank in.
"My-oh," he said, realization dawning at last, much to the dismay of Tomoyo. "Sure," he mumbled as he pulled off his shirt, hoping it would cover his furious blushes.
"Thank you," the princess smiled as she took his clothes from him. "You should get some sleep, Li. I'll bring your clothes back when I'm done with my bath so don't worry. But you are really out of it so sleep."
He nodded, still looking down and watched out of the corner of his eye as the Card Mistress pulled out Bubble and set it to work. He didn't look up at all until the two girls were safely out of sight. When he did glance around he immediately found Hiiragizawa looking at him in barely contained amusement, also sitting shirtless.
"Shut up," Li muttered glaring at him.
Eriol merely held up his hands in silent surrender but still looked thoroughly amused.
The girls, meanwhile, were having a splendid time bathing for the first time in a few days. The water was a bit cold but Sakura used Fiery to warm it up without making it boil and Tomoyo brought lavender soap. It was pure bliss. As they bathed they giggled and scrubbed they chatted back and forth.
"Eriol and Li definitely look handsome without their shirts on, don't they Sakura?" Tomoyo slyly insinuated, looking at Sakura out of the corner of her eye.
"Hmm," Sakura blushed. "They do don't they? So much manly chest to look at," she giggled.
Both girls were blushing furiously, but they were, after all, girls of that age.
"It reminds me of that time when we slipped onto the balcony that looks over the training grounds. Touya looked really well without his shirt on," Tomoyo said dreamily.
"Ew, that's my brother!" the princess nearly shrieked.
"Well, you didn't mind looking at Yukito and you call him a brother now."
"He's still not blood related. But the rest of them still looked nice too."
"What do you say we don't dry off the boy's shirts until last?" Tomoyo laughed.
"Sounds like an excellent idea, your grace."
"Why thank you, your highness."
"You said that you wanted to learn other magic from me as well, Sakura," Eriol intoned as he watched the princess carefully dry each of the clothing one by one with Windy. She had even dried her own clothes like that, sitting by the fire with wet hair and only a towel wrapped around her. The sourcerer didn't know what he wanted to look at more: the beautiful princess looking like a goddess, barely clothed, or the look on Li Xiao Lang's face as he watched her, shifting from awe to longing and to protectiveness back and forth until she slipped off to dress.
But now she was dry, clothed and answering his statement.
"I do wish to learn more. I just don't know where to start. I want to learn so much! I feel so foolish now." She blushed slightly, unaware of the fact that the seemingly simple process of washing and drying her clothes was far beyond what many could do, even blessed with the Power.
"Well, why don't I do this. While I am journeying with you, instead of teaching you spells, I will write them for you to learn later, at your own pace. That way not only will you not have to try to learn them while walking and unable to concentrate fully on the spell you are learning. Also that will leave time for you to perfect working with your aura and a few other things I can teach you more easily. Well that and we can converse and get to know one another better instead of only speaking of magic."
She nodded then frowned. "But what if I have problems learning those things you write down for me?"
"I'm sure Li and his family will help you if you need it. They are Powerful themselves. Especially this Li," he said looking at the figure who was pretending to sleep to one side.
"Wow, Li is that Powerful? He never told me!" The princess frowned at the shadow behind her but looked back at Eriol quickly. "However, that sounds fine. Oh, wait. What will you write on?"
"I have paper and ink, Sakura." Tomoyo, who had been sitting quietly to one side of camp for some time now reached in her bag and pulled out blank paper and ink. She gave it to Eriol who received it with a smile.
"Hoe, you are doing it again aren't you Tomoyo?" the brunette cried.
"Sakura is just too cute!" the raven haired beauty replied with a laugh.
"What are you talking about?" Eriol asked confusedly.
"Don't show him, Tomoyo!"
"Sakura, that is no fun! Here, you may look, Eriol." She held the book she had been writing in to him and he took it carefully.
Sakura, who was finally finished with the clothes and was repacking her own, sighed and shook her head mournfully. "Are you going to archive until I die, Tomoyo?"
"I hope so," her friend replied with sparkling eyes.
Eriol looked at the book curiously. Inside he found carefully done ink drawings of the princess. Some were done in coloured ink but most were black and all of them were so precise that they almost looked real. He looked and noticed that on the back of each picture there were descriptions of the scene they captured. He admired Tomoyo's precise memory which managed to record exact dialogue in many cases.
Towards the end he noticed a few more recent events. One was obviously the first time the princes and Li had met. Another two or three portrayed the new Mistress as she unleashed the Cards. The latest one she was working on, however, made him laugh out loud.
"Oh, what is she drawing now?" Sakura sighed as she packed up Tomoyo's and Li's bags as well.
"The conversation you and Li had earlier, Sakura." He looked to Tomoyo. "One day I will have to ask how you managed to make his face look so red without red ink."
"Trade secret," she replied with twitching lips.
The next night Li heard shuffling noises long after everyone was supposed to be asleep. The noises were coming from where the princess had been asleep and so he started to turn towards the noises until he realized he knew that sound, the sound of someone changing clothes. His cheeks flushed red and he kept his position, remembering the night before all too well. He had no clue why the princess was changing her clothes in the middle of the night when she should be sleeping and getting rest, but he wasn't about to ask her.
Soon the noises stopped and the camp grew quiet again. The young body guard allowed himself to drift off into sleep, missing the fact that the noises had stopped because the princess had left.
Sakura picked her way carefully through the woods thankful for the one outfit she had hidden from everyone that allowed her to move so easily. The further and further east they traveled the more wooded area's they came upon, the more hill's they had to climb. When she thought she was far enough away, the young girl looked around and found a clearing large enough for her use. She pulled out a Card and cast it into the air.
"Fight!"
The Card whirled around in swirls of magic until at last a new figure stood in front of her. The white figure wore her long white hair in oblong buns on her head and the only colour to the woman at all was the blue outfit she wore. It looked her up and down carefully, measuringly, then bowed in respect. She then rose to a fight stance.
Sakura bowed in return. "Please, help me learn."
"Sakura, what is that bruise on your face from?" Tomoyo asked concernedly. The Card Mistress was very relieved that the discolouration on her face was the only visible sign of what she had done the night before. Of course, all her other aches and bruises were covered by her long dress and cloak.
"It's nothing Tomoyo. I just stumbled last night when I went to ahem, relieve myself last night. I didn't see a root on the ground and tripped and hit my face." She smiled. "I'm sure it will be gone by tomorrow."
Tomoyo nodded, though looked at her friend curiously.
"In the meantime, Sakura, why don't we continue our lessons?" Eriol inquired.
"I'd love that Eriol. I think I can almost hide my aura now. Not the most impressive thing I know but," she broke off shrugging.
Eriol and Li marveled silently, and separately, at how quickly the new Card Mistress was learning her magic. She had unheard of adaptive abilities and could control things easily that others couldn't spend years learning to do. It was awing, most especially since she thought it was nothing.
They spent the day traveling easily. Sakura spent time talking with everyone, though most usually Kero who flitted around her at all times. Even more she didn't just have small talk, she had serious conversations with everyone. She was learning all about Eriol and where he had been, what he had done. Tomoyo was talking about new ideas she had for outfits and how she would buy more cloth in the next town so that the princess could have warmer clothes.
But Li never said much. He spent most of his time avoiding questions about himself. However eventually he conceded that he lived with his four elder sisters, his mother and that his father had died when he was still a very young child.
"Four sisters?" Sakura gasped. "Hoe.I can't imagine that many. Are they like you?" she asked curiously.
"No!" he nearly growled. "They are so annoying. They squeal and giggle and get all into everything I'm doing." He let out a sigh of exasperation. Then he smirked in amusement. "Heaven help you when they see you."
"Huh? What does that mean, Li?" she asked curiously.
But the only reply she got from him was a satisfied smirk. Suddenly Sakura felt very uneasy about going to Li's home. However, she realized that it was Li's home and that he wouldn't take her anywhere she wasn't safe. At least, she thought not. Hoped not. "Hoe.."
"Sakura, Eriol tells me that the next village is only another day away. He's been there too and says that we can buy fabrics." Tomoyo's eyes were glimmering with glee. "I can make more outfits for Sakura and then draw her in them!" She walked away with a starry eyed look and was firmly planted in her own little world.
Li and Sakura looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
The next week and a half passed calmly. Tomoyo bought fabrics and astonished the boys with how quickly she finished her creations and with how detailed they still were. The days were spent more and more quietly as the terrain got harder and harder to cross. The princess had quickly become a master at not only hiding her aura but being able to sense aura's long distance and was learning some ability at sensing other's thoughts, which she really objected to actually since she figured they were personal property and none of her business.
Most interestingly though was the Card Mistress herself. Kero was the first to comment on how tired she was looking the past few days and did so loudly.
"Sakura, you look like you've been fighting a war! You've already changed enough Cards that the slow rate of change you have been at now shouldn't affect you like this. What's the matter?" The Sun Guardian was obviously very concerned but Sakura brushed him off. "I'm just not sleeping that well, Kero. It's hard to get used to all the roots we have to sleep on now." She smiled and changed the subject. But more bruises appeared and she was looking more and more tired as the days passed. Finally, after a week of denial, Li stopped at the village he had originally meant to just pass through. She wouldn't tell them what the matter was but it was obvious she needed sleep and a soft bed at an inn would do well for at least a night.
When Li broke the news to the travelers everyone was relieved and a little happy.
"PUDDING! I can eat PUDDING again!" Kero chanted as he flew in excited circles. His insatiable appetite had been shoved aside during the past week since they all knew it would be a while before they could buy rations again. But now he was ecstatic.
"Yes, yes, Kero, I'll buy you some pudding. Just quiet down a little, okay?"
"Yes, Sakura." He grinned and continued to fly around silently mouthing PUDDING!
Sakura grinned at everyone else, the first full fledged grin with heart behind it in a week or more. In her heart she knew she should confess why she had been so tired and so bruised, but she wanted to do this on her own. She wanted to surprise everyone. So she kept her silence and was gladdened a little for her sore aching muscles that they got a night's rest from the strain they had been receiving.
Li led the way to an inn and paid for two rooms, all that was available. Tomoyo immediately went to shop for various things and Eriol settled in at a table in the dining area and began to write spells for Sakura to learn. Sakura herself was too tired to do either and agreed when Li suggested she go to bed.
"Wake me up in time to eat will you Li?" she asked with a yawn.
"Yes, pr- Sakura. Just get some rest."
She looked at him oddly. He had always refused to call her by her first name so ardently and he used it almost in passing then. But she was too tired to think about it and too exhausted to realize that they were in a public place that could very well tell their location to the enemy. Instead she tiredly carried her belongings up the stairs and settled into her bed. The princess was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
Li glanced at the sourcerer, hard at work in his writing, with distaste and distrust. He didn't feel comfortable with leaving only Hiiragizawa to watch over the princess but he needed to get supplies. They would only be there for the single night and he wanted to get it out of the way before dark. Finally with a sigh he resigned to be quick with his business and that so far the man had showed no signs of wanting to harm her. Quite the opposite in fact.
Li growled but left the inn, while Eriol watched in amusement. The bodyguard was long gone before Eriol returned to writing down the spells he knew the young sourceress would need to use in the coming days. He was also, in his mind, arguing whether to let Li claim the princess he so unwittingly adored or if he should stake his own claim. Ah, but that was for later to decide. Instead he returned to his work and smiled to himself.
"Sakura.Sakura.SA-KU-RA!" Kero shouted.
His Mistress instantly sat up straight in bed, searching for the fire or impeding doom. "What? What's the matter? Are we being attacked?"
Kero rolled his eyes. "The brat told me to wake you up. It's time for food! And you owe me pudding!" His eyes grew big and teary as he gave the perfect puppy dog look.
Sakura laughed and gave her Guardian a hug. "Come on Kero. I'll buy you your pudding. But you have to behave in the dining room okay?"
"PUDDING!" he cried with glee.
"Promise?" the princess asked again.
"Yes, my favourite person Sakura."
The princess was still laughing over the antics of her pesky little guardian when she entered the dining area. Her party looked at her surprised, having not heard the tinkling laughter for some time. Unconsciously, everyone relaxed just a little when they saw how rested she looked. Tomoyo raced over to her friend and pulled on her hand.
"Sakura, Sakura I have news! I have a surprise for you!"
"What, what?" the brunette asked, giggling at her friend.
"You'll have to wait. Only a few more minutes I think. However come eat while you wait. You look famished."
"I am!" she laughed. Sakura obediently followed her best friend to the table where Li and Eriol were already seated. Eriol immediately rose and pulled out the chair between himself and Li for her to use. While most girls would be nervous or flattered, Sakura, being a princess and used to such behavior, merely thanked him and looked at the food.
Eriol seemed a bit put out that his romantic effort had basically gone unnoticed and didn't miss the look of amused smugness that radiated from Li. Yet, he managed to ignore it admirably and sat himself down. Unconsciously, everyone waited for Sakura to take the first bite before eating themselves. Whether it was out of respect or to just make sure that she was eating at all, it couldn't be said. Whatever the reason, the action didn't go unnoticed by a pair of blue eyes sitting across the way.
The group of four dined casually and talked about various things, none of them particularly important, for near half and hour. The whole time they were observed. Most of all, the stranger kept his eyes on the beautiful woman with honey gold hair and emerald green eyes. She captivated him, for more reasons than one. After some time, he himself was finished eating and realized that he would have to leave soon or else be commented upon. As he exited the small inn he passed by a couple on their way in. He would have been curious to see where the couple were headed but was gone before they reached their party.
"Chiharu!" Sakura gasped. In an instant she was on her feet and hugging her dear friend.
The girl with brown hair tied on either side with blue ribbons to match her dress and chocolate eyes squealed with delight herself. "Sakura, it's been so long since I've seen you! You would believe the surprise I felt when I ran into Tomoyo in a cloth shop."
"I can believe it!" The princess looked behind her childhood friend and noticed the boy who accompanied her. He had dark hair and for some peculiar reason his eyes were closed. "Who is this, Chiharu?"
The girl gasped. "I almost forgot. This is Takashi Yamazaki. He's the reason I left the Capitol."
"Really?" Tomoyo and Sakura asked in unison.
Li stood up, calling attention to himself for the first time since the two entered the room. Both looked startled and for a moment couldn't speak. Finally, Yamazaki broke the silence.
"Li, what are you doing here? I thought you were training!"
"Does your mother know you are here?" Chiharu questioned.
Sakura and Tomoyo looked at Li then back at their friend and her.friend. "Li, you know them?"
With a smirk, Li nodded. "Yeah, I know them. Have you eaten, Mihara, Yamazaki?" They nodded. "Why don't we all go up to the girls room then? I'll explain everything from there."
Everyone agreed and Li led the way while the three girls trailed at the back, giggling over the way they all looked now and how funny things were that they met like that. There wasn't much room in the two bed compartment so everyone was forced to squish together. Everyone that is, except for Li, who looked much more commanding than usual.
Li began to explain the situation to Chiharu and Yamazaki. He was succinct and precise. He didn't leave out much but he also didn't embellish. After a quarter hour of talking the two were brought up to speed on what was going on and were staring at Sakura in awe.
"H-hoe. stop staring at me. It's unnerving."
"But, your highness, you are the Card Mistress. That is pretty amazing," Yamazaki said, looking serious.
Tomoyo frowned. "I thought that only the Li family knew about the Cards. How come Yamazaki does?"
Chiharu giggled. "Again, this is the reason why I left the Capitol. So let me explain, Li." The boy nodded. "Now, you should both remember that my family estate is not too far away from the Li lands. Because of that I grew up with Yamazaki here. Now, while I was raised in the Capitol, I still would spend summers at my estate so I got to know Yamazaki more and well," she started blushing.
Yamazaki rolled his eyes. "She fell madly in love with me and three years ago when I asked her to come with me she came. Once there we proceeded to unite our love and.." He stopped when Chiharu began to strangle him.
"Stop lying!" she screamed, blushing. Eventually she let go of him and turned to her two friend again. "Yes, basically that is why I left. However, when I left with him I found out that he has ties with the Li clan and is loyal to his family. Because of that of course I know Li. I mean everyone knows the fu-," she stopped when she noticed the glare that Li was giving her. "Anyway, that still isn't as interesting as your story, Sakura."
The princess rolled her eyes. "I disagree."
"You will be returning with us," Li said to Chiharu and Yamazaki. This was a command as well as a statement.
"Yes, sir," the agreed.
He nodded. "Now, the princess needs her sleep so why don't you two meet us here tomorrow around noon?"
They nodded. Giving Sakura and Tomoyo one last hug, Chiharu drug Yamazaki out. The two girls looked at each other in confusion for a moment then burst out laughing. Eventually they stopped and Sakura turned to Li who was making to leave the room with Eriol in tow.
"Li, wait. Why would everyone know you?" she asked. She had a feeling she already knew the answer but wanted him to tell her.
"Because I'm too handsome for words," he replied, looking serious. He smirked at the look on the princess' face and left the room without answering her question for real.
"Tomoyo, that boy is weird. He really is."
(A/N: Can anyone help me with Syaoran's sister's names and ages? I think I got them down but I'd like to be sure. Oh and, Happy Hanukah ( I don't think I spelled that right but it's what word told me to) Happy Yule and. incase I don't update before then, Happy Christmas too. Ja!)