Yay, I'm all updating and stuff. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and for
answering my question. I'll be getting to his sisters soon enough and
wanted to know their names before I started writing them. Hope everyone had
happy holidays and such. Here ya go!
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. But I'm sure that doesn't really matter since my story is so much cooler. Right...right? Hello?
Chapter Eight: Bad News Cometh
"Sakura.Sakura..Come on Sakura," the princess heard through her sleep.
"I don't want to," she replied, batting away the hand that was shaking her gently. "I wanna sleep."
She heard a soft sigh and feet shuffling making her tired brain think she had won the battle. Moments later however two arms had picked her up from where she had been laying startling her fully awake.
"Li! Put me down!"
"Wake up easier next time, princess. It's already eleven thirty. If you want any breakfast before we leave dress quickly." He set her down gently to her feet then exited the room without another word. Sakura frowned at his retreating back and then hurried to dress.
When she ran downstairs a few minutes later, bags in tow, she met with Tomoyo and Eriol who were discussing something that Tomoyo was showing him on paper.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? You couldn't have been trying to get me up for hours." She sat down and began to eat the toast set out on the table.
"Because you needed your rest, Sakura. You look much better today than you have in the past week or more. Besides we didn't have anything planned until Chiharu and Yamazaki arrived."
Sakura nodded and ate her breakfast quietly. "I would have liked to see the town a little more before we left. But then, I guess I can when I come back, right?"
"Of course," Eriol smiled.
They chatted idly for a few more minutes before they were interrupted by the arrival of Li quickly followed by the couple in question. They exchanged greetings before Li said, "Let's head out. We already lost half a day's walk and it's hard terrain."
Everyone nodded and began to gather their belongings before they filed out of the inn and into the town square. Sakura looked around curiously at the different shops and stalls set up and wished again that she had woken up early enough to explore them. However she was glad for her rest since she knew she wouldn't be getting much of it soon enough.
Most of the day passed quietly as they walked. The three girls talked through most of the day with the small exception of Sakura breaking off to go over things with Eriol for a few minutes. Li and Yamazaki kept a ways ahead of the others and were discussing matters of great importance judging by their tone and actions but every time someone neared them they would stop talking immediately leaving the rest unknowing of what they were discussing so fervently.
They finally broke camp some hours after the early sunset and Chiharu offered to cook dinner. Yamazaki said that he feared for his life but was soon throttled by his girlfriend causing the others to chuckle in appreciation. Some time after they had laid out bedding but before the stew was finished Tomoyo remembered something.
"Sakura, I bought you a gift while you were asleep." She pulled out a box filled with chocolates.
"Chocolate! Tomoyo thank you! It seems like forever since I've had some." She ate a couple before handing Kero a few and offering them around to the others. She was surprised when Li accepted since he very rarely accepted anything from anyone. As they were all enjoying it Yamazaki suddenly popped up in front of the princess with one finger raised.
"Did you know that once upon a time it was illegal to eat chocolate, especially children?"
Chiharu began to reach for his neck and Li rolled his eyes when Yamazaki looked to Eriol for support. Tomoyo caught the gleam in his eyes as he quickly joined the conversation.
"Indeed he's correct. It was considered a dangerous food that would arouse great passions," Eriol began.
"And they were most afraid of children doing what they were not supposed to," Yamazaki continued.
"The penalty for eating chocolate was harsh."
"They were forced to go a full month with only bread and water."
"And worst of all was white chocolate," they concluded in unison.
Sakura stared wide eyed at the two boys and then down at the chocolate in her hand. She was glad she was born when she was and that she could have changed the law if needs be. Chiharu stared at the princess in doubt, wondering if it was indeed a lie now that Eriol had backed it up and Li was wondering if he had actually quelled all of his childhood gullibility. Meanwhile Tomoyo was laughing behind one hand and Yamazaki remarked to Eriol that they were sure to be good friends.
"Uh, the stew is done everyone."
Everyone ate the food appreciatively and talked gaily. The conversation was much livelier than it had been in the past with two such talkative people added to their group. When everyone finally settled into their bedding it was with contentment and a happy stomache. Sakura was so relaxed and content that instead of waiting for everyone else to sleep she fell into a deep rest herself and was soon dead to the world around her.
* The blood is dripping down the stairwell and there is so much of it. It stains the white marble stairs as I race up them, slipping on the horrible liquid. I have to save them, he's killing them I have to save them. But they are already on the ground and there is blood everywhere, dripping from a horrible blade held by an evil laughing man. I try to think but my wits are gone. The world is spinning around me and I can't stop it. He's coming for me now but I can't think. He killed them. He killed them and he's going to kill me. I can't get away! There is so much blood! I can't get away!*
Sakura sat up screaming, tears rushing down her face. A moment later strong warm arms were wrapped around her and she opened her eyes to stare into amber ones over Eriol's shoulder. She tried to speak but was crying too hard, shaking uncontrollably. Eriol patted her back comfortingly and everyone else was gathered around her, worried.
After a few minutes she calmed down enough to pull away from her desperate grip on Eriol. She couldn't stop shaking but her tears were beginning to subside. Taking calming breaths she wiped away her tears and smiled wetly at those gathered around her.
"Are you okay, princess?" Li asked her worriedly. He had been there for the last time she had awoken like this but it was louder this time and harsher. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
Sakura nodded. "I'm fine, Li, everyone. I just had a nightmare that's all. Why don't you all go back to sleep. I promise I'm fine." She looked at them pleadingly. More than anything she didn't want to talk about what had happened and she knew they all wanted to ask about it. The earnest look in her eyes conveyed and they slowly left her. All except Li.
"You had that dream again, didn't you, princess?" he asked lowly.
She nodded mutely.
"It was worse though wasn't it?"
She nodded again, closing her eyes to keep the fresh tears away.
"Don't worry, princess. Nothing's going to happen to you while I'm around."
She turned to smile at him, grateful for his knowing exactly what she needed to hear. "Thank you, Li. I'm being so childish really."
"No more so than anyone else here. Do you want me to sit with you for awhile until you can get back to sleep."
She considered for a second before nodding weakly. She really should train but she was too drained now and didn't have the energy to stand much less to fight. Nor did she want to be alone. Sakura leaned back against the tree by her pillow and Li sat a little ways away from her. They sat quietly for sometime but at last Sakura broke the silence.
"Li, it's been a long time since we last saw Yue. More than a week. He used to come every three days or so."
"Maybe it's because we are getting farther and farther away."
"I hope everything is alright at home. Sometimes when we are walking I get this horrible feeling in my stomach like something bad is going on. Like someone evil is watching us. It makes me worry about mom and dad and Touya."
"Princess, your family is very strong. You don't need to worry about them. And you don't need to worry about yourself either. You have me, Tomoyo, Chiharu and Yamazaki all here to watch over you," he said reassuringly. "And you have your Cards."
Sakura smirked. "You forgot Eriol."
"No, I didn't," he growled back.
The emerald eyed girl couldn't help but laugh at his expression. "Eriol isn't so bad, Li. He's helping me out a lot. He hasn't done a single thing suspicious either."
Li harrumphed but didn't say anything else. Personally it was the attention he spent on the princess that bothered him the most but he didn't know why and wasn't about to tell her without a good reason.
"Why don't you try to sleep, princess. I'll watch over you until you are well asleep."
"You need sleep too, Li. Go back to your bedding, I'll be fine now, thanks to you."
He blushed and got up to head towards his own makeshift bed. Though across camp he still kept an eye and ear out for her until he was sure that she was well asleep and, if dreaming, it was of something good.
In the depths of her subconscious, Sakura awoke slowly to the feelings of two auras. One was familiar and she recognized it as Yue but the other she couldn't place though she recognized that she had felt it before. A moment before she could let her eyes open she heard someone talk in a low voice that held a smile.
"Monster is still asleep."
"Touya!" the princess exclaimed sitting up quickly. She didn't even berate him for calling her a monster, or mention the fact that the sun hadn't even risen, but gave him a hearty hug when she leapt to her feet. He held her close to him for a moment but let go and stepped back, checking over her, obviously seeing if she was all right. "Touya, what are you doing here?"
"Making sure that brat has kept you in one piece, monster."
"I'm not a monster! And Li is not a brat!" she frowned. She looked to Yue then and smiled. "Thank you Yue for bringing him with you."
The Moon Guardian merely nodded with his cold facial expression intact. "We come with news, Sakura. Not good news."
Li, who had woken up at the sound of talking, asked, "What is it, Yue, Prince Touya?"
Touya glared at him and the young bodyguard returned the favour before Sakura rolled her eyes and repeated the question. Touya sighed and turned to his little sister.
"The castle was attacked. They went straight for your room and when they realized you weren't in the castle withdrew before anyone could identify a leader. All we could tell is that their clothes were unfamiliar and must obviously come from outside the Tomoeda kingdom."
"Was anyone hurt? Is mom and dad okay?" Sakura begged to know.
"Everyone's fine, Sakura," Touya assured her.
"When did this happen?" Li asked.
"About a week ago. That's why it's been so long since I spoke with you. Since the attack we have been fortifying the walls again and tried to trace the attackers but they have vanished like the shadows at dawn."
Li nodded and glanced at Tomoyo and Eriol who were listening intently.
"So they are coming," Keroberos asked, standing beside Sakura in his true form.
"We believe so. And since they disappeared so quickly they are probably traveling by horse or other methods. They might already know where you are so we suggest at the next town you get horses," Touya said holding out a bag to his little sister. "Sakura, here is some money that mother and father sent. It should be enough for food and inns as well as a number of horses." He broke off with a pained expression. "She also sent you something she thought you might need. A few things actually."
"What?" the princess asked, looking at the large leather purse curiously.
"You'll see."
"We need to leave, Sakura, Touya," Yue said.
"But, I haven't seen Touya in more than a month; you can't take him away so quickly!" The girls green eyes were filling with tears as she looked at her guardian. At last she heard him sigh and she grabbed her brother's hand and started to drag him off to one side. "I'll bring him back in a few minutes, Yue, I promise!"
Everyone watched them go and Kero looked at Yue with a laugh. "You never used to grant favours so easily, Yue. I think you are beginning to like our mistress."
"Shut up, Keroberos."
Tomoyo laughed with Chiharu as she stared at the two guardians who continued to argue until their mistress returned. Yamazaki went back to bed and Li and Eriol sat around the fire waiting for the interlude to be over.
Sakura stopped walking after a minute and turned on her brother. "Touya, I want you to be honest with me, is everything all right at home?"
Touya sighed. His little sister managed to be so dense about some things but so perceptive about others. "Some of the castle's people got hurt badly. And mom is tired since she used magic to help search for the attackers. She isn't healing as fast as she used to but we think she will be fine."
The princess looked at her big brother worriedly but nodded finally. "What about you and Yukito, how are you getting along now that Yue is a factor?"
The older boy blushed and looked away from the piercing green eyes. "We're fine, Sakura. Yue is a lot like Yukito and I don't have to deal with him nearly as much. It's kind of creepy though, the way they talk to each other inside their head."
Sakura laughed and gave her brother another hug. Then winced. "Come on Touya, you need to leave and we should probably pack and get going soon," she whispered anxiously when she felt him examine her back a little more closely where she had gotten cut three nights before. She usually healed rather quickly but this was deeper than usual and still hurt when touched.
"Monster, what is the matter with your back?" he asked suspiciously.
"I slept on it funny. You are so over protective, Touya. I swear every nick and cut I get you assume to be from some horrendous fight." She spoke easily and could tell that even if he didn't believe her he wasn't going to question further.
"Just be careful, alright? There are people after you, little sister, and I'm not here to protect you any longer."
"I've got Li to protect me now, big brother. And everyone else," she defended as they began to walk back.
"I don't trust that Li guy. He's got ideas." His eyes were narrowed so much in anger that he nearly tripped on a log and fell on his face.
"You think every guy has ideas, Touya."
"This one's different."
"How?"
"Oh nevermind," he muttered as they entered the camp and walked into the middle of the guardians' fight.
"Yue, Kero! Stop bickering at once. Yue I expected better from you and Kero, be nice for once!"
Kero glared and Yue looked sheepish, a new expression for him, but both stopped. "We must leave now, Sakura. Goodbye, Keroberos, everyone."
"Bye monster," Touya said.
"I'm not a monster!"
"Li, if anything happens to her you have to answer to me. Tomoyo, watch him." He glanced around at the others and stopped with surprise. "Oh, Hi Chiharu, didn't see you there. You watch him, too."
Chiharu laughed but nodded. "All right, Prince Touya."
"Bye, Touya. Tell mom and dad I love them!" Sakura said teary eyed.
"They know, little sis."
They all watched as the two figures flew off into the distance in silence until Sakura gasped.
"Oh I forgot to introduce Eriol and Yamazaki to Touya." She sighed.
"It doesn't matter, princess. I'm not worth noting, but speaking of introductions did you know," Yamazaki began before Chiharu pulled him away by his ear.
Everyone winced a little before Li suggested they eat and break camp since no one was likely to get back to sleep. Everyone agreed and the morning passed quickly. It was a full two days walk to the next village and they wanted to get under way as quickly as possible since they knew they were being followed now. Around noon, Chiharu walked around and passed out meat and bread so people could walk and eat and Sakura used the excuse to go speak to Li without it being commented on.
Li had been leading the way and was walking alone until Sakura joined him with his lunch. He muttered thanks as he began to eat. After a moment he realized that the princess wanted to speak. "What's the matter?"
"Umm.Li," she started unsure of herself.
Li waited a moment but when she didn't say anything more he sighed. "Princess, I haven't called you stupid yet for saying anything. You have no reason to hesitate so just say it!"
The brunette girl jumped but nodded. "I'm sorry I just wanted to know something. About the people following us."
"Why do you ask me and not Kero?"
"Because Kero is eating and, well, he gets worried sometimes and I get the feeling he doesn't want to tell me."
"Well, I almost agree with him. I don't think you should know too much until you are able to decide what to do. Besides, I don't know everything."
Sakura sighed. She should have known that he wouldn't have been real communicative on the matter but she could hope. She was about to walk back to the others when he spoke.
"However, I can tell you that they are dangerous. You may not be able to defeat them, princess. But we will help you."
"We?"
"My family and I. And your guardians and friends. You aren't alone in this, princess."
She frowned. "I don't want to get anyone else involved, Li. People have already gotten hurt by this and I don't want anyone else to. I couldn't bear it if anyone got injured or killed for my sake. And I think that's what I'm dreaming of, people getting killed by these people after me."
She was so suddenly serious and depressed that Li looked at her. He had seen her tired but never this upset and didn't know how to react. "It will be alright, princess. Try not to think about it right now and eat your lunch. Once we reach my home we'll figure something out."
"How long will it take to reach your home when we get horses?"
"Well, it will take two days to reach the village but it will probably only take another couple weeks once we get horses. We have been traveling with amazing speed actually." He said the last as if there was something mysterious with their rate of travel but didn't say anything more.
Sakura was about to ask him about his home again when she heard Tomoyo calling to her and instead went to join the others leaving the amber eyed boy to his thoughts.
Sakura was panting, her hands on her knees and her body bent in pain and exhaustion. She had been using both Fight and Mirror for the first time that night but after two night sleep her body was reacting a bit better than it had been. She was still tired though and had to rest while the Fight Card and it's reflection waited for her. After a moment she began again.
Tomoyo had watched her friend leave some ten minutes before and at first assumed she was just going to handle bodily needs until she didn't come back. The raven haired girl shook her other friend awake and motioned for her to be quiet but follow her. Chiharu hadn't really been asleep yet and nodded. The two girls moved quietly, looking around anxiously for creatures of the night to attack them. They couldn't find a sign of their friend until they heard noises that sounded like laboured breathing.
The looked at each other and broke into a run. After a moment they saw a clearing with a small fire lit on one side and stopped in shock. They watched silently as they saw their princess wearing a strange outfit and fighting with two identical women dressed in blue with white hair and skin. Fighting very well too. She fought her two adversaries well and looked very practiced in her movements, almost as if she had been training for years. But as they watched they noticed that she was slipping when they both attacked at once and was obviously unfamiliar with techniques for fighting off more than one person at a time.
After some time she paused and leaned over to breathe. Slowly they stepped out of their hiding spot and at last gained Sakura's attention.
"Tomoyo! Chiharu! What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"We'd like to ask the same question, Sakura. And what are you wearing?" Chiharu asked as she neared her friend.
"Oh, this? Tomoyo made it for me to practice tumbling in."
The two girls looked at the short fitted black pants and the silver shirt with black dragons embroidered onto it. It had a high Chinese collar and short sleeves. Chiharu gapped. "Tomoyo made this? It looks like something from the Li clan."
"Really?!" the violet eyed girl asked, obviously thrilled. "I was trying so hard for that, but since I had only seen pictures I didn't know."
Both Tomoyo and Chiharu rolled their eyes at their friend. "Oh, but you still haven't answered what you were doing here, Chiharu, Tomoyo."
"We followed you," Tomoyo answered simply.
"Oh."
"Now what are YOU doing, Sakura?" Chiharu asked.
"Training."
"But why?"
"Because I want to know how to fight and no one will teach me."
"I think it has more to do with the fact that a certain amber eyed boy thinks you are weak," Tomoyo said with a sly grin.
Sakura blushed furiously but shook her head. "No, Tomoyo that's not it! I really want to know! There is someone after me and I want to be able to fight him no matter what!"
"All right, all right. Calm down, Sakura, before you wake up the others." Chiharu patted her friend on her arm comfortingly.
"Oh, and you can't tell Li or well anyone else because they might tell him! He'll get mad and make me stop!"
"I don't think he will but if you want we won't tell him," Tomoyo replied smiling.
"Okay, I'm going back to bed, I'm tired and we have a long way to walk tomorrow."
"I'll come with you, Chiharu. You should come too Sakura," she pleaded, knowing the answer already.
"No, I'll come in a little while. I have a lot to learn and not enough time to practice." She smiled and shooed her friends off. A moment later she began to fight again and her friends watched in amazement for a moment before they finally left.
"She's awing, Tomoyo, she really is. I'm exhausted from the days walk and here she is fighting! I don't know how she does it and not get tired."
"Oh she does. For a week or so before we came to the village where you were she was growing more and more tired and no one knew why. That's why we stayed there to begin with. This explains it though."
"She's still amazing."
"It's Sakura, of course she is."
"So, with enough for a couple weeks worth of rations and whatever inn expenses we need, how many horses can we buy?"
They were standing outside of the village around noon counting up their monies, which even Eriol had given all of his too. Everyone was tired and a bit hungry and most of all anxious to get something to speed their journey with. Li was quietly counting and finally answered, "Five. Someone will have to double."
"Chiharu and I will," Yamazaki said simply. He was glad for any excuse to have her closer to him and he hoped the opposite was true as well.
"Sounds fine to me," she answered.
"All right. Let's go."
They followed Li into the village and bought supplies and lunch before they went to buy horses. It was quickly done and they were soon in possession of their new mounts and were out of the village before a full two hours had passed. They had each picked out their own horse, Yamazaki and Chiharu deciding together, and everyone was pleased.
Tomoyo chose a black mare with a white lightening shaped patch of fur on its forehead and named it Moonlight. Eriol also chose a black horse, a gelding, and named it Midnight. Chiharu and Yamazaki bought a Clydesdale which Yamazaki decided they needed to name Horace for a foreign god that had a head of a horse and was known for wearing white socks. Li's was as brown as his own hair and he affectionately named it Li Min.
"What does Li Min, mean?" Sakura asked as she pet her own snow white mare.
"It's Chinese for smart."
"I don't know what I should name her," she sighed.
Li was surprised that no one was having any trouble riding. He had been informed that all of them had ridden before but everyone seemed like an expert. Especially the princess who rode as if she had been born on a horse.
"Give me a Chinese name for her, Li."
"Uh, what do you want it to mean?" he asked a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, she's so pretty and white, how about something to do with light or the moon or something."
"That's a lot of somethings," he muttered thinking. "How about Ming Yue."
"I know 'yue' means moon, what does 'ming' mean?"
"It means bright moon all together."
She tilted her head in consideration. "I like it," she said finally with a grin. "How about you, Ming Yue, do you like it?"
The horse whinnied and both took it for agreement.
After that they rode in silence. Soon the path made it impossible to ride in pairs and Li took the lead with Yamazaki and Chiharu bringing up the rear. They rode quickly but not so much that the horses would tire easily on the rough terrain. It was a long day and tiring even with the horses before they stopped at night. Everyone ate quietly and stumbled to bed before ending in exhausted sleep.
Sakura finally sat up, feeling every one of her muscles as they yelled at her. It had been a few months since she had last ridden, more than four, and she hadn't fully adjusted to it yet. Still she quickly changed and went to train. She was determined to master two opponents before she reached Li's home. Maybe even start on swords.
(A/N: I'm already writing more so it shouldn't be too long before my next update. Not that a few days isn't that long to wait. So everyone Read and give me some Reviews! Jan e!)
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. But I'm sure that doesn't really matter since my story is so much cooler. Right...right? Hello?
Chapter Eight: Bad News Cometh
"Sakura.Sakura..Come on Sakura," the princess heard through her sleep.
"I don't want to," she replied, batting away the hand that was shaking her gently. "I wanna sleep."
She heard a soft sigh and feet shuffling making her tired brain think she had won the battle. Moments later however two arms had picked her up from where she had been laying startling her fully awake.
"Li! Put me down!"
"Wake up easier next time, princess. It's already eleven thirty. If you want any breakfast before we leave dress quickly." He set her down gently to her feet then exited the room without another word. Sakura frowned at his retreating back and then hurried to dress.
When she ran downstairs a few minutes later, bags in tow, she met with Tomoyo and Eriol who were discussing something that Tomoyo was showing him on paper.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier? You couldn't have been trying to get me up for hours." She sat down and began to eat the toast set out on the table.
"Because you needed your rest, Sakura. You look much better today than you have in the past week or more. Besides we didn't have anything planned until Chiharu and Yamazaki arrived."
Sakura nodded and ate her breakfast quietly. "I would have liked to see the town a little more before we left. But then, I guess I can when I come back, right?"
"Of course," Eriol smiled.
They chatted idly for a few more minutes before they were interrupted by the arrival of Li quickly followed by the couple in question. They exchanged greetings before Li said, "Let's head out. We already lost half a day's walk and it's hard terrain."
Everyone nodded and began to gather their belongings before they filed out of the inn and into the town square. Sakura looked around curiously at the different shops and stalls set up and wished again that she had woken up early enough to explore them. However she was glad for her rest since she knew she wouldn't be getting much of it soon enough.
Most of the day passed quietly as they walked. The three girls talked through most of the day with the small exception of Sakura breaking off to go over things with Eriol for a few minutes. Li and Yamazaki kept a ways ahead of the others and were discussing matters of great importance judging by their tone and actions but every time someone neared them they would stop talking immediately leaving the rest unknowing of what they were discussing so fervently.
They finally broke camp some hours after the early sunset and Chiharu offered to cook dinner. Yamazaki said that he feared for his life but was soon throttled by his girlfriend causing the others to chuckle in appreciation. Some time after they had laid out bedding but before the stew was finished Tomoyo remembered something.
"Sakura, I bought you a gift while you were asleep." She pulled out a box filled with chocolates.
"Chocolate! Tomoyo thank you! It seems like forever since I've had some." She ate a couple before handing Kero a few and offering them around to the others. She was surprised when Li accepted since he very rarely accepted anything from anyone. As they were all enjoying it Yamazaki suddenly popped up in front of the princess with one finger raised.
"Did you know that once upon a time it was illegal to eat chocolate, especially children?"
Chiharu began to reach for his neck and Li rolled his eyes when Yamazaki looked to Eriol for support. Tomoyo caught the gleam in his eyes as he quickly joined the conversation.
"Indeed he's correct. It was considered a dangerous food that would arouse great passions," Eriol began.
"And they were most afraid of children doing what they were not supposed to," Yamazaki continued.
"The penalty for eating chocolate was harsh."
"They were forced to go a full month with only bread and water."
"And worst of all was white chocolate," they concluded in unison.
Sakura stared wide eyed at the two boys and then down at the chocolate in her hand. She was glad she was born when she was and that she could have changed the law if needs be. Chiharu stared at the princess in doubt, wondering if it was indeed a lie now that Eriol had backed it up and Li was wondering if he had actually quelled all of his childhood gullibility. Meanwhile Tomoyo was laughing behind one hand and Yamazaki remarked to Eriol that they were sure to be good friends.
"Uh, the stew is done everyone."
Everyone ate the food appreciatively and talked gaily. The conversation was much livelier than it had been in the past with two such talkative people added to their group. When everyone finally settled into their bedding it was with contentment and a happy stomache. Sakura was so relaxed and content that instead of waiting for everyone else to sleep she fell into a deep rest herself and was soon dead to the world around her.
* The blood is dripping down the stairwell and there is so much of it. It stains the white marble stairs as I race up them, slipping on the horrible liquid. I have to save them, he's killing them I have to save them. But they are already on the ground and there is blood everywhere, dripping from a horrible blade held by an evil laughing man. I try to think but my wits are gone. The world is spinning around me and I can't stop it. He's coming for me now but I can't think. He killed them. He killed them and he's going to kill me. I can't get away! There is so much blood! I can't get away!*
Sakura sat up screaming, tears rushing down her face. A moment later strong warm arms were wrapped around her and she opened her eyes to stare into amber ones over Eriol's shoulder. She tried to speak but was crying too hard, shaking uncontrollably. Eriol patted her back comfortingly and everyone else was gathered around her, worried.
After a few minutes she calmed down enough to pull away from her desperate grip on Eriol. She couldn't stop shaking but her tears were beginning to subside. Taking calming breaths she wiped away her tears and smiled wetly at those gathered around her.
"Are you okay, princess?" Li asked her worriedly. He had been there for the last time she had awoken like this but it was louder this time and harsher. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.
Sakura nodded. "I'm fine, Li, everyone. I just had a nightmare that's all. Why don't you all go back to sleep. I promise I'm fine." She looked at them pleadingly. More than anything she didn't want to talk about what had happened and she knew they all wanted to ask about it. The earnest look in her eyes conveyed and they slowly left her. All except Li.
"You had that dream again, didn't you, princess?" he asked lowly.
She nodded mutely.
"It was worse though wasn't it?"
She nodded again, closing her eyes to keep the fresh tears away.
"Don't worry, princess. Nothing's going to happen to you while I'm around."
She turned to smile at him, grateful for his knowing exactly what she needed to hear. "Thank you, Li. I'm being so childish really."
"No more so than anyone else here. Do you want me to sit with you for awhile until you can get back to sleep."
She considered for a second before nodding weakly. She really should train but she was too drained now and didn't have the energy to stand much less to fight. Nor did she want to be alone. Sakura leaned back against the tree by her pillow and Li sat a little ways away from her. They sat quietly for sometime but at last Sakura broke the silence.
"Li, it's been a long time since we last saw Yue. More than a week. He used to come every three days or so."
"Maybe it's because we are getting farther and farther away."
"I hope everything is alright at home. Sometimes when we are walking I get this horrible feeling in my stomach like something bad is going on. Like someone evil is watching us. It makes me worry about mom and dad and Touya."
"Princess, your family is very strong. You don't need to worry about them. And you don't need to worry about yourself either. You have me, Tomoyo, Chiharu and Yamazaki all here to watch over you," he said reassuringly. "And you have your Cards."
Sakura smirked. "You forgot Eriol."
"No, I didn't," he growled back.
The emerald eyed girl couldn't help but laugh at his expression. "Eriol isn't so bad, Li. He's helping me out a lot. He hasn't done a single thing suspicious either."
Li harrumphed but didn't say anything else. Personally it was the attention he spent on the princess that bothered him the most but he didn't know why and wasn't about to tell her without a good reason.
"Why don't you try to sleep, princess. I'll watch over you until you are well asleep."
"You need sleep too, Li. Go back to your bedding, I'll be fine now, thanks to you."
He blushed and got up to head towards his own makeshift bed. Though across camp he still kept an eye and ear out for her until he was sure that she was well asleep and, if dreaming, it was of something good.
In the depths of her subconscious, Sakura awoke slowly to the feelings of two auras. One was familiar and she recognized it as Yue but the other she couldn't place though she recognized that she had felt it before. A moment before she could let her eyes open she heard someone talk in a low voice that held a smile.
"Monster is still asleep."
"Touya!" the princess exclaimed sitting up quickly. She didn't even berate him for calling her a monster, or mention the fact that the sun hadn't even risen, but gave him a hearty hug when she leapt to her feet. He held her close to him for a moment but let go and stepped back, checking over her, obviously seeing if she was all right. "Touya, what are you doing here?"
"Making sure that brat has kept you in one piece, monster."
"I'm not a monster! And Li is not a brat!" she frowned. She looked to Yue then and smiled. "Thank you Yue for bringing him with you."
The Moon Guardian merely nodded with his cold facial expression intact. "We come with news, Sakura. Not good news."
Li, who had woken up at the sound of talking, asked, "What is it, Yue, Prince Touya?"
Touya glared at him and the young bodyguard returned the favour before Sakura rolled her eyes and repeated the question. Touya sighed and turned to his little sister.
"The castle was attacked. They went straight for your room and when they realized you weren't in the castle withdrew before anyone could identify a leader. All we could tell is that their clothes were unfamiliar and must obviously come from outside the Tomoeda kingdom."
"Was anyone hurt? Is mom and dad okay?" Sakura begged to know.
"Everyone's fine, Sakura," Touya assured her.
"When did this happen?" Li asked.
"About a week ago. That's why it's been so long since I spoke with you. Since the attack we have been fortifying the walls again and tried to trace the attackers but they have vanished like the shadows at dawn."
Li nodded and glanced at Tomoyo and Eriol who were listening intently.
"So they are coming," Keroberos asked, standing beside Sakura in his true form.
"We believe so. And since they disappeared so quickly they are probably traveling by horse or other methods. They might already know where you are so we suggest at the next town you get horses," Touya said holding out a bag to his little sister. "Sakura, here is some money that mother and father sent. It should be enough for food and inns as well as a number of horses." He broke off with a pained expression. "She also sent you something she thought you might need. A few things actually."
"What?" the princess asked, looking at the large leather purse curiously.
"You'll see."
"We need to leave, Sakura, Touya," Yue said.
"But, I haven't seen Touya in more than a month; you can't take him away so quickly!" The girls green eyes were filling with tears as she looked at her guardian. At last she heard him sigh and she grabbed her brother's hand and started to drag him off to one side. "I'll bring him back in a few minutes, Yue, I promise!"
Everyone watched them go and Kero looked at Yue with a laugh. "You never used to grant favours so easily, Yue. I think you are beginning to like our mistress."
"Shut up, Keroberos."
Tomoyo laughed with Chiharu as she stared at the two guardians who continued to argue until their mistress returned. Yamazaki went back to bed and Li and Eriol sat around the fire waiting for the interlude to be over.
Sakura stopped walking after a minute and turned on her brother. "Touya, I want you to be honest with me, is everything all right at home?"
Touya sighed. His little sister managed to be so dense about some things but so perceptive about others. "Some of the castle's people got hurt badly. And mom is tired since she used magic to help search for the attackers. She isn't healing as fast as she used to but we think she will be fine."
The princess looked at her big brother worriedly but nodded finally. "What about you and Yukito, how are you getting along now that Yue is a factor?"
The older boy blushed and looked away from the piercing green eyes. "We're fine, Sakura. Yue is a lot like Yukito and I don't have to deal with him nearly as much. It's kind of creepy though, the way they talk to each other inside their head."
Sakura laughed and gave her brother another hug. Then winced. "Come on Touya, you need to leave and we should probably pack and get going soon," she whispered anxiously when she felt him examine her back a little more closely where she had gotten cut three nights before. She usually healed rather quickly but this was deeper than usual and still hurt when touched.
"Monster, what is the matter with your back?" he asked suspiciously.
"I slept on it funny. You are so over protective, Touya. I swear every nick and cut I get you assume to be from some horrendous fight." She spoke easily and could tell that even if he didn't believe her he wasn't going to question further.
"Just be careful, alright? There are people after you, little sister, and I'm not here to protect you any longer."
"I've got Li to protect me now, big brother. And everyone else," she defended as they began to walk back.
"I don't trust that Li guy. He's got ideas." His eyes were narrowed so much in anger that he nearly tripped on a log and fell on his face.
"You think every guy has ideas, Touya."
"This one's different."
"How?"
"Oh nevermind," he muttered as they entered the camp and walked into the middle of the guardians' fight.
"Yue, Kero! Stop bickering at once. Yue I expected better from you and Kero, be nice for once!"
Kero glared and Yue looked sheepish, a new expression for him, but both stopped. "We must leave now, Sakura. Goodbye, Keroberos, everyone."
"Bye monster," Touya said.
"I'm not a monster!"
"Li, if anything happens to her you have to answer to me. Tomoyo, watch him." He glanced around at the others and stopped with surprise. "Oh, Hi Chiharu, didn't see you there. You watch him, too."
Chiharu laughed but nodded. "All right, Prince Touya."
"Bye, Touya. Tell mom and dad I love them!" Sakura said teary eyed.
"They know, little sis."
They all watched as the two figures flew off into the distance in silence until Sakura gasped.
"Oh I forgot to introduce Eriol and Yamazaki to Touya." She sighed.
"It doesn't matter, princess. I'm not worth noting, but speaking of introductions did you know," Yamazaki began before Chiharu pulled him away by his ear.
Everyone winced a little before Li suggested they eat and break camp since no one was likely to get back to sleep. Everyone agreed and the morning passed quickly. It was a full two days walk to the next village and they wanted to get under way as quickly as possible since they knew they were being followed now. Around noon, Chiharu walked around and passed out meat and bread so people could walk and eat and Sakura used the excuse to go speak to Li without it being commented on.
Li had been leading the way and was walking alone until Sakura joined him with his lunch. He muttered thanks as he began to eat. After a moment he realized that the princess wanted to speak. "What's the matter?"
"Umm.Li," she started unsure of herself.
Li waited a moment but when she didn't say anything more he sighed. "Princess, I haven't called you stupid yet for saying anything. You have no reason to hesitate so just say it!"
The brunette girl jumped but nodded. "I'm sorry I just wanted to know something. About the people following us."
"Why do you ask me and not Kero?"
"Because Kero is eating and, well, he gets worried sometimes and I get the feeling he doesn't want to tell me."
"Well, I almost agree with him. I don't think you should know too much until you are able to decide what to do. Besides, I don't know everything."
Sakura sighed. She should have known that he wouldn't have been real communicative on the matter but she could hope. She was about to walk back to the others when he spoke.
"However, I can tell you that they are dangerous. You may not be able to defeat them, princess. But we will help you."
"We?"
"My family and I. And your guardians and friends. You aren't alone in this, princess."
She frowned. "I don't want to get anyone else involved, Li. People have already gotten hurt by this and I don't want anyone else to. I couldn't bear it if anyone got injured or killed for my sake. And I think that's what I'm dreaming of, people getting killed by these people after me."
She was so suddenly serious and depressed that Li looked at her. He had seen her tired but never this upset and didn't know how to react. "It will be alright, princess. Try not to think about it right now and eat your lunch. Once we reach my home we'll figure something out."
"How long will it take to reach your home when we get horses?"
"Well, it will take two days to reach the village but it will probably only take another couple weeks once we get horses. We have been traveling with amazing speed actually." He said the last as if there was something mysterious with their rate of travel but didn't say anything more.
Sakura was about to ask him about his home again when she heard Tomoyo calling to her and instead went to join the others leaving the amber eyed boy to his thoughts.
Sakura was panting, her hands on her knees and her body bent in pain and exhaustion. She had been using both Fight and Mirror for the first time that night but after two night sleep her body was reacting a bit better than it had been. She was still tired though and had to rest while the Fight Card and it's reflection waited for her. After a moment she began again.
Tomoyo had watched her friend leave some ten minutes before and at first assumed she was just going to handle bodily needs until she didn't come back. The raven haired girl shook her other friend awake and motioned for her to be quiet but follow her. Chiharu hadn't really been asleep yet and nodded. The two girls moved quietly, looking around anxiously for creatures of the night to attack them. They couldn't find a sign of their friend until they heard noises that sounded like laboured breathing.
The looked at each other and broke into a run. After a moment they saw a clearing with a small fire lit on one side and stopped in shock. They watched silently as they saw their princess wearing a strange outfit and fighting with two identical women dressed in blue with white hair and skin. Fighting very well too. She fought her two adversaries well and looked very practiced in her movements, almost as if she had been training for years. But as they watched they noticed that she was slipping when they both attacked at once and was obviously unfamiliar with techniques for fighting off more than one person at a time.
After some time she paused and leaned over to breathe. Slowly they stepped out of their hiding spot and at last gained Sakura's attention.
"Tomoyo! Chiharu! What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"We'd like to ask the same question, Sakura. And what are you wearing?" Chiharu asked as she neared her friend.
"Oh, this? Tomoyo made it for me to practice tumbling in."
The two girls looked at the short fitted black pants and the silver shirt with black dragons embroidered onto it. It had a high Chinese collar and short sleeves. Chiharu gapped. "Tomoyo made this? It looks like something from the Li clan."
"Really?!" the violet eyed girl asked, obviously thrilled. "I was trying so hard for that, but since I had only seen pictures I didn't know."
Both Tomoyo and Chiharu rolled their eyes at their friend. "Oh, but you still haven't answered what you were doing here, Chiharu, Tomoyo."
"We followed you," Tomoyo answered simply.
"Oh."
"Now what are YOU doing, Sakura?" Chiharu asked.
"Training."
"But why?"
"Because I want to know how to fight and no one will teach me."
"I think it has more to do with the fact that a certain amber eyed boy thinks you are weak," Tomoyo said with a sly grin.
Sakura blushed furiously but shook her head. "No, Tomoyo that's not it! I really want to know! There is someone after me and I want to be able to fight him no matter what!"
"All right, all right. Calm down, Sakura, before you wake up the others." Chiharu patted her friend on her arm comfortingly.
"Oh, and you can't tell Li or well anyone else because they might tell him! He'll get mad and make me stop!"
"I don't think he will but if you want we won't tell him," Tomoyo replied smiling.
"Okay, I'm going back to bed, I'm tired and we have a long way to walk tomorrow."
"I'll come with you, Chiharu. You should come too Sakura," she pleaded, knowing the answer already.
"No, I'll come in a little while. I have a lot to learn and not enough time to practice." She smiled and shooed her friends off. A moment later she began to fight again and her friends watched in amazement for a moment before they finally left.
"She's awing, Tomoyo, she really is. I'm exhausted from the days walk and here she is fighting! I don't know how she does it and not get tired."
"Oh she does. For a week or so before we came to the village where you were she was growing more and more tired and no one knew why. That's why we stayed there to begin with. This explains it though."
"She's still amazing."
"It's Sakura, of course she is."
"So, with enough for a couple weeks worth of rations and whatever inn expenses we need, how many horses can we buy?"
They were standing outside of the village around noon counting up their monies, which even Eriol had given all of his too. Everyone was tired and a bit hungry and most of all anxious to get something to speed their journey with. Li was quietly counting and finally answered, "Five. Someone will have to double."
"Chiharu and I will," Yamazaki said simply. He was glad for any excuse to have her closer to him and he hoped the opposite was true as well.
"Sounds fine to me," she answered.
"All right. Let's go."
They followed Li into the village and bought supplies and lunch before they went to buy horses. It was quickly done and they were soon in possession of their new mounts and were out of the village before a full two hours had passed. They had each picked out their own horse, Yamazaki and Chiharu deciding together, and everyone was pleased.
Tomoyo chose a black mare with a white lightening shaped patch of fur on its forehead and named it Moonlight. Eriol also chose a black horse, a gelding, and named it Midnight. Chiharu and Yamazaki bought a Clydesdale which Yamazaki decided they needed to name Horace for a foreign god that had a head of a horse and was known for wearing white socks. Li's was as brown as his own hair and he affectionately named it Li Min.
"What does Li Min, mean?" Sakura asked as she pet her own snow white mare.
"It's Chinese for smart."
"I don't know what I should name her," she sighed.
Li was surprised that no one was having any trouble riding. He had been informed that all of them had ridden before but everyone seemed like an expert. Especially the princess who rode as if she had been born on a horse.
"Give me a Chinese name for her, Li."
"Uh, what do you want it to mean?" he asked a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, she's so pretty and white, how about something to do with light or the moon or something."
"That's a lot of somethings," he muttered thinking. "How about Ming Yue."
"I know 'yue' means moon, what does 'ming' mean?"
"It means bright moon all together."
She tilted her head in consideration. "I like it," she said finally with a grin. "How about you, Ming Yue, do you like it?"
The horse whinnied and both took it for agreement.
After that they rode in silence. Soon the path made it impossible to ride in pairs and Li took the lead with Yamazaki and Chiharu bringing up the rear. They rode quickly but not so much that the horses would tire easily on the rough terrain. It was a long day and tiring even with the horses before they stopped at night. Everyone ate quietly and stumbled to bed before ending in exhausted sleep.
Sakura finally sat up, feeling every one of her muscles as they yelled at her. It had been a few months since she had last ridden, more than four, and she hadn't fully adjusted to it yet. Still she quickly changed and went to train. She was determined to master two opponents before she reached Li's home. Maybe even start on swords.
(A/N: I'm already writing more so it shouldn't be too long before my next update. Not that a few days isn't that long to wait. So everyone Read and give me some Reviews! Jan e!)