Apparently Amy-chan wanted more of this story. Go figure. Anyway, since
there were no questions, I'll get on to the A/N which is somewhat lengthy
this time.
In this chapter I introduce the line of royalty and nobility along with titles. Since not everyone is lacking in life enough to actually know the order of titles I thought I'd give a quick run down before I continued the story. If you already know, skip this, read and review.
In some countries and in this story, Duchess is royalty as well as princess and princes. Under that is Marques or Marchioness, then Countess, Viscount, baron, and Lord and Lady. Not all of these titles are used in this chapter but more of them will be introduced later so I thought I should say this now.
Thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. However, according to Anime-Misao my story should be the third movie. I can go for that. ^.^
Chapter Fourteen: The Price and Payment of Ruling
Sakura sat at her desk looking at a long checklist of things she had to do. Some of which had already been done the night before, namely setting up the messaging system and asking, and receiving, a room she could use as an office of business until she returned to the palace. But as the long night had passed she realized that something more was needed. As soon as the sun rose the next morning she looked through the notes that Eriol had left her and at last found what she had been searching for.
"It's a highly powerful illusion spell," Sakura told Syaoran and Yelan over breakfast. "Quen Yuan had mentioned that our enemy most likely would be using a spell that locked onto my aura and displayed the events to him as they happened. Normally, one might say that I should just hide my aura when I am discussing things that I do not wish for him to know. But that would also key him in that I know he is watching, which he may not and all this thought process could be wasted. However, just in case I want to set this spell up over my new office."
She had explained in detail what they needed to be done in order to maintain the spell and the best way to focus the Power so no one person was drained. She needed some Power of her own and so could not bear the brunt of it herself. Instead, Syaoran was to be the main source of magic with Yelan, Quen Yuan and the sisters adding in what they could. It all focus together in one central spot and the spell would only work during set times, or when she was in her office. The moment she opened the door to leave the spell would end.
"However, this means that all business should be spoken in there and thus I will unfortunately be spending most of my time within those four walls," she sighed. "Remind me to get Tomoyo to help decorate.
Before lunch the spell was set up so that anyone who searched for the new Queen's aura to spy on her would see what they thought they were supposed to. The illusion was such that it would be undetectable, even if the audience watched for hours on end. The fake Sakura would occasionally get up and stretch, yawn or hum to herself. Mostly though she would read and write letters or carry on fake conversations with the fake representations of the real people who came to visit her. It was both so complicated and simple that it boggled the mind.
At last though, Sakura was allowed to sit and pore over her documents without worrying that someone was watching. Touya had wasted no time in sending her the necessary lists and documents she would need to have in order to run the kingdom properly. However, nothing had come on their unknown enemy and she doubted anything would come for some time. With a sigh she finally looked up at Syaoran who had been watching her for some time silently.
"I think you make a much better organizer of men than me, Syaoran. What would you do right now?" she asked tiredly.
The future leader of the Li clan thought for a few minutes. "Well, chances are that he is still around the Capitol. And if he's not, when he was there he was probably passing himself off as a member of the court. Anyone with great Power likes to feel at ease in their life."
Sakura thought this over for a minute, wondering how she would find out if this was true. Then a small smile spread over her lips as an idea hit her. "Syaoran, can ask Chiharu to come see me? Yamazaki can come as well if he wishes."
Like everyone else so far, the first thing that the two teenagers did when the entered the queens private office was drop to one knee in respect. Sakura sighed, hating to see this yet again, especially when it was one of her childhood friends involved. "Chiharu get up. People bowing to me only make me nervous."
Chiharu smiled at her friend, noticing the bags under her eyes and the not quite hidden signs of deep grieving. "How are you Sakura?" she asked softly.
"I'll be fine, Chiharu. You know me. And right now I'd be more worried about yourself," she remarked, exchanging a grin with Tomoyo who was happily sewing in the corner. "Syaoran believes that it is a possibility that the man who killed my father, and who is after me, may still be in the Capitol. Or if he is not that he is passing himself off as a member of the court."
Everyone in the room nodded, though Yamazaki and Syaoran were both beginning to wonder what this was leading to. Chiharu however began to get a horrified expression on her face as her new ruler continued.
"Now, I know that you are used to being sent on missions to gather information so I know you can do this. If you need assistance, I can tell you where Naoko is living now and you can probably get Rika to join you as well. Tomoyo has declined to leave and so this really falls to you. Will you please help me?"
Chiharu groaned. "But Sakura it's the court! What will I do there? I don't have those kind of manners really and I won't fit in. You know this! Why do I have to do it?" she whined uncharacteristically. "I can understand you sending Yamazaki because he can do almost anything and he blends in better anywhere he goes, but me?"
Sakura laughed at her friend. "Chiharu, I am surprised at you! You are the Marchioness of Shore and third in line for the throne itself! Act like it!"
"It could be fourth," the reluctant girl commented before giving in and nodding.
"Wait a second, what?" Yamazaki asked incredulously looking between his longtime girlfriend and his new queen. "I don't think I heard you right."
Tomoyo laughed. "You mean you haven't told anyone, Chiharu? That is really not very smart you know."
"You mean they are serious?" Syaoran inquired of the raven haired girl who was giggling.
Chiharu sighed. "My full name and title is Chiharu Mihara, Marchioness of Shore and second cousin to the current queen of Tomoeda. And yes, technically I'm either third or fourth in line for the throne." She sighed pathetically.
"Why third or fourth?" Syaoran asked curiously. "And if the prince is first who is second?"
"Tomoyo comes after Touya and after her comes the Marques or Marchioness, whoever is seen to be better suited. There are two at the same level," Sakura answered, feeling a sudden bout of curiosity that caused her to sort through her papers.
"Who is the Marques?"
"No one knows, he's never been to court. Though from what my father told me his mother was the Marchioness before him and she died in childbirth giving him the title his entire life."
Yamazaki barely listened to the conversation, keeping his eyes trained on the woman he loved. "Why didn't you ever tell me this? I mean everyone here thought that you were a lady but not titled!"
"Because it sounds just like something you would make up, Yamazaki," Chiharu answered with a grin. "Anyway, we'll discus that later. But yes, Sakura, I will go. When do you want me to leave?"
"I don't know yet, but soon. You need a proper wardrobe and we need to find a quick way of getting you to the Capitol that still allows you to make pit stops. When I figure everything out I'll send you a note, okay?"
Chiharu agreed and led Yamazaki out of the room for some much needed explanations. Syaoran was left with Tomoyo and Sakura who were both quietly working on separate things. For a little while he just watched, waiting for when his knowledge might be put to use again, when a sudden thought struck him. "You mean that if during those last two or more weeks of travel we had been all murdered by thieves in our sleep three out of the four known inheritors to the throne would have been rid of without anyone knowing it?"
"Something like that," Tomoyo answered with a smile. "What are you looking for Sakura?"
"The list of nobility should be around her somewhere. Now that I'm queen I really should know the top five people who would inherit in the event of my death. I know it says somewhere who the Marques is," she said, shuffling through her papers distractedly. "Ah, here we go." The two other occupants watched as she read through the extensive list which listed each title for a few generations before the current holder. A minute had passed and then the emerald eyed girl gasped and dropped the sheet.
"Apparently I knew him after all," she whispered wonderingly.
Many miles away, sitting in a room with two other occupants, Eriol suddenly felt a tug on his aura. It was the familiar feeling of someone looking for him though at first he couldn't tell who it was. Reaching out with his own Powers he sought to feel the aura that was bumping against his own and finally found it a few minutes later. A small smirk grew across his lips as he stood, readying himself for a journey.
"The cherry blossom is mad at me, I think," he commented amusedly to the other two occupants of the room. "I think it's time I came clean about a few things. So this time, perhaps you should accompany me to go meet her."
The tall long haired girl and small cat like creature with wings looked at each other and smiled. For once the two Guardians felt perfect accord and agreement between them. Whatever else, this should prove to be amusing.
"You mean that blue-eyed evil guy is the Marques? It almost figures. He's obviously power hungry and wants your throne. Needed to gain your trust first, so he buddied up to you. It all makes sense now," Syaoran muttered, only half under his breath.
"Syaoran, Eriol has done nothing but help me. Stop being so mean to him, please?" Sakura pleaded.
"Fine," he growled, before throwing himself into the seat beside Tomoyo. He could feel the amethyst eyes boring into him, undoubtedly sparkling with amusement at his jealousy. However, he didn't give her the satisfaction of looking at her and eventually she returned her eyes to her work.
"Oh there is just so much to do and I don't know how to do it! I can lead people and decide on laws but this is warfare! I'm not trained in this," Sakura sighed. "Syaoran, help me."
"Well, you already took one big step, two maybe. First you are sending spies to gather information, and spies you can really trust. Next you must gather your allies. I'm not going to lie and say that it is certain that all or any of us will be able to help you, Sakura, when the time comes to fight. But we can help you as much as possible until then. Now for the moment why don't you stop worrying about all this and go eat some lunch. You haven't had a bite to eat since breakfast and you didn't have dinner last night. You need to eat."
"I will later. I'm not hungry right now. Don't worry about me, Syaoran; I'll be fine, I swear!"
Syaoran stared at her a minute before getting up to leave. He was sure that perhaps if everything was calm and she only had to deal with the death of her father she would be able to recover as she was now. Maybe even inheriting the kingdom would not have put as much pressure on her. But there were too many things weighing down on the girl and no matter how much she tried to smile and assure people that she would be fine, it showed how much she wasn't. Her eyes still looked dead and soulless. Her skin was already growing pale and the dramatically shortened locks of her hair were beginning to lose their shine.
No, Sakura was not fine nor would she be if she kept up like she was. It killed him to see her like this and knowing that no matter how much he tried to help, he couldn't. Sighing, Syaoran leaned against the banister of the balcony, staring at the snow, now blackened in places. He had been there a few minutes when he felt a familiar presence behind him.
"You love her don't you?" Tomoyo asked as she came to stand beside him.
"I'm not too obvious, am?"
"You are. But that may just be because you are in a house full of women with women's intuition. Or perhaps since I watch the people who surround Sakura carefully. However, she doesn't know it."
He sighed. "Good. I don't think that she needs to bear that burden right now. She has enough things on her mind."
"Why do you call it a burden, Li?" his companion asked with genuine bemusement
"She already told me that she likes someone. I feel uncomfortable knowing that Meiling is in love with me and I don't have a country to run. I don't want to make her uncomfortable around me."
Tomoyo thought over this for a moment. "You know, the man after Sakura will probably try to make her fall in love with him. He probably knows many ways to be charming and to win women over. Especially women who are as trusting and naïve as Sakura."
The idea of her falling in love with someone else at all, much less the enemy, caused Syaoran's heart to clench uncomfortably. "I think we can all make sure that doesn't happen."
"Maybe," she agreed. At last she turned to look at him, even though he continued to keep his eyes trained forward. "Li I know you are worried about Sakura, we all are. But have you ever thought that perhaps your love could help heal her instead of breaking her? Or that if you don't tell her now she may choose someone else and you would lose her forever?"
"As long as she's happy it doesn't matter," he nearly growled, hating his words as he also desperately agreed with them.
"Don't you deserve to be happy too?" she asked him in reply. Syaoran didn't answer and eventually Tomoyo left him to his thoughts. He didn't know what he should do but perhaps he should listen to his heart more than his mind. But his heart was also warning him that love refused isn't as bad as unrequited and he didn't know if he could handle the woman he loved so dearly, turning him away.
It was heading well into evening when Sakura heard someone knock on her office door. She didn't hesitate before asking them to come in, not even bothering to look up from the letter she was reading. "Eriol, why didn't you tell me that you were the Marques of Seijou? Especially when we were all traveling together towards the end. It really would have been a disaster to have four of the inheritors in line died on accident."
Eriol smiled at the new queen. Even so serious and irritated she was still beautiful. "It was self serving, your majesty. From birth I have been the Marques but when I meet people for the first time, especially those that are fascinating and worth knowing, I prefer to be myself, Eriol Hiiragizawa."
At last she looked up and gazed at him with incomprehension written in her eyes. "So you lied?"
"No," he answered, smiling. "I just neglected to tell the whole truth."
"Is there any reason why you wanted me in particular to like the 'real' you?"
"There are a few, but mainly they can be combined into one. I wanted you to like me as I couldn't help but find myself liking you."
Sakura sat back in surprise, her emerald eyes widening a little. "You l-like me? Why?"
"Can you not imagine why?" Eriol chuckled. "You are beautiful beyond belief, you are pure, innocent. You trust people without holding back. You wish nothing but the best for everyone you meet. You care less for yourself than a perfect stranger who smiled at you. You have amazing ability to understand when you want to and you have an amazing amount of Power. You do not hesitate to act when you know it's necessary. Do I need to go on?"
Sakura stared at him in surprise. Did he really think all that about her? And as she listened she couldn't help but wonder if a certain other man in her life thought the same.
Syaoran had been wandering the grounds after his conversation with Tomoyo. Her words echoed over and over in his head, desperately telling him to be who he needed to be. Forcing him to admit his love to her. But he couldn't forsake his own heart just yet. It would be simpler just to watch her love someone else without her knowing that he loved her so desperately. She wouldn't pity him then or feel awkward in his presence.
Without realizing it, he found himself in front of the window that looked into her office. Sighing, he walked to it, trying to get a glimpse of the beautiful green eyes as she so often glanced around the room. But instead he found something that made him wish to rush into the mansion and straight into her new room.
Syaoran sat staring as Eriol lectured to the queen on a topic that obviously surprised and startled her. She looked at him in disbelief as he stared down at her in adoration. As Syaoran watched, he stopped speaking and leaned across the desk, cupping the wide eyed girl's chin in his hand as he leaned forward to kiss her.
Fury over took the unknown audience and he wished desperately to rush into the room and stop the kiss from happening. Jealousy as he had never known washed over him, making his mind run in two separate directions. Finally, his meager brain told him that he'd never get there in time and he suddenly found his feet rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the scene he never wished to see. Breathing heavily he wished that something would happen to stop the bastard from kissing his woman.
Then, something unexpected happen. Sakura turned her head away at the last second. She muttered something and the blue eyed bastard pulled away to listen to her. Syaoran couldn't help but fall to is knees, out of sight from the window. Relief washed over his body and realization finally came to him.
There was no way he was going to be able to just sit back and watch her love someone else.
Sakura turned her head away as reality drew back on her. For a moment there it felt as if she needed to kiss him, to compare what it felt like. But she didn't need to. "Eriol, please," she whispered causing him to sit away and look at her. "I called you here because I need your help Eriol. Not because I needed to be kissed." She smiled at him sadly.
Eriol sighed, reining in on his disappointment. As usual, it was not meant to be. "I guess I knew that from the start. But it was worth a try. However, since you call upon me as an ally, I have more to tell you than just that I am the Marques of Seijou. However, I will wait until later to go into that. I am tired from my expedient journey."
Sakura smiled at him. "I'm sure there is a room being prepared for you and dinner will be served soon." She stood up, groaning internally at the aches and pains moving from her seated position gave her. "I will escort you."
Eriol nodded and held out his arm to her. His brow furrowed when he noticed how much she leaned on him for support at first. In the past few weeks as he watched her though his Mirror of Truth he had seen her grow up stronger, but now she was acting weak. The perils of office were weighing on her as heavily as the death of her father.
When the stepped out into the corridor there was a loud squealing noise, not unlike one of the four sisters, and the sound of someone charging down the stone floor. "Lovely, lady Sakura!" was all that could be heard before the small Card Mistress found herself being tackled in a mass of energetic young woman.
"Nakuru?" Sakura finally was able to gasp. "I haven't seen you since you gave up on courting my brother! Um, can you get off of me now?"
Nakuru looked down at the smaller girl, realizing at last that the force of her pounce had knocked of them from their feet. "Oh! Sorry, Sakura," she giggled as she helped the younger girl to her feet. "I was just so pleased to see you. Anyway, the Lady Yelan told me to come get you because dinner was ready and that you are under orders to eat. Which is kind of silly when you think about it since you are the queen."
Sakura nodded, not being able to control the look of hunted prey that settled over her features. "Why are you here at all, Nakuru?"
"Oh, I came with Lord Eriol! Did he not tell you yet?"
"Not yet. But I'll hear all the details later. Why don't we all go eat?"
With a smile, Nakuru Akizuki led the way to the dining hall, leaving Sakura to wonder just what was going on now.
The sun at set and the household had all drifted into slumber as Sakura sat in her office, going over the many papers that Touya had sent her. She wanted so desperately to be a good queen, to follow in hr father's footsteps. But it was just all so hard. She looked at all the work that needed to be done and cringed away from it. More than anything she just wanted to curl up and sleep for weeks, waking up eventually to find that everything was okay and she didn't have to worry about anything but the day to day matters.
Rubbing her eyes, she stretched a little before again setting back to work, sifting through the papers and documents she wished not for the first time she had paid more attention to when she was in training. She had always meant to, wanting to be knowledgeable before it was time for her or her brother to inherit. But that time had come more quickly than anyone had known and now she was paying for her procrastination.
"You need to go to bed, Sakura."
The young queen jumped a mile high from her chair, having had been to busy to realize that the door had opened. "Syaoran! You scared me out of my wits!"
"Perhaps that is a good thing. You need to get some sleep. Come one, I'll walk you to your room."
Stubbornly, she shook her head. "I'm not tired, Syaoran. I have things I need to do as well. I'll get to sleep later. And you should really be asleep. I don't want you getting sick or anything."
Syaoran rolled his eyes at her stupid logic. "Say the same about yourself. Sakura, it has been just over two days since you heard about your father's death. You need to take a break and grieve! I know you want to be a good ruler but you must take care for your own health and sanity. That is also part of the job. You need to sleep."
"I'm not tired, Syaoran," she said, standing up. "And this is what I need to do. When things settle down more and after a few weeks I'm sure it will all settle in and I will be used to having so much to do. Then I can relax more. But I need to do this Syaoran."
"You need to be a good queen, Sakura. But you don't need to work yourself to death! And that is what you are going to do if you don't step foot out of this office for more than a few minutes at a time. Please, I'm begging you. Go get some sleep."
"No, Syaoran!" she yelled, leaning over the desk. "I need to do this! I need to work so that I can be what my father would have respected! I need to protect my people! I need to-" she broke off when he grabbed her shoulders forcefully.
"No, you don't!" he roughly replied before pulling her against him for a passionate kiss. At first Sakura struggled before settling into the embrace. Slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed against him, wanting more of the delicious sensation he was giving her.
Syaoran let himself vent his frustrations and emotions into the lengthy kiss. He ran his hands over her supple body and held her fiercely to him. Truthfully, he admitted to himself he had wanted to do this ever since he had seen her and Eriol together that evening. Now he was desperate to claim her for his own, to say that he was the one who loved her more than anything.
When he realized the train of his thought, Syaoran suddenly broke away. For a minute he stared into the emerald eyes he adored so well as they were clouded by passion instead of hurt. Almost he let his self restraint go again, thinking to kiss all the grief from her body. But that was not the way. Instead he pulled away, making sure she was steady on her feet before he left the room without another word.
Sakura stared at the door then down at the papers she had been working on only minutes before. Suddenly her brain was incapable of mundane thought. More than anything she wanted to track Syaoran down and ask him why he had kissed her like that. Instead she blew out the lamp and went directly to bed where she dreamed of strong arms holding her and a voice whispering words of love into her ears.
(A/N: weee, another chapter done. However, the next few are formulating in my head and so the next update will probably be a week or more. It's going to be getting complicated. Ja! Review!)
In this chapter I introduce the line of royalty and nobility along with titles. Since not everyone is lacking in life enough to actually know the order of titles I thought I'd give a quick run down before I continued the story. If you already know, skip this, read and review.
In some countries and in this story, Duchess is royalty as well as princess and princes. Under that is Marques or Marchioness, then Countess, Viscount, baron, and Lord and Lady. Not all of these titles are used in this chapter but more of them will be introduced later so I thought I should say this now.
Thanks for the reviews!
Disclaimer: I do not own CCS. However, according to Anime-Misao my story should be the third movie. I can go for that. ^.^
Chapter Fourteen: The Price and Payment of Ruling
Sakura sat at her desk looking at a long checklist of things she had to do. Some of which had already been done the night before, namely setting up the messaging system and asking, and receiving, a room she could use as an office of business until she returned to the palace. But as the long night had passed she realized that something more was needed. As soon as the sun rose the next morning she looked through the notes that Eriol had left her and at last found what she had been searching for.
"It's a highly powerful illusion spell," Sakura told Syaoran and Yelan over breakfast. "Quen Yuan had mentioned that our enemy most likely would be using a spell that locked onto my aura and displayed the events to him as they happened. Normally, one might say that I should just hide my aura when I am discussing things that I do not wish for him to know. But that would also key him in that I know he is watching, which he may not and all this thought process could be wasted. However, just in case I want to set this spell up over my new office."
She had explained in detail what they needed to be done in order to maintain the spell and the best way to focus the Power so no one person was drained. She needed some Power of her own and so could not bear the brunt of it herself. Instead, Syaoran was to be the main source of magic with Yelan, Quen Yuan and the sisters adding in what they could. It all focus together in one central spot and the spell would only work during set times, or when she was in her office. The moment she opened the door to leave the spell would end.
"However, this means that all business should be spoken in there and thus I will unfortunately be spending most of my time within those four walls," she sighed. "Remind me to get Tomoyo to help decorate.
Before lunch the spell was set up so that anyone who searched for the new Queen's aura to spy on her would see what they thought they were supposed to. The illusion was such that it would be undetectable, even if the audience watched for hours on end. The fake Sakura would occasionally get up and stretch, yawn or hum to herself. Mostly though she would read and write letters or carry on fake conversations with the fake representations of the real people who came to visit her. It was both so complicated and simple that it boggled the mind.
At last though, Sakura was allowed to sit and pore over her documents without worrying that someone was watching. Touya had wasted no time in sending her the necessary lists and documents she would need to have in order to run the kingdom properly. However, nothing had come on their unknown enemy and she doubted anything would come for some time. With a sigh she finally looked up at Syaoran who had been watching her for some time silently.
"I think you make a much better organizer of men than me, Syaoran. What would you do right now?" she asked tiredly.
The future leader of the Li clan thought for a few minutes. "Well, chances are that he is still around the Capitol. And if he's not, when he was there he was probably passing himself off as a member of the court. Anyone with great Power likes to feel at ease in their life."
Sakura thought this over for a minute, wondering how she would find out if this was true. Then a small smile spread over her lips as an idea hit her. "Syaoran, can ask Chiharu to come see me? Yamazaki can come as well if he wishes."
Like everyone else so far, the first thing that the two teenagers did when the entered the queens private office was drop to one knee in respect. Sakura sighed, hating to see this yet again, especially when it was one of her childhood friends involved. "Chiharu get up. People bowing to me only make me nervous."
Chiharu smiled at her friend, noticing the bags under her eyes and the not quite hidden signs of deep grieving. "How are you Sakura?" she asked softly.
"I'll be fine, Chiharu. You know me. And right now I'd be more worried about yourself," she remarked, exchanging a grin with Tomoyo who was happily sewing in the corner. "Syaoran believes that it is a possibility that the man who killed my father, and who is after me, may still be in the Capitol. Or if he is not that he is passing himself off as a member of the court."
Everyone in the room nodded, though Yamazaki and Syaoran were both beginning to wonder what this was leading to. Chiharu however began to get a horrified expression on her face as her new ruler continued.
"Now, I know that you are used to being sent on missions to gather information so I know you can do this. If you need assistance, I can tell you where Naoko is living now and you can probably get Rika to join you as well. Tomoyo has declined to leave and so this really falls to you. Will you please help me?"
Chiharu groaned. "But Sakura it's the court! What will I do there? I don't have those kind of manners really and I won't fit in. You know this! Why do I have to do it?" she whined uncharacteristically. "I can understand you sending Yamazaki because he can do almost anything and he blends in better anywhere he goes, but me?"
Sakura laughed at her friend. "Chiharu, I am surprised at you! You are the Marchioness of Shore and third in line for the throne itself! Act like it!"
"It could be fourth," the reluctant girl commented before giving in and nodding.
"Wait a second, what?" Yamazaki asked incredulously looking between his longtime girlfriend and his new queen. "I don't think I heard you right."
Tomoyo laughed. "You mean you haven't told anyone, Chiharu? That is really not very smart you know."
"You mean they are serious?" Syaoran inquired of the raven haired girl who was giggling.
Chiharu sighed. "My full name and title is Chiharu Mihara, Marchioness of Shore and second cousin to the current queen of Tomoeda. And yes, technically I'm either third or fourth in line for the throne." She sighed pathetically.
"Why third or fourth?" Syaoran asked curiously. "And if the prince is first who is second?"
"Tomoyo comes after Touya and after her comes the Marques or Marchioness, whoever is seen to be better suited. There are two at the same level," Sakura answered, feeling a sudden bout of curiosity that caused her to sort through her papers.
"Who is the Marques?"
"No one knows, he's never been to court. Though from what my father told me his mother was the Marchioness before him and she died in childbirth giving him the title his entire life."
Yamazaki barely listened to the conversation, keeping his eyes trained on the woman he loved. "Why didn't you ever tell me this? I mean everyone here thought that you were a lady but not titled!"
"Because it sounds just like something you would make up, Yamazaki," Chiharu answered with a grin. "Anyway, we'll discus that later. But yes, Sakura, I will go. When do you want me to leave?"
"I don't know yet, but soon. You need a proper wardrobe and we need to find a quick way of getting you to the Capitol that still allows you to make pit stops. When I figure everything out I'll send you a note, okay?"
Chiharu agreed and led Yamazaki out of the room for some much needed explanations. Syaoran was left with Tomoyo and Sakura who were both quietly working on separate things. For a little while he just watched, waiting for when his knowledge might be put to use again, when a sudden thought struck him. "You mean that if during those last two or more weeks of travel we had been all murdered by thieves in our sleep three out of the four known inheritors to the throne would have been rid of without anyone knowing it?"
"Something like that," Tomoyo answered with a smile. "What are you looking for Sakura?"
"The list of nobility should be around her somewhere. Now that I'm queen I really should know the top five people who would inherit in the event of my death. I know it says somewhere who the Marques is," she said, shuffling through her papers distractedly. "Ah, here we go." The two other occupants watched as she read through the extensive list which listed each title for a few generations before the current holder. A minute had passed and then the emerald eyed girl gasped and dropped the sheet.
"Apparently I knew him after all," she whispered wonderingly.
Many miles away, sitting in a room with two other occupants, Eriol suddenly felt a tug on his aura. It was the familiar feeling of someone looking for him though at first he couldn't tell who it was. Reaching out with his own Powers he sought to feel the aura that was bumping against his own and finally found it a few minutes later. A small smirk grew across his lips as he stood, readying himself for a journey.
"The cherry blossom is mad at me, I think," he commented amusedly to the other two occupants of the room. "I think it's time I came clean about a few things. So this time, perhaps you should accompany me to go meet her."
The tall long haired girl and small cat like creature with wings looked at each other and smiled. For once the two Guardians felt perfect accord and agreement between them. Whatever else, this should prove to be amusing.
"You mean that blue-eyed evil guy is the Marques? It almost figures. He's obviously power hungry and wants your throne. Needed to gain your trust first, so he buddied up to you. It all makes sense now," Syaoran muttered, only half under his breath.
"Syaoran, Eriol has done nothing but help me. Stop being so mean to him, please?" Sakura pleaded.
"Fine," he growled, before throwing himself into the seat beside Tomoyo. He could feel the amethyst eyes boring into him, undoubtedly sparkling with amusement at his jealousy. However, he didn't give her the satisfaction of looking at her and eventually she returned her eyes to her work.
"Oh there is just so much to do and I don't know how to do it! I can lead people and decide on laws but this is warfare! I'm not trained in this," Sakura sighed. "Syaoran, help me."
"Well, you already took one big step, two maybe. First you are sending spies to gather information, and spies you can really trust. Next you must gather your allies. I'm not going to lie and say that it is certain that all or any of us will be able to help you, Sakura, when the time comes to fight. But we can help you as much as possible until then. Now for the moment why don't you stop worrying about all this and go eat some lunch. You haven't had a bite to eat since breakfast and you didn't have dinner last night. You need to eat."
"I will later. I'm not hungry right now. Don't worry about me, Syaoran; I'll be fine, I swear!"
Syaoran stared at her a minute before getting up to leave. He was sure that perhaps if everything was calm and she only had to deal with the death of her father she would be able to recover as she was now. Maybe even inheriting the kingdom would not have put as much pressure on her. But there were too many things weighing down on the girl and no matter how much she tried to smile and assure people that she would be fine, it showed how much she wasn't. Her eyes still looked dead and soulless. Her skin was already growing pale and the dramatically shortened locks of her hair were beginning to lose their shine.
No, Sakura was not fine nor would she be if she kept up like she was. It killed him to see her like this and knowing that no matter how much he tried to help, he couldn't. Sighing, Syaoran leaned against the banister of the balcony, staring at the snow, now blackened in places. He had been there a few minutes when he felt a familiar presence behind him.
"You love her don't you?" Tomoyo asked as she came to stand beside him.
"I'm not too obvious, am?"
"You are. But that may just be because you are in a house full of women with women's intuition. Or perhaps since I watch the people who surround Sakura carefully. However, she doesn't know it."
He sighed. "Good. I don't think that she needs to bear that burden right now. She has enough things on her mind."
"Why do you call it a burden, Li?" his companion asked with genuine bemusement
"She already told me that she likes someone. I feel uncomfortable knowing that Meiling is in love with me and I don't have a country to run. I don't want to make her uncomfortable around me."
Tomoyo thought over this for a moment. "You know, the man after Sakura will probably try to make her fall in love with him. He probably knows many ways to be charming and to win women over. Especially women who are as trusting and naïve as Sakura."
The idea of her falling in love with someone else at all, much less the enemy, caused Syaoran's heart to clench uncomfortably. "I think we can all make sure that doesn't happen."
"Maybe," she agreed. At last she turned to look at him, even though he continued to keep his eyes trained forward. "Li I know you are worried about Sakura, we all are. But have you ever thought that perhaps your love could help heal her instead of breaking her? Or that if you don't tell her now she may choose someone else and you would lose her forever?"
"As long as she's happy it doesn't matter," he nearly growled, hating his words as he also desperately agreed with them.
"Don't you deserve to be happy too?" she asked him in reply. Syaoran didn't answer and eventually Tomoyo left him to his thoughts. He didn't know what he should do but perhaps he should listen to his heart more than his mind. But his heart was also warning him that love refused isn't as bad as unrequited and he didn't know if he could handle the woman he loved so dearly, turning him away.
It was heading well into evening when Sakura heard someone knock on her office door. She didn't hesitate before asking them to come in, not even bothering to look up from the letter she was reading. "Eriol, why didn't you tell me that you were the Marques of Seijou? Especially when we were all traveling together towards the end. It really would have been a disaster to have four of the inheritors in line died on accident."
Eriol smiled at the new queen. Even so serious and irritated she was still beautiful. "It was self serving, your majesty. From birth I have been the Marques but when I meet people for the first time, especially those that are fascinating and worth knowing, I prefer to be myself, Eriol Hiiragizawa."
At last she looked up and gazed at him with incomprehension written in her eyes. "So you lied?"
"No," he answered, smiling. "I just neglected to tell the whole truth."
"Is there any reason why you wanted me in particular to like the 'real' you?"
"There are a few, but mainly they can be combined into one. I wanted you to like me as I couldn't help but find myself liking you."
Sakura sat back in surprise, her emerald eyes widening a little. "You l-like me? Why?"
"Can you not imagine why?" Eriol chuckled. "You are beautiful beyond belief, you are pure, innocent. You trust people without holding back. You wish nothing but the best for everyone you meet. You care less for yourself than a perfect stranger who smiled at you. You have amazing ability to understand when you want to and you have an amazing amount of Power. You do not hesitate to act when you know it's necessary. Do I need to go on?"
Sakura stared at him in surprise. Did he really think all that about her? And as she listened she couldn't help but wonder if a certain other man in her life thought the same.
Syaoran had been wandering the grounds after his conversation with Tomoyo. Her words echoed over and over in his head, desperately telling him to be who he needed to be. Forcing him to admit his love to her. But he couldn't forsake his own heart just yet. It would be simpler just to watch her love someone else without her knowing that he loved her so desperately. She wouldn't pity him then or feel awkward in his presence.
Without realizing it, he found himself in front of the window that looked into her office. Sighing, he walked to it, trying to get a glimpse of the beautiful green eyes as she so often glanced around the room. But instead he found something that made him wish to rush into the mansion and straight into her new room.
Syaoran sat staring as Eriol lectured to the queen on a topic that obviously surprised and startled her. She looked at him in disbelief as he stared down at her in adoration. As Syaoran watched, he stopped speaking and leaned across the desk, cupping the wide eyed girl's chin in his hand as he leaned forward to kiss her.
Fury over took the unknown audience and he wished desperately to rush into the room and stop the kiss from happening. Jealousy as he had never known washed over him, making his mind run in two separate directions. Finally, his meager brain told him that he'd never get there in time and he suddenly found his feet rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed on the scene he never wished to see. Breathing heavily he wished that something would happen to stop the bastard from kissing his woman.
Then, something unexpected happen. Sakura turned her head away at the last second. She muttered something and the blue eyed bastard pulled away to listen to her. Syaoran couldn't help but fall to is knees, out of sight from the window. Relief washed over his body and realization finally came to him.
There was no way he was going to be able to just sit back and watch her love someone else.
Sakura turned her head away as reality drew back on her. For a moment there it felt as if she needed to kiss him, to compare what it felt like. But she didn't need to. "Eriol, please," she whispered causing him to sit away and look at her. "I called you here because I need your help Eriol. Not because I needed to be kissed." She smiled at him sadly.
Eriol sighed, reining in on his disappointment. As usual, it was not meant to be. "I guess I knew that from the start. But it was worth a try. However, since you call upon me as an ally, I have more to tell you than just that I am the Marques of Seijou. However, I will wait until later to go into that. I am tired from my expedient journey."
Sakura smiled at him. "I'm sure there is a room being prepared for you and dinner will be served soon." She stood up, groaning internally at the aches and pains moving from her seated position gave her. "I will escort you."
Eriol nodded and held out his arm to her. His brow furrowed when he noticed how much she leaned on him for support at first. In the past few weeks as he watched her though his Mirror of Truth he had seen her grow up stronger, but now she was acting weak. The perils of office were weighing on her as heavily as the death of her father.
When the stepped out into the corridor there was a loud squealing noise, not unlike one of the four sisters, and the sound of someone charging down the stone floor. "Lovely, lady Sakura!" was all that could be heard before the small Card Mistress found herself being tackled in a mass of energetic young woman.
"Nakuru?" Sakura finally was able to gasp. "I haven't seen you since you gave up on courting my brother! Um, can you get off of me now?"
Nakuru looked down at the smaller girl, realizing at last that the force of her pounce had knocked of them from their feet. "Oh! Sorry, Sakura," she giggled as she helped the younger girl to her feet. "I was just so pleased to see you. Anyway, the Lady Yelan told me to come get you because dinner was ready and that you are under orders to eat. Which is kind of silly when you think about it since you are the queen."
Sakura nodded, not being able to control the look of hunted prey that settled over her features. "Why are you here at all, Nakuru?"
"Oh, I came with Lord Eriol! Did he not tell you yet?"
"Not yet. But I'll hear all the details later. Why don't we all go eat?"
With a smile, Nakuru Akizuki led the way to the dining hall, leaving Sakura to wonder just what was going on now.
The sun at set and the household had all drifted into slumber as Sakura sat in her office, going over the many papers that Touya had sent her. She wanted so desperately to be a good queen, to follow in hr father's footsteps. But it was just all so hard. She looked at all the work that needed to be done and cringed away from it. More than anything she just wanted to curl up and sleep for weeks, waking up eventually to find that everything was okay and she didn't have to worry about anything but the day to day matters.
Rubbing her eyes, she stretched a little before again setting back to work, sifting through the papers and documents she wished not for the first time she had paid more attention to when she was in training. She had always meant to, wanting to be knowledgeable before it was time for her or her brother to inherit. But that time had come more quickly than anyone had known and now she was paying for her procrastination.
"You need to go to bed, Sakura."
The young queen jumped a mile high from her chair, having had been to busy to realize that the door had opened. "Syaoran! You scared me out of my wits!"
"Perhaps that is a good thing. You need to get some sleep. Come one, I'll walk you to your room."
Stubbornly, she shook her head. "I'm not tired, Syaoran. I have things I need to do as well. I'll get to sleep later. And you should really be asleep. I don't want you getting sick or anything."
Syaoran rolled his eyes at her stupid logic. "Say the same about yourself. Sakura, it has been just over two days since you heard about your father's death. You need to take a break and grieve! I know you want to be a good ruler but you must take care for your own health and sanity. That is also part of the job. You need to sleep."
"I'm not tired, Syaoran," she said, standing up. "And this is what I need to do. When things settle down more and after a few weeks I'm sure it will all settle in and I will be used to having so much to do. Then I can relax more. But I need to do this Syaoran."
"You need to be a good queen, Sakura. But you don't need to work yourself to death! And that is what you are going to do if you don't step foot out of this office for more than a few minutes at a time. Please, I'm begging you. Go get some sleep."
"No, Syaoran!" she yelled, leaning over the desk. "I need to do this! I need to work so that I can be what my father would have respected! I need to protect my people! I need to-" she broke off when he grabbed her shoulders forcefully.
"No, you don't!" he roughly replied before pulling her against him for a passionate kiss. At first Sakura struggled before settling into the embrace. Slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed against him, wanting more of the delicious sensation he was giving her.
Syaoran let himself vent his frustrations and emotions into the lengthy kiss. He ran his hands over her supple body and held her fiercely to him. Truthfully, he admitted to himself he had wanted to do this ever since he had seen her and Eriol together that evening. Now he was desperate to claim her for his own, to say that he was the one who loved her more than anything.
When he realized the train of his thought, Syaoran suddenly broke away. For a minute he stared into the emerald eyes he adored so well as they were clouded by passion instead of hurt. Almost he let his self restraint go again, thinking to kiss all the grief from her body. But that was not the way. Instead he pulled away, making sure she was steady on her feet before he left the room without another word.
Sakura stared at the door then down at the papers she had been working on only minutes before. Suddenly her brain was incapable of mundane thought. More than anything she wanted to track Syaoran down and ask him why he had kissed her like that. Instead she blew out the lamp and went directly to bed where she dreamed of strong arms holding her and a voice whispering words of love into her ears.
(A/N: weee, another chapter done. However, the next few are formulating in my head and so the next update will probably be a week or more. It's going to be getting complicated. Ja! Review!)