Well, it's been hellacious here. Sorry for the lengthy time between
updates, but I'm already working on the next chapter so if it's not up
today it'll be up tomorrow or the next. Payment for making you wait so
long!
As for my reviewers: I LOVE YOU!
Actually, I wanted to clear up that Eriol is NOT the bad guy. I'm sorry if
I made it sound like that but they are not the same person by any means.
And Kitty00240...I love your phraseology. It is lovely and touching.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Nothing else really to add aside that the time passage was made definite in this chapter so you get to know just exactly how much time has passed since I've been rather vague before now.
Disclaimer: I dun own ccs. But hey, I'm almost done with this story which makes that yayness compared to the evilness of non ownership.
Chapter Eighteen: The Leaving of Childhood
Syaoran looked at her in astonishment for awhile. Whatever he had been expecting her to say, that was not anywhere near something he could have guessed. Especially, since it had been her idea to stay at the Li home to begin with. Slowly he reached out and took her hand in his.
"Okay. Can you say that again, please? I might still be asleep."
"I want to see my mother, Syaoran. Who knows what could happen to me or her or any of us before my coronation. I want to see her at least once more before anything dangerous happens."
He sighed. All of his instincts were raging inside of him, shouting for him to tell her no, to forbid her from going anywhere near the place where her father had been murdered not all that long ago. But when he looked in her eyes he knew he couldn't. She looked so lost, her emerald eyes pleading with him.
"Fine, but I'm coming with you."
Sakura smiled and threw her arms around him, knocking them both back onto the bed. As Sakura rearranged herself more comfortably on top of him, she giggled a little, confusing Syaoran more than just a tad.
"What are you giggling at?"
"Well, you can come with me. But you can't sleep in my room while we're there."
"Like hell I won't," he growled.
"Then perhaps you would like to explain to my brother why you should be allowed to."
Syaoran stilled under her and Sakura didn't bother to stop the giggles that poured forth. "Perhaps we should only be there one night. Or even just one day."
"We'll see."
The days passed by quickly as they made careful plans. They sent a letter informing her brother and mother that they would be coming by for at most two days and when they would arrive. Tomoyo was informed that she should stay behind, which took most of the time from the decision to journey to convince her of. The Li sisters spent that same amount of time ooing and awing over the idea of seeing the cute prince and his friend once more and also had to be convinced that they were not allowed to come.
The people who argued least were of course the 'suitors' who had no reason to mind the queen's absence or her fiancée. In fact two of them were almost more pleased for their impending absence than them staying since they already felt a little pressured when around the small honey haired girl. Nor would they miss the glares directed from the amber eyed boy.
All and all things passed quietly and on the eve before they ventured out, Sakura was found leaning over the balcony, her cloak dusted lightly in snow and her wide eyes focused on the sky above. Syaoran paused to marvel at the beautiful sight she was making before walking to her and wrapping his arms around her small waist. She turned and smiled at him, leaning back against his warm body before turning to once again look at the night sky.
"You know, Syaoran, in three days it will be one month until my coronation. And tomorrow it will have been six months since we first met."
"Only six months?" he asked, settling his chin to rest lightly on her head. "It feels like I've known you forever."
"It does doesn't it. But if you think about it, it all happened really fast. Six months ago, you arrived to be body guard to a princess for training and now you will soon be king."
He chuckled. "But not over the Li clan yet."
Curious, she turned and looked at him. "Really? Why won't you?"
"Because I have to train as your bodyguard for two years before I can be thought worthy to lead the Li clan."
Her beautiful green eyes widened. "You mean you have to be King of Tomoeda for over a year before they will let you become leader of a part of it? That sounds a bit silly."
Syaoran shrugged. "It could be worse."
"How?"
"They could have assigned me to guard someone else and we would never have met and I would have spent the rest of my life lonely and alone."
Sakura turned around and smiled up at him. "Oh I don't think so. Even if you had been told to guard someone else, I think we still would have met. I think you are my destiny, Li Xiao Lang."
Syaoran stared down at her, slightly taken aback and awed. Slowly, though, a smile grew over his face. "I think I agree with you, Sakura," he whispered before leaning down and capturing her mouth in a sweet kiss.
Neither noticed when the snow began to come down heavily or the way everyone began to stare at them through the window, Tomoyo sketching furiously. All they noticed was the feel of each other's arms and how happy they were being there.
Naoko sat in a small shop, drinking tea and reading one of the newest books she had checked out from the local lending library. Beside her on the table was a short letter written to her that she was still smiling over internally. Turning the page once more, she didn't notice the figure entering the shop and how it paused surveying the scene before making it's way towards her. She was so completely engrossed that she didn't realize it's presence at all until her book was taken from her hands, careful to keep the page.
At last she looked up into a pair of dancing cerulean blue eyes positioned directly opposite her. "Damian! I didn't expect to see you here! How did you know I was?"
The light haired man smiled at her. "I didn't. In fact I was jut walking pass the shop when I saw you sitting inside through the window. You look so engrossed in your book I had to know what it was."
"Oh, it's brand new! In fact, it's written like a diary from the girl's point of view as she tries to find out who murdered her best friend's father. She even has someone helping her now but I think he's the murderer!" She took the book back and held it carefully to her chest with glittering eyes. "Don't you love these sort of books?"
A glint of humour shone from his eye as Damian looked over his companion. "I do indeed. But there seems to be a glow to you that isn't entirely from your book alone. Have you had good news?"
She nodded quickly. "A friend of mine is coming to town for two days tomorrow. I hope she shall get the chance to visit. It's been almost a month since I've seen her last."
"Is this THAT friend?" he asked.
Naoko blinked, suddenly remembering just how much she had revealed to her new friend. However, he still had been helpful and given her some hints to where this man they were looking for were after. Yet, he still resisted all attempts she made to have her meet her friends. With an internal shrug, she resigned it to the back of her thoughts.
"Yes, it is that friend. I wish you could meet her. She is a truly wonderful person."
"I'm sure she is. And who knows, perhaps fate will arrange a meeting for the two of us," he interjected smoothly causing Naoko to furrow her brow slightly before getting caught up the new topic he brought under discussion.
It was early morning when two figures dressed in long enveloping cloaks appeared suddenly on the stairs that led into the palace. If one hadn't been staring at them, it could almost be said they stepped out of the shadows the sun cast as it rose higher into the sky. But for someone who had been watching, they simply appeared. Slowly the two figures mounted the steps one by one until they reached the grand doors that opened into the Royal Palace of Tomoeda. There they hesitated, seemingly unsure before the doors themselves flew open and a figure appeared.
The man bursting through the door had hair as black as ink and watchful brown eyes. He saw the two figures standing side by side, his eyes fixating on the shorter one. For a moment he merely stared before bursting into a grin as the shorter figure raced towards him.
"Touya!" it exclaimed before throwing itself into the arms of the waiting man who wrapped them tightly around the figure and held it up off of the ground. "I missed you so much!"
"Calm down, monster. You'll wake up the entire kingdom with shouts like that."
"I'm not a monster!" Sakura growled, unable to stomp on her brother's feet for once because she was still hanging about a foot above them. "Where's Yukito and Mother? Are they awake yet?"
"Yuki's asleep but mother is waiting just inside. Come on," Touya said, gesturing for her to enter. At last, he looked over to where Syaoran stood watching silently. His eyes narrowed. "I guess you can enter too, brat." Syaoran returned the hard glare before entering behind Sakura.
"Sakura!" they heard a voice cry out almost immediately. Glancing around they found Nadeshiko coming towards them quickly. She almost reached them before she tripped on nothing and fell flat on her face. Syaoran and Touya winced in shared pain while Sakura quickly ran to her fallen mother.
"Are you okay?" she asked, helping the raven haired lady stand up once more.
Nadeshiko smiled gently and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "Of course I'm fine. Especially since you are here now. Oh, I missed you so much Sakura!"
Sakura returned the embrace and let herself bask in the feeling of having her mother right there once more. "Oh mother, I missed you so much, too! I've been so worried about you. Are you okay?"
Nadeshiko laughed. "You ask if I'm okay when you are the one who's been facing mortal danger. Just like Sakura." At last she let her beloved daughter go and locked eyes with the young man standing only a few feet distant. "It is wonderful to see you again as well, Li. Is your mother well? We had great times, the two of us."
Syaoran nodded. "Yes, ma'am, she is doing very well. She sends her regards and promises that the two of you will have a nice long chat when she comes up to the capitol in a month."
Nadeshiko nodded. "Now, enough standing about in the main hall. I doubt either of you have breakfasted and I know I'm starving! Touya, do you know if the food is ready yet?"
"It is, mother," he replied kindly. "They are waiting for us."
Nadeshiko blushed. "I always feel bad for having such quirks. When we raise at dawn they have to get up hours before. I'll be sure to tell them we will be going out for dinner so they can have a few hours off." So saying, she took Touya's arm and led the way into the dinning room. Syaoran took Sakura's and waited for a moment before finally prodding her into movement. The walk was not exceedingly long but throughout Sakura's eyes darted everywhere.
"It feels so weird to be back after such a long time. Everything is still the same."
Syaoran chuckled. "Did you expect them to change everything because you left for a couple months?"
Sakura blushed. "I keep forgetting it's only been a matter of months. It seems like forever since I've stepped foot in these halls." Her face fell a little. "And now they are my halls as they never have been before. I had almost forgot."
Syaoran reached his arm down from their linked elbows and took her hand in his, squeezing it lightly in comfort. "Everything will be all right, Sakura. I promise."
The young Queen looked over at him and smiled softly, inching closer so she could lean against them as the walked the last little bit into the dining hall and to breakfast.
She was standing in front of a tall slab of black marble. It reached just a little over her head and was perhaps just a little wider than she was herself. It was etched beautifully in gold with a blazing sun identical to the one she wore on her right hand ring finger. The sun shone early in the day, breaking light just above the marble, breaking free at last of the dark clouds that covered the sky, threatening snow once more.
It was a beautiful sight to behold as the rays of sunlight echoed around the other similar looking slabs and reflected the golden sun so it seemed as fire itself had been born into the cold marble. Beautiful until it was seen for what it truly was. Beautiful until the name etched into it in the same blazing fiery gold.
"Fujitaka Kinomoto
Beloved Husband
Devoted Father
The best of Kings"
Sakura stood with her black cloak wrapped around her, billowing slightly in the relentless wind that bid her away from this place of death and mourning. Her face was as white as the snow that lay in patches on the ground, covering the faded green grass. She stood there, her sparkling emerald eyes brought to such beauty by the power of surpassed tears instead of joy as she looked at her father's final resting place.
Behind her slightly, her mother watched from her right side, Syaoran radiated comfort from her left and her brother whispered prayers. In the month of knowledge she had allowed herself selfishly to forget but the knowledge came crashing down once more as she felt the raw pain and anguish radiate from her mother and the sense of loss and instilled bewilderment from her brother as he still felt like a lost child without the man who had raised him and lived to love him for so long.
She could not break down here.
Sakura finally turned away and walked directly to her mother, who shed tears silently, and wrapped her arms around her fragile figure. "Let's go in mother. I do not think either of us need to catch cold here. This is not where father would want us to be either."
Nadeshiko smiled at her daughter, now full grown in such a short space of time. The little girl who she had raised and loved was mature now, not gone entirely, but different. She was a good woman. Silently she nodded and the four made their way back to the palace.
When they had entered, Sakura dismissed herself. "I need to change my clothes. I'm all wet now. I suggest everyone do the same before you catch cold!" With a smile she made her way to her room. Syaoran watched her go for a minute before bowing and saying he would do the same.
As soon as she was out of sight, Sakura burst into a run. Syaoran barely was able to catch up with her before she burst into tears, throwing her arms around him. Still in the corridor, he picked her up in his arms and carried her into her room, settling down on the bed. As she bawled, he stroked his hand through her hair carefully and whispered soothing words.
But he knew that there were no words that could comfort more than tears when a father was lost to his child. So he drifted to silence and just sat, rocking her back and forth in his arms until she calmed. His shirt was soaked through but he didn't mind. Nor did he mind the way she continued to cling to him long after her tears had stopped as her body trembled from so much energy expelled.
"I didn't mean to cry all over you, Syaoran," she whispered at last, her voice hoarse.
"I don't mind. I'd prefer you cry all over me than someone else, or worse alone. Why don't you lay down and take a nap until the nooning meal?"
"But then mom and Touya will know I've been crying."
Syaoran smirked and rolled his eyes. "Sakura, they already know that. There is no shame in crying."
Sakura nodded then giggled slightly. "I can't imagine you crying. You are too invincible to cry."
He smiled into her hair. "I've cried before. I just don't do it particularly often. There are times for tears and there are times when tears are unnecessary."
"What do you mean?" she asked, cuddling, if possible, closer to him.
"Well, if you cry because you lost something precious to you, something that never will be returned, that is okay. Crying makes you stronger since it allows you to mourn and get past your feelings. It shows strength to allow such a weakness. But if you cry because you have lost something that you could have returned to you if you took effort to take it back and instead of working for it you simply cry, then that is being foolish."
"I think I'm foolish often."
"Perhaps, but you never give up."
Pulling away, she smiled at him. "Thank you, Syaoran."
He smiled back at her. "Now, lay down and I'll go give your excuses to your relatives."
She nodded and allowed him to pick her up once more and lay her down on the bed gently. When he moved to leave she grabbed his hand, causing him to turn back. "Without a kiss?" she whispered, blushing furiously.
Syaoran giggled and turned around. Slowly, he leaned over and pressed his lips against hers in a lingering kiss, the kind that comforted rather than demanded. Pulling away, he smiled down at her and kissed her forehead before leaving her to sleep. At the door, he paused to look over her still pale form. She looked so drained and lost.
Silently, he swore to himself to never let her feel alone again.
Chiharu excitedly rushed to the door and flung it open. Before her she found four well dressed and cloaked figures. Quickly, she ushered them inside and closed the door before loosing all composure and throwing herself on the smallest figure. "Sakura!"
Sakura wrapped her arms around her dear friend. "Chiharu! Where is everyone else?"
As if in answer, four figures quickly rushed into the room. Rika and Naoko immediately rushed to their friend while Yamazaki walked over to Li and welcomed him politely and Mr. Terada, an unexpected addition, took the cloaks of the Queen Mother and Prince of the land.
Finally the gaggle of girls stopped squealing long enough to address everyone else. "We've spent hours on dinner to make it prefect!"
"It's absolutely divine!"
"It will be wonderful to have everyone here together to eat!"
Sakura frowned. "We didn't want you to spend so much time working for us! That's why we suggested that everyone go out to eat!"
"But, Sakura," Chiharu argued, "then people would know you were in the city and that could prove dangerous."
"She has a point, Sakura," Nadeshiko smiled. "Besides, Rika is right. It will be nice to have everyone dine here together. We are all family so we should all act like it!"
Yamazaki found himself blushing to hear the former queen call him family so candidly and looked over to see Terada and Li in similar states. "Ahem, we are glad to have you here, Queen Nadeshiko. If you would please follow me into the dining room?"
Nadeshiko laughed and took Yamazaki's offered arm, leading the way into the dining room once more. Terada took Rika's arm and Touya offered his to Naoko, who giggled and began to talk about her favourite subject with someone who was an expert on the matter: ghosts. Sakura leaned over and whispered to Chiharu.
"Yamazaki is amazing. He acts better than I do!"
Chiharu nodded. "I think I'm afraid to marry him. He'll do a better job than I will!"
Syaoran cleared his throat, successfully grabbing their attention. "Ladies shall we?" he asked, offering both arms.
"Only if Chiharu promises not to try and steal you since she's giving up on Yamazaki," Sakura giggled.
"Yamazaki for Li? Never! If Yamazaki would do a better job, Li would make me seem incompetent!"
The two girls giggled as Syaoran sighed, leading them both into the room so that everyone could behave as they always had, like family.
A great argument ensued after dinner was done over where the young Li would be sleeping. Though no mention was made of where his normal sleeping arrangement, Touya seemed to have a sixth sense about this and argued heatedly against him sleeping even in the same wing as his little sister. Nadeshiko disagreed and even decided in Li's favour when he argued that as Sakura's bodyguard and fiancée, a title that almost threw Touya into a killing spree, he should be positioned near her in case of any emergency. So at the end of the argument, Syaoran was granted the room beside Sakura's.
Late into the night, Syaoran found himself unable to sleep. The past weeks of falling asleep with Sakura securely in his arms had spoiled him to sleep without her. With a sigh, he rolled over once more and resigned himself to a sleepless night. But at that particular moment, the woman who had been consuming all his thoughts walked through the door into his room.
Literally through the door, not the doorway.
Surprised he sat up quickly. Her long silvery night gown that hung so deliciously over her body and the way the moon reflected off her skin made her seem like a dream. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he really had fallen asleep and the gods were blessing him for being such a patient man. However, seeing as something like this had never occurred before, he gave up that theory.
"Sakura?"
"Who else?" she giggled.
"Why did you come through the door like that?" he asked, still a little confused.
"Well, see my brother is very, very suspicious. And I figured he would set a trap up so that he could tell if your door opened during the night. I was right, too! So I used the Through Card."
Syaoran stared at her. His mind had been so consumed with her that he hadn't even noticed her using magic? Shaking his head slightly in disbelief, he pulled the comforter up, inviting her to join him. She quickly took the silent invitation and slid into bed beside him.
"I couldn't sleep without you. I tried, but it was impossible," she whispered against his neck.
"Same here," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her, settling her frame perfectly against his. The two lay in silence for awhile and Syaoran had almost believed that Sakura was close to drifting off when she spoke.
"Would you cry like I did before if I died, Syaoran?"
He stiffened, unwilling to comprehend such an eventuality. Forcing images and feelings of horror, he finally answered. "No."
Sakura gasped and rose up to look him in his eyes. "You wouldn't?" she asked, feeling betrayed.
"No, I would die."
A soft look fell over her features and she reached a hand up to carress his cheek. "Me too," she whispered. "I guess then we have to promise not to leave each other behind."
He took the hand caressing his cheek in his and kissed it. "I promise never to leave you alone."
"Me too."
(A/N: YAY...another chapter up! And a quick preview for the next chapter since it was going to be in this one:
'Sakura looked at the cold marble once more before turning to leave. However her exit was blocked by the coming of someone she had never seen before. She stood still as the stranger approached and caught sight of his light hair, small smile and surprisingly brilliant cerulean blue eyes.'
Nothing else really to add aside that the time passage was made definite in this chapter so you get to know just exactly how much time has passed since I've been rather vague before now.
Disclaimer: I dun own ccs. But hey, I'm almost done with this story which makes that yayness compared to the evilness of non ownership.
Chapter Eighteen: The Leaving of Childhood
Syaoran looked at her in astonishment for awhile. Whatever he had been expecting her to say, that was not anywhere near something he could have guessed. Especially, since it had been her idea to stay at the Li home to begin with. Slowly he reached out and took her hand in his.
"Okay. Can you say that again, please? I might still be asleep."
"I want to see my mother, Syaoran. Who knows what could happen to me or her or any of us before my coronation. I want to see her at least once more before anything dangerous happens."
He sighed. All of his instincts were raging inside of him, shouting for him to tell her no, to forbid her from going anywhere near the place where her father had been murdered not all that long ago. But when he looked in her eyes he knew he couldn't. She looked so lost, her emerald eyes pleading with him.
"Fine, but I'm coming with you."
Sakura smiled and threw her arms around him, knocking them both back onto the bed. As Sakura rearranged herself more comfortably on top of him, she giggled a little, confusing Syaoran more than just a tad.
"What are you giggling at?"
"Well, you can come with me. But you can't sleep in my room while we're there."
"Like hell I won't," he growled.
"Then perhaps you would like to explain to my brother why you should be allowed to."
Syaoran stilled under her and Sakura didn't bother to stop the giggles that poured forth. "Perhaps we should only be there one night. Or even just one day."
"We'll see."
The days passed by quickly as they made careful plans. They sent a letter informing her brother and mother that they would be coming by for at most two days and when they would arrive. Tomoyo was informed that she should stay behind, which took most of the time from the decision to journey to convince her of. The Li sisters spent that same amount of time ooing and awing over the idea of seeing the cute prince and his friend once more and also had to be convinced that they were not allowed to come.
The people who argued least were of course the 'suitors' who had no reason to mind the queen's absence or her fiancée. In fact two of them were almost more pleased for their impending absence than them staying since they already felt a little pressured when around the small honey haired girl. Nor would they miss the glares directed from the amber eyed boy.
All and all things passed quietly and on the eve before they ventured out, Sakura was found leaning over the balcony, her cloak dusted lightly in snow and her wide eyes focused on the sky above. Syaoran paused to marvel at the beautiful sight she was making before walking to her and wrapping his arms around her small waist. She turned and smiled at him, leaning back against his warm body before turning to once again look at the night sky.
"You know, Syaoran, in three days it will be one month until my coronation. And tomorrow it will have been six months since we first met."
"Only six months?" he asked, settling his chin to rest lightly on her head. "It feels like I've known you forever."
"It does doesn't it. But if you think about it, it all happened really fast. Six months ago, you arrived to be body guard to a princess for training and now you will soon be king."
He chuckled. "But not over the Li clan yet."
Curious, she turned and looked at him. "Really? Why won't you?"
"Because I have to train as your bodyguard for two years before I can be thought worthy to lead the Li clan."
Her beautiful green eyes widened. "You mean you have to be King of Tomoeda for over a year before they will let you become leader of a part of it? That sounds a bit silly."
Syaoran shrugged. "It could be worse."
"How?"
"They could have assigned me to guard someone else and we would never have met and I would have spent the rest of my life lonely and alone."
Sakura turned around and smiled up at him. "Oh I don't think so. Even if you had been told to guard someone else, I think we still would have met. I think you are my destiny, Li Xiao Lang."
Syaoran stared down at her, slightly taken aback and awed. Slowly, though, a smile grew over his face. "I think I agree with you, Sakura," he whispered before leaning down and capturing her mouth in a sweet kiss.
Neither noticed when the snow began to come down heavily or the way everyone began to stare at them through the window, Tomoyo sketching furiously. All they noticed was the feel of each other's arms and how happy they were being there.
Naoko sat in a small shop, drinking tea and reading one of the newest books she had checked out from the local lending library. Beside her on the table was a short letter written to her that she was still smiling over internally. Turning the page once more, she didn't notice the figure entering the shop and how it paused surveying the scene before making it's way towards her. She was so completely engrossed that she didn't realize it's presence at all until her book was taken from her hands, careful to keep the page.
At last she looked up into a pair of dancing cerulean blue eyes positioned directly opposite her. "Damian! I didn't expect to see you here! How did you know I was?"
The light haired man smiled at her. "I didn't. In fact I was jut walking pass the shop when I saw you sitting inside through the window. You look so engrossed in your book I had to know what it was."
"Oh, it's brand new! In fact, it's written like a diary from the girl's point of view as she tries to find out who murdered her best friend's father. She even has someone helping her now but I think he's the murderer!" She took the book back and held it carefully to her chest with glittering eyes. "Don't you love these sort of books?"
A glint of humour shone from his eye as Damian looked over his companion. "I do indeed. But there seems to be a glow to you that isn't entirely from your book alone. Have you had good news?"
She nodded quickly. "A friend of mine is coming to town for two days tomorrow. I hope she shall get the chance to visit. It's been almost a month since I've seen her last."
"Is this THAT friend?" he asked.
Naoko blinked, suddenly remembering just how much she had revealed to her new friend. However, he still had been helpful and given her some hints to where this man they were looking for were after. Yet, he still resisted all attempts she made to have her meet her friends. With an internal shrug, she resigned it to the back of her thoughts.
"Yes, it is that friend. I wish you could meet her. She is a truly wonderful person."
"I'm sure she is. And who knows, perhaps fate will arrange a meeting for the two of us," he interjected smoothly causing Naoko to furrow her brow slightly before getting caught up the new topic he brought under discussion.
It was early morning when two figures dressed in long enveloping cloaks appeared suddenly on the stairs that led into the palace. If one hadn't been staring at them, it could almost be said they stepped out of the shadows the sun cast as it rose higher into the sky. But for someone who had been watching, they simply appeared. Slowly the two figures mounted the steps one by one until they reached the grand doors that opened into the Royal Palace of Tomoeda. There they hesitated, seemingly unsure before the doors themselves flew open and a figure appeared.
The man bursting through the door had hair as black as ink and watchful brown eyes. He saw the two figures standing side by side, his eyes fixating on the shorter one. For a moment he merely stared before bursting into a grin as the shorter figure raced towards him.
"Touya!" it exclaimed before throwing itself into the arms of the waiting man who wrapped them tightly around the figure and held it up off of the ground. "I missed you so much!"
"Calm down, monster. You'll wake up the entire kingdom with shouts like that."
"I'm not a monster!" Sakura growled, unable to stomp on her brother's feet for once because she was still hanging about a foot above them. "Where's Yukito and Mother? Are they awake yet?"
"Yuki's asleep but mother is waiting just inside. Come on," Touya said, gesturing for her to enter. At last, he looked over to where Syaoran stood watching silently. His eyes narrowed. "I guess you can enter too, brat." Syaoran returned the hard glare before entering behind Sakura.
"Sakura!" they heard a voice cry out almost immediately. Glancing around they found Nadeshiko coming towards them quickly. She almost reached them before she tripped on nothing and fell flat on her face. Syaoran and Touya winced in shared pain while Sakura quickly ran to her fallen mother.
"Are you okay?" she asked, helping the raven haired lady stand up once more.
Nadeshiko smiled gently and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "Of course I'm fine. Especially since you are here now. Oh, I missed you so much Sakura!"
Sakura returned the embrace and let herself bask in the feeling of having her mother right there once more. "Oh mother, I missed you so much, too! I've been so worried about you. Are you okay?"
Nadeshiko laughed. "You ask if I'm okay when you are the one who's been facing mortal danger. Just like Sakura." At last she let her beloved daughter go and locked eyes with the young man standing only a few feet distant. "It is wonderful to see you again as well, Li. Is your mother well? We had great times, the two of us."
Syaoran nodded. "Yes, ma'am, she is doing very well. She sends her regards and promises that the two of you will have a nice long chat when she comes up to the capitol in a month."
Nadeshiko nodded. "Now, enough standing about in the main hall. I doubt either of you have breakfasted and I know I'm starving! Touya, do you know if the food is ready yet?"
"It is, mother," he replied kindly. "They are waiting for us."
Nadeshiko blushed. "I always feel bad for having such quirks. When we raise at dawn they have to get up hours before. I'll be sure to tell them we will be going out for dinner so they can have a few hours off." So saying, she took Touya's arm and led the way into the dinning room. Syaoran took Sakura's and waited for a moment before finally prodding her into movement. The walk was not exceedingly long but throughout Sakura's eyes darted everywhere.
"It feels so weird to be back after such a long time. Everything is still the same."
Syaoran chuckled. "Did you expect them to change everything because you left for a couple months?"
Sakura blushed. "I keep forgetting it's only been a matter of months. It seems like forever since I've stepped foot in these halls." Her face fell a little. "And now they are my halls as they never have been before. I had almost forgot."
Syaoran reached his arm down from their linked elbows and took her hand in his, squeezing it lightly in comfort. "Everything will be all right, Sakura. I promise."
The young Queen looked over at him and smiled softly, inching closer so she could lean against them as the walked the last little bit into the dining hall and to breakfast.
She was standing in front of a tall slab of black marble. It reached just a little over her head and was perhaps just a little wider than she was herself. It was etched beautifully in gold with a blazing sun identical to the one she wore on her right hand ring finger. The sun shone early in the day, breaking light just above the marble, breaking free at last of the dark clouds that covered the sky, threatening snow once more.
It was a beautiful sight to behold as the rays of sunlight echoed around the other similar looking slabs and reflected the golden sun so it seemed as fire itself had been born into the cold marble. Beautiful until it was seen for what it truly was. Beautiful until the name etched into it in the same blazing fiery gold.
"Fujitaka Kinomoto
Beloved Husband
Devoted Father
The best of Kings"
Sakura stood with her black cloak wrapped around her, billowing slightly in the relentless wind that bid her away from this place of death and mourning. Her face was as white as the snow that lay in patches on the ground, covering the faded green grass. She stood there, her sparkling emerald eyes brought to such beauty by the power of surpassed tears instead of joy as she looked at her father's final resting place.
Behind her slightly, her mother watched from her right side, Syaoran radiated comfort from her left and her brother whispered prayers. In the month of knowledge she had allowed herself selfishly to forget but the knowledge came crashing down once more as she felt the raw pain and anguish radiate from her mother and the sense of loss and instilled bewilderment from her brother as he still felt like a lost child without the man who had raised him and lived to love him for so long.
She could not break down here.
Sakura finally turned away and walked directly to her mother, who shed tears silently, and wrapped her arms around her fragile figure. "Let's go in mother. I do not think either of us need to catch cold here. This is not where father would want us to be either."
Nadeshiko smiled at her daughter, now full grown in such a short space of time. The little girl who she had raised and loved was mature now, not gone entirely, but different. She was a good woman. Silently she nodded and the four made their way back to the palace.
When they had entered, Sakura dismissed herself. "I need to change my clothes. I'm all wet now. I suggest everyone do the same before you catch cold!" With a smile she made her way to her room. Syaoran watched her go for a minute before bowing and saying he would do the same.
As soon as she was out of sight, Sakura burst into a run. Syaoran barely was able to catch up with her before she burst into tears, throwing her arms around him. Still in the corridor, he picked her up in his arms and carried her into her room, settling down on the bed. As she bawled, he stroked his hand through her hair carefully and whispered soothing words.
But he knew that there were no words that could comfort more than tears when a father was lost to his child. So he drifted to silence and just sat, rocking her back and forth in his arms until she calmed. His shirt was soaked through but he didn't mind. Nor did he mind the way she continued to cling to him long after her tears had stopped as her body trembled from so much energy expelled.
"I didn't mean to cry all over you, Syaoran," she whispered at last, her voice hoarse.
"I don't mind. I'd prefer you cry all over me than someone else, or worse alone. Why don't you lay down and take a nap until the nooning meal?"
"But then mom and Touya will know I've been crying."
Syaoran smirked and rolled his eyes. "Sakura, they already know that. There is no shame in crying."
Sakura nodded then giggled slightly. "I can't imagine you crying. You are too invincible to cry."
He smiled into her hair. "I've cried before. I just don't do it particularly often. There are times for tears and there are times when tears are unnecessary."
"What do you mean?" she asked, cuddling, if possible, closer to him.
"Well, if you cry because you lost something precious to you, something that never will be returned, that is okay. Crying makes you stronger since it allows you to mourn and get past your feelings. It shows strength to allow such a weakness. But if you cry because you have lost something that you could have returned to you if you took effort to take it back and instead of working for it you simply cry, then that is being foolish."
"I think I'm foolish often."
"Perhaps, but you never give up."
Pulling away, she smiled at him. "Thank you, Syaoran."
He smiled back at her. "Now, lay down and I'll go give your excuses to your relatives."
She nodded and allowed him to pick her up once more and lay her down on the bed gently. When he moved to leave she grabbed his hand, causing him to turn back. "Without a kiss?" she whispered, blushing furiously.
Syaoran giggled and turned around. Slowly, he leaned over and pressed his lips against hers in a lingering kiss, the kind that comforted rather than demanded. Pulling away, he smiled down at her and kissed her forehead before leaving her to sleep. At the door, he paused to look over her still pale form. She looked so drained and lost.
Silently, he swore to himself to never let her feel alone again.
Chiharu excitedly rushed to the door and flung it open. Before her she found four well dressed and cloaked figures. Quickly, she ushered them inside and closed the door before loosing all composure and throwing herself on the smallest figure. "Sakura!"
Sakura wrapped her arms around her dear friend. "Chiharu! Where is everyone else?"
As if in answer, four figures quickly rushed into the room. Rika and Naoko immediately rushed to their friend while Yamazaki walked over to Li and welcomed him politely and Mr. Terada, an unexpected addition, took the cloaks of the Queen Mother and Prince of the land.
Finally the gaggle of girls stopped squealing long enough to address everyone else. "We've spent hours on dinner to make it prefect!"
"It's absolutely divine!"
"It will be wonderful to have everyone here together to eat!"
Sakura frowned. "We didn't want you to spend so much time working for us! That's why we suggested that everyone go out to eat!"
"But, Sakura," Chiharu argued, "then people would know you were in the city and that could prove dangerous."
"She has a point, Sakura," Nadeshiko smiled. "Besides, Rika is right. It will be nice to have everyone dine here together. We are all family so we should all act like it!"
Yamazaki found himself blushing to hear the former queen call him family so candidly and looked over to see Terada and Li in similar states. "Ahem, we are glad to have you here, Queen Nadeshiko. If you would please follow me into the dining room?"
Nadeshiko laughed and took Yamazaki's offered arm, leading the way into the dining room once more. Terada took Rika's arm and Touya offered his to Naoko, who giggled and began to talk about her favourite subject with someone who was an expert on the matter: ghosts. Sakura leaned over and whispered to Chiharu.
"Yamazaki is amazing. He acts better than I do!"
Chiharu nodded. "I think I'm afraid to marry him. He'll do a better job than I will!"
Syaoran cleared his throat, successfully grabbing their attention. "Ladies shall we?" he asked, offering both arms.
"Only if Chiharu promises not to try and steal you since she's giving up on Yamazaki," Sakura giggled.
"Yamazaki for Li? Never! If Yamazaki would do a better job, Li would make me seem incompetent!"
The two girls giggled as Syaoran sighed, leading them both into the room so that everyone could behave as they always had, like family.
A great argument ensued after dinner was done over where the young Li would be sleeping. Though no mention was made of where his normal sleeping arrangement, Touya seemed to have a sixth sense about this and argued heatedly against him sleeping even in the same wing as his little sister. Nadeshiko disagreed and even decided in Li's favour when he argued that as Sakura's bodyguard and fiancée, a title that almost threw Touya into a killing spree, he should be positioned near her in case of any emergency. So at the end of the argument, Syaoran was granted the room beside Sakura's.
Late into the night, Syaoran found himself unable to sleep. The past weeks of falling asleep with Sakura securely in his arms had spoiled him to sleep without her. With a sigh, he rolled over once more and resigned himself to a sleepless night. But at that particular moment, the woman who had been consuming all his thoughts walked through the door into his room.
Literally through the door, not the doorway.
Surprised he sat up quickly. Her long silvery night gown that hung so deliciously over her body and the way the moon reflected off her skin made her seem like a dream. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he really had fallen asleep and the gods were blessing him for being such a patient man. However, seeing as something like this had never occurred before, he gave up that theory.
"Sakura?"
"Who else?" she giggled.
"Why did you come through the door like that?" he asked, still a little confused.
"Well, see my brother is very, very suspicious. And I figured he would set a trap up so that he could tell if your door opened during the night. I was right, too! So I used the Through Card."
Syaoran stared at her. His mind had been so consumed with her that he hadn't even noticed her using magic? Shaking his head slightly in disbelief, he pulled the comforter up, inviting her to join him. She quickly took the silent invitation and slid into bed beside him.
"I couldn't sleep without you. I tried, but it was impossible," she whispered against his neck.
"Same here," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her, settling her frame perfectly against his. The two lay in silence for awhile and Syaoran had almost believed that Sakura was close to drifting off when she spoke.
"Would you cry like I did before if I died, Syaoran?"
He stiffened, unwilling to comprehend such an eventuality. Forcing images and feelings of horror, he finally answered. "No."
Sakura gasped and rose up to look him in his eyes. "You wouldn't?" she asked, feeling betrayed.
"No, I would die."
A soft look fell over her features and she reached a hand up to carress his cheek. "Me too," she whispered. "I guess then we have to promise not to leave each other behind."
He took the hand caressing his cheek in his and kissed it. "I promise never to leave you alone."
"Me too."
(A/N: YAY...another chapter up! And a quick preview for the next chapter since it was going to be in this one:
'Sakura looked at the cold marble once more before turning to leave. However her exit was blocked by the coming of someone she had never seen before. She stood still as the stranger approached and caught sight of his light hair, small smile and surprisingly brilliant cerulean blue eyes.'