Chapter 2

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' Damn window!' Sakura felt for gaps with a hairpin, stabbing the small holes. She kicked it and punched it but it refused to budge. Fearing she'd make a racket and wake up her sleeping kidnapper next door, she sat down exasperated on her bed. She looked towards the mirror and frowned at what she saw. Her eyes were furious and blazing a brilliant green. Her make up was smeared and her hair was tangled. The dress was in shards. She stood up, straightening her back with a momentary wince. She walked with a wounded grace to the mirror and started to undo her hair. The tiara was missing and she was happy for it.

Her hair began to tumble down her back in loose ringlets. A women's hair was one of the most important graces in her culture. It still felt soft against her fingers and she smiled at the familiar feeling of home. The soft carpets and Kero besides the fire place whilst reading a good novel..

She sighed and walked over to the grey stone sink. Her long fingers felt over the rough material and to the rusty metal handle. She gritted her teeth and pulled hard. To her delight, fresh water poured out and she began the task of washing her face and shoulders. Water dripped down her body and she winced when she felt it drip down her side. She tightened her shivering lips and began to rip the layers of her dress off. Fabric ripped and fell onto the floor in sheer bundles. Her eyes looked up at the ceiling, half closed. Never had she faced such humiliation as to wear her under clothes. She glanced down and saw the simple white dress with a tear at her right side. The dress was stained a horrible brown red where her blood had dried. She examined her wound. It had closed but it was so painful and easily opened as she lifted her arm. Again her fingertips tingled strongly. Her magic was still suppressed under her skin.

The door unlocked and her eyes averted to the door.

A small girl curtsied.

' Your breakfast mam' The door closed and she heard it lock again. Sakura stepped over and picked up the loaf of bread and milk. She could have escaped when that little girl had opened the door but she thought again. That man would have ran after her and beaten the life out of her. After all, she was helpless and without magic.

She began to chew on the bread. Not bad. She drunk the milk in massive gulps and wiped her arm across her mouth. The door slammed open again and Syaoran walked in. His eyebrows raised,

' You'd rather walk around half naked I see?'

' I call this a simple dress'

' Simple enough for Royalty herself?' Syaoran smirked whilst crossing his arms, leaning against the door frame.

' Don't mistake me for being a pompous arrogant woman..'

' Girl. You're barely sixteen'

' Hold your tongue' Sakura snapped. Her green eyes burned and Syaoran enjoyed this.

' You scarcely look sixteen. So petite. Not only physically..' He chimed.

' What would you know? You're not much older than me'

' Nineteen. And believe me, throughout my extra three years, I've learnt more than you in your whole lifetime'

' Of course' Sakura smiled mockingly. ' What now captor?'

' We go to through the whispering woods to the tree of light'

' That is forbidden idiot!' Sakura's mouth hung open. ' You cannot!'

' Sacred? Haha. Nothing is sacred'

' The patroni! They will not allow it!'

Syaoran only rolled his eyes before closing the door behind him.

Legend has it that the Patroni were born in these woods. The tree of light was a massive oak tree with burning lights of various colours. Sometimes, it burned a furious blue or a vicious red, other times a lush green or vibrant yellow. Ignis, the fire patronus guarded the tree. Sakura had spoken to it once or twice in her meditation. She was a fiery one indeed but had such loyalty and passion in everything she did.

They walked side by side through the bustling market place. Both were silent and Sakura's eyes twinkled when she saw a flower stall. She loved things that grow, turned from small unimportant things to large beautiful splendors. She smiled at the large orchid with its pure white petals and pink centre..

She turned and spotted Syaoran talking to a fruit stall person. She eagerly walked up to a clothing stall with lush fabrics hanging over the wooden frame. The salesman's eyes averted to what she was holding in her hand and he gulped.

'Dragonskin' She whispered. ' I'll give this to you in return for clothing. Oh, some dressing for a wound too. Make the fabric comfortable and durable. And decent boots. Buffalo hyde and reinforced '

' Colour?' He leaned forward and whispered, looking into the green depths of her eyes.

' Beige. Dark browns. Blacks. Natural'

' Hold a few minutes mam. May I take measurements?' His eyes widened at the task.

' No. Just make it petite. And a belt'

He disappeared and Sakura glanced nervously to Syaoran, biting her lip. He was still talking to the fruit salesman. Sakura shook her head.

' Must be riveting conversation' She thought.

' Mam?' Sakura turned and saw him step out. Droplets began to drop out of the darkening sky.

' Come inside the stall mam. Or you may get wet'

Sakura smiled at his generosity. She slipped on a beige skirt under her tatty dress and kicked off her ragged shoes. She pulled up a pair of thick black stockings and slipped into her knee length boots. Her eyes smiled at the silver buckles and she tightened them. Three on the outside of each leg; ankle, middle and top.

She glanced at the man and twirled her finger. He looked at her confused for a moment before nodding. Disappointed, he turned around. She pulled off the dress and slipped on the black sleeveless top. The clothes fit snugly. He really was a professional. Sakura straightened her bra and grabbed a pair of very minimal black shorts. She glided them up her legs and the rustling of fabric against flesh excited the man. She could see his fingers tense behind his back. Sakura giggled beneath her breath and tied the brown string of the shorts tightly. Smoothing her skirt over, her eyes darted over the inside of the stall. She pulled down a black belt and threaded it through the slits in her skirt. The man turned around as she tightened up the silver buckle.

' Excellent' He smiled. He picked up the dragon skin on the floor and his eyes roamed her body. She felt as if he was trying to undress her with his eyes. She looked over with a sad smile. He blushed and she held out of her hand,

' Dressing?'

He stuttered before handing over a bandage. Sakura started to wrap the bandage around her upper body under her top. Her eyes began to water with the stinging pain but she bit back the anguish. Her fingers fumbled round the tight knot and she pulled down her top. The salesman was smiling, sweating noticeably. She winked before turning around. She glanced around, looking for Syaoran.

She yelped when someone grabbed her arm and turned her around sharply. Stumbling back a moment she met a pair of fierce brown eyes,

' You try to run away and I will knock you unconscious for the rest of the journey'

Sakura stepped back with her arms open,

' Does it look like I'm going anywhere captor?'

Syaoran's eyes flickered down her new clothing and her smooth long slender legs…

' No' He muttered before walking off. Sakura glanced at his recently purchased long black coat. How menacing.

She followed unwillingly with a smile. She still held one layer of dragon skin in her hand. She wasn't about to give it all to the man. After all, even royalty does good bargains. She saw Syaoran stop at another stall and shiny objects glinted. Jewels. He was buying magic. Sakura's eyes wavered over to the weaponry stall opposite and she stepped over mischievously. A green glimmer caught her eye forcing her to pull down a pair of arm cuffs. Her eyes widened. Behind the pair of plain leather arm cuffs was a rare item indeed. She could recognize it anywhere and only a true weaponry master could make such an item. A pair of wise brown eyes looked at her and she felt them.

' How much?'

' Money does not buy dragon wing arm cuffs my lady. Silver heartstring of tigris embroided into the very mat of wing. Dragon claw ivory engravements. Healing stones of Keroberos just above the third fingers. The stones which Keroberos lay upon after his birth..'

' Keroberos?' Sakura's heart panged immediately. Her patronus was so far away. ' I have dragon skin'

The old man's eyes widened. ' Dragon skin?'

' Yes' Sakura replied simply.

' A mark of royalty? Wouldn't you say Heraldess Kinomoto?'

Sakura's finger immediately pressed upon her lips. The old man chuckled,

' I once lived in the Eastlands you know. Nice place but it has its problems. The rich are rich but the poor are poorer'

' Take the dragonskin. I can offer you more payment later' Sakura whispered.

' Why should I believe you?' The old man smiled playfully, crossing his arms. Sakura looked desperately at him,

' Sakura! We're moving now. Cerberus is waiting!'

She could hear him shouting before returning to his conversation with the jeweler.

Sakura's eyes pleaded. ' You must trust me'

' How can I? Some random woman in the street who has dragonskin' The wrinkled skin around his eyes tightened as he spoke dramatically.

' Because you must! I am wounded. I cannot perform magic! I need something to protect me! I need my magic..my magic..back' Sakura murmured, her mind going distant momentarily.

' Magic can never be taken away from you. Remember that Sakura. ' He asked, examining his walking stick. Sakura nodded sharply. ' Take them. Say greetings to Kero for me'

Sakura's eyes widened. 'You know..?' Her name. Her patronus?

Again she was swung around roughly,

' Do you want to do this the easy way? Or the Hard way?' Her green eyes glared back at his as they were inches apart. Breath intermingled and tempers both fired up. His gloved hands wrapped around her fragile shoulders,

' You are going to move over to Cerberus now. Understood?'

' Yes but spare me the liberty of a moment to finish a conversation?'

' No' He replied back with minimal movement to his lips. He pushed her forward and Sakura looked back desperately at the lower-arm cuffs. The old man winked and she saw him tap the walking stick into the ground. Sakura's blinked furiously for a moment before she beamed. Glancing down at her lower arms, a pair of lower arm cuffs protected the bare skin. Her fingers emerged from the holes at the front and she felt the hard casing and engravings with her fingers. Her thumbs emerged next and she turned her hands over to see the diagonal casing across her palm with the words 'Keroberos' written in silver.

' How the hell' Syaoran glanced at her hands. He grabbed her wrist and pulled it up to his eyes. The bright emerald jewels shimmered in the morning sun. A broken smile played across his face.

' You won't be able to perform magic with those'

' I know' She answered.

' Would you like to know why?' Syaoran faced Sakura. She returned a blank look with tears forming in the back of her eyes. Syaoran continued, 'The dagger which struck you, pierced your flesh and wounded you, then dissolved into thin air is no ordinary dagger. It is the dagger of Hera. She can disable magic for periods of time. She made it just for you – be privileged'

' Oh I am' She mumbled.

' Very well.'

Cerberus was waiting there, pawing the ground and growling under his breath. The towns people around him screamed and ran with terror. Sakura gulped and asked Syaoran,

' Couldn't you place him away from towns people?'

' Cerberus loves people'

Sakura glanced at the people running away.

' To eat' Syaoran smirked before climbing up Cerberus with ease. Sakura followed his footsteps.

' I sincerely hope you're joking' She heaved her body up Cerberus who snorted.

The wings began to beat furiously and they took off in a whirl of dust. Again, they traveled through the air.

' Oh' Sakura said. She remembered her manners and thought of her small gratitude. 'Thank you for saving my life yesterday'

No reply. She shrugged and bowed her head into her knees. Cerberus rose higher and Sakura prayed her homeland were coming to save her. She hoped her father and brother Touya would come and take her away from this cold captor of hers.

' Three heads Cerberus'

The dog's head phased a moment before splitting into three heads. He was in attack mode now. Syaoran drove Cerberus up through the clouds and Sakura reached her hand out, feeling the raw air over her arm cuff. She turned her hand upside and opened her palm. Her fingers still felt slightly wobbly. Damn that Hera.

' So what do you do once you hand me over to Hera? She'll torture me and sacrifice my soul to some crazy spell which will make her unanimously able to put the world at its knees. Hmm? Dearest Hermes of destruction?'

' Celebrate'

' And then?' Sakura's eyes wandered over the horizon.

' None of your business'

' Get married? Have kids?' Sakura tilted her head as she watched her fingers clench.

' Why are you talking to me?' Syaoran glanced around momentarily. Sakura laughed,

' I'm not afraid of death, if that's what you're getting at. I might as well have a decent conversation with someone before I go'

' We have a month's travel ahead. Start getting to know yourself better'

Sakura sighed. ' If you say so'

' Whatever'

Sakura grew tired of silence as the minutes flew by.

' So..'

Syaoran looked at his fingers tense against Cerberus' neck. His eyes went out of focus for a moment before returning to the usual fiery irises,

' Don't you understand what silence is?'

Sakura stood up, mastering the courage she had with the wind blazing through her hair and her feet slipping on Cerberus' scales. She stumbled and cried out.

Syaoran snapped around and reached a hand out. Sakura took it and leaned on it gratefully.

' Thank you' Sakura carefully placed herself in front of Syaoran. He glared,

' You do know you're not invincible?'

' Thanks for telling me' She smiled. Syaoran looked at her dead straight on. Emotionless. No one had ever said thank you once, nevermind three times.

' Look' Sakura continued . ' I'm not known for being mean. I understand that you're doing this for a reason of your own and that this isn't your fault. All I ask of you is to be well, er, friendly to me. I want to have a friend before I die.'

' I don't have friends' Syaoran replied simply. ' And I don't do favours'

Sakura placed a hand on his thigh and Syaoran phased a moment with her small warmth. He had not felt the warmth of companionship nor a woman for a very long time.

' Please' Sakura's eyes shimmered. ' And I won't be trouble'

' I can't. I want this whole transaction of person to money to be simple' Syaoran thought. He said aloud, ' You won't be trouble with whatever I do'

Sakura felt defiant. She thought momentarily before standing up. Syaoran's eyes followed her. ' Oh really?' She whispered dangerously.

She breathed in sharply and closed her eyes. Syaoran shook his head and said,

' What are you doing?'

She let her posture go and her body fell off Cerberus. Syaoran gasped, his eyes widening. He clutched onto Cerberus and threw himself flat onto him, looking for Sakura over him.

' Down! Cerberus! Now!!' Syaoran shouted. 'This is the lands of Pegasus!' Not the fluffy white creature with big feathery wings. Oh no. These were horses with bad tempers, red eyes and sharp teeth.

Sakura opened her fearless eyes and they shadowed the black figure of Cerberus swooping down on her. Cerberus bolted through layers of cloud as Sakura, falling on her back remained silent.

A horrific shriek panicked Sakura and she turned her head slightly with the roaring wind. Her mouth flew open as sharp whinnies filled the air. Black horses with their hooves beating the air were showing their dirty great fangs. Syaoran felt their presence and unsheathed his long slim sword. It glinted with the reflection of the flying black horses with their fangs baring ready for a kill.

'Cerberus! Faster!' He pined back his wings and they were in full dive. Syaoran lowered his posture with his knees bent and his sword unsheathed as they bulleted through the air. Syaoran's mouth dropped when he saw a black Pegasus advance on Sakura. He gritted his teeth.

Meanwhile, Sakura saw the bright red eyes of the Pegasus advancing on her. She black flipped in mid air in a small tumble and in her head she tried to conjure magic. She chanted again and again but it all failed. Part of her felt so free, if she were to die she would rather be tumbling aimlessly through air..

A black Pegasus smashed into her frail body as part of its tactics. She avoided its hooves in an acrobatic roll but she had been thrown towards another Pegasus.

She covered her head with her arms waiting for the next impact before darkness.

Syaoran swiped his sword through air again and again murmuring incantations. Crescent shaped shafts of red light erupted in mid air and sliced through a Pegasus advancing on Sakura. They hit a number before the flying horses, realizing their target had changed, turned against him.

' Combat Cerberus!'

Cerberus roared triumphantly and he opened his mouth. A black mist filled the air surrounding them. It was intoxicating, powerful in a dark sense and very sweet. The horses were soon confused and their strikes missed their target. Cerberus swiped a few of them with a hard strike from his clawed paw. They instantly fell from the skies like stones. Syaoran struck many but still they were a large number in the skies.

' Cerberus it's no use! Just rescue Sakura' Cerberus turned nimbly through the air towards Sakura. Syaoran crawled to the front of Cerberus and held out his hand, ready to grab her. Sakura was just out of reach. Cerberus leant down his head and in a risk, slipped Sakura over the bridge of his nose and threw her back. Syaoran leapt up and grabbed her, clutching her to him. He fell back down in a large gasp of air and let Cerberus dodge the squealing and screaming flying horses with his acrobatics.

Sakura had obviously fainted with the large up-rush of air and the smash from the Pegasus. He let her lay across his lap, her head resting on his knee. He let his eyes wander down her small figure and watched the rising and falling of her chest. She was alive at least. He couldn't risk losing her for all the money would be lost.

' It is truly a shame that such innocence must be lost for the price of power' He whispered, life was born in his usually cold eyes. This new life was not sustained however as it soon faded into the bitter iciness of his personality. He looked up and his valiant expression dared anything to get in his way to the next destination.

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