Title: With An Angel's Guidance
Author: damson rhee
Rating: PG
Summary: AU fic - Sakura is a princess in the Kinomoto castle being forced to give up everything she has ever known. How will she cope? Pairings: SxS, ExT
Disclaimer: I do not own Card Captor Sakura, or any of its characters. CLAMP does. Leave me alone. Do not sue.
"blah" -speaking
'blah'-thoughts
blah -flashbacks
The big spaces are the scene changes/ POV changes (It should be pretty obvious).
A/N: Welcome to my first fic. However, please don't go easy on me. I want all of your harsh criticisms, flames, and/or good comments. :D
Arigato to all my reviewers:
BIG DADDY – Thank you very, very much. I'll try to keep my juices flowing! : :wink wink: : lol…
heheangel kisses – Thanks for reviewing BOTH of my stories! It is very much appreciated. And thank you also for adding me to your favorites! As for what Syaoran is blaming himself for, well, that will come later so you'll just have to keep reading! :D
damson rhee – Thank you! Please stay tuned! ( Note; this is not actually me (damson rhee) reviewing my own story. That, unfortunately is another story…)
clowprincess – Wow! Thanks so much for all those compliments. It was your review that kicked my lazy butt into gear to write this chapter. I have taken your advice, and there will be a glossary at the end of this chapter as well as all of the chapters to come. :D
Thank you also to those who read but didn't review. Enjoy!
.
.
.
Kinomoto Sakura was free.
And she loved it.
Freedom. The word was foreign to her. She whispered it aloud, testing it's consistency with her voice.
"Freedom," she murmured quietly. It rolled off her tongue delightfully. "Freedom, freedom, freedom," she chanted happily, no longer whispering, but shouting for the whole world to hear. "I'M FREE!"
.
.
.
Sakura sat down on a large rock near the edge of the trail, setting her bag beside her. She felt exhausted, though she had only been walking for an hour. 'Probably from the lack of sleep,' she told herself sullenly, and vowed inwardly to try to get a decent sleep that night. She rested her head on her elbow and put her elbow on the bag. She was significantly alarmed when said bag produced a very loud, "Ouch! What'd you do that for?!?"
"HOE!!! Kero-chan?" Sakura questioned, immediately recognizing the voice.
A familiar yellow form popped impudently out of the bag, rubbing his head. Comprehension dawned upon Sakura as she realized that he had snuck into her bag as she was leaving. "I can't believe you followed me!" she shouted furiously, her confusion quickly turning into anger.
Kero stopped rubbing his aching head as he looked up at his master apprehensively. "Onegai, calm down. I saw you packing but I didn't know where you were going, and it was pretty obvious that you weren't about to tell me, so I decided to just come along."
"I didn't tell you because I knew that you would do something like this! Gomen; I didn't say goodbye, but this is something I'm doing on my own, Kero-chan," she told him firmly. She emphasized the last word, "Alone."
Kero spoke softly, convincingly, "Iie. You're not alone, no matter what you may think. I'm here. And I'm coming with you."
Surprising both herself and the little yellow creature, Sakura simply accepted the fact that he was coming and embraced him gently. "Arigato, Kero-chan."
.
.
.
Sakura and Kero had been traveling west towards the nearest city for two full days. They had stopped for short periods to rest and eat along the way, but they had been going at a steady pace for the whole time. They slept wherever they could find a secluded spot to lie down. Sakura was never cold during the night, for she snuggled up to Kero and her blanket provided her with warmth.
Her destination was the city of Godashime, where she had a distant cousin named Sano who was little more than an acquaintance to her. Still, family was family, and she remained hopeful that Sano would allow her and Kero to stay at her house. And even if they couldn't stay there, she could always rent a room. She had brought all of her money, which was a significant sum, so she was financially prepared for whatever obstacle that could come their way.
Savoring this new sense of liberation, she took note of her surroundings. Kero flew beside her silently. They were traveling on a small, dusty path that wasn't used frequently, as she didn't want to be spotted by anyone. The sun was setting, and dusk was steadily approaching. There were rolling hills covered with lush, green grass to her left and right, and behind her there were many farmer's fields. Ahead, on the horizon, a huge forest loomed eerily. She had never noticed it before, for she generally kept her eyes on the trail at all times. The forest went far north and south; far to her left and right. Sakura blinked. "How am I going to get around this? I don't have enough food to last long enough!"
She determined that they would have to go through it instead of around it just as Kero voiced the same thoughts. Glancing once again at the forest, she shivered involuntarily. 'Hoe... It's creepy!' she thought.And the forest really was creepy. The trees were tall and dark, and they seemed almost menacing. 'Still, the trees would offer us some protection should it rain,' she mused as she saw dark clouds heading her way, so she resolved to reach the forest by that night.
.
.
.
Sakura and Kero reached the edge of the forest just as the sun was setting. They decided that they would walk a short distance into the trees and set up camp for the night under the trees.
Sakura looked up to the sky. "It's definitely going to rain tonight," she commented despondently.
"Hai, you're right," Kero agreed. There were now ominous, dark clouds in the sky above them, and thunder could be heard rumbling faintly in the distance. "Let's go."
They headed into the trees hurriedly, looking for a spot to lie down peacefully. Luckily, a small clearing presented itself shortly, and it offered sufficient shelter from the rain. The two set up camp, which only included lighting a fire and laying down the blanket under a large tree in preparation for night. Sakura pulled up a log to the fire and sat down upon it. Kero joined her a moment later.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," she remarked abruptly.
"You mean running away?" he replied.
"Hai. It feels so…strange."
"Don't worry. Just remember your invincible spell. Everything will surely be all right."
Sakura smiled and moved in closer to the fire for warmth. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Kero-chan. Gomen nasai; I acted like I didn't need or want you before, but that's not true. I do need you. I- I don't want to be alone."
"No one ever wants to be alone."
"I know."
There was no more talk that night. The two merely stared into the fire, fixing their gazes towards the enthralling flames, both lost within their separate thoughts, reflecting privately. The musings that crossed their minds varied from happy to sad, hopeful to dismal, positive to negative. No words were spoken simply because none were needed.
After a time, they huddled in the blanket, intent on going to sleep. Sakura remained awake until the rain began to fall. The pitter patter of the raindrops was soothing. 'Mother Nature's lullaby', she decided, finally feeling content. Drifting in and out of consciousness, she slowly allowed herself to have a much needed sleep. One last thought crossed her mind before sleep took her.
'Everything will surely be all right.'
.
.
.
Tomoyo was awake. She found that she could not sleep, for she was too worried about her best friend. She had been in bed for a long time, and she felt that she needed to get out.
She pushed the quilt off of her, and touched her feet to the floor. Though it was freezing cold on her feet, she walked over to her dresser. She opened one of the drawers and pulled out a thick pair of socks. 'These will keep me warm.'
Tomoyo walked towards her bedroom door. She felt wide awake and alert. She made her way to the gardens, slowly progressing down each hallway. No one saw her, for everyone was in bed. 'It must be getting very late,' she decided.
She found herself strolling in the gardens, admiring the flowers and plants in the moonlight. She began singing softly to herself; a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her when she was little. 'What a sight I must be,' she laughed, 'wandering about in only my nightgown and singing to myself. Still, I don't care.'
She felt her previous worry dissipating, and she sung a little bit louder and twirled about with the rhythm. The skirt of her nightgown twirled with her, and it shone in the moonlight.
"Ahem."
Tomoyo spun about wildly, and found herself face to face with none other than Hiirigizawa Eriol. She flushed. Flustered, she mumbled, "E- Eriol-kun! Ah… um… I-"
"You have a lovely voice," he interjected.
"Arigato," she replied sincerely, still a little uncomfortable. "W- Would you care to join me for a moonlit stroll?"
"Hai, I would."
The two walked along the paths of the garden. No longer ill at ease with each other, they maintained a pleasant silence, needing only the other's company.
Tomoyo was the first to break the silence. "So how come you're awake at this hour?"
"I just couldn't sleep tonight. Why are you still awake?" he replied.
"Same reason."
"I see."
They lapsed back into silence for a moment, until they reached a small pond in the middle of the beautiful garden. Walking right up to the water's edge, Tomoyo put her hand in the water to test its temperature. It was cold. She saw tiny fish swimming idly underneath the water's surface. She saw weeds floating about, waving to and fro. She saw her reflection in the water, lit up by the pale moonlight. She studied the scene for a moment before turning back towards Eriol.
"Do you think she's all right?" Tomoyo asked. She knew that Eriol would know who she meant.
"Hai, I believe that she is fine," Eriol responded. Absentmindedly, he brushed a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
"I'm sure that Sakura-chan is okay as well, but I can't help but worry about her. I miss her so much already, and it's barely been two days."
"Remember that she'll be back in two weeks. Kinomoto-san never breaks her promises," he reassured her.
Inadvertently, Tomoyo shivered lightly and rubbed her arms with her hands for warmth.
"Are you cold?" Eriol inquired politely.
"O-" she began, but was interrupted by the feeling of a warm coat being placed on her shoulders. "Gomen nasai, Eriol-kun,"
"It's okay. You have nothing to be sorry for," he answered good-naturedly. He moved to stand beside her; looking out on the pond. "It's so beautiful."
"Eriol-kun, you are such a kind person. Arigato, for always being my friend when I need you the most." She embraced him gently, then released him as she spoke regretfully. "Demo, I must go now. I need some sleep so that I'll have the energy to work tomorrow. Onegai, get some rest as well."
"Hai, Tomoyo-chan. Onegai, take care. I'll talk to you tomorrow," he replied.
"Sayonara!" Tomoyo yelled as she left. She began singing again on her way to her bedroom. Eriol took one last wistful glance at her retreating figure before leaving to his own bedroom.
.
.
.
The nightmare returned that night; the same nightmare that plagued her nights and haunted her days. Nothing ever changed in the dream; she still saw her family and friends turn on her for an unknown reason, she was saved by her mother Nadeshiko, she even saw the strange amber eyed boy again, and she still fell in the end.
Sakura writhed violently in her sleep, but she did not cry out.
Kero carried on slumbering, blissfully unaware.
The rain continued to fall. Unbeknownst to them, a shadow moved swiftly in the night.
.
.
.
Okay, that's it! Next chapter will be where SxS (finally) meet. Here is the glossary I promised for those who need it.
Hai – Yes
Onegai – Please
Gomen nasai – I'm sorry
Arigato – Thank you
Sayonara – Goodbye
Demo – But
Iie – No
I don't think I missed any, but if I did, then just tell me in a review and I'll tell you the translation. Please R&R, I would really appreciate it! Ja ne! :D