Ice Jayden: I really REALLY like Card Captor Sakura, but I do NOT own it. Never have, never will. Oh, and I am super sorry for the extremely long wait for this update.
I will now thank all those who were kind enough to review the last chapter...
Mariko: You called me cool, hmm, that's okay. Super glad you like my story. So, were you pointing at my Slieth? I know that I've got one, and no one else knows what they look like, but doesn't mean you have to point it out to everyone. Besides, it isn't that cute. Oh, and thanks for the wonderful reviews.
Bold Eyes (Rosie): Um, I still don't think that I'll be able to have Syaoran save Sakura, maybe, if so it'll happen soon cause this story is close to the end. Yes, I don't intend to drag my story out so the end is near.
Serenia-sd: Thanks for the review, too bad I didn't update sooner. Guess I'm not very good at consistent updates. Oh well, I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, which will have a lot more action than this one.
SailorSakura: Hmm, I do know about Gargoyles, but that was not the inspiration for this story. In fact, I didn't think of them one bit till you mentioned them. Who knows, it may have been the inspiration for what inspired this story cause I did have some inspiration, just not Gargoyles.
Rapture: Sorry, any flashbacks that Syaoran will have are already in the story. It isn't focused on Syaoran's past, but on the present.
Commander Cheddar: I can't write stories all the way through if there are no surprises or I'd get really bored. So yah, that was a lot of fun to put in as well as necessary for the story.
Falcon: Thanks for the complement, here be the next chapter. And I do try to stay somewhat consistent as I try to add little twists to the story.
AnimeAngel302: I've seen it spelled many ways, and my way is just one of them. Although I looked at some more informative CCS sites and I think we are both slightly off. I think it is actually Hiiragizawa, oh well.
Sarah the Original: Sure, I don't mind getting more ideas, and I used it, sorta.
Smiles: heh? His secret, I thought I already told the readers his secret, but then again, he is a man of many secrets. Not all will be revealed in this story so nah (that is sound that goes with tongue sticking out).
Dreamers-wish: Thanks, I do like compliments, at least when they have to do with my work.
WizaDanU: Hehehe, I know long wait for the update, but I will not let this story go unfinished.
Yaua: I try to be different, at least I think I'm trying to be different.
Serenity's Blaim: Yah, I've got this thing where Touya has to be super protective of Sakura, but still a very good guy.
A little Birdie: Don't worry, I'm writing this story to completion no matter what, I just might take a little while.
Time Warp: Glad you thought it was informative cause that is what it was all about basically.
Dark dragon 00: Sorry I didn't update soon, but I have now.
Now back to the story...
Cast In Stone
Love is a Verb
Sakura moaned slightly as she slowly awoke from her slumber. Her pillow was a bit hard and her blanket too small and too thin. Although it was warm and the pillow rose and fell rhythmically, soothing her tired mind. Not wanting to get up, yet having the sun shining on her lids, she threw the blanket over her head. Or at least she tried to throw the blanket over her head, something was anchoring it down. It was then that she noticed the weight across her.
Groggily, she opened up her eyes to make sense of her surroundings. The small blanket was green with gold bordering one edge and it continued around and down to cover her pillow. Kero's head was sticking out of the blanket on top of Sakura. Rubbing the last of the sleep out of her eyes, she noticed that her 'pillow' was none other than Li Syaoran. And it was his arm that was anchoring the blanket, the sleeve of his outfit, down.
Startled, she tried to jump up and off of him only to have his arm cause her to collapse. She watched as he awoke and attempted to rise up only she was pinning him down. He moved his arms to his sides and Sakura took advantage of the removal of his arm by jumping up successfully. Kero woke up from all the shifting and was soon flying nearby while Syaoran also stood.
The sun was still high in the sky but on its downward phase. Looking around she could see Eriol sleeping a few meters away, Nakuru was gaily chasing Suppi around. She had no idea what sort of torture Nakuru had in mind for Spinel and didn't really want to know either. She could not see her brother. Slightly worried she sought out his aura, following it, she found him sleeping in a small crack under an overhanging rock and the soft, dew-damp grass.
Smiling she left him and walked back into the clearing where Syaoran was starting a fire using some dry wood and an ofuda. She carefully checked their bond to make sure that he wasn't overhearing her thoughts. Where did he get that ofuda? But then again, we never did search him for anything and I guess the Emperor never did either. She watched as Syaoran started to cook some fish, which she again didn't know where he got; I wasn't searching for my brother so long that he had time to fish, was I?
Tantalized by the smell of food, her stomach began to protest noisily causing her to blush slightly in embarrassment. She moved over to where Syaoran was now cutting up some vegetables that he seemed to have conjured up out of nowhere. But then again he is a Li, so maybe he is conjuring up the food.
"Hey Syaoran, um... where did you get the food?" She watched as he looked up at her and raised an eyebrow. "That is another family secret; besides, one must always expect the unexpected." "Hoe?!" She couldn't help it, it was a typical Kero quote coming from a guy that had virtually no interaction with Kero thus far. Then again, Kero was sitting on his shoulder practically drooling over the food.
She continued to stare at him for a little while with her mouth slightly open. When she finally shook herself out of her stupor, she noticed that there was a plate of food sitting in her hand. Where did that come from? Slightly confused, she sat down and began to absentmindedly eat as she tried to figure out how the plate of food came to be in her hand.
It tasted really good and soon she totally forgot that its appearance was a mystery to her. She sighed contentedly when she finished her meal. Looking around her, she noticed that everyone else was awake now and eating. Her brother and Syaoran were having a glaring contest, their food forgotten and getting cold. She could almost see the sparks flying between them, they looked scary to her.
Wanting them to stop and still feeling hungry, she snatched some food quickly off of Touya's plate. He looked at her in slight disbelief and then said, "Kaijuu, leave my food alone, you had your own." She immediately responded by stomping on his foot while saying, "Sakura no Kaijuu!!!" She felt extremely triumphant as Touya had stopped glaring at Syaoran and was now limping away from her, muttering something she couldn't quite hear under his breath.
"Arigato for the food; it was really good." She said pleasantly to Syaoran who she noticed was currently gaping at her. "Um, who exactly is he?" It was not the response she had expected, but it did cause her to remember that Syaoran was not formally introduced to anyone.
"Oh I'm so sorry, you've been with us for some time and we still haven't introduced ourselves. That was my brother, Touya Kinomoto." She pointed to everyone else in the camp as she introduced Syaoran to them. "Eriol Hiirigazawa, he is the half reincarnation of Clow Reed and that is Nakuru, or Ruby Moon, his moon Guardian. Over there is Spinel Sun, his sun guardian. That is Kero, um Keroberos, my Sun Guardian." He simply nodded his head.
"Yeah, the stuffed animal already introduced himself." He said it extremely serenely, as though he wasn't doing anything insulting. Kero, who was now devouring the last of Syaoran's lukewarm food, looked up at him angrily. "I AM NOT A STUFFED ANIMAL!!! Chinese GAKI!!!!" Sakura heaved a sigh as she ignored the two in their futile argument.
Syaoran was irritated at that stupid stuffed animal. He had eaten the last of his meal and then they had decided it was time to continue on their way to wherever it was that they were going. Stupid stuffed animal eating my food, well, see if I ever make him a meal again. No one had actually informed him of where they were going, not that he had bothered to ask. It didn't help that he was stuck with magic wings on his back and having to fly himself.
After having been stuck with those poisonous wings of décor, he had developed a hate of wings and flying. Giving a grunt of indignation while flying, he continued to watch the foliage below as he followed along. In the distance he could see a city with a large, extravagant building on the far side of it.
As they neared the city it became obvious that they were approaching the capital of Japan as the castle loomed closer. Syaoran found himself following them all the way to the palace where they landed just in front of the doors. The guards greeted them and bowed to both Kinomoto and Sakura.
"Your Highnesses, welcome home." What, Sakura is a Princess? How come she never told me? And here I thought I'd finally managed to escape the life of royalty. Uhg. At least she has an older brother to inherit the throne. His thoughts of dislike for the royal life came to an end as Sakura's voice replied, "It's very nice to be home. Where can we find my father?"
Syaoran checked himself quickly to make sure that his face was its usual expressionless mask as he quietly followed them wherever the guard was leading them. He also paid close attention to his surroundings, observing their route so that he wouldn't get lost if he had to make a quick escape.
Eventually they came to the throne room where the King was talking with some military personal. Syaoran watched as the kind looking ruler turned his attention to their small group. His eyes immediately lit up as they focused on his two children. "Touya, Sakura, you're back and safe. You had me so worried, please Touya, and never just leave without telling me again. And Sakura, are you alright? The Emperor didn't hurt you or anything did he?"
"Dad, I'm fine. But I did have to get married." At this Sakura gave a nervous smile and then look right at Syaoran. He was nervous as well, after all, his daughter is kidnapped by a rampaging Emperor and then returns married to some Sorcerer who technically should have died a thousand years ago. He still managed to keep his emotions to himself, the only sign of his nervousness was that all of his muscles were tense and little beads of sweat were forming on his brow. "This is Li Syaoran, my husband for eternity." As she said it she looked directly into Syaoran's eyes.
The moment was very tense as everyone waited to see what the Kings reaction to this new development would be. After examining his new son-in-law, the King broke the silence, "Are you okay with this Sakura? And is he even a noble, I don't recognize the style of his clothes."
Sure, ask Sakura if she's okay with this marriage thing. Its not like I forced her to marry me, I wasn't the one about to die from an incomplete marriage spell. But then again, I would be dead right now if we hadn't gotten married. Syaoran mentally sighed, he was arguing with himself about whether or not being stuck married to the Card Mistress/Princess of Japan was something that he'd be able to live through or not.
"Dad, I think I'm okay with it. He's a lot nicer than the Emperor. And Dad, he's a Li, although I don't know if he was one of their nobles. It's a rather long story, but to make it short... he was turned into a stone statue during the Imperial take over of China and when Touya rescued me, he somehow caused him to change back. Then we were captured by the Emperor again and almost made me marry him, and because I was rescued in the middle of the marriage, I had to marry a sorcerer and soon. I'm just glad that he agreed or else I would have died before I had a chance to return." My current predicament in a nutshell.
The King then looked directly at Syaoran before asking his next question. "Li, did you have a title? It would not do for the next King of Japan to have been a commoner." Syaoran felt his stomach give a violent twist as his eyes widened in shock. "Wha... But what about Kinomoto Touya, isn't he the heir to the throne?" Syaoran couldn't believe this, is it truly my fate to be a king no matter what strange things happen?
"It is not the first son who inherits the throne in this day and age, but the descendent one who has the most magical power. Sakura is much more powerful than Touya, so now will you answer the question?"
Sakura was definitely curious; did the sorcerer/warrior of the Li Clan that she married have a title? She wished that he wasn't so good at controlling what thoughts of his traveled across the bond. It really just wasn't fair that she embarrassed herself and he did not.
"Hai, I had a title." His answer was so simple and left much unsaid. He sure was stubborn when it came to revealing parts of his past. He had never mentioned it to her before, but then again, she hadn't bothered to mention that she was the Japanese princess and heir to the throne. Something that he should have been told before he married her.
Touya and her father both looked at Syaoran expectantly. Sakura gave a little sigh of frustration. It seems her husband was not too keen on sharing his title; surely it was nothing to be embarrassed of.
Syaoran noticed the looks that both the King and Prince were giving him. They obviously wouldn't stop interrogating him until they knew exactly what that had been. Likely so that they could announce it when they had the Coronation Ceremony for the new King and Queen. Himself and Sakura, again he felt his stomach twist violently. He really didn't want to have the responsibility of being King.
Deciding that it'd be best to give them his title he finished with, "I am Li Xiao Lang, Prince of China." It was slightly amusing to see their shocked faces after he had said that. They all looked like their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets and their mouths had dropped open to let all manner of bugs fly in. He was careful to keep himself from laughing and any signs of his amusement off of his face. It would not do to laugh in the King's face, it would make his announcement of his title seem like a joke so that he'd be amused which it most definitely was not.
After a long minute had passed the King had managed to compose himself once more and asked a question that Syaoran had only lightly wondered about. "How are you going to make your marriage work?" It reminded Syaoran of when he was engaged to Mei Lin. She annoyed him to no end as a young boy and it was only through his mother's advice that he managed to love her as a sister rather than look at her as nothing more than an annoying girl.
Looking straight into the King's eyes, he repeated what his mother had told him. "Love is expressed in action for love is a verb. To love is to sacrifice, to be willing to help that person through anything. It is wanting the very best for them, to put that someone else before yourself unconditionally." He paused before finishing his response, "That is what my mother told me, if I want to be able to love someone than I must serve them with my whole heart willingly. So I will do my best to serve Sakura."
To Be Continued...
Yeah, another chapter completed and I'm sorry if it's a bit on the short side. I hope it didn't have any mistakes; I was too lazy to edit it carefully. Had a big writers block and it left me with a bit of a headache. So um, it took a while.
I like reviews, and I hope to get the next and most important (well, maybe not the most important) chapter up soon. Have a wonderful day and don't forget to SMILE all the way.
Just a heads up, I'm writing a one-shot, as the block was only regarding this story for some odd reason. It's called 'Dragon Slayer Sakura' and I think my summary will be: Dragon Slayer Teams race to bring an end to the vicious dragons. What happens when Naoko wants one for a pet?
Oh, and it's a humorous tragedy. I know, strange combination, but that's what it's turning out to be.
