Sakura's POV
Chapter 8: The Change
"Syaoran! Syaoran! Damn it, where are you!" I ran out to the garden searching for Syaoran.
"SYAORAN LI, COME OUT THIS INSTANT!!!!!!!" I yelled as the palace walls echoed my voice making it even louder.
"Who is shouting so unreasonably loud?" I heard Queen Yelan's irritated voice.
Uh oh, if she finds me, I'm doomed. Gotta think of a place to hide......... I know, the Cherry Pitfall.
I ran in the direction of the Sakura Tree. When I got there, the tree started to transform again into many. I walked up to the center, and the ground started to disappear, as I fell down that deep hole again.
Oh well, at least I'm safe from Yelan.
"Sakura, what are you doing all the way down here?" A shocked Syaoran asked sitting on the bottom of the floor.
"I could ask you the same thing. How come you ran away when the Empress came over this morning?"
Syaoran didn't speak. I could almost see it in his eyes that he's trying to think of a lie.
"Syaoran, I thought you were my friend! You, Eriol, and Meiling definitely have something hidden from me!"
"Fine, I'll tell you everything, but first of all what did Queen Yelan do at Meiling's; did she beat you up again?"
"She was there looking for you, mister! You have your own chamber? How the heck did you know the queen?" I asked, still so confused.
(A/N: Sakura, don't give it all away, it'll give him the advantage to know how to lie to you now!!!!)
Syaoran thought for a moment. "Fine I'll tell you. You remember that time, when I told you Empress Yelan was very depressed after her sons Xiao Long and Xiao Hu killed off each other? Well then she met me. She kept telling herself that I'm her son, because of a small resemblance of me and Xiao Long. She even gave me a chamber of my own right next to hers, so she could see me often, and let my appearance remind her of her loved ones that died."
Is what Syaoran is saying true? "You're lying." I said stubbornly.
He laughed. "Then what do you think, that I'm a prince, and a royal heir? Then why how would I end up working for Meiling?"
"Because you like Meiling, duh. I saw you two kissing one time in the middle of the night."
"Believe what you want to believe." Syaoran strugged.
"Syaoran, please just tell me, are you the prince or not!" I grabbed his arm.
"God, Sakura when did you become this annoying? I told you, I'm just a servant! SERVANT MEANING NOT A PRINCE!!!!!" Syaoran practically screamed.
"YEAH RIGHT, AND I'M JUST A MAID NOT THE CLOW MISTRESS!" I screamed back.
That shut him up. "You are the Clow Mistress?" He asked stupidly.
I was about to admit it, but why do I have to tell him my identity first? Even if Syaoran is not a prince, he is still hiding something from me!
"No, I am not the Clow Mistress. Tomoyo is." I lied smoothly.
"Really, so all this time.......... I'm sorry we got the wrong girl." Did I just see disappointment in Syaoran's eyes?
"What wrong girl? You're confusing me."
"Do you want to know why you were made a servant for Meiling in the first place? And why Eriol knew your name the first time he met you? Everyone thought you were the Clow Mistress because Eriol, who is the reincarnation of Clow Reed, sensed a strong bond with you. We made you a servant, so you'd have to stick to the palace so we have time to discover if you really are the Clow Mistress or not."
"So that means you 'are' the Prince of China."
"Yeah, I am Prince Xiao Lang." He finally admitted as he jumped out of the hole, his footsteps walking further and further away before I could tell him that I lied about Tomoyo being the Mistress.
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"Sakura, it has been fun getting to know you, I'll miss you very much." Meiling hugged me.
"What?"
"Don't you know you're leaving today? Syaoran decided that living in this palace is like jail to you, so he has decided to release you." Meiling said happily.
Syaoran...... is the only reason why he has spent so much time with me acting like a true friend because of the whole clow mistress thing? Now he thinks Tomoyo is the Clow Mistress, he doesn't even want me to stay around for the rest of the month. I should of known; why would Syaoran want to be my friend in the first place; I'm just a violent emotionless warrior nomad........
"I'll miss you too Meiling; take good care of Prince Syaoran for me." I've decided not to tell anyone my identity now. If Syaoran cares more about my identity than me, so be it.
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"Eriol, I know I'm probably disturbing you, but I had to come here to say good-bye." I stared at the person that I don't want to leave behind the most.
"Sakura, I've heard from Syaoran, I'm so sorry. We made you go through all this crap, lying to you, using you to find out who is the clow mistress." I gazed into Eriol's beautiful sapphire eyes.
I ran my hand down Eriol's pale face. "Don't be sorry. You didn't give me a hard time at all. You got whipped because of me, and treated me like your little sister. I will always cherish you and remember you wherever I go."
"Are you going to travel the country again?"
"That's what I do for a living. Eriol, I've always wanted to ask you a question, and hopefully you can answer it truthfully."
"Go ahead and ask."
I turned my back towards him. I don't want to see his expression when I ask. "Do you love Tomoyo?"
It took a few moments for Eriol to reply. "Yes, I love her, very much."
I felt a sudden pain in my nose. I tried very hard to keep back the tears that are blurring my vision. Why did he have to love Tomoyo? Why can't he love me instead?
I pushed my selfish feelings away, and found my voice. "Okay, I understand, but Eriol, before I leave, I have to tell you that if you want Tomoyo to be with you for the rest of your life, you will be facing a lot more obstacles and pain to have her."
"Are you saying that it isn't hard to win her heart over?"
No, winning her heart is the easy part, but Tomoyo is not the real Clow Mistress. She is only a common tailor, while you are the most powerful sorcerer in the country. Many people won't allow you to be with Tomoyo, and the first one to stop you is the empress.
I kept my thoughts to myself, turned around to look at Eriol one more time.
"Good-bye and good luck"
As I ran out to the garden, I couldn't control my tears anymore, they all leaked right out of my eyes, and I can not stop crying.
"I only like Eriol as a friend. I only have a tiny crush on him, that's all!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I fell on my knees.
"Sakura." I saw Syaoran's shadow in front of me.
I wiped away my tears, and looked up at him. He has changed into the Prince's royal suit. Then I realized this is the exact same suit he wore the first time we met, except he is wearing the crown.
"Uhh, Sakura, I don't know how to apologize, I............" He began.
"Why did you have to kick me out of the palace!" I lost my temper and control.
"I.........."
"I thought you were a real friend! Friends don't make friends and get rid of friends whenever they feel like it!!!!!!!!!"
"Calm down..........."
"You CALM DOWN! Syaoran, why did you have to get rid of me! Eriol already chose Tomoyo over me, do you want me to vanish in front of your eyes too!?"
Syaoran's guilty look drove away my madness. He helped me up, and let me cry on his chest once again just like the first time we've met. It seems like he's always there when I'm at my weakest, and comforts me until I get strong again.
Yet, he doesn't want me around anymore just because I told him I'm not the Clow Mistress. A part of me wants to tell him the truth, and stay with him in the palace forever, but what about Eriol? If Eriol knows Tomoyo isn't the Clow Mistress, would he stop loving her just like Syaoran stopped being my friend.
For Tomoyo's sake, I have to disappear. Eriol will never know the truth that Tomoyo isn't the Clow Mistress, and they'll live happily ever after.
That's what I get for liking Eriol that much. I'm such a fool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Syaoran. It has been a week since I'd left the palace, and the only thing I can think of is Syaoran. I sat in an empty restaurant, drinking a cup after another cup of wine.
I want to get drunk, so I don't have to see his face in my brain anymore. I hate to admit it, but I'm already missing him. Nobody has ever held me like he does, and lets me cry on their shoulders. Even if he did that only because he wants to use me, I still feel that he's special.
I drowsily walked outside, as something caught my eye.
I saw a scroll hang on somebody's building wall. The scroll had a picture of me on it!
It read:
"Wanted Criminal:
Sakura Kinomoto, 18 years old, a nomad that travels across the land performing martial arts to earn a living. If anyone finds this person, immediately report your information to the government. You will be greatly rewarded.
Your Royal Highnesses,
Prince Xiao Lang Li
Princess Meiling Li
Royal Advisor Eriol Hiiragizawa"
Hmm, I've already left the palace for good; why would they want to capture me back?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know, I know this chapter is crappy, but I can't think of better conflicts to go with the plot. Any suggestions for future chapters?
Chapter 8: The Change
"Syaoran! Syaoran! Damn it, where are you!" I ran out to the garden searching for Syaoran.
"SYAORAN LI, COME OUT THIS INSTANT!!!!!!!" I yelled as the palace walls echoed my voice making it even louder.
"Who is shouting so unreasonably loud?" I heard Queen Yelan's irritated voice.
Uh oh, if she finds me, I'm doomed. Gotta think of a place to hide......... I know, the Cherry Pitfall.
I ran in the direction of the Sakura Tree. When I got there, the tree started to transform again into many. I walked up to the center, and the ground started to disappear, as I fell down that deep hole again.
Oh well, at least I'm safe from Yelan.
"Sakura, what are you doing all the way down here?" A shocked Syaoran asked sitting on the bottom of the floor.
"I could ask you the same thing. How come you ran away when the Empress came over this morning?"
Syaoran didn't speak. I could almost see it in his eyes that he's trying to think of a lie.
"Syaoran, I thought you were my friend! You, Eriol, and Meiling definitely have something hidden from me!"
"Fine, I'll tell you everything, but first of all what did Queen Yelan do at Meiling's; did she beat you up again?"
"She was there looking for you, mister! You have your own chamber? How the heck did you know the queen?" I asked, still so confused.
(A/N: Sakura, don't give it all away, it'll give him the advantage to know how to lie to you now!!!!)
Syaoran thought for a moment. "Fine I'll tell you. You remember that time, when I told you Empress Yelan was very depressed after her sons Xiao Long and Xiao Hu killed off each other? Well then she met me. She kept telling herself that I'm her son, because of a small resemblance of me and Xiao Long. She even gave me a chamber of my own right next to hers, so she could see me often, and let my appearance remind her of her loved ones that died."
Is what Syaoran is saying true? "You're lying." I said stubbornly.
He laughed. "Then what do you think, that I'm a prince, and a royal heir? Then why how would I end up working for Meiling?"
"Because you like Meiling, duh. I saw you two kissing one time in the middle of the night."
"Believe what you want to believe." Syaoran strugged.
"Syaoran, please just tell me, are you the prince or not!" I grabbed his arm.
"God, Sakura when did you become this annoying? I told you, I'm just a servant! SERVANT MEANING NOT A PRINCE!!!!!" Syaoran practically screamed.
"YEAH RIGHT, AND I'M JUST A MAID NOT THE CLOW MISTRESS!" I screamed back.
That shut him up. "You are the Clow Mistress?" He asked stupidly.
I was about to admit it, but why do I have to tell him my identity first? Even if Syaoran is not a prince, he is still hiding something from me!
"No, I am not the Clow Mistress. Tomoyo is." I lied smoothly.
"Really, so all this time.......... I'm sorry we got the wrong girl." Did I just see disappointment in Syaoran's eyes?
"What wrong girl? You're confusing me."
"Do you want to know why you were made a servant for Meiling in the first place? And why Eriol knew your name the first time he met you? Everyone thought you were the Clow Mistress because Eriol, who is the reincarnation of Clow Reed, sensed a strong bond with you. We made you a servant, so you'd have to stick to the palace so we have time to discover if you really are the Clow Mistress or not."
"So that means you 'are' the Prince of China."
"Yeah, I am Prince Xiao Lang." He finally admitted as he jumped out of the hole, his footsteps walking further and further away before I could tell him that I lied about Tomoyo being the Mistress.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sakura, it has been fun getting to know you, I'll miss you very much." Meiling hugged me.
"What?"
"Don't you know you're leaving today? Syaoran decided that living in this palace is like jail to you, so he has decided to release you." Meiling said happily.
Syaoran...... is the only reason why he has spent so much time with me acting like a true friend because of the whole clow mistress thing? Now he thinks Tomoyo is the Clow Mistress, he doesn't even want me to stay around for the rest of the month. I should of known; why would Syaoran want to be my friend in the first place; I'm just a violent emotionless warrior nomad........
"I'll miss you too Meiling; take good care of Prince Syaoran for me." I've decided not to tell anyone my identity now. If Syaoran cares more about my identity than me, so be it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Eriol, I know I'm probably disturbing you, but I had to come here to say good-bye." I stared at the person that I don't want to leave behind the most.
"Sakura, I've heard from Syaoran, I'm so sorry. We made you go through all this crap, lying to you, using you to find out who is the clow mistress." I gazed into Eriol's beautiful sapphire eyes.
I ran my hand down Eriol's pale face. "Don't be sorry. You didn't give me a hard time at all. You got whipped because of me, and treated me like your little sister. I will always cherish you and remember you wherever I go."
"Are you going to travel the country again?"
"That's what I do for a living. Eriol, I've always wanted to ask you a question, and hopefully you can answer it truthfully."
"Go ahead and ask."
I turned my back towards him. I don't want to see his expression when I ask. "Do you love Tomoyo?"
It took a few moments for Eriol to reply. "Yes, I love her, very much."
I felt a sudden pain in my nose. I tried very hard to keep back the tears that are blurring my vision. Why did he have to love Tomoyo? Why can't he love me instead?
I pushed my selfish feelings away, and found my voice. "Okay, I understand, but Eriol, before I leave, I have to tell you that if you want Tomoyo to be with you for the rest of your life, you will be facing a lot more obstacles and pain to have her."
"Are you saying that it isn't hard to win her heart over?"
No, winning her heart is the easy part, but Tomoyo is not the real Clow Mistress. She is only a common tailor, while you are the most powerful sorcerer in the country. Many people won't allow you to be with Tomoyo, and the first one to stop you is the empress.
I kept my thoughts to myself, turned around to look at Eriol one more time.
"Good-bye and good luck"
As I ran out to the garden, I couldn't control my tears anymore, they all leaked right out of my eyes, and I can not stop crying.
"I only like Eriol as a friend. I only have a tiny crush on him, that's all!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I fell on my knees.
"Sakura." I saw Syaoran's shadow in front of me.
I wiped away my tears, and looked up at him. He has changed into the Prince's royal suit. Then I realized this is the exact same suit he wore the first time we met, except he is wearing the crown.
"Uhh, Sakura, I don't know how to apologize, I............" He began.
"Why did you have to kick me out of the palace!" I lost my temper and control.
"I.........."
"I thought you were a real friend! Friends don't make friends and get rid of friends whenever they feel like it!!!!!!!!!"
"Calm down..........."
"You CALM DOWN! Syaoran, why did you have to get rid of me! Eriol already chose Tomoyo over me, do you want me to vanish in front of your eyes too!?"
Syaoran's guilty look drove away my madness. He helped me up, and let me cry on his chest once again just like the first time we've met. It seems like he's always there when I'm at my weakest, and comforts me until I get strong again.
Yet, he doesn't want me around anymore just because I told him I'm not the Clow Mistress. A part of me wants to tell him the truth, and stay with him in the palace forever, but what about Eriol? If Eriol knows Tomoyo isn't the Clow Mistress, would he stop loving her just like Syaoran stopped being my friend.
For Tomoyo's sake, I have to disappear. Eriol will never know the truth that Tomoyo isn't the Clow Mistress, and they'll live happily ever after.
That's what I get for liking Eriol that much. I'm such a fool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Syaoran. It has been a week since I'd left the palace, and the only thing I can think of is Syaoran. I sat in an empty restaurant, drinking a cup after another cup of wine.
I want to get drunk, so I don't have to see his face in my brain anymore. I hate to admit it, but I'm already missing him. Nobody has ever held me like he does, and lets me cry on their shoulders. Even if he did that only because he wants to use me, I still feel that he's special.
I drowsily walked outside, as something caught my eye.
I saw a scroll hang on somebody's building wall. The scroll had a picture of me on it!
It read:
"Wanted Criminal:
Sakura Kinomoto, 18 years old, a nomad that travels across the land performing martial arts to earn a living. If anyone finds this person, immediately report your information to the government. You will be greatly rewarded.
Your Royal Highnesses,
Prince Xiao Lang Li
Princess Meiling Li
Royal Advisor Eriol Hiiragizawa"
Hmm, I've already left the palace for good; why would they want to capture me back?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know, I know this chapter is crappy, but I can't think of better conflicts to go with the plot. Any suggestions for future chapters?