Hey! I won't be updating for a while now, exams are coming up and I really need to study. I don't have a single class where I don't need to study (well, maybe art). Just warning you guys, don't worry, I'm not quitting the story (that sounds really funny), I'll be continuing through summer break (hopefully at least once a week), which starts in June.
I'm also sorry if it seems like I've been ignoring your reviews. I haven't, it's just that I can't really think of a title.
And if I forgot to put it in the chapters before, Sakura is now the Japanese princess instead (I changed it) and Paul is the Roman prince (I don't really know if there were princes in Rome, but he is the heir to the throne of Rome, a.k.a. future emperor).
The Amber Eyed Gladiator: Forbidden Games
By: Sakuratenshi89
Chapter Six
Aboard the Fune no Nadeshiko, 85 A.D.
'I'm home,' thought Touya. 'I never thought I would make it back here again. But here I am. Japan, it looks the same as the day I left it. Of course I've only been gone for eighteen months.'
Syaoran stood beside him, watching the island grow bigger and bigger as they neared it. So this was Japan, the famous land of the rising sun he had heard of ever since he was a boy. He wondered what his new life would be like.
"I think you'll like it," said Touya.
Syaoran was startled, Touya just seemed to know what he was thinking at all times.
Touya smirked. "Japan is normally a friendly country unless offended. Keep an open mind Li."
"Whatever," scowled Syaoran.
"But I suppose that since you're Chinese, it would be very hard for you to do so," Touya said lightly. "Chinese never did seem to like anybody but themselves much." His smirk grew bigger if possible, for he knew that what he said was actually the complete opposite of the truth, but it was aggravating and provoking Syaoran, so he said it.
"Kinomoto," growled Syaoran. "I swear, if I were still who I used to be, I would kill you, and I would make sure it was a painful, slow death; but now that I've been reduced to a captive, I won't."
"It's nice to know that you like me so much."
"Captain Kinomoto?"
Touya turned to the ship's captain. "Yes?"
"We will be docking in a few minutes."
"Very well."
The ships captain bowed and left to command the docking.
"Ah, home sweet home," sighed Yukito as he walked up to Touya and Syaoran. "I'd never had thought I'd see my homeland again."
"My thoughts exactly," said Touya, not taking his eyes off of Japan. He wondered if Sakura was there waiting.
"It's been so long," murmured Yukito. "Eighteen months of hardship and war certainly makes you miss home even more. I'd never thought I'd learn to appreciate Japan so much. Growing up, I always wanted to leave, find adventure, and go to other nations. Now to me, there is no place like home; there is no place in the world like Japan."
Touya nodded silently in agreement.
Syaoran remained silent, he agreed with Yukito, but it was not his place to say so, for he was not in his country but in this foreign land and he was a captive.
"We're docking," Touya said as he saw many sailors run out and began to drop the anchors. The other ships sailing with them were now docking beside the Fune no Nadeshiko. He turned back to look at the port and shifted his eyes to the lone figure standing on the docks.
Emperor's Palace, Tokyo, Japan, 85 A.D
"I can't believe you're leaving!!!" sobbed Tomoyo melodramatically.
"I really don't see what all the crying is about Tomo-chan," Sakura rolled her eyes. "After all, Eriol did promise you that we'll be seeing each other again soon. Remember? As your wedding gift, you'll be staying in Rome with me?"
"That's right isn't it?" sniffed Tomoyo, wiping away all her tears, and then smiling happily. "Yay! I get to stay with my beloved Sakura!"
Sakura sweatdropped, her cousin was even more of a nut case than she was.
"I thought I was your beloved," frowned Eriol.
"Don't frown, it gives you wrinkles," Tomoyo said absentmindedly. "Oh Sakura! I made you a whole new wardrobe. You just have to bring it with you to Rome, all the latest trends of Rome are in there."
Eriol had stopped frowning, but was still looking a bit upset at having been brushed off by his fiancé.
"Thanks Tomoyo," Sakura laughed sheepishly. "I really appreciate it. Arigato (thank you)."
"You shouldn't thank me, I really have fun making these outfits."
Sakura smiled then turned to Eriol and asked in a worried voice, "What's the matter Eriol-kun?"
"Nothing," he said quickly.
"Don't worry about him," said Tomoyo. "He's just upset that I'm paying more attention to my best friend who is leaving soon and that I'm spending more time with you."
"I get the point," Eriol said, annoyed. "But we're going too."
"Sakura will be too busy planning out the wedding," said Tomoyo sadly.
"You can help me Tomoyo," Sakura said nicely.
"YAY!!!" shrieked a starry eyed Tomoyo, making both Eriol and Sakura wince from the deafening voice. "You're the best Sakura!"
"Um…you're welcome?" smiled Sakura nervously.
"I'm not deaf!" proclaimed Eriol.
Tomoyo glared at him, shutting him up effectively.
"What I meant was that…um…I…I'm…not…uh…de-…dead! Yeah! That's it! I'm not dead!" stuttered Eriol.
Tomoyo stepped up to him menacingly, making him step back with every step she took. "Oh…you will be dead by the time I'm through with you mister!"
"Help!" squeaked Eriol.
Sakura just watched her wrathful best friend chase after her fiancé helplessly.
"Sakura?"
"Yes?"
"I see they're getting along just fine," commented Paul as he saw what Sakura was watching with amusement.
"Aren't they?"
"They're the strangest couple I have ever met."
"You can say that again," Sakura said, turning to Paul with some curiosity. "Why are you here? I thought you were packing."
"I'm done," said Paul, earning a surprised and incredulous look from Sakura. He laughed, "I didn't pack that much, you should know that guys pack very little compared to women."
"Yeah, I guess I forgot," laughed Sakura. "So, why are you here?"
"Your father sent me here to tell you that your brother's ship was spotted off in the distance, he should be reaching Japan in half an hour or so."
"Really??" asked an excited Sakura.
Paul nodded.
"Touya's home!" screamed Sakura happily.
Tomoyo and Eriol immediately stopped in the midst of their chase and heard Sakura's joyful shouting.
"I've got to go! Touya's home!" laughed Sakura as she ran out of her room.
"I've never seen her this happy before," smiled Tomoyo.
"They're pretty close, aren't they?" asked Paul, staring after Sakura absentmindedly.
"Isn't it obvious?" asked Eriol sarcastically, but he was happy for his fianc's best friend.
On the Docks, Tokyo, Japan, 85 A.D.
Touya never took his eyes off of the lone figure on the docks; the figure didn't take its eyes off of his either. His eyes were still trained on it as he walked down the ramp.
Syaoran watched silently from the back for now that they had reached Japan, he would have to go back to being a captive, not that he wasn't one already. He wouldn't be able to speak to Touya in the public's eye. He would only be able to talk when Touya addressed him.
The figure ran towards Touya and launched herself (yes, it was a she) into his waiting arms.
"I missed you so much," sobbed Sakura (the figure was Sakura if no one has figured that out by now) into Touya's shoulder.
"I missed you too…kaijuu," whispered Touya.
Sakura glared at him then smiled, "I won't stomp on your foot, this time."
"Thanks," said Touya, smiling back.
Syaoran was surprised, was the usually cynical Captain Kinomoto actually smiling, genuinely smiling? His sister must really mean a lot to him then. Syaoran glanced at the figure in the captain's arms. She was slender and rather tall for a female, but he was still taller, he noted, by a lot.
Sakura was released from Touya's arms and that was when Syaoran got a good look at the Japanese princess.
He admitted grudgingly that she was very beautiful. With her long light brown hair and her emerald eyes, she was easily one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
"Where's is everyone else?" asked Touya.
"Waiting for you back at the castle, they've prepared a homecoming party for you," said Sakura smiling. She just couldn't stop with the smiling.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
"You."
"Very funny Sakura."
"I thought it was too."
Touya rolled his eyes, this was definitely his sister; he bore her jokes this time because he had missed her and had missed all her terrible jokes and tantrums.
"Let's go!" exclaimed Sakura.
"I have some other business to take care off first," Touya said gently. "I'll meet you back at the palace."
"Um…okay," hesitated Sakura, then she smiled again upon spotting a certain gray haired general. "Hi Yukito! Welcome back!"
"Konnichiwa Sakura-hime," smiled Yukito. "How are you?"
"Great now that you guys are back home! Are you coming to the homecoming party?"
"Wouldn't miss it," laughed Yukito.
"See you there!" waved Sakura as she began walking back towards the horse she had ridden here, which Touya approved of: "Young women should not be riding horses like crazy people! They should be refined, but of course you aren't at all, you're just a little kaijuu, aren't you?"
"Save me a dance!" called Yukito.
"Will do!"
"What?" asked Yukito once Sakura was out of sight; Touya had been glaring at him.
"You do know that she's my sister right?"
"Of course I do."
"Good."
Yukito rolled his eyes, "You don't have to worry about her, I'm just like another brother to her, which I don't mind."
"Whatever. Let's get the captives to the auction house."
The auction house, those three words rang in Syaoran's mind over and over again as he began walking, following Touya and Yukito's lead.
Auction House, Tokyo, Japan, 85 A.D.
"I'll take them," said the owner of the auction house after a lot of persuasion, "But the next auction will be next year."
"That's fine," said Touya. "We just need to put them somewhere for the time being."
'I'm going to be in here for a month,' thought Syaoran as he looked around the grimy cell room.
"You'll be out of here soon," said Touya quietly. "Someone like you would probably be auctioned off as soon as you get up there. Can't say much for the older and weaker captives though. Can't stay here for long, I have a banquet to attend."
"Then go."
"I'll try and persuade father to let me come to the auction and get some new recruits for the army since we lost a chunk of people in the war."
Syaoran smirked, "We were good weren't we?"
Touya shrugged. "You put up a good fight, but we won in the end, so it really doesn't matter."
"I'm not sure if I want to be sold that I want to be a member of my enemy's army."
"Suit yourself, I was being kind."
"Oh, very," said Syaoran wryly. "That's just about as nice as you can get."
"I'm leaving now."
"You said that a while ago."
"Mr. Tokohashi," Touya addressed the owner.
"Y-yes?" asked the flustered Mr. Tokohashi at being addressed by the prince.
"See to it that these men are fed well, we want them to be in top condition for the auction so that they are sold at high prices. You got that?"
"Y-yes sir," said Mr. Tokohashi.
"I'll be checking up on these men once a week," said Touya firmly. "I know your reputation for being a liar."
Mr. Tokohashi flinched at the bluntness of Touya's voice.
"So be expecting me at the end of each week," said Touya.
"Yes, your majesty."
"Good," said Touya, swinging up on his horse and leaving with Yukito in tow and a few other soldiers that had come along.
Mr. Tokohashi scowled as they left, "That Prince thinks so highly of himself, sometimes I wish that I could just strangle him myself or that he had died in battle."
Syaoran stared at the man with a blank face. This fellow sure did hate Kinomoto a lot.
"And his sister rejected me as a suitor," the stout man muttered.
'I wonder why,' Syaoran thought. 'The girl was smart though.'
"I'm perfectly handsome."
Syaoran was about to crack. This man was just crazy, he probably didn't even know that some of the captives here could speak Japanese fluently and could understand every single word he said.
"This man is crazy," said one of the captives in Chinese. "He is talking to himself."
"All the Japanese are crazy," sneered another captive. "I hate them all."
A low murmur of agreement rose from several of the captives.
Syaoran remained silent as he continued to listen to the ugly man ramble on.
"Just wait, one day I'll rise to power and overthrow the government and make that princess my queen. She won't be able to refuse me then, will she?"
'Those are some highly unlikely to happen dreams.'
"What are you staring at!" yelled the man as the glared at the captives who had been watching him.
The captives were startled, except for Syaoran. Most didn't understand Japanese, so he translated for them, "He is saying that he is a very stupid man and he wish he were more handsome."
The captives laughed loudly, even the ones who did understand Japanese.
Syaoran just stood there smirking. This man could be described with one word, pushover.
"Why are you laughing!" screamed Mr. Tokohashi. "This isn't funny!"
"Now he says that he knows that he is just an ugly toad and a perverted one at that," 'translated' Syaoran, making the prisoners laugh even harder.
Mr. Tokohashi stomped his chubby feet in frustration, only succeeding in maker the prisoners roll on the floor with laugher and shook his fist at the prisoners before leaving the room angrily.
Emperor's Palace, Tokyo, Japan, 85 A.D
"Welcome home son," said Fujitaka warmly as he smiled down proudly upon his son.
"Thank you, otou-san," said Touya. "It's good to be home." He glanced around the room and began glaring at people.
Fujitaka sighed as soon as he saw his son glare. 'And here we go again. I should've known that Touya would do this as soon as he came back. It's like pure instinct for him. Scaring away all the suitors, not that there should be any anymore.'
"Who's that?" demanded Touya as he saw some guy (a dead guy, obviously) walk up to Sakura and take her hand.
"That's Paulus, or Paul, Julianus the second of Italy," responded Fujitaka. 'He's going to find out sooner or later, this son of mine is very smart and keen when it comes to things concerning Sakura.'
"I don't like him," Touya watched Paul through narrowed eyes.
"Why?" asked Fujitaka warily.
"He's touching my sister."
"He has every right to."
"What do you mean father?" asked Touya in a suspicious voice. "Why does he have every right to touch Sakura? My sister?"
"She might be your sister, but she's also my daughter."
"You didn't answer my question," said Touya, frustrated. "Why…"
"He's her fiancé."
"Oh, I see, so just because he's her…WHAT THE HELL?"
Every head in the banquet hall swerved towards the king and his son, staring at them in horror and disbelief.
Fujitaka sweat dropped at his son's crude language before saying sternly, "What have I said about using swear words?"
"I know," said Touya grudgingly, "But this occasion just called for it. I mean Sakura is well…uh…"
"Engaged," said Fujitaka amusedly. "I know, his father and I arranged it."
"Oh you arranged it, that makes it so much better," Touya said sarcastically.
"They seem to be getting along pretty well."
"Too well."
"They've actually become really good friends. They're going to give this engagement a shot and if it doesn't work out, then it's over."
"Sakura agreed to this?"
"She likes Paul."
"If she's okay with it, then I guess I'm okay with it," muttered Touya; though deep down inside he was just waiting to get his hands on that fiancé of Sakura's and strangle him in his sleep.
"You won't be strangling him in his sleep either," said Fujitaka in a 'I-know-you-too-well' kind of tone.
Touya groaned. "Well…what if I just spread a rumor and scare…"
"No," said Fujitaka firmly. "You will not be messing around with your sister's engagement and that's final."
"Fine," said Touya stiffly, he walked away from Fujitaka to where Paul and Sakura were dancing. "May I cut in?"
"Sure," said Sakura too cheerfully as she let go of Paul's hands and began walking away when Touya's hand clasped around her wrist.
"Not you, him," said Touya in a serious voice.
"No problem," said Paul, smiling. "I'll let you two catch up." He walked to a table and began talking with some of the other noble families.
"You agreed to this engagement?" asked Touya.
"Yes," said Sakura timidly.
"Why?" asked Touya.
"Because I wanted to."
"Were you forced?"
"No, I like Paul, I like him a lot, he's different from other men, if you gave him the chance you would see that too."
"I don't want to give him a chance," said Touya stubbornly.
"Your problem, not mine," shrugged Sakura. "I'm leaving for Rome in two days, tomorrow Paul will be going to the auction house to choose some of the slaves there to be taken back to Rome as sort of a gift. Then the next day I will be leaving."
"You grew up so fast," commented Touya softly. "Right in front of my eyes."
"Shouldn't otou-san be saying that?" teased Sakura. "Not my brother?"
"I can't help it."
"I love you too Touya. You're the best brother I could've ever asked for even though you really are annoying sometimes and way too overprotective."
"I'm only looking out for you," protested Touya.
"I know," laughed Sakura, enjoying the moment she was having with her brother.
A/N: Just a reminder! I really appreciate reviews!! hint hint Oh yea, one more thing, during summer break I might be rewriting some of these chapters, just for my own sake and for all you guys out there who read my story! Thanks a bunch to:
AnimeObsessionFAntasy
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