I'm back from the beach! Boy was it awesome! I met tons of cute guys!!!! Hehe. It was the best. Sort of took me a while to get back into the game but it was worth it. I know this update took me forever, but I kind of had to re-read the whole story over to see where I was going with this story and to try and tie some loose ends together. But I guess that plan didn't quite work out. I'm going to try and update faster, but it's going to be really hard seeing as I start school in less than a week and I just have so much to do!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!!! I don't know how I'm going to survive!!!! Yeah, since there are so many loose ends just hanging in every single chapter, I've decided that…I'M GOING TO DELETE THIS STORY SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHA, just kidding, I'm probably just going to go back later and add some details, delete other things, etc. you know, just fix some problems.
I decided to name the pasta place Augustus's Pasta House.
Personal Notes to the Readers for Chapter 10!!!
Final Fantasy Princess: That's okay, as long as you review sometime, hehe. I'm sorry about the Internet connection, and I totally know how it feels. I was computer-less for two weeks. I thought I was going to die! Syaoran and Sakura are cute together aren't they? Man, I need to know my story better, after being away for so long, I've forgotten what I was going to write. I'm going to go back and read my story over. There are so many holes and loose ends in there. Thanks for the great review!
Mecha-Griever: That would make this pretty interesting…having Sakura and Syaoran have an affair. But I dunno, I'll just think of something as I write. Yeah, like I told Final Fantasy Princess, I have a ton of loose ends and holes in my story, I'll probably go back later and fix when I'm completely done with my story.
Qleo-chan: I kind of like the idea of Syaoran as a bad boy, hehe, can't you just see him though, wearing a leather jacket, with cool sunglasses, riding a motorcycle? Haha, sort of fits his whole emotionless facade and his attitude. But I can't really see Sakura having an affair, well unless her character and personality were totally different. She's too innocent, but hey, it would make the story interesting.
kittyfaerie3000: Thanks, sorry, about not updating soon.
LovelyLadyLuna: Thanks for adding my story to the list of your favorites!!! I'm really sorry about the late update.
Feathers1: I know, my story was slow at first. You shouldn't hate Paul, you should feel sorry for him, he's just a fill in sort of character, he'll be out of the entire story at one point…well maybe not entirely. Yeah, he's not a completely bad character, which is going to make choosing between Syaoran and him even harder (yeah, right, Syaoran wins by like, a gazillion more votes, hehe).
katana-hime: Sorry to say this, but you're right about having to wait and see. You might have to wait even longer for the coming up chapters wince, I know nobody's going to like this.
Cherry Jade: I know, I just adore Sakura and Syaoran moments! sigh it really makes one wish they had a guy as handsome and great as Syaoran Li (all the guys I know are really funny and great, but when it comes to relationships, they're total and complete jerks).
A Thousand Paper Cranes: Thanks for all the information!!! That's too bad about the pasta part, it doesn't really matter I guess, I just wanted ya'll to know that I'm not saying there was pasta. I really don't know, I just want to have some accurate information in my story, or as accurate as possible. But who cares? It's my story, and it's AU, so…THANKS! Now I know. Oh, I didn't know about 'kuso' I just thought it meant 'damn' because other people have put it in their stories as 'damn'. Thanks though, I probably won't change it, cause I'm so lazy (actually I will, but not now). Thanks! It's nice to have people tell you what's right when you're wrong. It's better thank looking completely stupid.
Lil Cherry Blossom Angel: Naughty stuff? Uh…maybe later. Hehe, I promise. Well I won't get too naughty, this story is rated PG-13, and I don't want to change it to R. I'll include kissing and stuff, just no really explicit content.
me101: He might get in trouble smiles mysteriously, well, I think you really already know the answer to that question hint look in the title hint.
Sunnflower: Touya will definitely be coming back soon, I just don't know when, because you know how traveling took them forever back then. It took Sakura and Paul two years to reach Rome from Japan in my story. Which, by the way, I'm thinking of changing that, cause that's way too long, but maybe not.
ayumi-dono: I know, my story's a bit weird, but that's what a story is, you get to alter history basically. But yeah, I know, Sakura's in for the biggest and hardest decision of her life.
e=mc2: Thanks blush considering I almost didn't pass history this past year (but don't tell anyone, hehe, I've already gotten a huge lecture on it from my parents).
Avelyn Lauren: You know what? I might just do that, have Sakura blow off some steam, etc. Your welcome about Adonis, actually I wasn't so sure about him myself, I just read other stories and I just assume that their facts are correct, which I know is wrong, but I'm normally a very lazy person hehe. Yeah, she is the Card Mistress, as you will find out in this chapter. This will make my story very complicated.
Heather-Hezzer-and-Honaluki: That's fine about the dictionary, I do that a lot, when people are talking I'll be like oh that's blah, blah, blah, in this language, and they're like, "Okayyy." They all think I'm crazy, haha, not really, but I'm sure they have before. I'm just a really random person sometimes. But it's really fun being random and no one knows what you're talking about and you just start laughing really loud. The only downer is that they think you're insane. You probably think that I am right now cause I'm just babbling on and on smile.
lil Maria: I don't want to include them, but I really don't have a choice, I already mentioned that Yukito had some magical aura and now in this chapter Sakura is the Card Mistress. So I'll have to be including Kero I guess, even though it'll make my story harder to write, cause I have to incorporate everything. I wanted it to be a simple love story wails but now it's so complicated!!!
Dreamer: I think so too! smile They'll be getting along even better as my story continues.
Pinboo: Thanks a whole bunch! I know the beginning was slow, it's just to make my story seem longer I guess shrugs, I wanted you guys to keep on reading! I know that all ya'll just can't wait for Sakura and Syaoran to meet, that's the tactic that all authors use. So they just keep on writing about them separately and you just can't wait till they meet and they know that, so you'll just have to keep on reading! I know from personal experience. Clothing…they just all wore togas and stuff like that, believe me, it's utterly boring and pretty useless stuff. Well, not useless, it's just that there weren't many styles or anything back then. It was just a piece of long cloth wrapped around the body. I could give you a lesson on Ancient Roman clothing if you want. We like spent a week learning about this subject in Latin. It was crazy. I'm a simple person, really, I am. I just think and imagine things bigger and better than I can actually write or make. I don't like including too many things in a story, because then things get complicated, which is why I'll never be able to write a book or story or even come up with a plot like J.K. Rowling, the creators of CCS, etc.
Rosie: Thanks, I know my summary isn't the best, it doesn't really attract that many people, but I tried. I'm trying not to make it like everyone else's fic.
Piccoleia Star: I just LOVE Syaoran Li sigh, sorry about the slow update.
PeAcH bLSsOm: I hope everything works out between Sakura and Syaoran (I know I'm the writer…hehe). I have a note on the bottom of this chapter that asks if ya'll want a notice for my next update.
pureiceangel25: Thanks smile!
mycherrywolf: Well, I could always see if any one of my readers is a good artist and would like to draw a picture of Syaoran in a gladiator outfit! I think I'd faint with happiness, haha. There will definitely be more SS action coming up.
Sweet Sakura Angel: Yes, I actually did come up with this plot all by myself, and I'm proud of it. It's the only piece of writing I've gotten so far with, the other ones…well I haven't actually given up, I'm just taking an extended break until I come up with some sort of inspiration.
Gabzilla: Same here! I want a gladiator! Especially one whose name is Syaoran Li!!!! Do you think you could send the picture that you drew to me? My email is I'd really like to see it and I'm sure everyone else who reads this story would too. Thanks!
Ranya: Yeah, blush I fixed that mistake, I don't know what I was thinking when I put 'Paul' instead of 'ball', I think I'm going crazy. I had an awesome time on my vacation! sigh but now it's really hard getting back on track and remembering where I was going with this story, cause I sort of forgot, but I'm sure it'll come back with my oh-so-great memory (yeah right, haha).
lil Mari: Sorry, this one took me forever to write.
Cherry Princess Sakura: Guess you'll just have to wait and see! I'll try and update my next chapter sooner.
AnimeObsessionFantasy: They were together cause of a contract, but they sort of wanted to be together, because they sort of liked each other and they still do. But you know Syaoran comes along and everything changes…smile
Ray-sama: Yeah, so many people have told me that, but I still haven't changed it, hehe, ; yeah, I'm a sort of lazy person, hehe. But I'll change it when I go back and redo some of my story.
Sorry if I forgot anyone, my server wouldn't let me check to see who else reviewed. So I apologize for that.
Enjoy the chapter!!!!!!!!!! (And leave me a review!)
The Amber Eyed Gladiator: Forbidden Games
By: Sakuratenshi89
Chapter Eleven
The Palace, Rome, Italy, 87 A.D.
Paul sat in the library, quietly debating whether he should or shouldn't check up on Sakura.
'You should, she's your fiancé!' his mind argued.
'Well, she needs time to rest; I need to give her some space! I don't want to seem like the overprotective fiancé. She already has a brother who does that,' Paul argued back.
But the little voice inside his head just wouldn't give up. 'You have every right to check up on her! YOU'RE HER FIANCE! Just make sure that she's okay, check up on her. Go see if her fever's gone down.'
'You're really beginning to bug me,' growled Paul to the voice.
'It's my job.'
Paul rolled his eyes and got up; placing the book he had been "reading" down on the couch and left the room.
"Paul!"
Paul turned and saw Tomoyo and Eriol who both looked like they had just come from a wrestling match. He grimaced, he knew what they had been doing, and he wasn't about to ask, plus it really was none of his business. They were engaged anyway, so it wasn't wrong.
"Hi, I was just about to check up on Sakura."
Tomoyo exchanged a panicked glance with Eriol that Paul didn't notice (A/N: thank god, then it would ruin everything).
"Well, she's sleeping," Tomoyo said quickly.
"I just need to check up on her."
"She doesn't wish to be disturbed," said Eriol.
"Okay," Paul raised an eyebrow at the couple's strangeness. "Well, could you at least tell me if my fiancé is getting better?"
"Sure!" Tomoyo exclaimed cheerfully. "Her fever's gone down, so after a good night's rest, she'll be up and about."
"Thanks Tomoyo," Paul said and turned in the opposite direction of Sakura's room.
As soon as he left, Tomoyo and Eriol sighed in relief.
"Could you imagine what Paul would've done if he found out Sakura was gone?" Tomoyo asked fearfully.
"Yeah, he would've had our heads," muttered Eriol.
Tomoyo bonked her fiancé on the head. "No stupid, well…maybe, but I don't think he's that barbaric. Anyway, he would've sent out the entire Roman army to search for her. You know how taken he is with her! And even worse, he would probably kill anyone, especially men, who were with her. And Sakura would probably be disgraced because he would probably call the wedding off…she'd be ruined! And what about her family?! Touya would be furious and her father…"
"Tomoyo!" Eriol exclaimed to his rambling fiancé. "Calm down!"
A red faced Tomoyo turned to Eriol and began screaming, "Calm down?! How can you ask me to calm down? Are you nuts? You know what…"
"Breathe Tomoyo," Eriol instructed to an almost ready to burst from lack of oxygen Tomoyo. "Inhale…exhale…repeat…inhale…"
Tomoyo glared at the blue-black haired man. "I know how to breathe you moron!"
Eriol pouted, "I was just trying to help."
Tomoyo rolled her eyes. "Well, we better go find Sakura before her fiancé-dearest does go check up on her and finds out that she's gone."
"Well, what are we waiting for then?!"
Augustus's Pasta House, Rome, Italy, 87 A.D.
"This is so good," Sakura sighed in blissful satisfaction. She had ordered a plate of chicken alfredo (A/N: my fav, hehe). "I could eat this every day for the rest of my life if I wanted to."
"It's not that good," Syaoran snorted as he finished off his plate of spaghetti.
Sakura glared at him, "Be quiet and let me enjoy my pasta."
"We've been here for god knows how long and you still haven't finished half of your plate," Syaoran pointed out. "I do believe that I've let you enjoyed your pasta long enough, thank you very much."
Sakura had been eating her pasta strand by strand, savoring the flavor and the taste of it in her mouth. Every time she took a bite she would make a comment on the flavor. Syaoran had been patiently (or not) waiting for her to finish up.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "You know that if you were a true gentlemen then you would just let me eat the way I want, you would let me eat at the pace I want."
"But I'm not a gentlemen, I'm a gladiator," Syaoran said.
"You're supposed to be a gentlemen in the presence of a princess," sniffed Sakura.
"Well forgive me, your highness," Syaoran said, rolling his eyes. "But I must point out that you look nothing and act nothing like a princess."
"WHY YOU!!!!" Sakura shrieked.
Syaoran winced; thank goodness they had gotten a private room for eating.
"I ought to have you…"
"Saku!!!!!!"
"What? Tomoyo, what are you doing here? And Eriol too!" Sakura gasped. "I thought you guys returned to the palace."
Standing before her and Syaoran were a very exhausted and sweaty looking couple.
"What did you guys do? Run marathons?" smirked Syaoran.
Eriol glared at him.
"Sorry Eriol, but the Olympics are in Greece, not Rome," Syaoran laughed. "Guess you're in the wrong place. Maybe you should go there and practice."
"For your information, we were here to get Sakura, my cute little descendant," Eriol smirked as Syaoran glared at him for using that nickname. "We had absolutely no clue that you'd be with her."
"Sakura, you have to get back to the palace," panted Tomoyo, still trying to catch her breath. After all, royalty (especially the women) never did get much exercise; it wasn't proper for a woman to be fit (A/N: I'm just assuming this). Women weren't allowed to do what men did for fun.
"Why?" asked Sakura confused.
"You're not at the palace!"
"Uh…isn't that obvious?" Syaoran asked wryly.
Tomoyo glared at him.
"What's up with everyone glaring at me?"
"You might want to stop it with the smart comments," warned Eriol.
"You're not at the palace and Paul is," Tomoyo began.
"Oh my god! I'm not at the palace!!!!!" screamed Sakura as the realization dawned on her.
"I thought we already established the fact that she isn't at the palace," Syaoran said. "No need repeating it fifty times."
"No, you don't get it, I'm not at the palace," Sakura explained.
"Yes I do, I know that you're not at the…"
"No you don't, if I'm not at the palace and my fiancé finds out, I'll be in so much trouble."
"No you won't, he loves you right?" asked Syaoran.
Sakura turned bright red. "Um…I-I-I d…"
"Well he shouldn't get mad at you just because you're not there," said Syaoran.
"But if he finds out I've been with other people when I'm supposedly supposed to be in bed lying there, sick, then…"
"Well, what the hell are we all waiting for?!" Eriol interrupted. "We need to get you back to your room and fast. We don't have any time to lose."
"I totally forgot to use the Mirror," Sakura said miserably, not even really noticing what she was saying.
"Sakura!" Tomoyo gasped.
Sakura clamped her hand over her mouth.
Syaoran stared at Sakura, wide-eyed.
Eriol just smiled and snapped his fingers, "That's it, Sakura use Fly!"
Sakura gaped at Eriol, "How'd y-y-you…"
"I'm the reincarnation of Clow Reed, that's why I call Syaoran my cute little descendant, but there's really no time to explain, hurry."
"I know I've met you somewhere before!" Sakura exclaimed, then she began babbling, "Well, not really met, but I've felt you around before, you're the one who made me change all the Clow Cards into the Sakura Cards!"
"Yes that was me, Sakura, use Fly, you need to get back to the palace, Paul will be checking up on you any second now!"
"Oh yeah," Sakura said before closing her eyes and summoning her wand. "I call upon the forces of my star, ancient forces near and far, release!" The charm hanging about her neck had extended into a wand (A/N: I don't know if that's the real chant, if any one of you readers out there know, please send me a review).
"Remember, act sick!" Tomoyo called as sakura summoned the Fly and began lifting off the ground.
"I will!" Sakura waved and was off.
"Won't she be seen?" asked Tomoyo worriedly.
"She knows how to hide herself from being seen," Eriol said reassuringly.
Syaoran still stood there, gaping.
"Uh…are you okay there Syaoran?" asked Tomoyo.
"I can't believe it, she's…she's the…"
"Card Mistress," Eriol said calmly. "You'd better believe it."
"When?"
"Ever since she was ten," Tomoyo said proudly. "Other than her Dad, Touya, and me, Eriol and you are the only ones who know about this."
"Too much to take in," mumbled Syaoran as he walked out of the room and out of the restaurant.
"Well…that went nicely," commented Eriol casually.
Tomoyo rolled her eyes, "Yeah, sure it did, he's probably scared of her now."
"He won't be, he'll accept it," Eriol said. "He was supposed to go look for the Clow Cards when he was young, but his father's death prevented him from going. He had to stay at home and learn the duties of a king at the age of twelve instead of at the age of sixteen."
"Wait a second…duties of a king?!"
Eriol paled visibly. "Uh…did I say that? I meant…"
"You're saying that Syaoran Li is Li Xiao Lang, the next ruler of CHINA????" shrieked Tomoyo.
"Heh…um…yes?"
"Why didn't you say this before?"
"What difference would it make?"
"Let me see…everything!" Tomoyo said sarcastically.
"How?" (A/N: can't you just see the question marks floating around Eriol's head? Hehe.)
"Well then Syaoran won't be a gladiator anymore and they can elope together. Don't they just make the cutest couple?" Tomoyo sighed with stars in her eyes. "Oh, the drama."
"You can't tell anyone, he doesn't want anyone to know."
"Why wouldn't he want anyone to know? He would be set free from all this crap if everyone knew he was the heir to the throne of China."
"Well…he sort of wanted to leave China," Eriol said uncomfortably.
"WHY?"
"Because he felt he had to accomplish something before he got settled down and married and took his place as the king of China. You know, he's trying to find himself, this is his journey," Eriol explained.
Tomoyo made a face, "What's with all these people making journeys?"
Eriol laughed then became sober; "Syaoran has a reason for his. He is the most powerful sorcerer in the world; he could destroy the world if he wished just with a flick of his fingers. He has the ultimate power. The Li Elders knew that he would be the one, for when he was born, he had an incredible aura. So they trained him ever since he was able to walk how to control his powers. He is able to contain them and just seem like a normal person. He can even hide his aura from other people with magic. There's also another part of the journey that I think was only mentioned once to him, but I'm pretty sure he is well aware of it. His powers aren't fully controlled, not emotionally, physically yes, but if someone angers him terribly, his powers could destroy that one person easily. If something has made him miserable, he could flood the entire earth. This is probably the most important part of the journey; he must find the one person who will be able to help him control his emotions, his counterpart, his soul mate."
Tomoyo remained quiet, "So, he's not only here to find himself but also to find his soul mate?"
"Yes, Syaoran also sees this as a sort of physical training and a challenge, like an obstacle he must defeat to become the king of China."
"Well, what makes Syaoran so sure that his soul mate is in Rome?"
"Well there was this prophecy: The most powerful sorcerer on this earth shall destroy himself unless he finds the one who is his match; she will be his equal in power. Together they will face of a battle of life or death and shall come out even," Eriol said.
"So he just assumed that this battle of life or death is the gladiatorial games in Rome?"
Eriol shrugged, "Don't ask me how my descendant's mind works. He's a smart kid, he knows what he's doing."
"I sure hope so," Tomoyo said, concerned. "One wrong move in those games can cause a man his life."
"Excuse me!"
Tomoyo and Eriol turned toward the voice coming from the room of the door. They saw a nervous looking waiter standing there.
"Yes?" asked Tomoyo kindly.
"I was asked to check upon you to see if you were done with your meal," the waiter said quietly.
"Uh…meal?" Tomoyo muttered in a low voice to Eriol, so only he could hear.
"I think that he's talking about Sakura and Syaoran's lunch."
"Oh no, they didn't pay did they? Great, figures," mumbled Tomoyo. "I get to pay for the meal that I didn't eat."
"Yes we're done," Eriol said after a moment's silence. He cleared his throat. "We're ready to pay now."
"Sakura wait until I get my hands on you!" Tomoyo said to herself.
The Palace, Rome, Italy, 87 A.D.
Sakura's wand shrank back into its charm-like state and her wings disappeared. She looked around her room before sighing in relief, she was safe. Apparently Paul hadn't checked up on her yet. She quickly changed back into her sleepwear and got into the bed not a minute to soon.
The door opened and Paul's blond head appeared.
"Sakura?"
"Yeah?" asked Sakura, faking a yawn.
"I'm sorry, was I disturbing you?" asked Paul nervously wondering if Tomoyo and her fiancé were right about Sakura not wanted to be disturbed.
"No I'm fine, actually I'm great," Sakura said happily, thinking of the meal she just had with a certain handsome gladiator.
"So, you're doing better then?"
"Yeah, tons, thanks Paul."
"No problem," Paul sighed in relief that she wasn't angry with him for disturbing her rest. "Would you like to join me for dinner tonight in the dining hall?"
"Who's going to be there?" asked Sakura.
"Not a lot of people," said Paul, thinking. "You'll meet my parents officially, I suppose they'll be wanting to discuss the ball that's coming up, and you know guests, and food and what not. I'm also guessing that Tomoyo and Eriol will be there and maybe a few other people, but that's really not important. So, will you go?"
"Sure," Sakura shrugged and smiled. "Besides, I've been looking forward to meeting your parents."
"As they have been looking forward to meeting you," Paul grinned.
Sakura smiled nervously.
Paul leaned forward and kissed her gently. "You'll be fine, they'll love you."
"If you say so," said Sakura.
Paul kissed her again, calming all of Sakura's nerves, then he leaned his forehead against hers and smiled, "I know so."
A/N: Yeah, I know this took me forever to get out, but I've been so busy with schoolwork and my extracurricular (big word!) activities. I hope that I'll get the next one done soon, but I probably won't, so I won't try and promise ya'll anything, cause I know I probably won't be able to keep my promise. Actually I know I won't be able to keep it. Sorry you guys! But please review!! I love all kinds of input! So please review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for being so patient!!!