A/N- I apologize for not updating for over two weeks. Sorry to keep all of you waiting!!! I was absent first of all because I was sick, yes; my coughing fits last a long time. Second, I was enjoying my vacation; school has been very hectic. Third, I became wicked lazy. I'm sure those are good excuses, lol. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!!! Wow, I'm so abrupt. Oh yes, Happy late Christmas and New year, lol.
Disclaimer: CCS is not mine...
Chapter 16- Finding You
He was running; scampering in many directions as if he's been going in an endless circle. His face held desperation and strong affection. As he ran, his rugged sword would drag behind him. He wanted to let go, so he can sprint at a quicker pace, but who knew what dangers lurked ahead of him.
Drawn in a glass-like dream
Embraced by that warmth
Awakened by a distant voice
" Just kill me here!"
His fierce amber eyes searched each end of the murky forest. Someone had called his name earlier and he wanted to find that person.
" Where are you?" His voice trembled, eyes frantically wandering. " I want to find you!"
" Syaoran…" A voice echoed.
He shot his head in that direction of the haunting, saintly voice. He was taken back by startling features.
He watched her slender figure; she beckoned him closer. He pranced, keeping steady from his feverish form. She smiled weakly at him as she brought out her arms. Her eyes were glistening green and her white, long dress flowed as she stood on a large rock.
" Sakura…" Syaoran breathed as he absently walked towards her, distracted from objects on the ground that would or had already make him trip and fall.
He was in front of the enthralling beauty. He put his arms around her, suddenly drained of agony or whatever been hurting him all these times. He looked at her as he held her. She smiled. His heart dropped.
" Sakura, I-I miss you so much. I-
He kissed her softly. Her taste was too overpowering that he almost fainted. He broke the kiss and just held her close to him. She looked up at his face with a dazed expression. He smiled at her. After some time, he started to undo the back buttons of her gown, revealing her soft, lightly tanned skin.
Strangely, Sakura's form became transparent and he felt right through her.
" Sakura? Wh-What's happening? W-Where are you going? SAKURA!!!" He lost his balance and fell over the rock. He was falling quite fast and headed towards the violently streaming river.
…
Syaoran woke up, beads of sweat forming on his forehead and he was breathing offbeat.
" S-Sakura!" He panted. He looked around the dim room and realized that he had another dream about her.
After Yelen's death, Syaoran brought out the whole kingdom to search for the girl with alluring green eyes. Weeks went by and still...no Sakura. Every night, Syaoran suffered from nightmares that brought pain to his chest and tears that threatened to spill. The girl's missing form was what caused terror to Syaoran each nightfall, making him restless for the morning day's search.
" ...Just find her! I want the whole kingdom looking for her! No more fakes pretending to be her. I want Sakura back!" Syaoran heaved furiously and slammed his fist onto the desk. He looked at Wei solemnly then he waved his hand in irritation so that Wei would leave promptly.
" I hope you know...how much she means to me." Syaoran whispered before Wei.
" Yes s-sire," Wei stammered and bowed clumsily. Everyone in the kingdom searched for the missing young lady with emerald eyes. It was an order from the king, Syaoran Li. However, each day, people grew tired of the same event ending in the same result. Even Eriol and Tomoyo showed sign of hopelessness and daunt. For Syaoran, he just kept on going.
Syaoran did everything to find her.
Study Chambers
Syaoran sat in an armchair, eyes glued to scenes happening outside the window. The sun began to set and the moon raised itself to silence the atmosphere. The clouds continued to pass by quietly in the darkening sky.
Knock Knock
" Come in..." Syaoran said lazily. He listened to the sounds of the door opening and then closed. He heard shoes hitting the ground. Those footsteps were approaching him. Syaoran picked up his head and saw Eriol. Then he refocused his gaze back to the glass window as if no one was there at all. His amber eyes were dark and cloudy and his chestnut hair framed his eyes. No one could see his pain or understand how empty he felt.
" Good evening cousin, it's such a calm night, isn't it?" Eriol exclaimed, standing right beside Syaoran.
" Yes..." Syaoran spoke in a low, sad tone.
" A-and look at that outstanding pond a-and...those tall grasses." Eriol blurted. Syaoran turned his glance back to Eriol. He scowled.
" Eriol, do you want to tell me something?"
Eriol sighed loudly and became quiet.
" Eriol? Just tell me..." Syaoran gave him a quizzical look, " I'll take any news you'll offer. What could be worse than my situation right now?"
Eriol lowered his head in defeat. Someone has to tell him.
" Your marriage to the Rae Kingdom's daughter is...nearing. In two more weeks, the princess will come to this kingdom and the ceremony will take place here."
Syaoran's face contorted in disbelief and he placed his hands over it.
" Nooooooo!" He grimaced, " H-how could I have forgotten..."
No matter how much I crave for that
The figure rising up inside my soul
Is not what you call reality?
But I can't possibly go back
One Year Later...
Syaoran's marriage to Meilin wasn't that horrific. Even though they were husband and wife, he would not give her his love or produce a child with her. Syaoran thought he would learn to love her by now but his heart wouldn't give in. Everything was all-wrong! His life wasn't supposed to be with...with this MEILIN.
" Dearest, come sit down and have breakfast with me." Meilin said as she took a slice of fruit to her lips.
" Sorry, I'd love to but I can't, I'm off to an early training with Eriol. I haven't been training since last year and I need to catch up." Syaoran said in a tender voice with a friendly posture. Meilin smiled.
" Maybe another time then," Meilin said. She was hiding her disappointment.
Syaoran nodded and walked swiftly away until he was twenty feet from her. He bent low and hid behind a shabby bush. Syaoran waited there for approximately five minutes and saw a male servant came from a door. The Li Kingdom didn't have male servants before but Meilin insisted to have at least five. She said that she was used to the male servants back at her castle and that Syaoran should do his best to make her comfortable in her new environment. So, he got her those types of servants. Syaoran watched intently. The servant's name was Jamesu Nioku. He had a bottle of sake and two wine drinking glasses.
The two laughed and drank their wine.
Syaoran looked at them as if he could care less. He just walked away. ' She is just flirting again.'
Training Room
Syaoran saw his old sword, hanging on the wall. It still looked new as if nothing has touched the blade. Syaoran placed his long fingers on the cold metal. All of a sudden, he was drowned in haunting memories that he thought would never returned now that he was a married man. The memories of Sakura had revived itself. The thought of her name pinched his heart and made him lightheaded. He touched the sword again and felt nothing this time. How strange?
The sword went up high in the air and came down, slashing the hanging puppet. It was punctured and sand began to flow out smoothly.
That vanished memory that I can't remember
It's driving me mad again
" Unforgettable," that vanished word revives itself
" Who are you now?"
" Argh!" Syaoran shouted as he took another whip at the bag. Training has brought the past back to him. He wanted to get it all away by beating up puppets. He couldn't forget the way he fought back then and the way he strived to survive. It was very hectic for him to handle a sword all over again for it was just too much.
' Still today, I can't get you out of my mind.'
Syaoran went after another puppet hanging on the pole. He took a quick strike. Sweat was forming on his forehead and his hair was drenched into a dark brown color. His breathing was heavy.
' I should feel shame for thinking about you for I am already a married man. Even though Meilin is possibly like that too, but I would never sink to her level, will I?'
Syaoran hollered as he struck a bulky bag with material much harder than the other puppets. Somehow, he managed to make a hole in it and let sand gush out.
' I'm suppose to remain faithful to Meilin. It is tradition. Why else had my father stayed by mother's side?'
The door swung open and banged against the wall violently making a loud 'thud'. Syaoran dropped his sword and placed one hand to his ear as he angrily glared in the path where the dirty clamor came from.
It was Eriol.
" Syaoran..." Eriol panted. Syaoran noticed something in Eriol's hand.
" Sorry that I was late. Several minutes ago, Mr. Wei stopped me by the hallway and gave me this weird thing. I think it's a book." Eriol smiled, " He informed me that I was to received this 'book' when I reached the ripe age of eighteen. Strange how I got it a couple of months after my 'recently turned eighteen'," Eriol paused as he looked at the object, " This bloody thing has so many locks! I'm sure it's a very rare book but I c-can't seem to o-open it." Eriol growled as he played with the locks.
" My god, you sure banged it up pretty hard," Syaoran said as he glared at the scratch marks and many teeth bites all around the supposedly book.
" I didn't do that. I-I suspect that it was Mr. Wei who tried to open MY book!" Eriol groaned, still struggling. He placed the book on a small table. " I wonder how you open it?"
Syaoran took the book in his hand. He peered at the metal tightly bounded to the book and the oval shape imprint that must be the foremost lock. Syaoran looked at the lock and then at Eriol's hand. He thought for a moment.
" Syaoran? You know how to open-argh!
Syaoran grabbed Eriol's fingers and placed each one on what seemed to be the main lock. Eriol looked on with interest and worriment. It was the thumb that activated it. A flash of light appeared and the metal disappeared and the book opened. Seconds later, a letter slipped out. Eriol slowly looked up at Syaoran's face; he nodded reassuringly. Eriol carefully edged himself closer to the letter. He opened it.
Dear Eriol,
You may be wondering what this book holds when you saw that magical flash. We will tell you that this book will start your training of wizardry. Confuse? Clearly, you are born a true wizard! Now think about all those strange times and many coincidents that happened when you were seventeen. It is all you, boy! We're glad to know that you were able to open the book. You were born intelligent and we know you love to read!!! Inside this book is full of sorcery and your family's history of the Hiiragizawa. You may be wondering where you were originated from, yes? Of course you do, boy! There was a Hiiragizawa Kingdom once back then; but now, it is long time destroyed and you were brought up with the Li Kingdom. We're sure that they've been very good to you and trained you hard because we have a strong trust with Toichi Li. Now, I want you to move on and study the book. We hope you become the strongest magician just like us. Love you son!
Your parents,
Lioko and Kim Hiiragizawa
Eriol's face lit up. He thought of all the strange times and coincidents.
-Falling from the window and surviving...
-Knowing that Sakura would be okay when she jumped from the window...
It was so strange and there must have been more.
" What, what's in the letter Eriol?" Syaoran asked impatiently. Syaoran would have stomped his feet if Eriol continued to prolong his silence. Eriol's eyes flashed with excitement.
" I am a wizard!!! I have magical powers!" Eriol exclaimed, practically jumping up and down.
Eriol flipped through the book and a necklace with a blue crystal floated in the air. Eriol smiled and took the jewel and put it around his neck.
" This is so cool!" Eriol yelled and laughed. His eyes grew large.
" Syaoran..."
" What?"
" T-this is a map to the hidden Kinomoto Kingdom..."
Collecting each broken glass piece
Those were the lost memories
Like an intricate puzzle,
It's driving me mad once more
The Next Day...
" I told Meilin that I'm going to a meeting with the nobles. You think she bought it?" Syaoran said as he checked all the equipments.
" Probably," Eriol said as he scratched his head, " or maybe she wants you gone so she can spend time with that male servant."
" Don't say that. She's very flirty but she wouldn't go beyond that." Syaoran said and thought, " So, Tomoyo couldn't come?"
" No, she told me that Ms. Mikuto wouldn't let her off with all those chores." Eriol said wretchedly.
Syaoran laughed, " Anyway, shall we be on our way. Well? Lead the way, magician!"
" Of course."
One day later...
" Hmmm, let's see. This map tells us to pass that mountain." Eriol muttered to himself. His shirt was torn from when that small, blue bird attacked him. He would have used magic if he knew how.
Syaoran's glared at the black mountain. He grew tense of the familiarity. " Let's pass through it quickly." Syaoran stated.
" Anxious, are we?" Eriol chuckled. So, they kept walking.
While trembling, I hold out my hands just so slightly.
I'm scared of the light but I can't sneak out.
Inside my heart, only your vanished memory can't be found
Collecting all of your fragments, where should I go now?
One hour later...
The day was still bright and the sun brought thirst to Syaoran's throat. Eriol seemed fine, however. There was a distinct sound of leaves rustling and soft 'squawking'. Syaoran stopped and flipped around.
" Hey! You hear that?" Syaoran asked. Eriol turned around and saw a blur of blue flapping towards him.
" Argh, it's that darn bird again!" Eriol roared. He moved his hands in the air to shoo the bird away. It squawked and pecked fiercely at Eriol's shoulder.
" Ouch you stupid bird!" Eriol yelled. " Squawk!" " You stupid bird!" " Squawk! Squawk!"
Several Hours later...
'' Ugh, thanks cousin." Eriol said angrily. " But did you need to hit me in the face with my own book?"
" Yes...it scared the bird away, didn't it?"
" I wonder why it didn't go after you!"
Suddenly the ground started shaking.
" Eriol, do something!" Syaoran gasped. Eriol; tackily, started flipping through the pages. The pages were blank!
" What!?!" Eriol thought for a moment. " Um...shaking ground, freeze your trembling sound!" The ground stopped and Syaoran and Eriol fell on their bums.
" Wow, how did you know?" Syaoran asked.
" I didn't! I-I just used rhyming words like-a, like poetry." Eriol said, pleased. He smirked.
" I ERIOL!!! COMMAND YOU TO GIVE US CAKE. NOW FOLLOW MY DEMAND!" Eriol yelled and a cake appeared.
" Wow! Maybe you should work on your words and make it more powerful, urgh, and presentable a-and entertaining. Those words are like, not suitable for a...wizard of your standing stature." Syaoran said as he grabbed a piece of pre-sliced cake and took generous bites.
Eriol eyed him dangerously. " I will try another incantation, maybe for your benefit and for me as well."
" Sakura of the Kinomoto Kingdom, lead us to our dear cherry blossom!" Eriol yelled. They both waited and nothing happened. Eriol looked to Syaoran and shrugged.
" It's okay Eriol, at least we have the map." Syaoran said as he grimaced. He finished off his cake and took a step forward. The grass broke apart and Syaoran fell down a narrow hole.
Inside a soft, sparkling mist, I gaze upon you
I can see your troubled looks,
Even now…
Syaoran's Pov
" Urgh, where am I?"
" Syaoorannnnn! Are you okkaaayy?" Eriol's voice echoed. I stood up and rubbed my aching head.
" Y-yeah, I'm fine!" I yelled back, shivering from the cold breeze coming my way. I looked around my surroundings and saw a girl in a lovely white dress. She was sitting by the streaming river holding a cherry blossom in the palm of her hand. She started to pluck the petals from the bud. Each petal was scattered into the river and they flowed down stream. She got up and climbed a boulder.
She must have heard my presence.
" Yukito?" She said in that familiar voice that seems so vague to memory. She has a beautiful sounding voice; much mature I guess. Still, I knew who she was but I found it hard to speak since there's a lump forming in my throat. She turned around, emerald eyes gawking at me in a shy way.
" S-Sakura?" I choked.
Her expression was strange because she had no loving emotion in them. She looked as if she doesn't know me. I felt my heart dropped at the cold greeting. I had hoped for her to run to me but all that slid from her mouth was,
" Who are you?"
Unexpectedly, someone had placed hands on my shoulder. I dared not turned around.
Your smiling figure that I can remember
Like it's etched in my mind
Like broken glass shards, you're screaming now!
While always inside of me,
---
"Hold me..." I whisper
A/N- Well, tell me what you guys think. I hope it was interesting enough and also, thanks everybody for reviewing! I did, however, get few flames, but that's okay, I knew it was coming. Anyway, I'm sorry that I didn't updated fast enough, but I think I'm going to update regularly like I used to before.
