Feathers of Love

Chapitre Twenty-six: The Capture


It was not easy for them to travel to Syaoran's home. They had to dodge Debonair's sentries and the arrows or magic they fired at them and outrun them too, if they had flying steeds. However, they managed to do so all the time, but they needed to rest more often too, for the weather was not very good when they were flying and more often than not, the two of them would start to freeze, so Syaoran had to fly lower then he normally would. It wasted a lot of time but it was better than freezing to death, though whichever village or town they accidentally flew over would attract a lot of attention.

When they were not under attack, Sakura and Syaoran were silent, not needing to communicate, for each of them were thinking about other things that were private to the other person.

Sakura was busy thinking about Zeniba and what had happened after that. She had imagined a lot of horrible images in her mind and she was feeling ill at ease. She wanted to stop thinking about them but she could not, and they occupied her thoughts most of the time, unless she was thinking about something else, which was Syaoran. She could not believe that someone decent like him would do this to her. And his words…

"I am glad that you are all right, my dear Sakura."

Sakura kept hearing them in her mind. What did that mean? Did it mean that he loved her? Or was it something else? But if that was the case, why did he call her 'his dear Sakura'? She was confused.

As for Syaoran, he was reminiscing about the past, before he had lost his memory. Now that his memory was complete, he was not confused like he was when he was Haku, a servant to Yubaba, trying to remember what had happened in the past. He was thinking about his country, which was under constant attack from Debonair's country and also about his mother, who he had not seen for many years. Same with his sisters, though he shuddered to think of meeting them. Now that would be a very great problem for him…

Later during the day, when the sun was about to set, Syaoran found a clearing in a small forest that was not far from a village. That was the only place he could descend, without the notice of the civilians living there. Even though they were on the outskirts of his home already, he believed that he should not terrify his people.

"Are we staying here for the night?" Sakura asked when as she climbed down from the dragon's back. She was very tired and she wanted to eat and then sleep. The dragon did not answer. Instead, he took the clothes that Sakura offered to him and went off to some bushes, where he could change back into a human before joining Sakura for dinner.

Sakura took Syaoran's silence that they were staying there. She went off in search for twigs that she could light for a small fire that would not attract the attention of the people living nearby. When she was done, she looked for food and water, but she could not find any of these. She started a small fire with the twigs she had found and sat near it, rubbing her hands to get warm after spending such a long time on the dragon's back.

When Syaoran was back, he saw Sakura almost falling asleep near the fire. Looking around her, he saw that there was neither food nor water.

"There is no food and water to be found here?" he asked as he sat next to her near the fire. Sakura was jolted awake by his question. She nodded her head and answered, "There is none to be found and we could not risk going to the village to get them. Debonair's soldiers might be there."

"Since that is the case, then we shall have to make do without dinner tonight."

"Yes. Gomen…I am so tired…got to sleep. Good night." Sakura turn her back towards Syaoran as she went into sleep immediately.

Syaoran looked at the sleeping figure next to him. She was still so delicate…so fragile, and he could not believe that she had been captured by Debonair and her soldiers…his beloved Sakura…why must she also suffer such fates too? Why was it that fate did not allow either of them to be enjoying life to the fullest, and why was it that Debonair wanted to attack the neighbouring countries? Syaoran looked at Sakura for a while more before dozing off into a fitful slumber.

When it was morning, sounds of people marching into the village could be heard. There was laughter and singing and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The duo woke with a start. They had sensed someone with magical powers among the group. Was it Debonair's soldiers? No, it could not be, for there was also the laughter of children. There was no time to remove the traces of the fire if they were to hide at the same time. The people were too near.

Looking at each other, they nodded their heads and merged into the surroundings, lying flat on the ground in case they were spotted and also hiding their magical auras. The people entered the clearing. Laughter and talking was ceased immediately. They saw the traces of the fire that Sakura had built the day before.

The two of them looked out cautiously. Someone was touching the ashes of the fire and saw that his face was grim. He looked at the people behind him and announced, "There are people nearby who have camped here the day before. Protect the children, women and the old. We shall not have our festival here today."

The people nodded their heads. One of the men asked, "Should we take everyone back to the village?" Upon hearing that, they knew that these people were from the village. They could not harm them. They were just people who had lived at the borders of the country and were used to killing enemies. No, they were the innocent ones.

Sakura stood up from her hiding place. The villagers took out their swords and bows and pointed them at her. However, Sakura took no notice of the weapons and turned towards the person who had touched the ashes of the fire. She assumed that this person was the one in authority of the village: the village head.

"Good morning, sirs and madams. My name is Sakura Kinomoto and I am just a passing traveler to Syaoran's home." At this, Syaoran stood up from his hiding place too. "We have no intention of harming you all and I hope that you can let us pass so that we can go on with our journey."

The village head considered. "Sakura Kinomoto? Syaoran? Aren't those the royals who had gone missing years ago? The princess of Clow and the prince of our country? Are they telling lies? Or are they not? Still, should I lock them up until Princess Fuutie comes to inspect the training of our village?"

Everyone waited for his verdict expectantly. Finally, he said, "We have no choice but to lock you all up until someone from the royal palace confirms this. This is a dangerous place to be in, and I am sorry to treat the two of you like this if you are a princess and a prince. Men, take them to the cells!"


Disclaimer: I do not own anything except this storyline.

How is it? One of my longer chapitres! Enjoy reading and I hope that you will review! Domo arigato!