Sorry for the lack of updates. I had finals… and then I had work, and had to deal with fatigue. coughs and hides the huge stack of videos behind her laptop with her foot I was also trying to decide what direction I was taking this fanfic. I wasn't sure what Sakura's reaction would be. I digressed, and I think it's time to move on…
The cathedral had never been so beautiful. White chrysanthemums and light yellow roses were arranged in small bouquets, pinned to the end of each dark mahogany pew, white mesh trailing down to the marbled floor, floating lightly in the breeze that swept through the church. The service had been over for almost an hour, but there was still a soft murmur echoing through the church, the patrons slipping out slowly as they descended the steps. The soft hymn of the organ played, reaching to each dark-clad figure's heart in comforting melody. A polished, dark cherry wood coffin with brass accents glimmered at the altar's white marble steps. Sakura stared at her reflection through it, the dancing flames of candles flickering behind her. Her pale, slim fingers pressed against the smooth wood, a soft sigh escaping her as she shut her eyes, fresh tears dropping from long lashes.
"Rika…" she whispered weakly.
Polished black shoes stepped up next to her high heeled slingbacks. Syaoran was impeccably dressed in a black suit, a modest silver pin glimmering against the matching tie. His large palms squeezed around Sakura's slender shoulder, rubbing her closer to him. She obliged, leaning against him for support as she let her fingers slip from Rika's coffin. She sniffed before leaning her face against his chest, the black shawl slipping a little from her sleeveless dress, slender thighs glimmering under the short hem. He pressed a warm kiss at her forehead as he slowly pulled her away from the coffin. It was time to go.
A shiny silver Bentley was waiting for them at the bottom of the steps. The valet tossed Syaoran his keys and opened the door for Sakura, who, after pausing to give the church a final glance, got in the car. Syaoran tipped the valet a twenty before getting in himself, and drove off…
Sakura was gazing out the window before she realized the scenery was changing. She turned to him as she smoothed back her long locks, a small black ribbon still pinned to her hair.
"Ne, where are we going Syaoran?" she asked, slightly confused.
"England," he said shortly. He glanced in the rearview mirror at a black limousine that was trailing them since they had left the funeral home. "Well, eventually. We're going to the airfield. We'll buy stuff you need when we get to London, but I packed some of your stuff for you while you were in the hospital."
Sakura nodded, a little weakened as she remembered the previous night she spent by Rika's bed in the hospital when she slipped into a coma from blood loss. She had looked so pale, but peaceful, hooked up to twenty different monitors and tubes, a soft hiss of the humidifier and oxygen tanks whispering to the beeps of the heart monitor. "I'm assuming it's not a honeymoon vacation?" she chided softly.
Syaoran grinned. It had been a while since she had smiled.
"Just a little vacation for ourselves. You need a break," he said.
He smoothly pulled up in front of a large private jet, the sleek limousine neatly following. A young silver-haired man stepped out. He straightened the tie of his gray suit and helped unload the luggage in the trunk, pausing at times to push up his glasses to the bridge of his nose. He smiled faintly at Sakura as Syaoran opened the door for her, but didn't say anything as he carried their luggage up the stairs to the jet.
Sakura glanced at Syaoran curiously. "I did suspect you were wealthy, but I didn't think you'd own your own private plane."
Syaoran shook his head. "My boss's."
Sakura nodded, sensing the short answer implied a reluctance to discuss the matter. She knew Syaoran would tell her when he was ready. She merely held his hand as they took their seats in the luxurious interior of the jet. In a few minutes, they were airborne…
Sakura tapped her fingers sleepily as she laid her cheek against Syaoran's chest. Their legs were comfortably intertwined, one of Syaoran's arms wrapped around her, the other behind his head, propping it up as they lay on the bed. An uncorked bottle of Cristal rested in an ice bucket next to them. Sakura turned her head slightly to Syaoran. He smiled faintly, sensing she had something to ask…
"Syaoran?"
"Hm?"
"When were you going to tell me about your wings?"
It was a full minute before Syaoran realized what she was asking. Even then, he repeated it over in his mind, numbly choking down the information.
"How—"
"I just want to know why Syaoran," she smoothly interrupted. "I trust you enough with my life. Why take Rika's?"
"Buh—"
Syaoran's mind shut down as he pulled slightly away, staring at her as the full gravity of the situation took hold. Sakura went on, filling the silence of his voice.
"I saw the… vapor disappear from Rika. I recognized you immediately and knew… that you must have killed my Otou-san, Okaa-san, Onii-chan, Tomoyo… everyone." Her words were flatly whispered, no trace of remembrance or love in her throat as she ticked off all the faces in her dreams that had been shrouded by dark feathers, the same wings she had seen on Syaoran that night… "I just want to know why Syaoran. Or is that too much to ask?"
Syaoran shook his head, almost afraid to hold her hand as she leaned comfortably against him.
"My boss, Eriol… he'll exp—" He was cut off by a sudden shimmering of light at the seat next to them.
"Tsk tsk, Syaoran. Talking about your boss behind your back at every opportunity, eh?" came the chiding English-accented voice. Syaoran groaned and let his head slump back in the bed. Sakura sat up, surprised, and a little embarrassed at having been caught lounging with Syaoran in bed, although they weren't doing anything… Eriol grinned faintly, and extended his hand over Syaoran to Sakura, who shook it awkwardly after a moment.
"I am Eriol. You can thank me for keeping your ass alive for the past 5 years."
It was all he needed to say to her. She felt the questions rise up in her throat, but she sensed he had only orbed into the plane for a more important purpose than showing off. Eriol turned to Syaoran, a small grin peeking up at the corners of his lips.
"Fantastic welcome party for you back on land, Syaoran. I'd say all of the possessed have gathered there. I've arranged for a Ninja to save you," he smiled innocently before disappearing in another blaze of glittering light without another word.
Syaoran's fierce amber eyes narrowed. "Damn git," he muttered under his breath, sitting up as he rubbed his messy locks. After a moment of silence, Sakura prodded him.
"Ninja? Why would we need a ninja at a welcome party? And aren't you good at martial arts already?" she asked.
"Sakura… when we get on land, we're going to have to do something a bit interesting…"
The ninja turned out to be a fierce armored motorcycle.
"This was Eriol's idea of saving my ass?" she screamed into Syaoran's ear as she tightened her grip around his middle, clinging onto dear life as he only sped up. Syaoran was glad to have his helmet.
BLAM BLAM BLAM
"You'll be fine for as long as the barrier holds up!" he yelled back to her, dodging another oncoming car.
"For as long as it holds up! Syaoran, if we live through this, I'm going to kill you!" she cried out.
The bullets ricocheted off the bright blue electric bubble surrounding the motorcycle, hovering above the asphalt as the motor roared. Syaoran expertly weaved through the tightest traffic. Behind them, an army of floating dark shadows pointed glocks and other large weapons of which Sakura didn't feel like taking a closer look of. She shut her eyes tightly as she wished she were imagining them, her grip around Syaoran almost suffocating as he raced down an alleyway. Sakura opened her eyes long enough to wonder why the hell people weren't running out of the way. If anything, they were giving Syaoran the finger as he sped through the London streets. But… she'd save that question for another time. For now…
"SYAORAAAAAAN!" she screamed.
Yay for finding out about the ruler all by myself! ...After 5 chapters. All right, not my best ending to a chappie, but I thought a non-cliffhanger would be nice for a change. It wasn't a real cliffhanger, was it?