Chapter Three:
Liam peered around the corner into the main room. There was hardly anyone left in the room. He supposed the remaining were either waiting for a room or drinking themselves into an alcoholic stupor. He was hoping for the latter of the two. He turned around, "I can see only six men," he said quietly.
"Any women?" Sakura asked.
Liam looked at her peculiarly before answering her. He kept a quizzical eye on her, "Two."
She nodded thoughtfully.
"What is it?" asked Syaoran.
She looked up and smiled, shaking her head, "Nothing."
Liam and Syaoran exchanged looks. Something was amiss, but before either could ask they heard something behind them. Sakura whipped her head around to the noise. Her eyes widened with recognition. "Come," she whispered as she grabbed their hands and shoved them into an unfamiliar room. One that had escaped their notice until then.
"What is going on?" they asked simultaneously.
"Sshh," she hissed out before peaking out of the door once again, "Stay here until I come back." Syaoran was about to protest, but she had closed the door already. It wasn't until a half an hour later did she return.
"It was one of the stable boys," she explained as they made their way out the back door. They, or rather Sakura, had decided that it would be better, and safer, if they took the back way instead of the main room. If one of the men should notice her, which they would despite the servant garb, it could bring a whole shit load of trouble. The followed rather reluctantly.
Sakura brought the hood more securely around her when she bent down under the kitchen's window. She could smell the aroma of early breakfast being prepared. She paused for a moment to look at the sky. She could see a hint of dawn's approach in the horizon. She hastened her steps as they crossed over towards the stables, clutching the cloak even more tightly so that she stayed well hidden. To be seen again will cause more trouble than she needed.
Liam approached the carriage, shaking his head, "He isn't in there."
Syaoran bit the inside of his cheek, trying to keep his anger in check. Where could that damned boy be? he asked silently. He was already visible mad for Sakura's earlier disappearance act, which she still hadn't made an attempt to elaborate on. He had grown anxious waiting for her return, fearful that they had been found, and pissed for her lack of consideration of his emotions. All and all, by time she came for them he was ready to storm out of the room and find her.
Liam placed a gentle hand upon his shoulder. Syaoran turned to him, ready for a fight. His countenance relaxed on his friend's gentle gaze. He nodded his head over to the inside of the stables, "Perhaps he is inside the stables. We couldn't expect him to stay out on this cold night. He would've surely have frozen himself to near death. What would we have told Auntie then?" he laughed softly. "I'll go check," he said, leaning closer to Syaoran. He lowered his voice so that only Syaoran could hear him, "Xiao Lang, calm down before the damsel notices your anger." He rolled his eyes at Liam's departure, but not before noticing the wink he threw Sakura. He calmed down reasonably by time Liam disappeared behind the doors.
It was a moment or two before anything was said between them, "I thought that you said the carriage was waiting for us," she stated.
"It was my oversight," he replied, keeping an eye on the brothel. His eyes narrowed significantly. He grabbed Sakura's hand abruptly and pulled her over to the carriage, opening the door, and handed her in. "Stay hidden and keep quiet," he bit out harshly. She nodded as he closed the door forcefully. She was terrified. The only way to describe his look was wicked.
Syaoran ducked behind the carriage silently cursing himself for not suspecting earlier. Initially, he thought that the extra set of prints could have been from someone earlier. It was until he realized that the snow had fallen since he had been in, did he become aware that they were being followed. Crack! It was coming from the direction of the stables. He scanned the area he had just crossed from the brothel up to the stables. He couldn't tell their footprints from the intruder's without getting closer, giving away his position. Crack! It was closer. He looked underneath the carriage to see feet running to the carriage door. He prayed silently; hand on his sword, before standing up and charging. The intruder stopped short and turned to his direction, eyes widen with fear. Syaoran held his sword, ready for the impact.
"No!" Liam yelled as he raced out of the stables. He had his sword in hand, "Syaoran!" He was now in front of him, sword against sword. "What are you doing?" he asked as he applied force to ease Syaoran back.
Syaoran eyes were ablaze, "Move Liam." He wasn't looking at Liam, but at the person on the ground. "He was following us."
Liam looked over his shoulder, cursing. That was no he. Syaoran was forcing him more back and Liam was losing his grip. If he let him break free, Mei was in trouble. "Stand down damn it," he said harshly. Liam had the advantage over Syaoran's distraction and took it. He kicked Syaoran's wrist. Syaoran dropped the sword and grabbed for his wrist, surprised. Never has his friend used such tactics. He watched him with apparent shock.
Liam paid no heed as he ran his beloved's side. He pushed back her hood and whispered encouraging words to her. He was silently cursing Syaoran for both scaring him and her half to death, and then he was cursing himself for not knowing she would follow him. He eased her into a sitting position, "Damn it, Mei," he whispered, looking over her shivering body. She was blue in the face and almost all the color was drain from her body. He could barely feel the warmth of her body and she was wearing close to nothing. How long had she been out here? he asked himself. He took off his cloak and placed it around her body, rubbing her arms.
He looked over his shoulder to where the boy was, "Get the reigns," he yelled as he picked her up in his arms. Jesus Christ! "Sakura!" he yelled, vigorously. She appeared seconds later, looking at the body in his arms. Words didn't need to be spoken between them, she understood. It was painfully obvious of who he was to her. She closed her eyes briefly in silent prayer before opening the door wider and standing back so he could place her on the carriage seat. He took no time before she was laying down, her head on Sakura's lap. She was murmuring something, but he urged her not to. "Not now, love. We will talk later" he whispered. She nodded before closing her eyes.
He turned around to get Syaoran, but he was already standing in the door way. Syaoran looked hurt as he stepped inside the carriage. Liam looked away; keeping his gaze on Mei's sleeping face. Syaoran rapped on the carriage, signaling for the boy to go. It was understood that they were going to speak later.
Liam was pacing in his study, waiting on word about Mei's condition. Syaoran had decided to go up to one of the spare rooms to take a warm bath, leaving Liam to his thoughts. Liam knew better. Syaoran couldn't stand the pacing. He picked up a statue off his desk, eyeing it carelessly. He didn't know how long he was looking at it, but he jerked up when he saw Sakura enter. He dropped it on his desk, rushing to her side.
She looked tired and worn, but beaming with happiness. He looked at her eagerly. She didn't waste anytime, "The fever broke and she is up and asking for you." Relief washed over him. He had to grab the side of the chair with the intensity. "Is she going to be alright?" he asked softly, emotion was breaking through. She nodded. He closed his eyes, "Thank God!"
Sakura smiled, before hurrying him out, "You better not keep her waiting." He didn't need anymore. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it in thanks before heading out the door. She sighed, falling into a nearby chair. She was spent. They, she and a handmaiden, had worked hours on Mei Ling's fever. She was moaning in her sleeping, calling out for Liam. It took all of Sakura's will not to go get him. It was have pained him to see her trashing about like a banshee. No, she couldn't. Mei Ling would have been pissed when she found out if she had done so. Sakura smiled, resting her head on the back of the chair. She must have dozed off because she was faintly aware of being moved. She turned her head to the source. Syaoran was looking down at her, smiling softly. She nuzzled more into his arms, closing her eyes once again into a well deserved slumber.
Syaoran laughed softly as he watched Sakura sleep. She had this cute way of pouting out her lips when he touched her face. The way she reacted to his touch was astonishing, had it been another woman he would assume it false, but with Sakura, it was just another characteristic he was finding himself entranced with. He was aware that he was being watched and turned to find Liam staring at him. Syaoran nodded before easing himself off the bed and tucking the covers around her. He closed door after him.
Liam had a shoulder propped against the doorway, looking into his room at a sleeping Mei. "I met her about two years ago, when my brother dragged me along with him to one of his old university buddy's party. He said that he wanted me there as his witness to tell that he didn't engage in any other activities than that of a drink. Tomoyo would have had his ass if he did." He chuckled softly to himself, "You see, it was her coming out, sort of speak, and I became so entranced by her song that before I knew it. I was bidding on her and bedding her, taking her virginity. I made Eriol swear, on his honor as brother, never to speak of it. I knew that the other men were far too intoxicated to care or notice either way. I didn't realize until a few months later, by this time I was seeing her regularly, that I fell hard for her. I was completely in love with her." He looked over to Syaoran, signaling to him that he was finished speaking.
Syaoran looked at him thoughtfully before wondering, "How could I have not known? Was I that awful of a friend that you couldn't confide in even me?" he asked more to himself than him. He was hurt and it was evident in his voice.
Liam sighed; he wished that Syaoran did not find out this way. When they were children they were close, even closer than he was with his own brothers. There was even a time when they knew what the other was thinking. He could safely say that he was probably his only friend, making this harder than it should be. Liam turned away from the room, closing the door. He leaned against it, staring into Syaoran's eyes, "No, you were not."
"Surely then, you could have said something. You must have known that I wouldn't speak of it also," he replied.
"Yes, I did. That was not the reason to why I didn't tell you though," he said matter-of-factly. He might as well tell him the complete truth.
He looked surprised, "What do you mean?"
All it took was one word and Syaoran understood, completely. "Chadwick."
Syaoran was out on the wilderness walk when Sakura found him. When she had awakened from her nap, the sun was just setting, casting off a beautifully assortment of colors. Never had she seen such a glorious sight. She wanted to share it with Syaoran, but couldn't find him in time. It wasn't until she sought out Liam, did she learn of his whereabouts.
"Hey you," she called. He looked up, bewildered. She laughed, "I wasn't sure if I would find you out in here. It's so dark."
He smiled softly, pushing back a wayward strand of hair behind her eye. "Sorry."
She blushed slightly, "What were you thinking about?" she asked coyly, grabbing his hand.
He shook his head, "Nothing, just enjoying the snow." As if on cue, she shivered and he laughed, "I see that you aren't."
She shook her head, "No, I'm not."
He grabbed for her hand, "Let's go then."
"Please," she agreed.
"Are you hungry?" he asked when the reached inside the house.
"A little," she admitted.
He smiled, "Why don't you go upstairs and I'll get us something to eat."
She nodded, letting go of his hand. She was halfway up the stairs when she turned around, "Perhaps, Liam and Mei would like something."
"I'll make sure that the cook prepares enough," he replied. He watched her climb the steps until she had disappeared. He stopped long enough to leave directions with the cook then headed to Liam's study. He needed to send a letter to Eriol immediately.
Author's Note:
Hey ya'll, sry for the long update. I don't know, it didn't want to be written, then all of the sudden it was writing itself. I can't explain it. I hope you like this chapter. I'm not too fond of it, but I have to make do. It's seems a little boring in some parts even to me. I do hope it wasn't too bad. It's not as long as the others easy, but I promise you, it'll be one of the shortest chapters you'll ever get with this story. It wasn't a complete waste, umm…you meet Mei Ling, who no isn't related to Syaoran at all and it gives you some insight to who Liam is. She may or may not play a big role in this I'm not sure. Whatever happens happens. I figure. Oh! I almost forgot, I made a site that was dedicated to updates and/or progress of the stories. If you wanna ask me questions on the story or give me ideas, you can leave a comment or a message on my tag board and I'll response back ASAP. I do updates on the story and how I'm coming along with it daily, maybe weekly. I have sneak peeks to the next chapter, and or future chapters time to time. Outlines too. So please check it out, if you would like: www.midnightpassion.blogdrive.com Thanks a head of time. And last but not least, thank you for all of the reviews. I love them all. Till Next Time: (Midnight Passion)