TITLE: Folly Curse
(A Card Captor Sakura Fan-Fiction)
WRITTEN BY: Violent Hayes
RATED: T, for situations and some language
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SUMMARY: Tired of your average fantasy? Join a naïve Sakura, the foolishly cursed princess, recently kicked out of her wicked kingdom and out into the dangerous world of Tomoeda in an imaginary quest to find her cure.
"Have patience, for love will splendor in front of your eyes, dear child. There's no need to worry about what will or not happen in your life. There's a reason for your existence."
"Yes, wise old Haskel. I now believe so!"
The young woman smiled feeling satisfied with what had come from the old man's words. He was known as wise old Haskel, the advisor of Soleil Town. Everyone who had a problem came to him, whether it was personal or from work. As a good natured man, he gave guidance to the lost and spirit to the gloomed ones. He was cherished and often worshipped for his service. His eccentricity was therefore undoubted; everyone simply thought it was part of being intellectual. They didn't think it'd be something else.
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Chapter 3: sun wisdom
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"Soleil Town… Like I said, maybe you can find your answer there!" Meiling cheered. Her humor had improved during the ride favorably.
"Don't fill her up with false hopes. It isn't healthy…" Syaoran scolded. He had his arms crossed and was staring at his surroundings.
"It is you who shouldn't be pessimistic!" She replied. "Don't listen to him; you must always have hope by your side!"
Sakura could only help by smiling or nodding. She realized how frequently her two new friends argued with each other, even though Syaoran didn't speak so often. Needless to say, she was glad for finding such friendships to aid her in her journey. Her ugliness was reducing throughout the days, and her trust with the rest of the gypsies was gradually increasing, with all except Evander, of course. Their trip had been hurried, and their relationship with the previous town had been broken. He could have already stamped the word "ill-fated" on her forehead.
The tiresome troop arrived to Soleil Town at the start of the day. And even though they were ready to sleep all the day, a small group was set in the streets. It was a low profited pay, to dance with lighthearted music, but it helped them in the end. Dancing, singing and playing instruments were work they couldn't exhaust from.
"This town is known for its success with trading merchandise and earning respectful lives." Syaoran stated out-the-blue, Sakura was starting to get used to these. "There isn't any difference in social classes as you can see…"
"And it is all thanks to the old man living here, so they say. I'd want to know what happens when death takes him away."
They were walking through the towns, searching for the mysterious man who apparently could help Sakura with her curse. With the elegant descriptions the town people gave, she already had built a grand image of Haskel. Her eyes could show all the hope that her heart could hold, while the incredulous Meiling scoffed, and the quiet Syaoran listened.
Finally they found the place; a shrine made out of rocks. It was small and modest, in the center of town. A schedule hung outside the door, and luckily they were just in time for the consultation. Meiling knocked the door, and a hush was heard, followed by the clearing of a throat, and lastly by a "Come in".
As the three entered, they saw the old man sitting on pillows. He was ordinary, aside from the fact he was covered in jewels and elegant garments. This proved how truly modest he was, or so they said. Added to it was his peculiarity, he had a stuffed animal next to his shoulder. They all sat in front of him.
"Welcome my young ones, though you are not from this town, I feel obliged to help you in your needs. What is troubling you?" He had a strong voice which defied his weak state.
"Thank you for your kindness. You see, our friend here, she is cursed, and wants to know a way to break her spell." Meiling responded, she often took the lead in such talks.
"I see." Haskel took a peek from his glasses at Sakura, who was sitting in front. It wasn't a face of disgust, but of intrigue and wonderment. She took this as a sign that her bruises were finally disappearing from her skin. He was under what seemed like meditation for quite a while, staring profoundly into her eyes. He's analyzing me! She disturbingly thought.
Syaoran sighed as if hearing her and poked the old man. He had been sleeping with his eyes opened.
"Huh? Oh sorry for the nap, we old people need to rest more than usual. We get tired every now and then." He gave a crooked smile. "Now where were we? Ah yes, you are cursed dear child… And how did it occur? Since you were born?"
"No, it happened when I was younger. In the woods…" She didn't want to give out specific details, she was thinking of her father. However, she tried to specify as best as she could without giving out too much information.
Syaoran sighed yet again and poked the old man.
"What? Yes! I see dear child… Truly it must have been terrible to end with such fate…" He coughed for a while and then continued. "It is the first time in all these years that I've met someone like you. I have to think about it thoroughly."
He went into deep thought again, snoozing off into a deep slumber once again.
"Should I wake him up again?" Syaoran asked, apparently ticked at old Haskel's behavior.
"I don't believe this guy is wise at all. I mean, he is old, but it doesn't define him as truly an intellectual…" Meiling replied.
Sakura dropped her head in sadness. "So he won't be able to help me, then."
"No worth lifting one's hopes…" He repeated lowly, he had regret for coming with her only to be disappointed.
"We should probably just leave…" It was now Meiling's turn to suggest, she didn't want to see Sakura sad any longer.
The two cousins stood up, slowly, regretfully. They both left Sakura alone for a while, in case she truly needed it. And she did stay quite a few minutes more, trying to bring her mind to place, and to increase her determination. She was now also standing up; ready to continue her journey, when a slight and small whisper coming from the Haskel frightened her.
"Meet me at midnight sharp outside my tent, alone."
"Old man?" Sakura indecisively asked. But the old man continued to dwell in his dreams, unaware of the girl in front of him. She shook her head and went out to join the others.
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That night she stood in deep thought, her mind wondering whether to go or not to. Her two companions didn't notice her worry; they thought she was still gloomy with what had happened. She didn't speak a word, and they didn't force her. She ate quietly, inside her own little world, while the others fought endlessly over several arguments. She couldn't hear them; she was trapped and wouldn't be freed unless she made that trip to the old man. She had to, or else she would regret it for the rest a long time.
"Tomorrow we are to leave the town gratefully." Meiling announced. "…and regrettably, at a very early hour…"
Syaoran smirked. "This doesn't please you at all, I believe."
"I'll let Evander get his way only for now. He won't be lucky next time. Anyway, we better head to sleep or we won't be able to wake up in the morning."
As Sakura pretended sleeping, the night continued on, until such told hour was only minutes away. Luckily, Meiling was in a profound stage, nothing could wake her up right now. So, carefully, Sakura tiptoed until she got outside the tent, which among many, were already full with resting gypsies.
She made her way gracefully through the silent deserted streets. Not a soul was there to accompany her, and it scared her to move through such dark alleys. But she finally found the tent, and waited outside. The old man didn't come out, and as time passed by, her heart was breaking. Had it been a senseless joke? Had the words come out of her mind in some sort of hopefulness? She was disappointed, but at least she knew it had been a pointless adventure. She was sitting down, leaning into the tent, her emerald out of focus, her mind vaguely traveling through the memories that kept her moving. It wasn't until she heard the small footsteps that she returned consciously.
"You came; I thought you hadn't heard me…" It was the same discreet whisper, hidden in the shadows.
Sakura stayed quiet and didn't dare to turn her head. She didn't want to look at the old man.
"You must be wondering why I asked you to come. The reason is simple; I am one of the few who could help you…"
Her eyes widened as she heard his words. Was he telling the truth? Hadn't Syaoran said that he couldn't help her?
"How could you do it?"
"Like I said, I've never met anyone under such a curse. You didn't specify what kind it was, I believe you were holding still to some information."
Her father's words repeated in her mind. She slightly nodded.
"However, I do hold some experience, and I know of someone who could help you about it…"
"Really?"
"What I ask in return is simple. I only wish for you to take me in your trips."
Having an old man in her journey? It sounded a tad ridiculous for he would get tired in small periods of time, he would also be an additional member of the Yokorobi, and knowing Evander, he wouldn't be too happy. She was about to refuse, turning to see the Haskel's face, when she found no one.
Was she dreaming? Or had she been talking to herself, imagining it all along?
"Where are you?" She inquired.
"Down here!" The whisper answered. And she drew her vision down, to the solid ground, to the stuffed animal that was lying on the floor. The same the old man always carried around with him.
"You talk?" She asked dumbfounded, it was even worse from not speaking to anyone at all.
"No, I don't. You only keep hearing things." The stuffed animal replied. He apparently was angry at the fact she couldn't believe in him. "Of course I'm alive! Just like your curse, I'm real!"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Kerberos. And I'm not a stuffed animal, just as you are currently thinking… I'm a guardian sealed into this miniature form."
"Kerberos?"
"Kero for short, nice to meet you..."
"Sakura" She finished, and saw as he extended a small paw to shake her hand. She took it smiling.
It was curious enough that she had befriended a small and yellow stuffed animal with wings. Even more when it talked and said it had been the guardian of the sun. He started telling a bit of his story to Sakura, about how he worked for his master, and how he also had a partner, the moon guardian. It was strange enough that Sakura believed in the small creature, but we know of her easiness to trust others. By the end, she had yet another companion.
"But won't Haskel miss you?" Sakura asked a bit worried.
"Of course he will. He needs me! I'm the proper advisor of this town! But I can't continue staying in this town unnoticed. I have to go back to my master, so he can return me to my true form!"
It was nice to know someone shared the same feeling and pain as Sakura. Practically they had been both cursed out of their voluntary actions. Kero had been a fool to defy his master and flee from him.
"So you do know where he is, don't you?"
Kero drew a blank.
"You don't?"
"Well, I… no… You see, my master travels thoroughly. He is bound to be out there in Tomoeda… somewhere…"
It was a slight disappointment, but Sakura was fine with it. She was at least one step forward. Her mission was to find the master named Clow.
"It will be difficult." Kero warned. "But I'm glad to know someone is willing to let me travel with him."
It had been quite a long conversation after all. Sakura had gotten to know Kero a lot; by the way they both trusted each other. She finally got the guts to tell him more about her curse, and he listened. She was also glad he didn't care for her looks as well as she returned the feeling. She wasn't aware that the hours had already gone by, and the sun was almost coming out.
As soon as the first ray came out, Kero advised her to already take him with her.
"You must hide me until we're out of town. The old man will certainly freak out, and people will probably search for me. I also beg you not to reveal my true identity to any of the gypsies. This mission is a secret we must maintain to ourselves."
I have another secret to keep? Sakura thought nervously. More and more she had to keep to herself, and it was hard. She nodded anyway.
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Her return was quiet still. She arrived at the tents, and slowly made her way with Kero in her arms. She felt like a little thief by taking a "stuffed animal" without asking. Surely Haskel would suffer much without Kero. But it was something she had to accept. She finally spotted Meiling's tent, and started to enter it, when someone poked her from behind. She froze on her steps, and slowly turned around. It was Syaoran.
"What are you doing this late of an hour?" He wasn't worried, only curious.
"I couldn't sleep. I took a small walk." She answered.
"I see." He narrowed his eyes toward Kero. "That stuffed animal, did you…"
Kero could feel the tension from staying put for the boy's glare penetrated through him recklessly.
"I bought it in the evening. Didn't you notice? I found it adorable!" She smiled, it was hard to tell whether she was faking it, for her reason was simply of having a new friend. To prove her delight, she held Kero with her two hands in front of Syaoran's face. It could have been the stuffed animal's death right there.
"I see… It's just that it looks much like the one the old man had…"
"It's a souvenir, and very cheap too. I've still got some money left from what Meiling gave me."
It took a while for him to get convinced, but she finally achieved it. Kero let a silent sigh once he was out of the killing sneer. He guessed the boy could feel the compressed magic aura that surrounded him. He had to be careful in the future of not getting caught.
Finally, Sakura got to her bed and slept for as much as she could. An hour and a half later she was up again, doing her chores with Kero on her shoulder, setting the wagons ready for their trip.
"That's a cute toy." Meiling exclaimed, holding on to Kero's fluffy ears. A small vein popped out of his small head.
"Thank you," Sakura smiled. "It's a souvenir."
It was in fact cute, how the two cursed friends made a match. The Yorokobi grew used to having Sakura carry the stuffed animal with her all through the day. He was a great companion after all, especially when she was lonely. His whispers were undetected, except from under the careful watch of Syaoran. He suspected and did not trust what Sakura told him, which ended in avoidance.
A couple of more hours later, they were out into the fields, fleeing away from the successful Soleil Town. Their next destination was a festivity for the dead, and two more days of travel were ahead of them.
"I don't like your friend." Kero commented when he was out of danger. "He stares at me hard enough to make me explode."
Sakura could only help but giggle. She knew Syaoran was hard on Kero, even though she hadn't told him who the stuffed animal really was. It would be hard to keep this secret, especially in front of the gypsies. They would soon suspect her crazy for talking to herself.
She wouldn't seem to mind, though. She was content with the path that was laid in front of her, and the friends she had met along the way.
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Back in the town, a disgrace was known to poor old Haskel. He had lost his precious item; he now didn't have a clue as to what to do next. He searched and searched until he wept in solitude and desperation. Everyone heard his cries as they passed by, the entire town soon grew alarmed. They thought he had grown crazy; that his wisdom had reached a level far too great of comprehension. The thought he couldn't handle it.
People grew nervous for their advisor was lost in confusion. Chaos started spreading from street to street. Success would eventually fall in such a great town. Maybe it hadn't been destined to reach such heights. What's left to know is that old man Haskel was wise no more.
WORDS:
Soleil: French word for sun.
Haskel: Boy's name whose source comes from a Hebrew expression meaning "Wisdom"
HER NOTE: Well, this is a small chapter, but here it is nonetheless. Today I'm going for a six day trip of vacation. But I'll be back with the next chapter, next week I hope.
Hope you like this one, see ya!
