AN: Okay, some of you must have been creeped out about the Brother/Sister dance. In this fic…how do I say it…you just have to accept that they are both children of the King and Queen…ummm It doesn't follow the show…mostly…eventually it will…but for now, please just go with the flow…It makes more sense later I promise!(...unless you're a Touya/Tomoyo person….this is E&T). I meant to put this chapter up a while ago…sorry...I was a bad girl...first there was the call of the video game...and then the movies beckoned me...and then Sims...and then I went to the Library (fully recomend readinf Sunshine by Robin Mckinley...really good...) Anyay...sorry...
Chapter 4
"Sakura? That's not a very common name. I've only ever heard of one with such a name. Mind you, the information may not be entirely accurate as it's all hearsay. There are rumors of a girl who lives in the palace. Some say she's the heir of the old seer, some a ghost, and some that she's the twin of the Princess. But I've never seen any evidence of any such person. Now, tell me about the Princess."
Syaoran sighed. Sakura was an enigma he's have to figure out on his own later. "We found her in Prince Sal's own private chambers. My partner and I heard the rumors and had some vital information, so we investigated."
Aramos considered their mysterious words and scrunched his nose. These men never really shared information or the how of their operations, but Aramos really didn't want a scandal to crop up here. Well, that and they had committed major crime against just about every other government in the solar system. The ambassador from Aisha refused to even discuss the men and the grave incident there. Except this one, and Aramos intended to keep it that way.
Unless you factored in the long standing feud with Prince Sal of Bet. But that didn't make much of a difference, the crown wasn't exactly pleased with the Prince either. "How did you know to look in the castle? Why didn't my own men hear those same rumors?"
"Our contact is very shy." Eriol grinned mischievously. "Perhaps we could discuss payment? I don't think three thousand too high a price, do you?"
Distracted from his previous line of thought, Aramos spoke. "Maybe we should make plans for the Princess's current protection first. Prince Sal will undoubtedly try again for her highness, and, as he proved at the ball, our defense is not enough."
Syaoran turned away from the conversation and inspected the wall with curiosity. Eriol could handle Aramos however he wanted. If Syaoran didn't like the agreement, he would just leave…well; he would never abandon Eriol in a situation the man couldn't handle. Besides, the mystery of the disappearing girl was almost too good to leave alone.
"I'll triple your normal price if you protect her!" Aramos practically begged.
Eriol raised his eyebrows. "With that kind of incentive, how can we refuse? Now, all of it is of course on our terms."
"The King and Queen might not like it." Aramos thought out loud. "But I'll make them see reason. I believe we have an accord." He and Eriol shook hands before Aramos held out his hand to Syaoran.
"Your bargain is with my partner here. I shall endeavor to help him when ever possible, but I too have a job to do, one that might require much of my time. So I make no such deals with you." Syaoran nodded deeply and turned away.
"And he says I lack tact." Eriol barely restrained his laugh while Aramos walked back into the throne room to chat with the royal family.
"He came to court, disobeying my command and approaching the Princess Tomoyo, and then he kidnapped her!" The King roared knocking his goblet of wine on the marble floor.
"I beg your pardon Majesty!" A man not much older then the king groveled before the throne. "I humbly plead for mercy for my nephew! He is young and unwise but please I beseech you not to hang him!"
The King slumped back against his throne. "I don't want to hang anyone, but this is his fourth attempt on the Princess. It cannot continue! Oh stand up Councilman; I'm not going hang your nephew."
"Oh thank you, your Majesty. Thank you!" The man very nearly wept with relief as he collapsed in a chair.
"Can you tell me what brought about this particular incident?" The King asked desperate to stop the attacks.
"It's those damned rumors of the Age of Magic and the Dragons. Sal thinks that the return of the Dragons and Magic will eliminate the need for technology. Those acts will single handedly destroy his business, his life, everything. Those things frighten him."
"But why take out this fear on my daughter?"
The councilman looked up surprised. "You've never heard the rumors? Princess Tomoyo, it is said, will be the one to raise the Last Dragon. She along with the Dragon Tamer will bring about the new Age."
"Prince Sal of Bet is hereby stripped of his title officially and banished from this realm." He slumped down in the throne and murmured, "Some days I hate this job."
Days passed and slowly the other palace residences grew accustomed to their new guests. Eriol followed Tomoyo about, behaving lie a well trained and rather benign dog. Some even claimed he panted after her. Syaoran stalked the darker halls looking as sinister as any classic villain and frightening the servants. But other then those little oddities, the servants and nobles didn't know anything about the new boys and the rumor mill suddenly had an increase in work.
"I'd certainly like to serve Eriol for a night." One of the servants giggled. "He is known to give a few good orders."
The other girl giggled loudly. "I'm sure he does, but as your superior it's my job to look after him."
A third joined the conversation. "Well, you two can fight over him. I'll go for the recluse, tall dashing, silent." A large romantic sigh echoed down the hall. "He's mine."
"You can have him!" The first balked at the younger girl's choice. "That boy could freeze fire. Ain't anybody got 'nough heat for that man. You got to be crazy."
Syaoran could practically see her shrug. "Come on, we got rooms to clean including that strange Prince's. Somebody lodged a complaint about blue smoke, remember?"
They continued down the hall talking and laughing as maids do when they have a mission to complete. And just behind them, silent as ever, Syaoran followed intent on learning the mystery of Sakura, starting with the blue smoke. Around the corner, the maids had run into another of their kind.
"Don't worry too much about this room. They're completely clean and clear of that blue stuff." The voice sounded familiar. "There's just some dust and other cleaning in the back rooms."
A door, a normal door, opened and shut. The sound of footsteps came closer until the owner of them turned the corner.
"Sakura!" Syaoran grabbed her arm. "We need to talk."
She slowed her breathing and clutched her other hand to her chest. "Goodness you startled me! What ever do we need to discuss?"
"The blue smoke, let's start with that." He pulled her into a near alcove inhabited by a rather large sculpture. "Where does it come from?"
Her eyes betrayed no fear in their pale depths. "I can see that you require the truth and so I shall disclose to you what I can. Where does the Blue Death come from? To put it simply, I make it."
Syaoran released her hand. "And why does it affect people so harshly?"
Emerald orbs blinked back at him. "I—I—" and she fled. Sakura turned with an agility gleaned only from extensive practice and she ran down the hall with long strides.
If it had merely been a straight path, Syaoran would have easily caught up to her and demanded to truth. But with the sharp turns, narrow stairs, and busy halls, Syaoran barely kept a steady ten feet behind her. And the skill Sakura showed with her turns couldn't compare with how she slid around, behind, and through all things and people in her way.
Eventually the chase led to the kitchens, a room that until now Syaoran had carefully avoided. But now he plunged into the mess eagerly and the pursuit carried on. Scullery maids screamed as a caramel head ducked beneath a pot of hot water. A cook nearly lost a finger when Syaoran shoved him out of the way. It all ended at Maira.
"What are you doing in my kitchen?" Eyes narrow, hands on hips, Maira frightened even Syaoran. When he didn't speak she repeated the question with even more anger. "I said, boy, what are you doing in my kitchen?"
"I'm looking for a girl, Sakura, brown hair so long, green eyes." He mumbled and made a few vague gestures.
"Any of you ever heard of a Sakura?" She asked and the kitchen quickly got back to work. "Ain't nobody here that knows who you want." Maira leered. "Now I suggest you get!" her expression never changed as he left.
"Thanks Maira." Sakura appeared out from under the very pot Maira stood in front of. "I owe you big."
"You gonna explain?"
Sakura looked at the ground hiding tears. "It has begun, just like she said. It's begun."
"Ah Princess, it seems we are seated together once again." Eriol smiled a perfectly orchestrated genuine smile.
A smile Tomoyo reciprocated. "If I didn't know better I'd someone had just come into some money."
"Uh!" Eriol grabbed his chest as if just stabbed through the heart. "You wound me my Princess; I would not stoop to bribery." He glanced down at her plate. "Oh! Allow me to help you." And he removed the knife and fork from her clenched hands.
He expected to hear one of her sarcastic thank yous. Instead he felt a pronged silver utensil connect with his hand, painfully. "I can cut my own food thank you very much." And Eriol was present with a very smooth and very cold shoulder.
"As you wish Princess." He shrugged and removed the fork from his skin. Blood welled up in the four little puncture marks and Eriol ran a finger over them."
Tomoyo's eyes widened as the tiny pricks healed themselves. No one she knew used magic like that.
"Damn dampeners," he muttered. "Can't do much else, stupid Syaoran. We should leave." He barely even moved.
"I certainly wouldn't mind that," Tomoyo mumbled back and relished the look of shock on his face. "I am sitting next to you; I do have ears that work." She grinned and ate a piece of steak.
"You are a menace." Eriol attacked his own food.
"Of course I am. It's one of my charms."
Eriol continued to grumble incoherently as he shoved various bits of food into his mouth. His manners became suddenly lacking and Tomoyo had to work twice as hard as usual to not giggle, out loud anyway.
Suddenly a smile of his own crossed Eriol's face. "It would seem, dear Princess, we are about to have some company, Duke Norring and his son Jardin."
"Oh phooey and I was hoping to have a relatively peaceful dinner." She gave a sidelong glance at Eriol. "Nothing for it now."
"Hello Princess." Duke Norring nudged his son closer to the table.
"Er—Nice to see you up and about Princess," Jardin said softly. "I do hope that horrible Sal didn't do any harm."
"Well," Tomoyo lowered her voice to match his. "I am doing much better now, just a fainting spell every so often. Thank you for your concern." She smiled genteelly, but then closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.
Eriol felt her stiffen and then fall into his arms. "Princess?"
She opened her eyes and reached out a trembling hand. "I think I over did it today. Would you kindly escort me to my chambers Sir Eriol?" Her voice sounded pitifully soft.
"Of course," He said. "Can you walk?" Tomoyo shook her head and Eriol scooped her up.
Out in the hall, she burst out laughing. "I think he actually fell for it! The poor fool!"
He nearly dropped the squealing girl. "What was the act for?"
"I just—I just had to get out," she stated simply and began squirming. "Now let me down; I can walk."
"Oh certainly not!" Eriol grinned mischievously and held her closer. "What if dear Jardin comes out to see how you're doing? What will you do then?" He looked down and noticed the very large gap between Tomoyo's dress and her chest. It gave a very nice view. "I certainly wouldn't be surprised."
Tomoyo noticed the direction of his gaze. "You fiend!" She pounded on his chest. "You won't let me down because you are a pervert, ogling me like that!"
"And a mighty fine sight it is."
"Eriol!"
"Darling, I have something important to tell you." The King laid down next to his wife. "Something about Tomoyo."
"Alright," she put her book aside. "Has she found a suitor?"
"No, no, nothing like that. It's just, you remember the old seer and the prophecy? Well Prince Sal heard those rumors too and that's why—"
"Stop it." The queen crossed her arms. "I stand by the decision I made then, I will not give up my daughter."
The King withheld a groan knowing it would only strengthen her resolve. "It's just maybe we should giver her words a little more thought."
"Dragons, Tamers, Quests, all of it is just fairy tales parents tell their children. Magic exists on other planets, but not here. No one here has the potential."
"That's not entirely true."
"He was disowned."
"He was third in line for the throne."
"Mr. Hiiragizawa, would you kindly permit me a moment alone in my bedroom?" Tomoyo asked through gritted teeth.
"I'm afraid that unless someone else is in there, I cannot allow it." Eriol responded with the utmost courtesy. "It is for your protection."
She rolled her eyes while opening the door. "It will only take a moment, less then two minutes!"
Creepy as ever, Tomoyo stepped into her room. The wind fluttered aside the drapes allowing a sliver of light to fall across the face of someone seated on the couch. Eriol grabbed her and hastily shut the door.
"What do you think your doing?" Tomoyo shouted having completely lost her temper. "That is my room and—"
"Someone is in there." The words shut her up pretty quickly, just in time to notice the door as it swung open.
"So glad you noticed Eriol, now get in her. We need to talk." Syaoran pulled him and the Princess into the room. "I have information on Sakura."
The two men sat down on the couch, already deep in conversation reviewing all the things they already knew. Tomoyo took the opportunity to spend some time alone, or as alone as she could get. Above the fire, on the mantel, she spotted a note with ornate handwriting on the top. Squealing excitedly, Tomoyo snatched the little piece of paper and almost ripped it apart trying to get the seal off.
"Women and their notes," Eriol shook his head disgusted. "You'd think they'd die without their gossip. But listen Syaoran, I understand you can't leave a mystery alone, but please! We have a more important one to look into."
"You don't understand Eriol!" Syaoran jumped up. "It's not just a mystery! It's like she's begging me to chase her, but when I get too close to something she panics and flees, leaving no trail. Like today! She gave me this tiny hint of information and then when I tired to bite she ran!"
Eriol pulled him back onto the couch. "We have bigger fish to fry then one disappearing girl."
Both men barely glanced at Tomoyo as she laughed.
"I just don't understand! It's like I'm being drawn to search for her. I can't help it! I even dream about that girl and her damn green eyes!"
A gasp filled the air as Tomoyo almost dropped the note. "You don't say," she murmured to herself and the other two ignored her.
"Listen Syaoran, I can't find any information on Sal Bet, not if he left or is hiding in the castle. There's no trace of a motive it's like he dropped off the face of the planet!"
Syaoran ran his hands through his hair and stood up. "All of this is linked by something. It doesn't make sense, why would Sal go after the Princess unless…"
"Just because his business is down is no reason. He can't possibly…" Eriol looked into Syaoran's eyes and read the accusation there. "I mean, those stories are only rumors, nothing concrete. I've spent days with her and she hasn't shown the smallest sign…"
Tomoyo stared at both Eriol and Syaoran as if seeing them for the first time and they looked at her with the same sense of awe. "I have to go to the bathroom." She made a move in that direction and both Syaoran and Eriol stepped in front of her.
"I don't think so Princess, what's in the note?" Syaoran demanded holding his hand out.
"This?" She held up the paper. "Why it's nothing, just a bit of good gossip really."
"Let me see!" Eriol tried to snatch it, but Tomoyo pulled her hand back fast. "You're hiding something." He accused.
"I am not!" She insisted. "You're the ones who are hiding and you have an over developed sense of nosiness. I don't go around snooping into other people's private business!"
"You're the one holding the gossip!"
"How dare you! You insolent, little—" She pointed a finger at Eriol, and Syaoran snatched the note from her hand. "Why you—Give that back!"
Eriol pulled it out of his hand and quickly read the first paragraph. "How petty of you? Do you actually care who is having a fling with whom and who had a loud argument in the corridor?"
"Like you said before 'Women and their gossip.' Now, may I have it back?" She asked sounding mildly irritated.
"Who gave this to you?" Syaoran shot back at her. "Who's this Lady S?"
"If you must know she is an old friend of mine, we like to trade notes back and forth. She likes to leave them in odd places I'm sure to find them. Please give it back."
"That doesn't answer my question, I need a name." Syaoran sighed making sure the paper was well out of Tomoyo's reach.
"Figure it out yourself. You're the ones who never leave me alone and know everything." She pushed between them and sat on the spiky chair. "You can answer anytime now."
"She doesn't have any friends with an 'S' name," Eriol whispered. "Do you think it's from Sakura?"
"Well, who ever she is, it certainly is clever for her to leave this note in your room, especially as the servants were told not to allow anyone or thing in her without telling us." Syaoran threw the paper on the table and stared. "So how is you friend Sakura? Does she enjoy sending me on a wild chase through the castle?"
Tomoyo gingerly picked up the note and caressed the letters.
"But mostly, I want to know how she knows all that information, particularly the bit at the end about Sal."
"You should simply be glad that Sakura has our best interests at heart. Yes, all three of us, or did you not read that far?" A coldness resembled Maira coated every word and Syaoran wondered how much time Tomoyo spent in the Kitchens. Eriol opened his mouth to retort. "You'll just have to trust me when I say she cares very deeply about each of us. Of all the people alive, I probably know her the best."
"What else did she say?" Eriol asked, thoughtful but not angry like Syaoran.
"Sal is going after the Last Dragon Egg."
"Shit!" Syaoran yelled and the walls just as angrily echoed him back. "We have to get there first. Princess, we have determined that your safety in no longer in any danger. Good day." He stomped over to the door and threw it open.
"You're not going anywhere without me." She told his stiff back. "You two won't get ten steps closer to that Egg."
"Don't tell me I won't find it!" Syaoran glared. "I've spent my whole life hunting it. I probably know more about it then you know about Sakura. Don't even presume to lecture me on the legend of the Last Dragon Egg!"
"Then you must already know the story that surrounds my birth and therefore must understand that without me everything fails."
"After the birth of the Princess, the seer did see several vital visions, 'the one needed to find the Last Dragon Egg, the ultimate source of power.' I remember, do you Syaoran? You're the one who told me the tale." Eriol reminded him quietly.
Little veins popped out over Syaoran's forehead in frustration. "Fine! You can come, but if you pull any of that Princess crap we'll drop you on the nearest planet and leave you."
"Have you seen Aidian lately?"
"That bro—" Maira more felt the sting of Sakura's glare then saw it. "Sorry, that other boy the seer took in? Haven't seen him since that big fight you two had. Why?"
"If you do, don't tell him where I am. I don't want to give him that." A very ugly look crossed her face and Maira could only imagine the hate flowing through her mind. "He doesn't deserve the satisfaction."
"Girl, are you ever going to tell me just what he did to earn your undying hatred?"
"It was my sixth birthday and the Old Lady had promised to introduce me to my family. Aidian and I were in the halls behind the throne room and this beautiful girl walked in front of the peep hole. The moment I saw her, I knew I wanted to play with her and Aidian knew it too. He saw me watching her and laughed. I cans still remember his exact words. He told me 'She's not for you Sakura. You're different. You have to be alone. It's your destiny; I've seen it.' And he laughed."
"Oh baby! He told you, didn't he?" Maira pulled her into a hug. "He condemned you to the life you live!"
Sakura took a swipe at her eyes. "Now you know the truth." She smiled. "I'll see you later."
I'll try not to be so long for the next update...no promises, but I'll try...gotta love being a senior...