Sakura is a Priestess on Aisha because the magic flows through her veins. If Tomoyo had had the magic, then the people would've called her Priestess. No,Sakura is not all three (Princess, Royal Imposter, andDragon Tamer). This may have been confusing, but Sakura is the Princess, Syaoran the Dragon Tamer (it's in his blood), and Eriol the Royal Imposter. Tomoyo is the Decoy, kinda like what Queen Amadala does in Star Wars Episode 1.Does that clear up all the questions?
Chapter 8
Syaoran tightened the last strap on his camel and looked farther up the line. The children bunched around Tomoyo excitedly as she helped dole out the last of the morning fruit. She smiled and giggled as they pulled at her clothes and begged.
"Looks happy, doesn't she?" Eriol sighed and leaned against the pack animal. "She'll make a great mother one day."
"It looks to me like your infatuation has progressed into outright liking." Syaoran made a triple check on the harness and tried to enjoy the nice morning.
"Like you have room to talk Mr. Oh-let-me-help-you-with-that-Sakura and Here-I-found-this-would-you-like-it?" He taunted. "At least Tomoyo can reciprocate."
When Syaoran walked away without even bothering to retort, Eriol knew he'd gone too far. "Sorry man, I didn't mean—"
"Stop, you only spoke thee truth." Syaoran leaned down and picked up some bags of spice to load onto the camel. "And by the way, Sakura can feel emotions, just not with that magic running rampant through her veins." He shoved the bags into Eriol's arms. "Take care of that for me." Syaoran left in search of Sakura.
He found her on a sand dune not too far away watching over the entire train/ Her eyes lingered on Tomoyo and Touya who just appeared out of the kitchen tent bearing more flat bread. Mothers bellowed for children to get their packs and other belongings while fathers finished checking the camels. Those eyes contained no hint of color.
"She and I have an accord." The wind tugged at her voice, and Syaoran could have sworn her heard his Sakura's giggle. But it disappeared before he could catch it. "I will rule this body during the day without her interference if she might rule when the sun goes down. It is not greatly desirable to either of us, but then no compromise is."
"Why don't you just take over and never relinquish?"
Syaoran found himself faced with those chilly white eyes of pseudo-Sakura. "I may lack a heart, but I am not cruel, thank you very much Syaoran."
The wind tugged at her tough clothes and pulled strands of her hair from her braid. And it spit sand in her face as if angry.
"Then-then will I see her for dinner tonight?" He felt as though he was asking permission to date Sakura.
"Oh you silly boy," She placed a hand on his cheek and closed her eyes. "Sakura says 'I can't wait to eat with you.'" And then the moment of warmth disappeared.
"Let's join the caravan; they'll be pulling out soon." Syaoran nodded towards the beginning of the line. "Zalton's uncle offered you a ride on his camel."
"Do I not have two good legs? Can I not use them as every other person here can?" She stepped briskly down the dune. "I will walk thank you very much."
He shook his head and withheld a laugh. Amazing, two such different beings both held the same view. Sakura and the magic had that one thing in common, and if Syaoran was right, they probably shared many other traits too.
Eriol kept close to Tomoyo as the caravan continued its trek towards the Shrine. Sharing meals, sleeping in the same tent, pretending to be her husband certainly had its perks. Although Touya had a nasty habit of shooting him dirty glares. But then, he had disappeared for the day soon after the train started up.
A small child tugged on his pant leg. "Hey, mister, can you tell us another story? Please?" He begged.
The other children circled around like vultures ready to strike their prey. They ranged from the small age of still sucking on a thumb all the way up to donning the veil. One little boy looked up at Eriol with great bid round eyes and looked as if he might burst into tears if Eriol dared to even think the word no.
"Alright." Eriol pretended to be irritated, but was secretly pleased. "Where did I leave off yesterday?"
"You were going to tell us about the Evil Sal and how you rescued the Beautiful Princess!" A little girl, probably eight or nine, jumped up and down excitedly.
"Ah yes," Eriol scratched his chin as if recalling the story. "But we'll need the help of my Tomoyo for this tale; only she knows the beginning." He looked over at the cart where Tomoyo sat, and the children bombarded her with hopeful stares.
"Fine, fine, fine you munchkins, the tale starts in the Beautiful Princess's birthday. And there was going to be a magnificent ball with lots of food and wonderful gowns all to celebrate…" The girls listened enraptured with the descriptions of jewels and decorations. They waited with bated breath as Tomoyo told about the lively music and swishing dances.
On the other side, the boys scuffed their feet along the ground trying to wait patiently for Eriol's turn to tell the action. "Well, the door slammed shut, and Syaoran and I spun around hoping to catch the intruder. But you must remember, Syaoran doesn't have the same amount of grace that I do, and he fell with a loud thump on the floor!"
All the children laughed at his description of the clumsy Syaoran. They finished the tale just as mothers began calling for the mid-day meal. The children rushed off. Repeating their favorite parts and racing each other to eat.
"I don't think Syaoran would appreciate the way you portray him. It's not exactly accurate." Tomoyo smiled down at him from her seat in the cart eyes laughing.
"Someone has to play the comic relief, and I'm the hero. Besides," He pulled Tomoyo from her seat and twirled her before setting the flushed girl on the ground. "What Syaoran doesn't know can't hurt me." He winked.
Tomoyo shook her head at his arrogance and then leaned against him. "Thank you Eriol, thank you for bringing me along."
"Well, we couldn't very well leave you behind noiw could we?" Eriol slid his arm around her waist and hugged her close, noting how her head fit neatly underneath his. "I would miss you too much."
"Uh, mister Eriol sir," the children reappeared. "Tell us another one!"
Syaoran walked away from the flickering firelight and loud conversations intent on getting a moment to think. Somehow this whole adventure had gotten messed up on so many levels. Sakura, Tomoyo, and Eriol weren't supposed to get mixed up in his search for the Egg. The Princess wasn't supposed to play decoy and put herself in a lot of danger. Eriol wasn't supposed to get involved with Palace life again. And Syaoran, he really wasn't supposed to fall for Sakura.
He sat down on a sand dune just breathing deeply, breathing and thinking.
"The sunset is so beautiful." Sakura sat down next to him, eyes as green as ever. "I've never seen anything so-so wonderful." She sighed contentedly and leaned against Syaoran.
"Everything about this trip is so screwed up." He rubbed his forehead. "First Tomoyo yelled at me and my reasons. She even called me selfish. Then you showed up and almost immediately disappeared again. We got saddled with the Prince and-and—" he turned and looked at her. "The magic is taking over you."
"Look." Sakura pointed at the caravan below them. "The children are still mobbing poor Eriol, and Tomoyo can't contain her giggles. They look so free, so happy." She sighed heavily and played absently with the sand. "It's obvious that they can and will do great things together. They choose this adventure."
Syaoran glanced at her sideways, taking in her slumped shoulders and downcast eyes. "You're free too you know, perhaps more so then them. Or are you still hiding something from us?"
"Hiding? No, I'm not hiding it, but neither am I telling. This magic can take over my body whenever it wants without warning." Sakura picked up his hand and ran her fingers across it. "If the magic took me now, I could see hear all of that. But I wouldn't understand the warmth from your hand, discomfort, or pleasure. Emotions wouldn't exist; everything that makes me feel alive gone."
Syaoran pulled her against him, holding her tight and desperate for the feel of her.
"I lied," she said softly. "I didn't come for Tomoyo. I mean, I did, but this quest will remove the magic." She looked up and Syaoran caught the full blast of love in her eyes. "I fear for those who've come with us, especially Tomoyo. I'm a risk."
They watched in silence as the sun finished setting. Syaoran flat out refused to release Sakura, and after one half hearted attempt to sit up Sakura gave in to his comfort. Together, they enjoyed half an hour of calm.
"Hey Mister Syaoran! Priestess! Ain't you hungry? Dinner's down by the fire!" A small kid, maybe six or seven, ran up over the dune. "Ohhhh! Missus Eriol's Wife was wrong! You two ARE married!" He drew out the words and sang. "I'm gonna tell, I'm gonna tell!"
Sakura laughed, a sound Syaoran relished in. "Come on, we'd better go clear up those facts he's bound to get wrong." And Syaoran followed her down the hill grinning.
Eriol passed the jug of sweet wine to Syaoran, who took a long swig. "Zalton says we're making excellent time. We should make it to the Shrine sometime early tomorrow."
He nodded absently while staring at the flickering flames. "Do you ever get the feeling that this is all too easy? Like we're overlooking something?"
"Just enjoy this Syaoran. We all know it can't last forever." Eriol stood up. "Now is you don't mind, there's a beautiful Princess over there, and I'm going to go talk to her."
Syaoran watched his friend walk away. "Talk, unlikely, but you'll probably still use your mouth." He finished off the wine and plopped the jug down in the sand.
People around him chatted softly and laughed brashly, fires crackled, and the air smelled of spiced wine. Somehow Syaoran ended up with another, more potent bottle of wine even though he's picked that particular spot for its lack of people. A group of children ran by laughing and chasing a ball.
And then she appeared, melting out of a group of women. Syaoran promptly forgot what it meant to breathe and think for that matter. Sakura glided towards him, burgundy skirt hung low over her hips and accenting the sinewy way they swung back and forth. His eyes moved slowly upwards across the flat plain of her belly up to the start of her ribs and the sleeveless matching top. Her hair burned an alluring shade of red in the firelight.
She smiled sweetly, and Syaoran remembered to breathe. Of course he sucked his breath rasping, but he could breath. "Wow, you-you—"
Sakura spun around and grinned mischievously. "Speechless?"
And she was right; he couldn't make his mouth work. "Uh—gah—" Syaoran ran his tongue across his lips and managed to spit out one word. "Dance?"
"Uh-huh" she nodded and pulled him up. A goofy smile twirled across his face as Syaoran slipped across the sandy ground.
They joined a line of dancers around one of the larger fires. Sakura grinned and grabbed his hand before starting her own saucy moves. Her hips swayed, arms flowed, and Syaoran felt as though the moment would last forever. As the music slowed, he captured one of her arms and reeled Sakura in close. She snuggled against his chest and Syaoran wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"Syaoran," she whispered and turned her head upwards. "Syaoran? Will you promise me something?"
"Anything you want."
"When all this is over, I'd like to stay here a while. Will you still watch over me?"
They left the light and the sounds behind, and Syaoran placed her hand across his heart. "You've done something to me Sakura, and now I won't ever leave you." He leaned down and sealed the promise with a kiss.
It's winding closer and closer to the end! R&R