Disclaimer: I don't own Cardcaptor Sakura or its characters, but the story line, places, and new characters are totally mine so don't steal! If you want to use them, ask and I might let you. Some have a special significance.
Sakura, Tomoyo - 17
Syaoran / Xiaolang, Eriol - 18
Touya, Yukito/Yue - 24
Every tear is a memory of my love that is slowly slipping away ~ by me.
°°°°Almost midnight in the Kingdom of Kadenia 17 years ago°°°°
It was dark outside when the worried King looked out the window as he passed by. That was about the thousandth time he looked out the window in all the time he had been pacing. King Fujitake hadn't left the room all day. He was worried, really worried. It was a beautiful April afternoon in the garden where King Fujitake and his wife, Queen Nadeshiko, were walking when suddenly she went into labor. She was immediately taken to the healer's ward and had been there for roughly 12 hours. He finally sat down after an hour of pacing and ran his hand through his brown hair for the millionth time. King Fujitake couldn't help thinking the worst and placed his head in his hands.
"Your Majesty, she's here, your baby girl is here." Gasped the midwife as she ran into the room where King Fujitake was waiting. He bolted out of his chair and ran as fast as he could to the love of his life.
"Get Touya and bring him to the healer's ward!" He instructed a maid as he passed by. When he got to his destination, he almost broke the door trying to get in not realizing that the door was supposed to be pulled instead of pushed. As soon as he realized this, he ran in to see his wife and new daughter.
As perfect as a story book picture, there was Queen Nadeshiko in bed holding a baby in her arms rocking it slowly as the wind from the open window blew in and gently played with her hair. She looked up and smiled at him with her sparkling emerald eyes. Fujitake walked over to her and sat in the chair by the bed.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Nadeshiko asked, almost stating, to her husband.
"She's gorgeous, just like her mother." He answered back with a smile on his face. The baby looked up at him with radiant emerald eyes like her mother and giggled as if she knew what he said. "What should we name her, my love?"
As soon as this was said, a light breeze blew in hundreds of cherry blossoms from the trees outside and one happened to land right on the baby.
"I have the perfect name for her, Sakura." Nadeshiko said as she picked up the blossom and held it in her hand.
"I love it"
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" An excited Touya screamed as he bounded into the room.
"Come here Touya and meet your new sister, Sakura." Fujitake announced.
"That's it? It's kinda small. Are you sure it's supposed to be that size?
"She, Touya, she. And yes, to both questions." Nadeshiko stated stifling her giggles.
"Great, I get a squirt for a sister." Touya said as he rolled his eyes.
"Touya!!" his parents screamed.
°°°° 3 years later °°°°
"Touya!! Give it back!!" Yelled the pint-sized princess as she kicked her brother in the shin.
"OWWW!!! MOM!!!" He screamed. "The little kaijou kicked me!"
"I'm not a kaijou!" That earned Touya another kick in the shin. It was painful enough for the young prince to drop Sakura's doll and hop around on one foot cradling the other.
"Children!! What have I told you about fighting when your father's concentrating on his work?" Scolded their beautiful mother who looked nothing like that of a women who gave birth to two children. She picked up Sakura and felt a burst of magical energy flow through her. "I see you're going to be quite a sorceress. We'll have to get you started on your training soon."
"Really??" asked an excited little princess.
"Uh huh. Now Touya, get your Katana and get to your lesson before you're late again and don't leave your book of spells around the castle again."
"Yes, mother I was going, but I'm still waiting for Yukito to come. I can't practice without a partner." Touya replied matter-of-factly. He also hated carrying that big book around. He wouldn't mind `accidentally' losing it, but he loved magic even though he didn't possess as much as he wanted. Then, it hit him. "Start her magic training already?!?!"
"Mm-hmm, your sister has quite a bit of magic coming from her already and it would be best to get her to start before she blows up something. Wouldn't want that to happen again would I?" She said as she eyed her son slyly.
"That was only once, mom!!"
"Anyways, I just saw Yukito's carriage out the window. Get going now, shoo!"
"Did you see Xiaolang's horse yet mommy?" Sakura asked her mother with hopeful eyes.
"Well..."
Sakura looked at her mother a little disappointed.
Then Nadeshiko smiled her lovely smile and said, "Yes, he's about 10 minutes away."
"Really?!?!?!" Sakura smiled. Nadeshiko nodded her head with a grin.
"Not that baka again." Touya rolled his eyes. Sakura shot him a look that could kill and jumped out of her mother's arms.
"Ummm...here that mom? I think its Yuki, gotta run!" Touya zipped down the hallway and disappeared.
"Can we start magic lessons today so I can practice with Xiaolang?" Sakura said as she turned to her mom.
"I guess so, I'll have to teach you though. Touya's teacher is a bit more advanced for you."
"Okay" Suddenly there was the doorbell. "That must be Yuki!! Xiaolang must be right behind him." Sakura ran down the stairs to the door.
°°°°Present°°°°
Queen Nadeshiko leaned back in her chair and remembered those happy times. It wasn't like that any more; it wasn't the same with Sakura like she was. She was still happy, but something had changed inside her. Nadeshiko knew what had happened, but still tried to convince herself that it was the same Sakura. But, as the years went by, it was getting more obvious that she clearly was not the same.
Sakura sat on her knees in the middle of the wooden floor with her eyes closed. She possessed long beautiful locks of extremely wavy auburn hair that started curling when her hair passed her shoulder blades. In all, her hair reached her waist. Natural strips of lighter auburn highlights streaked her hair that was only held up by a thin gold band that crossed her forehead and disappeared into her hair at her temples. It contained a small teardrop-shaped emerald that hung down in the middle. Her breathing was soft and very controlled. She opened her eyes and slowly lifted up an arm in front of her. The water in the bowl in front of her started to swirl and lift out of the bowl in one thin line. Sakura then lifted up the other arm and another thin line of water cam out of the bowl. She moved her arms around in soft motions to make the water dance in patterns around her.
The door opened ever so quietly as a tall man with dark brown hair you would swear was black walked in. The man started to wiggle his index finger up and down and as he did this the water followed his movements.
"Touya, stop messing with the water, I'm trying to concentrate." Sakura said without even turning around.
Touya chuckled softly, "How did you know it was me?"
"I knew because you're the only one with a water center in our family."
"Says who?"
"Says that mark on your arm that you've had since you were born."
"Oh that, right." Touya stared at his left forearm unconsciously rubbing at it like it would go away. She was right of course. The mark looked like a scar of twin stars, one overlapping the other. It was the sign that you were born with, if you had magic in your blood, which said what kind of element you had. Of course all the other elements have different signs. His entire family had different marks. All the girls had the marks on their backs on the top left and all the boys had the marks on their left forearm. "If that's so, why are you controlling my element, hmmm?"
"Well, it's not my center, it's part of it. My center is..." Sakura lifted a hand and touched the water with her middle finger. All of the water started to freeze beginning with where she had touched it. "ice."
"I know, I know." He murmured `but seven years ago I could have bet my life it was fire. Even her mark was the mark of fire. Come to think of it, when was the last time I saw her mark?' Touya thought.
Sakura suddenly snapped her fingers and all the ice burst into flames. She slowly stood up and stretched. She dropped her arms next to her side and calmly walked right through the fire. "Touya?"
Touya was staring at his baby sister. It was true, she had grown up into a beautiful young woman, but something was missing. The sparkle in her eyes was gone. Everything had changed since that day, the day she was forbidden to remember. Well, almost everything had changed. She still wore that locket. The simple gold heart locket with a tiny emerald star embedded in it that she would never let anyone touch let alone open. It seemed something stopped her. It would release memories she forbid anyone to ever see, even herself and she probably didn't know why she forbid them.
"Touya, is there something wrong?" She subconsciously played with her locket.
"Um, no. Nothing's wrong. Tomoyo just got here, kaijou. She's in your room."
"Thanks." She started to walk away when....
"You're not going to leave that there are you?" Touya asked pointing to the burning swirls in the middle of the room.
"Oops!" Sakura made a quick wave with her hand and the swirling fire was extinguished leaving no traces of scorch marks on the floor or ceiling. She was right next to Touya when she kicked him in the shin and said, "and stop calling me a kaijou! I'm 17 years old!!!" Touya winced in pain. Boy had she gotten stronger. Her kicks really hurt.
Sakura's Room
A 17-year-old girl with long black hair and violet eyes (A.N. I always thought that the violet eyes in cartoons was amazing because its not physically possible, but then again so is red, but who am I to mess with Japanese anime huh?) was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room reading a book. Her hair was braided and clipped up at the top of her head (A.N. think of when Sakura changed the Fiery card into a Sakura card. And I didn't spell fiery wrong.) by a simple yellow bow. The door was pushed open quietly and Sakura stepped in.
"Well if it isn't Princess Tomoyo Daidouji of the Trekawaiine Kingdom. What brings you here today?" Sakura said with a slight smirk on her face.
"Geez, Sakura, don't do that!! You scared me. I hate it when you do that!!" Tomoyo gasped, her heart racing.
"Sorry," Sakura giggled, "it was just so tempting. So what's up with you? I didn't know you were coming over."
"I had to get out of the castle. My parents are driving me crazy!!!"
"About what?"
"My parents want me to marry some Prince from the Teal'ec Kingdom. I don't even know who he is!! I've never heard of him before in my entire life!! At least they're letting me decide, but they're really pushing for this one."
"At least my parents will let me pick."
"They have to, with all the guys asking for your hand, they can't decide either."
"Okay, stop changing the subject, back to my question. Why are your parents driving you crazy?"
"Well they have been running around all day trying to arrange for me to go and meet him. His parents are having a birthday party this weekend and they invited me since our parents are trying to get us together. I don't think I'll survive all by myself with my `future husband'. Come to think of it, I would be able to bear it if I didn't have to go alone." Tomoyo looked at the now sitting Sakura with a very mischievous grin.
"Oh no, Tomoyo. No way. You know that Teal'ec is related to Vaunimajee, our sworn enemies, enemies." Sakura put special emphasis on the last word.
"Please, oh please, oh please Sakura!! I need you there for emotional support."
"I don't know Tomoyo. My parents would never let me go."
"You could tell them that you were going with me to a party to keep me company, PLEASE SAKURA!!" Tomoyo looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Fine, alright already, but your telling them. You lie better. How did I let you rope me into this?"
"I've been your best friend for 6 years and I am your favorite cousin, I have to know some tricks by now."
"Whatever, let's go try and persuade my parents."
The to girls walked out of the room, Tomoyo practically skipping and Sakura dragging her feet behind her. `How did I let her talk me into this?'
In deep thought about how she got roped into a situation which could lead to war and the ultimate devastation of an entire kingdom, Sakura wasn't even looking where she was going when she bumped into someone. She almost fell onto her butt, but was grabbed by the wrist and pulled up by the same figure she bumped in to. Sakura looked up to see a familiar face.
"Hey, Yukito," Sakura said with a slight smile. (A.N. okay lets just say he looks like Yue all the time because I think Yue is so much cuter than Yukito. You know what? We're just going to call him Yue from now on too because I'm lazy.)
"Hello, Sakura. Got something on your mind?"
"Not really. Lookin' for Touya?"
"Yeah, seen him?"
"A little while ago. Let me check. TOUYA!!!!" Her scream rang out through the castle. Touya popped his head out of the training room.
"WHAT?" He yelled back just as loud.
"There you go. See ya!" Sakura ran off to catch up to Tomoyo.
She found Tomoyo outside the door that led to the Great Hall that her parents spent their time in when there wasn't a ball coming. She was motioning her hand for Sakura to speed up. Sakura ran through the door and Tomoyo came in after her shutting the door. The click of the door caused Sakura's parents to look up. Seeing the two girls, the king and queen smiled.
"Well hello there, Tomoyo. How are you today?" asked King Fujitake.
"I'm wonderful, you?" Tomoyo asked back.
"We're good." Queen Nadeshiko smiled.
"I wanted to ask you two something."
"Yes, what is it?" Queen Nadeshiko asked as she looked at Sakura strangely. Sakura seemed terribly interested in studying the wall to the left of them and grinding something into the floor with her foot.
"Well, Auntie Nadie, I'm going to a friend of the family's birthday party and it would really be nice if I could have Sakura there to talk to so I don't get bored. I really don't know anyone there and I have to spend the whole day there."
"I don't know Tomoyo, is it out of yours and my kingdom?" questioned King Fujitake.
"Yes, but they are very close to my family. There is no way they would hurt Sakura without offending my family and they don't want to do that."
"Why don't they want to offend your family?" asked Nadeshiko as she started to arrange the flowers in the vase again.
"Oh, it's nothing really. Our families just want us to get married."
"Ummm, well I guess your family really trusts them." Queen Nadeshiko's eyes were really wide and so was her husband's. "Uh, sure you can go, Sakura."
"Thank you." Tomoyo said with a smile that reached from ear to ear.
"Mm hmm, thanks mom, dad. Let's go Tomoyo." Sakura grabbed Tomoyo's arm and practically ran out of the room.
A moment later Tomoyo popped her head back in and said, "Sakura and I are going shopping, we'll be back by 3."
"Okay," King Fujitake yelled not looking up from his documents.
°°The market in the Kingdom of Jeassycka°°
The two girls had brown cloaks on that loosely covered their hair. They busily talked and swerved from stand to stand looking for accessories and material to take back to the dressmakers at the castle.
"I can't believe they let me go. Why did they let me go?" Sakura whined.
"Oh quit you complaining and come over here and pick out some cloth. Green or pink?" Tomoyo was holding up two types of cloth, one a satin emerald green and the other one a soft, silk baby pink.
"Uh, the emerald green one. ( A.N. I absolutely detest pink so you will rarely see any references to how Sakura compares to that nasty color. Well I don't hate baby pink all that much, anyways...) Hey, wait a minute. We need to shop for you first because you are the one that has to decide on a husband, not me."
"Oh give me a break, please?"
"No. Now let's see here....." Sakura sifts through hundreds of material in a matter of seconds. Suddenly she pops up on the other side of the store. "Aha!! Now pick Tomoyo, the light purplish-blue one or the yellow? I think the purplish-blue one would look good on you, what do you think?"
"I like it." As Tomoyo and Sakura are waiting for the material to be packaged, Tomoyo picks up Sakura's hand and looks at her watch. "It's almost 3:00, we need to go after this."
"We're really gonna cut it close this time."
The two girls quickly gave their thanks to the shopkeeper and walked swiftly towards their carriage. Sakura briefly looked down at her watch in order to see if they needed to walk faster. Just then, her shoulder brushed someone in a black cloak with his hood down. Immediately she felt sparks of electricity run through her and she felt like something inside her ignited. `What was that feeling? Who was that?' Sakura wondered as she gave a quick glance towards the figure that had abruptly stopped as well. `It feels so familiar.' The mysterious figure's companion had started to turn around to beckon his friend. Before Sakura could get a glimpse at the figure, Tomoyo had pulled on Sakura's arm hard enough to make her stumble in Tomoyo's direction.
"Come on, Sakura, we have to get going now!" Tomoyo scolded as she ran to the carriage pulling Sakura with her. Sakura snapped back into this reality and, picking up her dress, began to run. Both girls were at their carriage at the edge of the market within minutes. Throwing their merchandise up to the footman, they girls practically leaped into the carriage. As soon as the door was shut, the driver sped off as fast as he could knowing what would happen if they were late again.
°°°About 15 min. ago on the other side of the market in Jeassycka°°°
Two teenage boys walked through the market busily talking to each other. They hid their expensive clothes, one under a dark blue and the other under a black cloak.
"So you've never seen her?" questioned the young prince in the black cloak. He had wild locks of deep brown hair and chestnut colored eyes that never showed his emotions, his weaknesses.
"Nope, never." Stated the other prince in the dark blue cloak with certainty. This prince possessed better-tamed locks of deep, dark blue with eyes that matched. His eyes were the exact opposite of his companion, full of life and a certain sparkle that looked as if he knew something you didn't.
"Never met her?"
"Nope, haven't even heard of her. I've heard of the kingdom, the king, and the queen yes, but their daughter, no."
"And your parents want you two to get married?"
"That's right. At least they're letting me choose my bride instead of just betrothing me. They aren't pushing me as badly as they used to, but I can tell they really want me to marry her." The young prince in the blue cloak dropped a couple of Kayjees (A.N. silver dollar sized silver coins) in a boy nymph's hand and picked up an apple from his cart.
"They aren't pressing you to pick a bride anymore because they last time they did, you made the poor girl grow a contagious, fuzzy green fungus on the left side of her face and down her neck." The young prince in the black cloak paid an elderly man with small lion-like ears and a lion's tail for some odd objects and liquid.
"Hey, it was funny and it got the girls' parents and mine off of my back. I did remove the spell after they broke off the engagement. What are you buying, Xiaolang?" The blue cloaked prince asked curiously as he looked into the bag.
"Just some ingredients, my supply is running low." Prince Xiaolang said.
"Let me see that." Prince Xiaolang's companion said as he snatched the bag away from him and peered inside. "Hmmm, spotted white owl feathers, silver dragon scales, and wolf's marrow. Why, you know love spells are forbidden." The young prince stated with a mischievous grin on his face.
"And you know that these ingredients are used in many other spells other than love spells, Eriol. Just because I'm buying them, together, doesn't mean I'm using them together."
"Oh, I see. So who are you repulsing this time?"
"Princess Petunia and her sisters Daisy and Buttercup of Flowers Are Insane or something like that." Xiaolang said as he inspected the wares of an elderly man's hut.
"You mean Floriadane?" Eriol said between chuckles.
"Mm hmm, there. Could you even imagine yourself being married to someone with a name like that? I mean, think of it. Here come King Xiaolang and Queen Petunia. Give me a break. The only bad part about these repulsion spells are that they only work for about 3 months. At least by then all of the princesses or ladies are either married or interested in another guy."
"Aren't you the heart breaker? Now, about my birthday `celebration' this weekend, are you going?"
"Definitely, I wouldn't let you suffer on your 18^th birthday all alone. You didn't let me, why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
"There had to be a reason, I know you."
"It's just that that is when I meet Princess Tomoyo."
"Oh, you want an excuse to get away from her. Wait a second. Princess Tomoyo...I know that name. She's the princess of Trekawaiine, right? Isn't her kingdom related to another one? I can't put my finger on it."
"It's not that important, let's go cuz."
"Wait, hold on, uh uh. Are you telling me that you are going to marry the cousin of my sworn enemy?!? I can't go, no way."
"Oh come on! You already said you would. It's not like her cousin is coming anyways and she's not your enemy, Aunt Yelan said so."
"I don't know, Eriol. This could be a very bad idea."
Eriol stepped in front of Xiaolang and place one hand on each of his shoulders. "Please, it's only one day and it's for me, your favorite cousin and best friend."
"Meiling is my favorite cousin. About that best friend thing, that could be debated."
"Fine, favorite male cousin, and as of right now I'm your best friend."
"Alright, but if a huge war breaks out because I went to this party, I'm blaming it all on you."
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I don't know what I'd do without you." Both men started walking again.
"Neither do I. What would you have done if I didn't accept?"
"You would have accepted no matter what."
"That's what you think." Eriol gave Xiaolang a grin and they began walking towards the stables.
"Who are we going to have fit us this time for our clothes, your tailor or mine?"
"You're making me suffer through this party, then we get to go to my tailor. Not your horrendous one. The last time I went to your tailor, I ended up looking like a pink pixie for the Masked Ball."
"I don't remember you looking like a pink pixie. I don't even remember you wearing pink; I thought you wore green."
"I did wear green. When I got home I burnt the clothes your tailor made and had my tailor make me something." Both princes chuckled slightly thinking back.
Xiaolang and Eriol walked through the crowd in a hurried fashion. They had to make it back to the Vaunimajee castle soon or Xiaolang's mom would be furious. Xiaolang looked down at his pocket watch and his eyes widened. He gently hit his cousin on the shoulder and nodded in the direction of their horses. As if on command, the two began to run. Eriol was in front only by a few inches and Xiaolang followed close behind. The duo (A.N. don't you love that word??? Duo duo duo...) weaved their way through the crowded market when they spotted a couple of people running towards them.
`I guess everyone is in a rush today,' Xiaolang thought. Just as he was thinking that, he brushed shoulders with one of the figures in the dark brown cloaks with their hoods up. As soon as he touched the figure he felt sparks of electricity run through him and he felt as if something inside him ignited. Xiaolang stopped dead in his tracks. `That feeling, it's so familiar. I know the feeling, but from where? Who was that?' Xiaolang thought furiously wrinkling his brow. Eriol, a few moments later realizing his companion had stopped, had turned around and jogged back to Xiaolang. He thought it was strange that a figure in a brown cloak was stopped dead just as his cousin was, but he dismissed it quickly and grabbed Xiaolang's arm.
"We've got to go now." Eriol said as he pulled Xiaolang's arm. The young prince shook his head and snapped out of the trance he was in. He followed Eriol again and began to run. When the stables were in view, he started to run faster and passed Eriol. He put his index and middle finger in his mouth and gave a loud, high whistle; Eriol did the same. Immediately, two beautiful Arabian Stallions, one midnight black with a white crescent moon on his forehead and three white star-shines arranged in a tilted triangle on his upper left hip and the other was a deep blue with a white sun on his upper left hip and silver highlights in his mane, rushed out of the stable and ran towards their owners. Both of the young princes stepped on the stirrup and swung their legs over. Xiaolang and Eriol started their horses in a gallop to get home as soon as possible because if they were even a minute late again, Xiaolang's mother would unleash her wrath on them...again.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Well, for those of you who have read my other story that is sadly still on its first chapter, not many people reviewed and my best friend didn't review yet either, so I decided to put this one up. Originally, this one was supposed to go up 1^st, but whatever. Compared to the other one, I think this one sucks, but I hope some people take joy out of reading it.
PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE REVIEW THE STORY AND TELL ME IF YOU HATE IT OR JUST TO SAY "I'M BOB!!!" I desperately need to know if people actually read my stories and I'm feeling sorta depressed that not that many people reviewed my last story so please review.
Sakura, Tomoyo - 17
Syaoran / Xiaolang, Eriol - 18
Touya, Yukito/Yue - 24
Every tear is a memory of my love that is slowly slipping away ~ by me.
°°°°Almost midnight in the Kingdom of Kadenia 17 years ago°°°°
It was dark outside when the worried King looked out the window as he passed by. That was about the thousandth time he looked out the window in all the time he had been pacing. King Fujitake hadn't left the room all day. He was worried, really worried. It was a beautiful April afternoon in the garden where King Fujitake and his wife, Queen Nadeshiko, were walking when suddenly she went into labor. She was immediately taken to the healer's ward and had been there for roughly 12 hours. He finally sat down after an hour of pacing and ran his hand through his brown hair for the millionth time. King Fujitake couldn't help thinking the worst and placed his head in his hands.
"Your Majesty, she's here, your baby girl is here." Gasped the midwife as she ran into the room where King Fujitake was waiting. He bolted out of his chair and ran as fast as he could to the love of his life.
"Get Touya and bring him to the healer's ward!" He instructed a maid as he passed by. When he got to his destination, he almost broke the door trying to get in not realizing that the door was supposed to be pulled instead of pushed. As soon as he realized this, he ran in to see his wife and new daughter.
As perfect as a story book picture, there was Queen Nadeshiko in bed holding a baby in her arms rocking it slowly as the wind from the open window blew in and gently played with her hair. She looked up and smiled at him with her sparkling emerald eyes. Fujitake walked over to her and sat in the chair by the bed.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Nadeshiko asked, almost stating, to her husband.
"She's gorgeous, just like her mother." He answered back with a smile on his face. The baby looked up at him with radiant emerald eyes like her mother and giggled as if she knew what he said. "What should we name her, my love?"
As soon as this was said, a light breeze blew in hundreds of cherry blossoms from the trees outside and one happened to land right on the baby.
"I have the perfect name for her, Sakura." Nadeshiko said as she picked up the blossom and held it in her hand.
"I love it"
"I wanna see! I wanna see!" An excited Touya screamed as he bounded into the room.
"Come here Touya and meet your new sister, Sakura." Fujitake announced.
"That's it? It's kinda small. Are you sure it's supposed to be that size?
"She, Touya, she. And yes, to both questions." Nadeshiko stated stifling her giggles.
"Great, I get a squirt for a sister." Touya said as he rolled his eyes.
"Touya!!" his parents screamed.
°°°° 3 years later °°°°
"Touya!! Give it back!!" Yelled the pint-sized princess as she kicked her brother in the shin.
"OWWW!!! MOM!!!" He screamed. "The little kaijou kicked me!"
"I'm not a kaijou!" That earned Touya another kick in the shin. It was painful enough for the young prince to drop Sakura's doll and hop around on one foot cradling the other.
"Children!! What have I told you about fighting when your father's concentrating on his work?" Scolded their beautiful mother who looked nothing like that of a women who gave birth to two children. She picked up Sakura and felt a burst of magical energy flow through her. "I see you're going to be quite a sorceress. We'll have to get you started on your training soon."
"Really??" asked an excited little princess.
"Uh huh. Now Touya, get your Katana and get to your lesson before you're late again and don't leave your book of spells around the castle again."
"Yes, mother I was going, but I'm still waiting for Yukito to come. I can't practice without a partner." Touya replied matter-of-factly. He also hated carrying that big book around. He wouldn't mind `accidentally' losing it, but he loved magic even though he didn't possess as much as he wanted. Then, it hit him. "Start her magic training already?!?!"
"Mm-hmm, your sister has quite a bit of magic coming from her already and it would be best to get her to start before she blows up something. Wouldn't want that to happen again would I?" She said as she eyed her son slyly.
"That was only once, mom!!"
"Anyways, I just saw Yukito's carriage out the window. Get going now, shoo!"
"Did you see Xiaolang's horse yet mommy?" Sakura asked her mother with hopeful eyes.
"Well..."
Sakura looked at her mother a little disappointed.
Then Nadeshiko smiled her lovely smile and said, "Yes, he's about 10 minutes away."
"Really?!?!?!" Sakura smiled. Nadeshiko nodded her head with a grin.
"Not that baka again." Touya rolled his eyes. Sakura shot him a look that could kill and jumped out of her mother's arms.
"Ummm...here that mom? I think its Yuki, gotta run!" Touya zipped down the hallway and disappeared.
"Can we start magic lessons today so I can practice with Xiaolang?" Sakura said as she turned to her mom.
"I guess so, I'll have to teach you though. Touya's teacher is a bit more advanced for you."
"Okay" Suddenly there was the doorbell. "That must be Yuki!! Xiaolang must be right behind him." Sakura ran down the stairs to the door.
°°°°Present°°°°
Queen Nadeshiko leaned back in her chair and remembered those happy times. It wasn't like that any more; it wasn't the same with Sakura like she was. She was still happy, but something had changed inside her. Nadeshiko knew what had happened, but still tried to convince herself that it was the same Sakura. But, as the years went by, it was getting more obvious that she clearly was not the same.
Sakura sat on her knees in the middle of the wooden floor with her eyes closed. She possessed long beautiful locks of extremely wavy auburn hair that started curling when her hair passed her shoulder blades. In all, her hair reached her waist. Natural strips of lighter auburn highlights streaked her hair that was only held up by a thin gold band that crossed her forehead and disappeared into her hair at her temples. It contained a small teardrop-shaped emerald that hung down in the middle. Her breathing was soft and very controlled. She opened her eyes and slowly lifted up an arm in front of her. The water in the bowl in front of her started to swirl and lift out of the bowl in one thin line. Sakura then lifted up the other arm and another thin line of water cam out of the bowl. She moved her arms around in soft motions to make the water dance in patterns around her.
The door opened ever so quietly as a tall man with dark brown hair you would swear was black walked in. The man started to wiggle his index finger up and down and as he did this the water followed his movements.
"Touya, stop messing with the water, I'm trying to concentrate." Sakura said without even turning around.
Touya chuckled softly, "How did you know it was me?"
"I knew because you're the only one with a water center in our family."
"Says who?"
"Says that mark on your arm that you've had since you were born."
"Oh that, right." Touya stared at his left forearm unconsciously rubbing at it like it would go away. She was right of course. The mark looked like a scar of twin stars, one overlapping the other. It was the sign that you were born with, if you had magic in your blood, which said what kind of element you had. Of course all the other elements have different signs. His entire family had different marks. All the girls had the marks on their backs on the top left and all the boys had the marks on their left forearm. "If that's so, why are you controlling my element, hmmm?"
"Well, it's not my center, it's part of it. My center is..." Sakura lifted a hand and touched the water with her middle finger. All of the water started to freeze beginning with where she had touched it. "ice."
"I know, I know." He murmured `but seven years ago I could have bet my life it was fire. Even her mark was the mark of fire. Come to think of it, when was the last time I saw her mark?' Touya thought.
Sakura suddenly snapped her fingers and all the ice burst into flames. She slowly stood up and stretched. She dropped her arms next to her side and calmly walked right through the fire. "Touya?"
Touya was staring at his baby sister. It was true, she had grown up into a beautiful young woman, but something was missing. The sparkle in her eyes was gone. Everything had changed since that day, the day she was forbidden to remember. Well, almost everything had changed. She still wore that locket. The simple gold heart locket with a tiny emerald star embedded in it that she would never let anyone touch let alone open. It seemed something stopped her. It would release memories she forbid anyone to ever see, even herself and she probably didn't know why she forbid them.
"Touya, is there something wrong?" She subconsciously played with her locket.
"Um, no. Nothing's wrong. Tomoyo just got here, kaijou. She's in your room."
"Thanks." She started to walk away when....
"You're not going to leave that there are you?" Touya asked pointing to the burning swirls in the middle of the room.
"Oops!" Sakura made a quick wave with her hand and the swirling fire was extinguished leaving no traces of scorch marks on the floor or ceiling. She was right next to Touya when she kicked him in the shin and said, "and stop calling me a kaijou! I'm 17 years old!!!" Touya winced in pain. Boy had she gotten stronger. Her kicks really hurt.
Sakura's Room
A 17-year-old girl with long black hair and violet eyes (A.N. I always thought that the violet eyes in cartoons was amazing because its not physically possible, but then again so is red, but who am I to mess with Japanese anime huh?) was sitting on a chair in the middle of the room reading a book. Her hair was braided and clipped up at the top of her head (A.N. think of when Sakura changed the Fiery card into a Sakura card. And I didn't spell fiery wrong.) by a simple yellow bow. The door was pushed open quietly and Sakura stepped in.
"Well if it isn't Princess Tomoyo Daidouji of the Trekawaiine Kingdom. What brings you here today?" Sakura said with a slight smirk on her face.
"Geez, Sakura, don't do that!! You scared me. I hate it when you do that!!" Tomoyo gasped, her heart racing.
"Sorry," Sakura giggled, "it was just so tempting. So what's up with you? I didn't know you were coming over."
"I had to get out of the castle. My parents are driving me crazy!!!"
"About what?"
"My parents want me to marry some Prince from the Teal'ec Kingdom. I don't even know who he is!! I've never heard of him before in my entire life!! At least they're letting me decide, but they're really pushing for this one."
"At least my parents will let me pick."
"They have to, with all the guys asking for your hand, they can't decide either."
"Okay, stop changing the subject, back to my question. Why are your parents driving you crazy?"
"Well they have been running around all day trying to arrange for me to go and meet him. His parents are having a birthday party this weekend and they invited me since our parents are trying to get us together. I don't think I'll survive all by myself with my `future husband'. Come to think of it, I would be able to bear it if I didn't have to go alone." Tomoyo looked at the now sitting Sakura with a very mischievous grin.
"Oh no, Tomoyo. No way. You know that Teal'ec is related to Vaunimajee, our sworn enemies, enemies." Sakura put special emphasis on the last word.
"Please, oh please, oh please Sakura!! I need you there for emotional support."
"I don't know Tomoyo. My parents would never let me go."
"You could tell them that you were going with me to a party to keep me company, PLEASE SAKURA!!" Tomoyo looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Fine, alright already, but your telling them. You lie better. How did I let you rope me into this?"
"I've been your best friend for 6 years and I am your favorite cousin, I have to know some tricks by now."
"Whatever, let's go try and persuade my parents."
The to girls walked out of the room, Tomoyo practically skipping and Sakura dragging her feet behind her. `How did I let her talk me into this?'
In deep thought about how she got roped into a situation which could lead to war and the ultimate devastation of an entire kingdom, Sakura wasn't even looking where she was going when she bumped into someone. She almost fell onto her butt, but was grabbed by the wrist and pulled up by the same figure she bumped in to. Sakura looked up to see a familiar face.
"Hey, Yukito," Sakura said with a slight smile. (A.N. okay lets just say he looks like Yue all the time because I think Yue is so much cuter than Yukito. You know what? We're just going to call him Yue from now on too because I'm lazy.)
"Hello, Sakura. Got something on your mind?"
"Not really. Lookin' for Touya?"
"Yeah, seen him?"
"A little while ago. Let me check. TOUYA!!!!" Her scream rang out through the castle. Touya popped his head out of the training room.
"WHAT?" He yelled back just as loud.
"There you go. See ya!" Sakura ran off to catch up to Tomoyo.
She found Tomoyo outside the door that led to the Great Hall that her parents spent their time in when there wasn't a ball coming. She was motioning her hand for Sakura to speed up. Sakura ran through the door and Tomoyo came in after her shutting the door. The click of the door caused Sakura's parents to look up. Seeing the two girls, the king and queen smiled.
"Well hello there, Tomoyo. How are you today?" asked King Fujitake.
"I'm wonderful, you?" Tomoyo asked back.
"We're good." Queen Nadeshiko smiled.
"I wanted to ask you two something."
"Yes, what is it?" Queen Nadeshiko asked as she looked at Sakura strangely. Sakura seemed terribly interested in studying the wall to the left of them and grinding something into the floor with her foot.
"Well, Auntie Nadie, I'm going to a friend of the family's birthday party and it would really be nice if I could have Sakura there to talk to so I don't get bored. I really don't know anyone there and I have to spend the whole day there."
"I don't know Tomoyo, is it out of yours and my kingdom?" questioned King Fujitake.
"Yes, but they are very close to my family. There is no way they would hurt Sakura without offending my family and they don't want to do that."
"Why don't they want to offend your family?" asked Nadeshiko as she started to arrange the flowers in the vase again.
"Oh, it's nothing really. Our families just want us to get married."
"Ummm, well I guess your family really trusts them." Queen Nadeshiko's eyes were really wide and so was her husband's. "Uh, sure you can go, Sakura."
"Thank you." Tomoyo said with a smile that reached from ear to ear.
"Mm hmm, thanks mom, dad. Let's go Tomoyo." Sakura grabbed Tomoyo's arm and practically ran out of the room.
A moment later Tomoyo popped her head back in and said, "Sakura and I are going shopping, we'll be back by 3."
"Okay," King Fujitake yelled not looking up from his documents.
°°The market in the Kingdom of Jeassycka°°
The two girls had brown cloaks on that loosely covered their hair. They busily talked and swerved from stand to stand looking for accessories and material to take back to the dressmakers at the castle.
"I can't believe they let me go. Why did they let me go?" Sakura whined.
"Oh quit you complaining and come over here and pick out some cloth. Green or pink?" Tomoyo was holding up two types of cloth, one a satin emerald green and the other one a soft, silk baby pink.
"Uh, the emerald green one. ( A.N. I absolutely detest pink so you will rarely see any references to how Sakura compares to that nasty color. Well I don't hate baby pink all that much, anyways...) Hey, wait a minute. We need to shop for you first because you are the one that has to decide on a husband, not me."
"Oh give me a break, please?"
"No. Now let's see here....." Sakura sifts through hundreds of material in a matter of seconds. Suddenly she pops up on the other side of the store. "Aha!! Now pick Tomoyo, the light purplish-blue one or the yellow? I think the purplish-blue one would look good on you, what do you think?"
"I like it." As Tomoyo and Sakura are waiting for the material to be packaged, Tomoyo picks up Sakura's hand and looks at her watch. "It's almost 3:00, we need to go after this."
"We're really gonna cut it close this time."
The two girls quickly gave their thanks to the shopkeeper and walked swiftly towards their carriage. Sakura briefly looked down at her watch in order to see if they needed to walk faster. Just then, her shoulder brushed someone in a black cloak with his hood down. Immediately she felt sparks of electricity run through her and she felt like something inside her ignited. `What was that feeling? Who was that?' Sakura wondered as she gave a quick glance towards the figure that had abruptly stopped as well. `It feels so familiar.' The mysterious figure's companion had started to turn around to beckon his friend. Before Sakura could get a glimpse at the figure, Tomoyo had pulled on Sakura's arm hard enough to make her stumble in Tomoyo's direction.
"Come on, Sakura, we have to get going now!" Tomoyo scolded as she ran to the carriage pulling Sakura with her. Sakura snapped back into this reality and, picking up her dress, began to run. Both girls were at their carriage at the edge of the market within minutes. Throwing their merchandise up to the footman, they girls practically leaped into the carriage. As soon as the door was shut, the driver sped off as fast as he could knowing what would happen if they were late again.
°°°About 15 min. ago on the other side of the market in Jeassycka°°°
Two teenage boys walked through the market busily talking to each other. They hid their expensive clothes, one under a dark blue and the other under a black cloak.
"So you've never seen her?" questioned the young prince in the black cloak. He had wild locks of deep brown hair and chestnut colored eyes that never showed his emotions, his weaknesses.
"Nope, never." Stated the other prince in the dark blue cloak with certainty. This prince possessed better-tamed locks of deep, dark blue with eyes that matched. His eyes were the exact opposite of his companion, full of life and a certain sparkle that looked as if he knew something you didn't.
"Never met her?"
"Nope, haven't even heard of her. I've heard of the kingdom, the king, and the queen yes, but their daughter, no."
"And your parents want you two to get married?"
"That's right. At least they're letting me choose my bride instead of just betrothing me. They aren't pushing me as badly as they used to, but I can tell they really want me to marry her." The young prince in the blue cloak dropped a couple of Kayjees (A.N. silver dollar sized silver coins) in a boy nymph's hand and picked up an apple from his cart.
"They aren't pressing you to pick a bride anymore because they last time they did, you made the poor girl grow a contagious, fuzzy green fungus on the left side of her face and down her neck." The young prince in the black cloak paid an elderly man with small lion-like ears and a lion's tail for some odd objects and liquid.
"Hey, it was funny and it got the girls' parents and mine off of my back. I did remove the spell after they broke off the engagement. What are you buying, Xiaolang?" The blue cloaked prince asked curiously as he looked into the bag.
"Just some ingredients, my supply is running low." Prince Xiaolang said.
"Let me see that." Prince Xiaolang's companion said as he snatched the bag away from him and peered inside. "Hmmm, spotted white owl feathers, silver dragon scales, and wolf's marrow. Why, you know love spells are forbidden." The young prince stated with a mischievous grin on his face.
"And you know that these ingredients are used in many other spells other than love spells, Eriol. Just because I'm buying them, together, doesn't mean I'm using them together."
"Oh, I see. So who are you repulsing this time?"
"Princess Petunia and her sisters Daisy and Buttercup of Flowers Are Insane or something like that." Xiaolang said as he inspected the wares of an elderly man's hut.
"You mean Floriadane?" Eriol said between chuckles.
"Mm hmm, there. Could you even imagine yourself being married to someone with a name like that? I mean, think of it. Here come King Xiaolang and Queen Petunia. Give me a break. The only bad part about these repulsion spells are that they only work for about 3 months. At least by then all of the princesses or ladies are either married or interested in another guy."
"Aren't you the heart breaker? Now, about my birthday `celebration' this weekend, are you going?"
"Definitely, I wouldn't let you suffer on your 18^th birthday all alone. You didn't let me, why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
"There had to be a reason, I know you."
"It's just that that is when I meet Princess Tomoyo."
"Oh, you want an excuse to get away from her. Wait a second. Princess Tomoyo...I know that name. She's the princess of Trekawaiine, right? Isn't her kingdom related to another one? I can't put my finger on it."
"It's not that important, let's go cuz."
"Wait, hold on, uh uh. Are you telling me that you are going to marry the cousin of my sworn enemy?!? I can't go, no way."
"Oh come on! You already said you would. It's not like her cousin is coming anyways and she's not your enemy, Aunt Yelan said so."
"I don't know, Eriol. This could be a very bad idea."
Eriol stepped in front of Xiaolang and place one hand on each of his shoulders. "Please, it's only one day and it's for me, your favorite cousin and best friend."
"Meiling is my favorite cousin. About that best friend thing, that could be debated."
"Fine, favorite male cousin, and as of right now I'm your best friend."
"Alright, but if a huge war breaks out because I went to this party, I'm blaming it all on you."
"THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I don't know what I'd do without you." Both men started walking again.
"Neither do I. What would you have done if I didn't accept?"
"You would have accepted no matter what."
"That's what you think." Eriol gave Xiaolang a grin and they began walking towards the stables.
"Who are we going to have fit us this time for our clothes, your tailor or mine?"
"You're making me suffer through this party, then we get to go to my tailor. Not your horrendous one. The last time I went to your tailor, I ended up looking like a pink pixie for the Masked Ball."
"I don't remember you looking like a pink pixie. I don't even remember you wearing pink; I thought you wore green."
"I did wear green. When I got home I burnt the clothes your tailor made and had my tailor make me something." Both princes chuckled slightly thinking back.
Xiaolang and Eriol walked through the crowd in a hurried fashion. They had to make it back to the Vaunimajee castle soon or Xiaolang's mom would be furious. Xiaolang looked down at his pocket watch and his eyes widened. He gently hit his cousin on the shoulder and nodded in the direction of their horses. As if on command, the two began to run. Eriol was in front only by a few inches and Xiaolang followed close behind. The duo (A.N. don't you love that word??? Duo duo duo...) weaved their way through the crowded market when they spotted a couple of people running towards them.
`I guess everyone is in a rush today,' Xiaolang thought. Just as he was thinking that, he brushed shoulders with one of the figures in the dark brown cloaks with their hoods up. As soon as he touched the figure he felt sparks of electricity run through him and he felt as if something inside him ignited. Xiaolang stopped dead in his tracks. `That feeling, it's so familiar. I know the feeling, but from where? Who was that?' Xiaolang thought furiously wrinkling his brow. Eriol, a few moments later realizing his companion had stopped, had turned around and jogged back to Xiaolang. He thought it was strange that a figure in a brown cloak was stopped dead just as his cousin was, but he dismissed it quickly and grabbed Xiaolang's arm.
"We've got to go now." Eriol said as he pulled Xiaolang's arm. The young prince shook his head and snapped out of the trance he was in. He followed Eriol again and began to run. When the stables were in view, he started to run faster and passed Eriol. He put his index and middle finger in his mouth and gave a loud, high whistle; Eriol did the same. Immediately, two beautiful Arabian Stallions, one midnight black with a white crescent moon on his forehead and three white star-shines arranged in a tilted triangle on his upper left hip and the other was a deep blue with a white sun on his upper left hip and silver highlights in his mane, rushed out of the stable and ran towards their owners. Both of the young princes stepped on the stirrup and swung their legs over. Xiaolang and Eriol started their horses in a gallop to get home as soon as possible because if they were even a minute late again, Xiaolang's mother would unleash her wrath on them...again.
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Well, for those of you who have read my other story that is sadly still on its first chapter, not many people reviewed and my best friend didn't review yet either, so I decided to put this one up. Originally, this one was supposed to go up 1^st, but whatever. Compared to the other one, I think this one sucks, but I hope some people take joy out of reading it.
PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE REVIEW THE STORY AND TELL ME IF YOU HATE IT OR JUST TO SAY "I'M BOB!!!" I desperately need to know if people actually read my stories and I'm feeling sorta depressed that not that many people reviewed my last story so please review.