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.
I would like to give a special thanks to all the people who reviewed, THANKS!!!
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And to my best friend and editor Sakura_Starr
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Another bit of useful information for you is that I usually do my stories chapters and chapters in advance, so I'm so far ahead, I THOUGHT OF A SEQUEL!!! That is only if you want one of course. Review and tell me please and read my other fic too!!!
One other thing is *sniff* I have something important to say but it's at the end.
A.N. This takes place right where I left off. You know, they were rushing to get home so they wouldn't suffer the wrath of the old people.
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.
¤°¤°¤°¤ In Kadenia ¤°¤°¤°¤
"What time is it?" Queen Nadeshiko asked as she continued her embroidery.
King Fujitake pulled his pocket watch out and replied, "Those two have two minutes before they are late. How are we going to punish them this time?"
"I hate punishing Sakura and Tomoyo for being late from shopping trips. They're girls, they were born to shop. If they are a few minutes late, it is okay."
"Nadie, you know what could happen to them out there, especially Sakura. She isn't protected when she's by herself. Those scoundrels could kidnap her or murder her. We don't know. We can't trust them, not now, not ever."
"That was a long time ago, my love, you should let the past die."
"I can't, and I won't. End of discussion. In a minute and a half, if they aren't here, no outings for two weeks and two weeks after that they have to go out with either Touya or Yue."
~
Sakura and Tomoyo leaped out of the carriage and began to run. They yelled at the footman to send their things to the seamstress as they ran up the stairs.
"Damn, we have less than a minute and a half to make it to the meeting hall." Tomoyo said between breaths after she looked at her watch.
"Just run Tomoyo, I will think of something." Sakura yelled back to Tomoyo as they both rounded a corner and nearly slipped. They caught themselves only to run right into Touya and Yue sending them to the ground sliding as the two girls landed on top of them.
"You are going to get us in sooo much TROUBLE!!" yelled Tomoyo as she and Sakura pulled themselves up and started running.
"Touya, I swear you live to make me suffer." Screamed Sakura as she ran through the hall. The two princes looked at them confused as they sat up just in time to see the two princesses disappear around the corner after almost slipping and slamming into the wall.
"They're going to be late soon I guess." Yue said with one eyebrow cocked. All Touya could do was nod.
~
"Ten seconds..." King Fujitake stated after glancing at his watch.
~
"Sakura, 10 seconds and the door is right there, if only we could go faster." Tomoyo said frustrated.
"Tomoyo, I have an idea. Run as fast as you can and when you get to the ice, jump and slide." Sakura said with a hint of inspiration in her voice.
"What I-" Tomoyo stopped abruptly as Sakura through a ball of white lights to the floor and it spread in a long path about 3 feet in front of them into the Meeting Room. Both girls ran as fast as they could, jumped forward, and started sliding on their feet 10 times faster than they were running. The door was advancing rapidly and suddenly they hit it.
~~~
"Three...two...on-" King Fujitake abruptly stopped as ice rapidly froze the floor. Following the ice, the doors slammed opened suddenly with a bang making everyone in the Meeting Room snap their heads up, and two girls slid into the room and slowed to a stop right in front of the King and Queen. Panting and gasping the two girls walked to King Fujitake and Queen Nadeshiko.
"(gasp) Did we (gasp) make (gasp) it (gasp)?" Sakura gasped (A.N. obviously). With gaping eyes, her father nodded his head.
"Good," Tomoyo said and both girls dropped to their knees.
"Just in time. That was very impressive thinking Sakura." Queen Nadeshiko said as she smirked at Sakura.
"Thanks mom," Sakura said tiredly as she slightly grinned.
°°°° The Vaunimajee Kingdom °°°°
The two princes rode as fast as lightning through the woods and into a valley. It took them about ten minutes to get across the immense valley. At the northern edge of the valley, they turned left onto a dirt rode, which led to an enormous castle. It took them no time at all to get to the castle front gardens. The stable boys saw their masters coming and quickly ran to the front. Four stable boys and two horse masters were present in the front just as Xiaolang and Eriol leaped off their horses and made a mad dash for the steps.
"Thank You," Both of the princes yelled as they ran.
Up the stairs and to the left into the hallway the boys ran. Maids and house workers heard them coming and slowly moved out of the way just as the boys dashed through, being used to this after 6 years. Each door was opened before they hit it.
"Ten seconds, Eriol, ten seconds. Pick up the pace." Xiaolang yelled back. Both boys started running faster until they saw the Assembly Room doors open. They ran as fast as they could until about 3 feet from the door, they skillfully dropped to the floor and slid feet first on their sides into the Assembly Room. The young princes slowed to a stop in front of a finely dressed woman on a throne to hear a click. Both looked up gasping.
"Very impressive boys. You are here exactly on time, not a second early and not a second late." The Queen said as she glanced at her stopwatch. "I commend you two. It is without a doubt that you both would win any race."
"Why, thank you Aunt Yelan." Eriol managed to choke out. Both boys then collapsed face up on the floor breathing heavily. Xiaolang couldn't help closing his eyes and almost drifting off to sleep. His leg muscles ached all over and getting up any time this week was going to be a problem. But then again, if he didn't get up, maybe he wouldn't have to go to Eriol's birthday party. Now that was an interesting proposition. Just then, Xiaolang could hear someone's shallow, quiet breathing that was desperately trying to be muffled. As he breathed in the faint smell of roses that wasn't present before, he smiled to himself for he knew exactly who it was.
"Why, hello there Meiling, how are you today?" Xiaolang said with his eyes closed and a smile still on his face.
"How did you know it was me, you had your eyes closed?" Meiling questioned as she put her hands on her hips in fists and silently tapped her foot even though she knew Xiaolang's eyes were closed. He had some way of knowing what people were doing when they were around him.
"I always know its you Meiling. Today, it was the way you smell, you've bathed in rose petals since you were born and you always smell of them. That, and your breathing is still too loud."
"If I breathed any softer, I might as well stop breathing all together. I can never catch you off guard, not anymore." Meiling said as she thought to herself that her cousin used to have something that kept his mind in the clouds, but she was too young to remember then.
"Whatever you have to do to get the job done. By the way, what do you mean by that?" Xiaolang asked finally opening his eyes to look questioningly at his cousin.
"Hmmm, what? Oh, nothing, nothing at all." Meiling stated shrugging the thought away. "Wait a minute!" She proclaimed as she remembered his sly comment before. She wrinkled her nose and gave Xiaolang the dirtiest look. "Just you wait cousin!" With that she kicked at Xiaolang's lying form only to be intercepted by his swift hand. "AHHHH!! Boys!!" She screamed as she stomped out to the garden. The two boys broke out into a fit of laughter as they watched Meiling stomp away with steam literally evaporating off of her.
"Even though you three are like conjoined twins, she does feel left out sometimes because she does not possess magic and she clearly isn't a boy." Queen Yelan stated as her eyes lit up at the amusing site of two completely grown men rolling on the floor laughing.
"We (ha ha) know Aunt Yelan, but (ha ha) we can't help it!" Eriol said between laughs.
"She looks so funny, mother." Xiaolang said as he finally stopped laughing and was slowly getting off of the floor.
"That may be so, but still...." Queen Yelan let the statement hang in the air as she thought back to the sight of Meiling and slightly giggled. She soon gained control over herself and said, "she isn't great royalty like the two of you. The only reason she is so high up is because she is related to the two of you and I might say she conducts herself quite well when you three aren't plotting or scheming together."
"You're right, Aunt Yelan. We should get to the tailors so they can make our clothes for the ball or party or whatever this thing I'm having in honor of my birthday is." Eriol stated as he slowly got up off the floor as well.
"Mentioning birthdays, Xiaolang, you know tradition says you need to be married when you turn 18. At the rate your going I'll settle for finding a suitable wife by your birthday." Queen Yelan sighed frustratedly.
"Maybe I'll find one at Eriol's birthday celebration." Xiaolang said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, that means we need clothes, let's go cuz."
"Alright boys, and Eriol, who exactly are your parents trying to get you married to? Your parents won't tell me or your uncle (A.N. yes, Syaoran's father is alive, still, for now. laughs maniacally)."
"Ummm, well you see," Eriol averted his gaze from his aunt and scratched his head, "she's uh, from a kingdom near by. He he."
"Oh? Which kingdom would that be?" Queen Yelan asked interested.
"From the uh, um," just then, Xiaolang elbowed Eriol in the side and Eriol spit out, "Trekawaiine."
"That sounds so familiar. I know! They used to be really good friends with us. We haven't kept in touch much though because...." Queen Yelan's eyes opened wide in horror, "you don't mean Tomoyo Daidouji, Princess Tomoyo Daidouji of Trekawaiine, cousin to Sa-..." She suddenly stopped dead mid sentence not wanting to utter a word that would make her son remember what happened seven years ago. "to, umm, the kingdom of Kadenia?"
"Unfortunately, yes, that is who they wanted to get me married to. But, as I might add Aunt Yelan, you yourself said that they were not your enemies, Kadenia was."
"I know Eriol, but I'm worried about her cousin being there."
"Wait a second mom, why would her cousin come? I thought that, well you told me that Kadenia only had a male heir and from what I've heard, he's been quite busy with Kadenian affairs and he completely despises us. He wouldn't touch us or even come near us with a ten gleck (A.N. put it this way, 1 gleck is 2 ½ feet) pole." Xiaolang asked inquisitively.
Eriol eyed his cousin curiously. "What?? You mean you don't know? The Kadenian king and queen have a son and--"
"he is very protective over his female relatives." Queen Yelan quickly interrupted her nephew. "Now you two need to have your clothes made for the party." The two princes began to leave when Queen Yelan telepathically (A.N. yes indeedy that is her power. She does have an element, I'll explain later) told Eriol, "Eriol, please stay behind."
Eriol, although uneasily, stayed behind and told his cousin to continue ahead to the tailor, he would meet him there. As he stood there watching Xiaolang give him strange looks then walk down the hall, multitudes of thoughts ran through his head as to why his aunt would keep such a minor detail as to the fact that there was a Kadenian prince and princess.
"Eriol, please come here and have a seat." With that, he was quickly awakened from his slumber of thoughts. (translation: he snapped back to reality) He promptly walked to a chair at the meeting table and sat down facing his Aunt.
"What is this about?? Why can't he know that the Kadenians have a princess? Why wouldn't you let me tell him? What is the big secret about the princess?" Eriol racked off as many questions as he could before he ran out of air. A million more raced through his head but he paused so his aunt would respond and maybe answer more than he asked.
She looked at him with sorrow and guilt-filled eyes. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, "The reason you can't tell him that Sakura Kinimoto is a princess, the princess of Kadenia is because he is in love with her. She's his soul mate"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON????" Eriol screamed, as his voice echoed through the vast room his eyes open in shock as he practically knocked his chair to the floor as he bolted out of his seat. He could barely contain his anger and his blue aura began to glow around him (A.N. think of when Goku, Gohan, Goten, Vegeta, or Trunks from DBZ goes super saiiyan, but blue.)
"Eriol, calm down. He doesn't know that he loves her, or at least he doesn't remember."
"Would you please explain all of this Aunt Yelan?" Eriol asked as he ran an uneasy hand through his hair.
"I can't explain it all right now, it isn't the time. All I can tell you is that Sakura Kinimoto and Xiaolang were close, very close...too close. At an extremely early age, they were deeply in love with each other. They even made a pact together to love each other forever with a locket. He probably still subconsciously remembers it since we haven't been able to engage him to anyone. Anyways, 7 years ago, something...happened and we became instant enemies. Queen Nadeshiko and I knew that if the news reached the two, their hearts would break, so we used a forbidden curse on them to make them forget each other."
"But why can't we even say her name?"
"I fear that over the years, the spell has weakened and even saying her name might cause him to remember."
"What's so wrong about him remembering? I would think having him marry the one he loves would be a good thing."
"The problem is that when one remembers the other will too and we don't know what kind of effect it could have on them. Right now they probably feel as if they're missing something, having that hole filled and the rush of emotions could kill them. Plus, it seems that both of our husbands still wouldn't allow it and from one of the letters I received from Queen Nadeshiko a long time ago, if Sakura and Xiaolang were to fall in love again, her brother would kill Xiaolang for something else that he did a long time ago."
"This is some heavy stuff." Eriol once again ran his hand through his hair.
"That is why you can never mention Sakura Kinimoto to Xiaolang. He might not be able to take it. Swear to me you'll never say anything about her to him."
"Alright, I swear." Eriol silently got up and walked to the tailors. How was he going to keep this secret from one of his best friends?
¤¤°¤¤°The Royal Kadenian Gardens°¤¤°¤¤
Two beautiful princesses sat underneath a shady peach blossom tree, the tree Touya was named for. Both girls were laying on their stomachs, swinging their feet back and forth in the air, making flower crowns from various flowers around them and flowers that happened to float their way.
"I'm telling you Tomoyo, that guy I brushed shoulders with, before you had to drag me back to the carriage, felt so familiar. I could have sworn I felt something ignite inside me and I can't stop thinking about him." Sakura said as she slowly pulled a daisy into the flower crown mix.
"Maybe you're in love with him." Tomoyo giggled.
"Maybe I am." Sakura answered in such a dead serious tone that it caused Tomoyo's eyes to widen and her mouth to hang open in shock.
"I see you've finally admitted your true feelings for me, Mai. (A.N. that would be Vietnamese for Cherry Blossom)" A male voice said that caused both girls to jump and flip over to get a view of the stranger behind them.
"Xaeno" Sakura hissed at him with her voice full of contempt.
"No reason to deny it, you know you love me."
"No, I don't, we've been over this. I. DON'T. LIKE. YOU. I don't even like to breath the same air as you. GO AWAY! Come to think about it, how did you weasel your way in here, anyways?" Sakura kept giving Xaeno ice-cold glares.
"There is no reason for such minor informalities. You belong with me, to me." Xaeno stepped towards Sakura as Sakura moved back.
"No, I don't. I belong to no one, least of all you." She continued to back up until Xaeno grabbed her wrist and drew her to him.
"Don't struggle dear Mai, our love is eternal." Sakura continued to struggle against him, but his grip seemed almost unbreakable to her.
"You mean your love for pain and yourself is eternal. And will you ever quit calling me Mai?"
"Mai, Sakura, what's the difference? They both are fit for a beauty such as yourself."
"Let go of me, Xaeno!" Sakura exclaimed harshly as he continued to hold her to him.
~~
"Let go of me, Xaeno!"
Touya was in the garden sparring with Yue when he heard the faint cry. Yue and Touya both stopped mid-attack as they felt a distinct aura flare up in distress near by. Touya furrowed his brow in concentration for a moment as he focused on the owner of that power. Suddenly, both princes opened their eyes wide with realization and looked at each other at the same time.
"Sakura!" they exclaimed in unison. Touya broke out into a run with Yue close behind. They ran straight in the direction of Sakura's voice until they reached a 6 gleck high hedge. Touya immediately shot water from the palms of his hands at it soaking a large section.
"Freeze it!" Touya commanded with urgency.
"Are you sure?" Yue asked.
"Mom can fix it later."
"Okay." Within seconds, the water-covered section was frozen, and then shattered by a powerful kick from both princes. They continued to run as fast as possible in the direction of the voices. Touya was only separated from his sister by a short stonewall that he easily jumped over. What he saw was a struggling Sakura trying to break free from the scumbag Xaeno and Tomoyo trying to pry his hands off of her to no avail. Xaeno had both of Sakura's hands captive so she wasn't able to use her powers.
"Let go of my sister you jack ass." Touya said as he grabbed Sakura's arm with his right arm and punched Xaeno in the right jaw with his left causing him to stumble back. He would have taken Sakura with him, but Touya's grip on her arm made Xaeno let go to regain his balance. "I thought I told you to never touch my sister again."
"Well, you did, but I just can't help myself." Xaeno said with a sneer.
"You aren't allowed on the palace grounds, Xaeno, and you know it." Yue hissed.
"Only by your terms, your father still likes me."
"Just leave before I'm forced to kick your ass." Touya growls as he slowly makes his way over to Xaeno. Xaeno smirks and walks away. "Are you okay??" Touya's big brother genes kick in.
"I'm fine, thanks, you guys. I just wish that ass (A.N. looks like everyone agrees on what Xaeno is) would leave me alone. That and I wish he would stop calling me Mai." Sakura said frustratedly as she rubbed her wrists.
"Did he hurt you?" Yue asked concerned.
"No, I'm fine. Nothing permanent." Sakura answered.
"Mai? I think I've heard that name before, but why would he call you Mai?" Touya asked extremely confused.
"Beats me. I'm just glad he's gone."
"Same here. Maybe we should go inside and see how are dresses are coming along, Sakura." Suggested Tomoyo.
"That sounds like a good idea." Sakura agreed.
"Why are you having dresses made?" Touya asked quizzically.
"Sakura is going to a birthday celebration with me this weekend so that I won't be lonely." Tomoyo said brightly.
"Birthday? Whose birthday? The only person I heard was having a party this weekend was - No, you've got to be kidding me!! You aren't going to that little weirdo Eriol Hiiragizawa's birthday, are you?" Touya asked disgustedly.
"For your information Touya, I might have to marry that little weirdo." Tomoyo said defensively.
"No way is a cousin of mine marrying the cousin of our enemy!! There is no way. I will not allow it!"
"Well, it's not your choice to make. So Sakura, are we going?"
"Yes we are, Tomoyo. Let's go." Sakura said with a regal mock in her voice as she and Tomoyo walked off to the palace. Touya growled as his sister and cousin walked away.
°°°¤¤° Back at the Vaunimajee kingdom °¤¤°°°
Xiaolang and Eriol began to get extremely fidgety from having to stand on their pedestal for so long. Eriol put his hand flat against one another and when he opened his hands once more, a small ball of blue, swirling light appeared. It slowly grew until it was the size of a softball. Eriol started throwing it up and catching it in his right hand. Feeling a surge of energy, Xiaolang looked up at Eriol, he was playing with a ball of magic. Xiaolang smiled.
"Ready?" Eriol asked smiling.
"Bring it on." Xiaolang challenged.
Eriol tossed the ball of magic up in the air and Xiaolang held out his hand. Instead of catching it, green electricity bolt shot out of his palm and balanced the ball in mid air. Eriol looked at him with curious eyes.
"What? You didn't think I would actually catch the thing with my bare hands after last time when it exploded and made me turn green?" Xiaolang cocked his eyebrow.
"Ah, dear cousin. You learn quickly." Eriol stated sounding like an old Chinese philosopher.
"Never make the same mistake twice." Both boys said at the same time.
"That is your famous quote, had to put it to use whenever you could huh?" Xiaolang joked.
"You know me best."
An extra electric bolt suddenly shot up toward the ball from Xiaolang's palm sending the ball a little ways up in the air before Xiaolang used another electric bolt to hit it towards Eriol. This went on back and forth till they had to keep their arms still for their sleeves. Being still aggravated them once more. It came to the point where Xiaolang and Eriol both decided they had had enough and ordered the tailors to finish their formal wear tomorrow. Both princes ran out of the room after being freed from the cloth and pins. They ran down the hall chuckling ever so often until they were stopped by the most hated adviser in the castle, Glamby. Even his name was stupid, but he had given Xiaolang's father some useful advice, some.
"What do you ridiculous boys think you're doing?" Glamby asked in an I'm-better-than-you voice.
"Nothing Glamby, absolutely nothing." Eriol said as he tried to suppress his laughter while pushing Xiaolang around the corner.
As soon as the princes were around the corner, Glamby turned on his heel and `hmphed.' When Glamby started walking away, the boys popped their heads back around the corner to look at Glamby and Eriol rolled the magic ball in his direction. Both boys ducked behind the wall to hear an explosion and a high pitched girly scream a few seconds later. Laughing uncontrollably, the boys ran to the gardens only to collapse upon the lush, green grass rolling with laughter, tears in their eyes.
"I think Glamby has something against us, Eriol." Xiaolang said after he had recovered.
"You got that right, cuz."
"Got what right?" a curious voice asked from their right.
"Glamby's secret conspiracy against us all, Meiling." Xiaolang informed Meiling.
"Pssh, I could have told you that." Meiling commented as she sat cross-legged in the grass next to the boys.
"Are you sure you should be sitting in the grass with us `ridiculous boys?' You might get your dress dirty and we may rub off on you." Eriol smirked as he looked up at the clouds.
"Too late Eriol. If anything, I'm rubbing off on you now." Meiling decided to lie back in the grass as she spoke. Xiaolang decided to place a hand on the ground next to him and as soon as he did this, rock jutted out of the ground in the shape of a slope. He leaned back onto the rock as if it were a recliner.
"Cheater!" Eriol scoffed at his cousin's act.
"I wasn't aware we were competing." Xiaolang said amused as he looked up at the cloudy sky as he absentmindedly spun a gold ring with etchings and a strangely shaped emerald around his finger.
"Still, using your magic to further your comfort."
"You could always use your magic to make a chair so don't give me that."
"Oh, your right." Eriol rubbed his hands together in a mischievous way. Meiling brought up her hand and whacked him on the head. "What was that for?" Eriol rubbed his head.
"For having magic." Meiling replied.
"Why didn't you slap Xiaolang too then?"
"I have more respect for him."
"Why you little-"
"Ah ah ah. You wouldn't harm a defenseless person and a lady at that, would you?"
"Damn you and your loop holes."
"Well I have to be quick on my feet if I want to compete with you."
"Point well taken." Eriol announced as he leaned back on his newly created cushion. All three sat in silence just watching the clouds as they passed by.
"I'm going to get in some sword practice." Xiaolang suddenly jumped up from his spot and ran to a little building on the east side of the garden that was Xiaolang's own special training room.
"And there our beloved cousin goes again to lose his mind as he plays with a sharp, pointy object." Meiling commented as she saw her cousin run off.
"Lose his mind?" Eriol questioned.
"Yeah, whenever he goes and practices his sword techniques, he zones out and pays attention to nothing. The entire building could be on fire and he wouldn't notice. He concentrates on something only he knows. I've tried to pry it out of him, but he absolutely won't break."
"Hmmm. Let's go watch." Eriol jumped up and pulled Meling along with him before she could protest.
They entered the small building from the back and silently watched as Xiaolang practiced his flawless technique. His katana was sharp to the touch with a very small, yet visible tsuba and a blood groove that ran from the tip of his sword to a bit before the middle. The blade went straight to the bottom of the handle and the handle was bound and taped for better grip and the blade bore the royal family emblem. At the bottom was a small Chinese symbol branding the katana his own. In his flurry of movements, Xiaolang's blade moved so fast you could only see a flash of light. Xiaolang's movements were graceful and swift as he spun his sword and attacked an invisible opponent. Sweat dripped off his forehead in long streams.
Eriol watched Xiaolang's face and expressions; he wasn't concentrating on his movements. He knew them so well and had such a flawless technique that he didn't even need to concentrate; it was all automatic. To the observer, Xiaolang looked like he was practicing, but his eyes betrayed him. He concentrated on something that wasn't there, something he thought he could see, but just couldn't. Something about that person he bumped into today felt so familiar, the feeling felt like something he had been missing. Xiaolang fought with himself to remember, but all he saw was green. Finally, he gave up and stopped moving. Xiaolang dropped to the floor to rest, that is when he felt it. Xiaolang whirled around to look right at Eriol.
"How long have you been here?" Xiaolang asked curiously as the two culprits came out of their hiding place.
"A pretty long time. It looks as if you need target practice, or better yet, I do." Eriol suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Xiaolang got up and walked over to the titanium closet in the far corner of the room. He proceeded to pull out an old sword and spun it around to get the feel of it.
"Why'd you switch swords?" Meiling asked curiously.
"Because I don't want Eriol to scorch my nice katana." Xiaolang explained.
He stood in front of Eriol in a fighting stance. Eriol gathered blue balls of energy in his hands and waited. Suddenly he threw ball after ball at Xiaolang trying to hit him, but Xiaolang deflected every single attack. Soon, both were moving so fast to attain their goal that all that could be seen was a blur of figures. Suddenly, a flash was seen and both princes flew back against opposite walls. Slowly, they both rose to their feet and started rubbing their heads.
"Geez, Eriol. What did you put in that thing?" Xiaolang asked rubbing his aching arms.
"I could ask you the same thing." Eriol replied as he stretched his sore neck.
"A lot."
"Me too."
"I'm hot."
"And sweaty."
"This could only mean one thing," Xiaolang hinted as he placed his sword on top of a shelf.
"SWIM TIME!!!" Meiling and Eriol both yelled in unison as they ran out of the battle room pulling Xiaolang with them into the woods.
They ran for a couple of miles knowing exactly where to go until they got to a river. All three ran along the river until they could see a cliff. The boys pulled off their shirts and shoes and threw them into the air. When they got to the top of the waterfall, Meiling took off her entire dress to reveal a two-piece bathing suit. (A.N. how convenient.) It looked like a sports bra top and a regular underwear-like bottom. (A.N. Meiling is a very athletic girl; you don't expect her to be like those prissy princesses, do you? :shudders:) Even then, when they were taking off their extra clothes, the cousins didn't stop running. At the edge of the waterfall, all three swan-dived off one after the other. Three consecutive splashes could be heard as Xiaolang, Eriol, and Meiling splashed into the water 50 glecks below. Xiaolang rose out of the water first, then Meiling. After a few seconds, they looked around frantically for Eriol, when they were suddenly pulled underwater. Both
arose sputtering for air.
"That was NOT funny Eriol!!!" Meiling screamed as she coughed up some water.
"You had us worried." Xiaolang said sternly
"I didn't know you cared!" Eriol responded as Xiaolang splashed him with water. "Oh, so THAT'S how its gonna be huh?" Eriol splashed back.
Soon all three were splashing each other rapidly. After their little battle and after swimming in the cool water, the three were sitting in the cool grass drying off. Eriol looked over to see that Xiaolang again was deep in concentration. `I bet I know what he's thinking about, or rather who.' Eriol thought to himself.
Meiling realized Xiaolang's deep concentration and tried to get him to snap out of it, but it was no use. So as the solution to her problem, she got Eriol to shock him. That little jolt got Xiaolang to snap out of his thoughts; it even got him to sizzle a little bit. With anger on his face, he used his power over the earth and turned to dust or earth. He appeared at the top of the waterfall where he left his clothes and made Eriol and Meiling fend for themselves. Eriol used a new transportation spell he had learned that took him and Meiling to where Xiaolang was. When they got there, Xiaolang was putting on his shirt. As he shoved his arm through his sleeve, Eriol's eyes opened wide with shock.
"Let me see you arm." Eriol demanded urgently as he pulled Xiaolang's left arm toward him causing Xiaolang to stumble and almost fall.
"What the hell is wrong with you Eriol?!?!" Xiaolang yelled as Eriol continued to study his forearm.
"Xiaolang, I've seen you have control over the earth."
"Yeah, and?"
"You have control over lightning as well, right?"
"Yeah, since I can remember I've had both. Why?"
"You can't have both."
"What are you talking about?" Eriol finally let Xiaolang's arm go. With his left arm he created a long, thick bolt of green lightning to shoot out of his palm and split a tree. "See?"
"I mean, you can't have two elements. It's impossible."
"Huh?" Xiaolang asked utterly confused.
"Do you see you magic mark on your hand?"
"Yeah."
"You see that crescent moon?" Xiaolang nodded. "That's the magic mark for lightning. On every other sorcerer with magic in his blood who controls lightning, you will never see it accompanied by any other mark. Every person with magic only has one sign. The three star-shines surrounding your moon, the circles with crosses intersecting in the middle, those are the marks of earth centers." Eriol explained in full detail.
"Are you telling me that I'm a freak of nature or something?"
"Look at my mark." Eriol pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and showed the scar-like sign. "I only have a sun, one sign, one mark that means my one power. The magical ability of being able to create things or conditions."
"Then what's going on with me?"
"I have no idea."
All three cousins slowly walked back to the castle pondering the new information. It was just completely impossible to have two centers, completely impossible and yet Xiaolang did. Now they all had something new to occupy their minds.
°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤°°°¤¤¤¤¤
*SOB* I *SOB* might not be able to get the next chapter out for a really long time because it somehow got erased!! I am so sad right now. I had 32 pages of writing done and now it's all down the hole. Good thing is that I remembered most of it and wrote the basic points down, but I still have to put back together. I have to rewrite my whole story up to the point where I stopped and it might not be a while because my teachers think they are the only teacher I have and give me enough work for 7 periods so......
PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE REVIEW THE STORY AND TELL ME IF YOU HATE IT OR JUST TO SAY "I'M BOB!!!" Please read both of my stories and review because it makes me feel better and more motivated when people review.
One stipulation, the more people who review the faster I'll post. It's supply in demand and the more people who demand the more I'll have to supply. SO REVIEW!!!
I would like to give a special thanks to all the people who reviewed, THANKS!!!
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And to my best friend and editor Sakura_Starr
Thank you so much for your support!!!
Another bit of useful information for you is that I usually do my stories chapters and chapters in advance, so I'm so far ahead, I THOUGHT OF A SEQUEL!!! That is only if you want one of course. Review and tell me please and read my other fic too!!!
One other thing is *sniff* I have something important to say but it's at the end.
A.N. This takes place right where I left off. You know, they were rushing to get home so they wouldn't suffer the wrath of the old people.
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.
¤°¤°¤°¤ In Kadenia ¤°¤°¤°¤
"What time is it?" Queen Nadeshiko asked as she continued her embroidery.
King Fujitake pulled his pocket watch out and replied, "Those two have two minutes before they are late. How are we going to punish them this time?"
"I hate punishing Sakura and Tomoyo for being late from shopping trips. They're girls, they were born to shop. If they are a few minutes late, it is okay."
"Nadie, you know what could happen to them out there, especially Sakura. She isn't protected when she's by herself. Those scoundrels could kidnap her or murder her. We don't know. We can't trust them, not now, not ever."
"That was a long time ago, my love, you should let the past die."
"I can't, and I won't. End of discussion. In a minute and a half, if they aren't here, no outings for two weeks and two weeks after that they have to go out with either Touya or Yue."
~
Sakura and Tomoyo leaped out of the carriage and began to run. They yelled at the footman to send their things to the seamstress as they ran up the stairs.
"Damn, we have less than a minute and a half to make it to the meeting hall." Tomoyo said between breaths after she looked at her watch.
"Just run Tomoyo, I will think of something." Sakura yelled back to Tomoyo as they both rounded a corner and nearly slipped. They caught themselves only to run right into Touya and Yue sending them to the ground sliding as the two girls landed on top of them.
"You are going to get us in sooo much TROUBLE!!" yelled Tomoyo as she and Sakura pulled themselves up and started running.
"Touya, I swear you live to make me suffer." Screamed Sakura as she ran through the hall. The two princes looked at them confused as they sat up just in time to see the two princesses disappear around the corner after almost slipping and slamming into the wall.
"They're going to be late soon I guess." Yue said with one eyebrow cocked. All Touya could do was nod.
~
"Ten seconds..." King Fujitake stated after glancing at his watch.
~
"Sakura, 10 seconds and the door is right there, if only we could go faster." Tomoyo said frustrated.
"Tomoyo, I have an idea. Run as fast as you can and when you get to the ice, jump and slide." Sakura said with a hint of inspiration in her voice.
"What I-" Tomoyo stopped abruptly as Sakura through a ball of white lights to the floor and it spread in a long path about 3 feet in front of them into the Meeting Room. Both girls ran as fast as they could, jumped forward, and started sliding on their feet 10 times faster than they were running. The door was advancing rapidly and suddenly they hit it.
~~~
"Three...two...on-" King Fujitake abruptly stopped as ice rapidly froze the floor. Following the ice, the doors slammed opened suddenly with a bang making everyone in the Meeting Room snap their heads up, and two girls slid into the room and slowed to a stop right in front of the King and Queen. Panting and gasping the two girls walked to King Fujitake and Queen Nadeshiko.
"(gasp) Did we (gasp) make (gasp) it (gasp)?" Sakura gasped (A.N. obviously). With gaping eyes, her father nodded his head.
"Good," Tomoyo said and both girls dropped to their knees.
"Just in time. That was very impressive thinking Sakura." Queen Nadeshiko said as she smirked at Sakura.
"Thanks mom," Sakura said tiredly as she slightly grinned.
°°°° The Vaunimajee Kingdom °°°°
The two princes rode as fast as lightning through the woods and into a valley. It took them about ten minutes to get across the immense valley. At the northern edge of the valley, they turned left onto a dirt rode, which led to an enormous castle. It took them no time at all to get to the castle front gardens. The stable boys saw their masters coming and quickly ran to the front. Four stable boys and two horse masters were present in the front just as Xiaolang and Eriol leaped off their horses and made a mad dash for the steps.
"Thank You," Both of the princes yelled as they ran.
Up the stairs and to the left into the hallway the boys ran. Maids and house workers heard them coming and slowly moved out of the way just as the boys dashed through, being used to this after 6 years. Each door was opened before they hit it.
"Ten seconds, Eriol, ten seconds. Pick up the pace." Xiaolang yelled back. Both boys started running faster until they saw the Assembly Room doors open. They ran as fast as they could until about 3 feet from the door, they skillfully dropped to the floor and slid feet first on their sides into the Assembly Room. The young princes slowed to a stop in front of a finely dressed woman on a throne to hear a click. Both looked up gasping.
"Very impressive boys. You are here exactly on time, not a second early and not a second late." The Queen said as she glanced at her stopwatch. "I commend you two. It is without a doubt that you both would win any race."
"Why, thank you Aunt Yelan." Eriol managed to choke out. Both boys then collapsed face up on the floor breathing heavily. Xiaolang couldn't help closing his eyes and almost drifting off to sleep. His leg muscles ached all over and getting up any time this week was going to be a problem. But then again, if he didn't get up, maybe he wouldn't have to go to Eriol's birthday party. Now that was an interesting proposition. Just then, Xiaolang could hear someone's shallow, quiet breathing that was desperately trying to be muffled. As he breathed in the faint smell of roses that wasn't present before, he smiled to himself for he knew exactly who it was.
"Why, hello there Meiling, how are you today?" Xiaolang said with his eyes closed and a smile still on his face.
"How did you know it was me, you had your eyes closed?" Meiling questioned as she put her hands on her hips in fists and silently tapped her foot even though she knew Xiaolang's eyes were closed. He had some way of knowing what people were doing when they were around him.
"I always know its you Meiling. Today, it was the way you smell, you've bathed in rose petals since you were born and you always smell of them. That, and your breathing is still too loud."
"If I breathed any softer, I might as well stop breathing all together. I can never catch you off guard, not anymore." Meiling said as she thought to herself that her cousin used to have something that kept his mind in the clouds, but she was too young to remember then.
"Whatever you have to do to get the job done. By the way, what do you mean by that?" Xiaolang asked finally opening his eyes to look questioningly at his cousin.
"Hmmm, what? Oh, nothing, nothing at all." Meiling stated shrugging the thought away. "Wait a minute!" She proclaimed as she remembered his sly comment before. She wrinkled her nose and gave Xiaolang the dirtiest look. "Just you wait cousin!" With that she kicked at Xiaolang's lying form only to be intercepted by his swift hand. "AHHHH!! Boys!!" She screamed as she stomped out to the garden. The two boys broke out into a fit of laughter as they watched Meiling stomp away with steam literally evaporating off of her.
"Even though you three are like conjoined twins, she does feel left out sometimes because she does not possess magic and she clearly isn't a boy." Queen Yelan stated as her eyes lit up at the amusing site of two completely grown men rolling on the floor laughing.
"We (ha ha) know Aunt Yelan, but (ha ha) we can't help it!" Eriol said between laughs.
"She looks so funny, mother." Xiaolang said as he finally stopped laughing and was slowly getting off of the floor.
"That may be so, but still...." Queen Yelan let the statement hang in the air as she thought back to the sight of Meiling and slightly giggled. She soon gained control over herself and said, "she isn't great royalty like the two of you. The only reason she is so high up is because she is related to the two of you and I might say she conducts herself quite well when you three aren't plotting or scheming together."
"You're right, Aunt Yelan. We should get to the tailors so they can make our clothes for the ball or party or whatever this thing I'm having in honor of my birthday is." Eriol stated as he slowly got up off the floor as well.
"Mentioning birthdays, Xiaolang, you know tradition says you need to be married when you turn 18. At the rate your going I'll settle for finding a suitable wife by your birthday." Queen Yelan sighed frustratedly.
"Maybe I'll find one at Eriol's birthday celebration." Xiaolang said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, that means we need clothes, let's go cuz."
"Alright boys, and Eriol, who exactly are your parents trying to get you married to? Your parents won't tell me or your uncle (A.N. yes, Syaoran's father is alive, still, for now. laughs maniacally)."
"Ummm, well you see," Eriol averted his gaze from his aunt and scratched his head, "she's uh, from a kingdom near by. He he."
"Oh? Which kingdom would that be?" Queen Yelan asked interested.
"From the uh, um," just then, Xiaolang elbowed Eriol in the side and Eriol spit out, "Trekawaiine."
"That sounds so familiar. I know! They used to be really good friends with us. We haven't kept in touch much though because...." Queen Yelan's eyes opened wide in horror, "you don't mean Tomoyo Daidouji, Princess Tomoyo Daidouji of Trekawaiine, cousin to Sa-..." She suddenly stopped dead mid sentence not wanting to utter a word that would make her son remember what happened seven years ago. "to, umm, the kingdom of Kadenia?"
"Unfortunately, yes, that is who they wanted to get me married to. But, as I might add Aunt Yelan, you yourself said that they were not your enemies, Kadenia was."
"I know Eriol, but I'm worried about her cousin being there."
"Wait a second mom, why would her cousin come? I thought that, well you told me that Kadenia only had a male heir and from what I've heard, he's been quite busy with Kadenian affairs and he completely despises us. He wouldn't touch us or even come near us with a ten gleck (A.N. put it this way, 1 gleck is 2 ½ feet) pole." Xiaolang asked inquisitively.
Eriol eyed his cousin curiously. "What?? You mean you don't know? The Kadenian king and queen have a son and--"
"he is very protective over his female relatives." Queen Yelan quickly interrupted her nephew. "Now you two need to have your clothes made for the party." The two princes began to leave when Queen Yelan telepathically (A.N. yes indeedy that is her power. She does have an element, I'll explain later) told Eriol, "Eriol, please stay behind."
Eriol, although uneasily, stayed behind and told his cousin to continue ahead to the tailor, he would meet him there. As he stood there watching Xiaolang give him strange looks then walk down the hall, multitudes of thoughts ran through his head as to why his aunt would keep such a minor detail as to the fact that there was a Kadenian prince and princess.
"Eriol, please come here and have a seat." With that, he was quickly awakened from his slumber of thoughts. (translation: he snapped back to reality) He promptly walked to a chair at the meeting table and sat down facing his Aunt.
"What is this about?? Why can't he know that the Kadenians have a princess? Why wouldn't you let me tell him? What is the big secret about the princess?" Eriol racked off as many questions as he could before he ran out of air. A million more raced through his head but he paused so his aunt would respond and maybe answer more than he asked.
She looked at him with sorrow and guilt-filled eyes. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she said, "The reason you can't tell him that Sakura Kinimoto is a princess, the princess of Kadenia is because he is in love with her. She's his soul mate"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON????" Eriol screamed, as his voice echoed through the vast room his eyes open in shock as he practically knocked his chair to the floor as he bolted out of his seat. He could barely contain his anger and his blue aura began to glow around him (A.N. think of when Goku, Gohan, Goten, Vegeta, or Trunks from DBZ goes super saiiyan, but blue.)
"Eriol, calm down. He doesn't know that he loves her, or at least he doesn't remember."
"Would you please explain all of this Aunt Yelan?" Eriol asked as he ran an uneasy hand through his hair.
"I can't explain it all right now, it isn't the time. All I can tell you is that Sakura Kinimoto and Xiaolang were close, very close...too close. At an extremely early age, they were deeply in love with each other. They even made a pact together to love each other forever with a locket. He probably still subconsciously remembers it since we haven't been able to engage him to anyone. Anyways, 7 years ago, something...happened and we became instant enemies. Queen Nadeshiko and I knew that if the news reached the two, their hearts would break, so we used a forbidden curse on them to make them forget each other."
"But why can't we even say her name?"
"I fear that over the years, the spell has weakened and even saying her name might cause him to remember."
"What's so wrong about him remembering? I would think having him marry the one he loves would be a good thing."
"The problem is that when one remembers the other will too and we don't know what kind of effect it could have on them. Right now they probably feel as if they're missing something, having that hole filled and the rush of emotions could kill them. Plus, it seems that both of our husbands still wouldn't allow it and from one of the letters I received from Queen Nadeshiko a long time ago, if Sakura and Xiaolang were to fall in love again, her brother would kill Xiaolang for something else that he did a long time ago."
"This is some heavy stuff." Eriol once again ran his hand through his hair.
"That is why you can never mention Sakura Kinimoto to Xiaolang. He might not be able to take it. Swear to me you'll never say anything about her to him."
"Alright, I swear." Eriol silently got up and walked to the tailors. How was he going to keep this secret from one of his best friends?
¤¤°¤¤°The Royal Kadenian Gardens°¤¤°¤¤
Two beautiful princesses sat underneath a shady peach blossom tree, the tree Touya was named for. Both girls were laying on their stomachs, swinging their feet back and forth in the air, making flower crowns from various flowers around them and flowers that happened to float their way.
"I'm telling you Tomoyo, that guy I brushed shoulders with, before you had to drag me back to the carriage, felt so familiar. I could have sworn I felt something ignite inside me and I can't stop thinking about him." Sakura said as she slowly pulled a daisy into the flower crown mix.
"Maybe you're in love with him." Tomoyo giggled.
"Maybe I am." Sakura answered in such a dead serious tone that it caused Tomoyo's eyes to widen and her mouth to hang open in shock.
"I see you've finally admitted your true feelings for me, Mai. (A.N. that would be Vietnamese for Cherry Blossom)" A male voice said that caused both girls to jump and flip over to get a view of the stranger behind them.
"Xaeno" Sakura hissed at him with her voice full of contempt.
"No reason to deny it, you know you love me."
"No, I don't, we've been over this. I. DON'T. LIKE. YOU. I don't even like to breath the same air as you. GO AWAY! Come to think about it, how did you weasel your way in here, anyways?" Sakura kept giving Xaeno ice-cold glares.
"There is no reason for such minor informalities. You belong with me, to me." Xaeno stepped towards Sakura as Sakura moved back.
"No, I don't. I belong to no one, least of all you." She continued to back up until Xaeno grabbed her wrist and drew her to him.
"Don't struggle dear Mai, our love is eternal." Sakura continued to struggle against him, but his grip seemed almost unbreakable to her.
"You mean your love for pain and yourself is eternal. And will you ever quit calling me Mai?"
"Mai, Sakura, what's the difference? They both are fit for a beauty such as yourself."
"Let go of me, Xaeno!" Sakura exclaimed harshly as he continued to hold her to him.
~~
"Let go of me, Xaeno!"
Touya was in the garden sparring with Yue when he heard the faint cry. Yue and Touya both stopped mid-attack as they felt a distinct aura flare up in distress near by. Touya furrowed his brow in concentration for a moment as he focused on the owner of that power. Suddenly, both princes opened their eyes wide with realization and looked at each other at the same time.
"Sakura!" they exclaimed in unison. Touya broke out into a run with Yue close behind. They ran straight in the direction of Sakura's voice until they reached a 6 gleck high hedge. Touya immediately shot water from the palms of his hands at it soaking a large section.
"Freeze it!" Touya commanded with urgency.
"Are you sure?" Yue asked.
"Mom can fix it later."
"Okay." Within seconds, the water-covered section was frozen, and then shattered by a powerful kick from both princes. They continued to run as fast as possible in the direction of the voices. Touya was only separated from his sister by a short stonewall that he easily jumped over. What he saw was a struggling Sakura trying to break free from the scumbag Xaeno and Tomoyo trying to pry his hands off of her to no avail. Xaeno had both of Sakura's hands captive so she wasn't able to use her powers.
"Let go of my sister you jack ass." Touya said as he grabbed Sakura's arm with his right arm and punched Xaeno in the right jaw with his left causing him to stumble back. He would have taken Sakura with him, but Touya's grip on her arm made Xaeno let go to regain his balance. "I thought I told you to never touch my sister again."
"Well, you did, but I just can't help myself." Xaeno said with a sneer.
"You aren't allowed on the palace grounds, Xaeno, and you know it." Yue hissed.
"Only by your terms, your father still likes me."
"Just leave before I'm forced to kick your ass." Touya growls as he slowly makes his way over to Xaeno. Xaeno smirks and walks away. "Are you okay??" Touya's big brother genes kick in.
"I'm fine, thanks, you guys. I just wish that ass (A.N. looks like everyone agrees on what Xaeno is) would leave me alone. That and I wish he would stop calling me Mai." Sakura said frustratedly as she rubbed her wrists.
"Did he hurt you?" Yue asked concerned.
"No, I'm fine. Nothing permanent." Sakura answered.
"Mai? I think I've heard that name before, but why would he call you Mai?" Touya asked extremely confused.
"Beats me. I'm just glad he's gone."
"Same here. Maybe we should go inside and see how are dresses are coming along, Sakura." Suggested Tomoyo.
"That sounds like a good idea." Sakura agreed.
"Why are you having dresses made?" Touya asked quizzically.
"Sakura is going to a birthday celebration with me this weekend so that I won't be lonely." Tomoyo said brightly.
"Birthday? Whose birthday? The only person I heard was having a party this weekend was - No, you've got to be kidding me!! You aren't going to that little weirdo Eriol Hiiragizawa's birthday, are you?" Touya asked disgustedly.
"For your information Touya, I might have to marry that little weirdo." Tomoyo said defensively.
"No way is a cousin of mine marrying the cousin of our enemy!! There is no way. I will not allow it!"
"Well, it's not your choice to make. So Sakura, are we going?"
"Yes we are, Tomoyo. Let's go." Sakura said with a regal mock in her voice as she and Tomoyo walked off to the palace. Touya growled as his sister and cousin walked away.
°°°¤¤° Back at the Vaunimajee kingdom °¤¤°°°
Xiaolang and Eriol began to get extremely fidgety from having to stand on their pedestal for so long. Eriol put his hand flat against one another and when he opened his hands once more, a small ball of blue, swirling light appeared. It slowly grew until it was the size of a softball. Eriol started throwing it up and catching it in his right hand. Feeling a surge of energy, Xiaolang looked up at Eriol, he was playing with a ball of magic. Xiaolang smiled.
"Ready?" Eriol asked smiling.
"Bring it on." Xiaolang challenged.
Eriol tossed the ball of magic up in the air and Xiaolang held out his hand. Instead of catching it, green electricity bolt shot out of his palm and balanced the ball in mid air. Eriol looked at him with curious eyes.
"What? You didn't think I would actually catch the thing with my bare hands after last time when it exploded and made me turn green?" Xiaolang cocked his eyebrow.
"Ah, dear cousin. You learn quickly." Eriol stated sounding like an old Chinese philosopher.
"Never make the same mistake twice." Both boys said at the same time.
"That is your famous quote, had to put it to use whenever you could huh?" Xiaolang joked.
"You know me best."
An extra electric bolt suddenly shot up toward the ball from Xiaolang's palm sending the ball a little ways up in the air before Xiaolang used another electric bolt to hit it towards Eriol. This went on back and forth till they had to keep their arms still for their sleeves. Being still aggravated them once more. It came to the point where Xiaolang and Eriol both decided they had had enough and ordered the tailors to finish their formal wear tomorrow. Both princes ran out of the room after being freed from the cloth and pins. They ran down the hall chuckling ever so often until they were stopped by the most hated adviser in the castle, Glamby. Even his name was stupid, but he had given Xiaolang's father some useful advice, some.
"What do you ridiculous boys think you're doing?" Glamby asked in an I'm-better-than-you voice.
"Nothing Glamby, absolutely nothing." Eriol said as he tried to suppress his laughter while pushing Xiaolang around the corner.
As soon as the princes were around the corner, Glamby turned on his heel and `hmphed.' When Glamby started walking away, the boys popped their heads back around the corner to look at Glamby and Eriol rolled the magic ball in his direction. Both boys ducked behind the wall to hear an explosion and a high pitched girly scream a few seconds later. Laughing uncontrollably, the boys ran to the gardens only to collapse upon the lush, green grass rolling with laughter, tears in their eyes.
"I think Glamby has something against us, Eriol." Xiaolang said after he had recovered.
"You got that right, cuz."
"Got what right?" a curious voice asked from their right.
"Glamby's secret conspiracy against us all, Meiling." Xiaolang informed Meiling.
"Pssh, I could have told you that." Meiling commented as she sat cross-legged in the grass next to the boys.
"Are you sure you should be sitting in the grass with us `ridiculous boys?' You might get your dress dirty and we may rub off on you." Eriol smirked as he looked up at the clouds.
"Too late Eriol. If anything, I'm rubbing off on you now." Meiling decided to lie back in the grass as she spoke. Xiaolang decided to place a hand on the ground next to him and as soon as he did this, rock jutted out of the ground in the shape of a slope. He leaned back onto the rock as if it were a recliner.
"Cheater!" Eriol scoffed at his cousin's act.
"I wasn't aware we were competing." Xiaolang said amused as he looked up at the cloudy sky as he absentmindedly spun a gold ring with etchings and a strangely shaped emerald around his finger.
"Still, using your magic to further your comfort."
"You could always use your magic to make a chair so don't give me that."
"Oh, your right." Eriol rubbed his hands together in a mischievous way. Meiling brought up her hand and whacked him on the head. "What was that for?" Eriol rubbed his head.
"For having magic." Meiling replied.
"Why didn't you slap Xiaolang too then?"
"I have more respect for him."
"Why you little-"
"Ah ah ah. You wouldn't harm a defenseless person and a lady at that, would you?"
"Damn you and your loop holes."
"Well I have to be quick on my feet if I want to compete with you."
"Point well taken." Eriol announced as he leaned back on his newly created cushion. All three sat in silence just watching the clouds as they passed by.
"I'm going to get in some sword practice." Xiaolang suddenly jumped up from his spot and ran to a little building on the east side of the garden that was Xiaolang's own special training room.
"And there our beloved cousin goes again to lose his mind as he plays with a sharp, pointy object." Meiling commented as she saw her cousin run off.
"Lose his mind?" Eriol questioned.
"Yeah, whenever he goes and practices his sword techniques, he zones out and pays attention to nothing. The entire building could be on fire and he wouldn't notice. He concentrates on something only he knows. I've tried to pry it out of him, but he absolutely won't break."
"Hmmm. Let's go watch." Eriol jumped up and pulled Meling along with him before she could protest.
They entered the small building from the back and silently watched as Xiaolang practiced his flawless technique. His katana was sharp to the touch with a very small, yet visible tsuba and a blood groove that ran from the tip of his sword to a bit before the middle. The blade went straight to the bottom of the handle and the handle was bound and taped for better grip and the blade bore the royal family emblem. At the bottom was a small Chinese symbol branding the katana his own. In his flurry of movements, Xiaolang's blade moved so fast you could only see a flash of light. Xiaolang's movements were graceful and swift as he spun his sword and attacked an invisible opponent. Sweat dripped off his forehead in long streams.
Eriol watched Xiaolang's face and expressions; he wasn't concentrating on his movements. He knew them so well and had such a flawless technique that he didn't even need to concentrate; it was all automatic. To the observer, Xiaolang looked like he was practicing, but his eyes betrayed him. He concentrated on something that wasn't there, something he thought he could see, but just couldn't. Something about that person he bumped into today felt so familiar, the feeling felt like something he had been missing. Xiaolang fought with himself to remember, but all he saw was green. Finally, he gave up and stopped moving. Xiaolang dropped to the floor to rest, that is when he felt it. Xiaolang whirled around to look right at Eriol.
"How long have you been here?" Xiaolang asked curiously as the two culprits came out of their hiding place.
"A pretty long time. It looks as if you need target practice, or better yet, I do." Eriol suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Xiaolang got up and walked over to the titanium closet in the far corner of the room. He proceeded to pull out an old sword and spun it around to get the feel of it.
"Why'd you switch swords?" Meiling asked curiously.
"Because I don't want Eriol to scorch my nice katana." Xiaolang explained.
He stood in front of Eriol in a fighting stance. Eriol gathered blue balls of energy in his hands and waited. Suddenly he threw ball after ball at Xiaolang trying to hit him, but Xiaolang deflected every single attack. Soon, both were moving so fast to attain their goal that all that could be seen was a blur of figures. Suddenly, a flash was seen and both princes flew back against opposite walls. Slowly, they both rose to their feet and started rubbing their heads.
"Geez, Eriol. What did you put in that thing?" Xiaolang asked rubbing his aching arms.
"I could ask you the same thing." Eriol replied as he stretched his sore neck.
"A lot."
"Me too."
"I'm hot."
"And sweaty."
"This could only mean one thing," Xiaolang hinted as he placed his sword on top of a shelf.
"SWIM TIME!!!" Meiling and Eriol both yelled in unison as they ran out of the battle room pulling Xiaolang with them into the woods.
They ran for a couple of miles knowing exactly where to go until they got to a river. All three ran along the river until they could see a cliff. The boys pulled off their shirts and shoes and threw them into the air. When they got to the top of the waterfall, Meiling took off her entire dress to reveal a two-piece bathing suit. (A.N. how convenient.) It looked like a sports bra top and a regular underwear-like bottom. (A.N. Meiling is a very athletic girl; you don't expect her to be like those prissy princesses, do you? :shudders:) Even then, when they were taking off their extra clothes, the cousins didn't stop running. At the edge of the waterfall, all three swan-dived off one after the other. Three consecutive splashes could be heard as Xiaolang, Eriol, and Meiling splashed into the water 50 glecks below. Xiaolang rose out of the water first, then Meiling. After a few seconds, they looked around frantically for Eriol, when they were suddenly pulled underwater. Both
arose sputtering for air.
"That was NOT funny Eriol!!!" Meiling screamed as she coughed up some water.
"You had us worried." Xiaolang said sternly
"I didn't know you cared!" Eriol responded as Xiaolang splashed him with water. "Oh, so THAT'S how its gonna be huh?" Eriol splashed back.
Soon all three were splashing each other rapidly. After their little battle and after swimming in the cool water, the three were sitting in the cool grass drying off. Eriol looked over to see that Xiaolang again was deep in concentration. `I bet I know what he's thinking about, or rather who.' Eriol thought to himself.
Meiling realized Xiaolang's deep concentration and tried to get him to snap out of it, but it was no use. So as the solution to her problem, she got Eriol to shock him. That little jolt got Xiaolang to snap out of his thoughts; it even got him to sizzle a little bit. With anger on his face, he used his power over the earth and turned to dust or earth. He appeared at the top of the waterfall where he left his clothes and made Eriol and Meiling fend for themselves. Eriol used a new transportation spell he had learned that took him and Meiling to where Xiaolang was. When they got there, Xiaolang was putting on his shirt. As he shoved his arm through his sleeve, Eriol's eyes opened wide with shock.
"Let me see you arm." Eriol demanded urgently as he pulled Xiaolang's left arm toward him causing Xiaolang to stumble and almost fall.
"What the hell is wrong with you Eriol?!?!" Xiaolang yelled as Eriol continued to study his forearm.
"Xiaolang, I've seen you have control over the earth."
"Yeah, and?"
"You have control over lightning as well, right?"
"Yeah, since I can remember I've had both. Why?"
"You can't have both."
"What are you talking about?" Eriol finally let Xiaolang's arm go. With his left arm he created a long, thick bolt of green lightning to shoot out of his palm and split a tree. "See?"
"I mean, you can't have two elements. It's impossible."
"Huh?" Xiaolang asked utterly confused.
"Do you see you magic mark on your hand?"
"Yeah."
"You see that crescent moon?" Xiaolang nodded. "That's the magic mark for lightning. On every other sorcerer with magic in his blood who controls lightning, you will never see it accompanied by any other mark. Every person with magic only has one sign. The three star-shines surrounding your moon, the circles with crosses intersecting in the middle, those are the marks of earth centers." Eriol explained in full detail.
"Are you telling me that I'm a freak of nature or something?"
"Look at my mark." Eriol pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and showed the scar-like sign. "I only have a sun, one sign, one mark that means my one power. The magical ability of being able to create things or conditions."
"Then what's going on with me?"
"I have no idea."
All three cousins slowly walked back to the castle pondering the new information. It was just completely impossible to have two centers, completely impossible and yet Xiaolang did. Now they all had something new to occupy their minds.
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*SOB* I *SOB* might not be able to get the next chapter out for a really long time because it somehow got erased!! I am so sad right now. I had 32 pages of writing done and now it's all down the hole. Good thing is that I remembered most of it and wrote the basic points down, but I still have to put back together. I have to rewrite my whole story up to the point where I stopped and it might not be a while because my teachers think they are the only teacher I have and give me enough work for 7 periods so......
PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE REVIEW THE STORY AND TELL ME IF YOU HATE IT OR JUST TO SAY "I'M BOB!!!" Please read both of my stories and review because it makes me feel better and more motivated when people review.
One stipulation, the more people who review the faster I'll post. It's supply in demand and the more people who demand the more I'll have to supply. SO REVIEW!!!