Misty Dreams

Card Captor Sakura

Chapter Fourteen

~starjade~

A Sign

Sakura wanted nothing more than to race back into her small haven, rip off the dress and the ribbons and change back into that woollen dress. She had never felt more uncomfortable in her life!

The minute she had walked into the ball (the announcer stating ' Lady Daidouji and The Kinomoto') She felt all eyes on her and even though, many were holding it back, the disdain was clear in the atmosphere.

Right then, she was sitting on the white clothed table that surrounded the dance floor. It was decorated quite beautifully with Queen Yelan and Prince Syaoran with all his sisters sitting at the front. Many times, she saw groups coming up to the Queen and complaining about Sakura, but Syaoran would always be the one to dismiss them.

Sakura noticed how cold Syaoran got when he sat on that chair. All royal and prince-like, his amber eyes turned glassy, like shards of ice and his voice was a bark that made everyone creep back, intimidated.

" Isn't this fun, Keili?" Tomoyo asked, excitedly.

Sakura resisted the urge to say a sarcastic comment, reminding herself of her vow of silence. No matter what, she was still undergoing the curse-and she would never give up on saving her brothers.

The food came, and Sakura noticed how even the servants hated her, deliberately forgetting to give her food until Tomoyo would remind them, where they would hastily throw the food on her plate. Sakura ignored this, reminding herself that this was a Li Kingdom; they were showing enough kindness to their enemy.

Suddenly, the orchestra strung up and the gentleman of the court stood up. The atmosphere of the ball seemed to grow alive and the chatter of the ladies and royals of the court grew. Sakura watched interestedly, for there was no such custom in her kingdom.

As the music played, the gentleman formed a large circle, facing outwards. They each held a different coloured handkerchief in their hands and they all bowed at the same time. Sakura smiled as they began to dance while remaining in the circle.

The ladies around her were gossiping openly about the gentleman, and nearly all of them had already had their eyes on a specific gentleman. Then the music stopped and a slower tune strung up and the gentleman started to head towards the ladies they wanted to dance with. The handkerchief was offered and if accepted, they would dance. If the handkerchief was kept to the end of the night, they were announced betrothed.

As couples began to dance on the dance floor, Sakura's eyes searched the people dancing, hoping to see a particular person and desperately hoping he wasn't there. But as always, the couples began to hush as Syaoran Li walked to the middle of the ball and bent down in front of Lady Rita.

He held out her handkerchief to her and she accepted it as he kissed her hand. They began to dance, their movements graceful and royal. All the woman began to sigh at the romance of it and Sakura felt her chest clench tight and she couldn't breathe.

Trying desperately to wrench her eyes away from the happy couple, she nearly welcomed with joy Tomoyo and Eriol, who came back from a dance.

" How are you doing, Lady Keili?" Eriol asked. Sakura wondered why Eriol insisted on calling her a lady even though everyone thought she was a peasant. He was quite the gentleman!

Sakura smiled, a bit forcedly and Tomoyo said cheerfully, " This is a beautiful ball, isn't it? The food is great and everyone is so happy!"

A bit of an overstatement, Sakura thought a bit sarcastically, but smiled all the same. Right then, Yamaki came up to them and walked straight to Sakura.

" Keili, would you like to dance?" He asked.

Sakura instantly shook her head but Tomoyo nudged her. " Come on, Keili, you haven't danced all night! Have a little bit of fun, won't you?"

Sakura's shoulders drooped and she accepted Yamaki's hand. He led her out onto the dance floor and put his hand on her hip.

" You just have to follow my steps and when I tell you to turn, just turn to the right-" Yamaki began to explain but Sakura shook her head. Yamaki stared at her incredulously.

" You know the dance?" Yamaki asked. Sakura nodded and Yamaki looked surprised.

" But this is a royal dance, usually only the people of the court know this dance," Yamaki said wonderingly as he took Sakura's hand and they began to dance. Sakura felt herself relax with the soft sounds of the music playing and the dance released the tension in her body as she let herself go and whirled around the dance floor, with a rather shocked Yamaki.

" You know how to dance well!" Yamaki said, wonderingly and Sakura smiled at him. Yamaki grinned.

" I swear, I'm going to have to put locks on that door of yours!" Yamaki said winningly. " The way you dance and smile, I'll have to beat the men away from you with a stick!"

" May I cut in." A cold voice interrupted him. Sakura felt her heart freeze and her breath catch in her throat.

Yamaki looked up and met Syaoran's amber eyes. " Oh hey, Xiao-Lang! I saw you and Lady Rita over there, man, you guys just can't wait for that wedding night, eh-"

" I asked you if I could cut in."

Yamaki looked confused and backed off. " Alright..."

Sakura couldn't look up. She kept her eyes on the floor as Syaoran moved to take Yamaki's spot. As long as she didn't look at him, she wouldn't do anything foolish and would keep her head level instead of losing herself in his eyes as she always did when she looked at him.

Don't look up...

He reached out and took her hand and her knees nearly gave away at his touch. Remember to breathe, she reminded herself as she felt the touch race through her body.

Don't look up...

His other hand grasped her hip and pulled her close to him and she felt her heart flutter and beat hard against her chest and she couldn't think, she couldn't breathe, all she felt was his touch-

Don't look up.

Softly, they began to dance, around the dance floor gracefully. They followed each other's moves perfectly and even though she knew it mustn't look like the perfect couple or the picture perfect dance-but this was happening for real. He was dancing with her-and she was trying to make this moment last.

" That witch..."

Sakura tensed as the words cut through her happiness, as the animosity in the room grew higher.

" She's just a whore."

" Trying to seduce the prince!"

" Filthy Kinomoto-"

She felt Syaoran tense and his jaw clench as he pulled her closer as if trying to protect her from the harsh words being directed towards her. In her shock, she looked up and their eyes met.

Dammit...she thought faintly, as she felt her body temperature increase. Heat flooded through her body and she felt dizzy but all she could do was stare into those eyes, which made her heart beat, hard against her chest until it was almost painful. His eyes searched hers as if looking for something and his grasp on her grew tighter and tighter...

Until he let her go, wrenching away from her without a goodbye or a farewell. He walked off fast, and almost immediately, Lady Rita cut off his pathway and grabbed his hands. After a moment of hesitation, they began to dance-

And Sakura's heart began to shatter. It was too much for her to stay, to watch him dance with Lady Rita, watch him leave her-

She turned away and ran, straight out the door, ignoring the taunts and insults and pushing past the people who tried to block her way. She ran into the empty hallways and down the stairs, down the moonlit corridors and into her small room where she slammed the door shut. She ripped the ribbons from her hair and wrenched off the dress, pulling on the scratchy woollen dress and then collapsed onto her bed in tears.

Shoulders shaking, she tried to wipe the tears off her face, but it didn't work. She wanted to cry, like she used to, scream out the agony that went through her heart-but she couldn't. Instead, she kept her pain bottled up and only let the tears run down her cheeks and drop quietly off the edge of her face.

Finally, she got up and wiped the tears off her face, walking out the door. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as the cold breeze made its way down the corridor, and the moonlight shown through the windows, lighting her path.

And that's when she heard it.

A quiet whimper, too canine to be human coming from around the corner. Sakura froze; her whole body stopped functioning as her heart beat halted. Then the whimper came again and Sakura felt her heart begin to pound against her chest.

What was that?

Walking forward, she turned the corner slowly and then gasped.

It was Kero.

Kero was curled in a ball near the corner and he got up quickly when he smelt her coming, barking and growling at her even though he had never done so before. She tried to come near him, but he wouldn't let her.

She wondered what was wrong with Kero. What was making him act like this? She turned around and walked back to the kitchens, sneaking into to grab a piece of meat. She ran out and ran straight back to the dog.

The dog had once again, curled up in that feral position. Sakura carefully knelt down and offered the piece of meat to the dog. The dog came slowly, growling at the base of his throat as he did so. And when he came into the moonlight, was when Sakura saw.

On Kero's back, shaven clear and prominent, was the famed sign to ward off witches.

With a gasp, Sakura fell back, horrified. The dog grabbed the meat and leapt away from her but Sakura could only stare at the dog in shock.

How could...how could they do this to Kero? How could they punish him...just to warn her? Sakura had seen that sign many times before, on the steps of houses and in places of worship, large signs to ward off witches.

But this was just cruel! It was sick....She couldn't take it and angry tears gathered in her eyes. This went too far. It didn't matter what they said to her or what they did to her. But what they did to Kero..

Cautiously, Sakura went closer to the dog and began to talk to him, soothingly and calmingly. The dog calmed down and she held out the other piece of meat she had in her pocket and led him back to her room. She made a bed for him out of one of her old dresses and the dog fell asleep, leaving Sakura alone in the silence of her room, crying herself to sleep as she had done so, so many times before.

*********************

" Keili!! Open the door right now!! Please!"

Sakura wringed her hands together as she tried to concentrate on her stitching. Tomoyo, Eriol and Yamaki tried to get her to open the door and come out many times, but she couldn't. Not after what the Li people had done to Kero.

Breathing hard, she tried to go back to her stitching when Tomoyo pleaded once more.

" Keili, please tell me what's wrong. What happened? Please, open the door!!"

Sakura's fingers clenched around the needle and she fought to control her breathing. She wished she could say something to Tomoyo, tell her that she was all right and that all she needed was...some time.

Then, a loud rapping at the door came, harsh and loud.

" Keili. Open the door right now."

It was Syaoran's voice. Sakura paused, her heart beating hard against her chest. But then, common sense rose above all her conflicting emotions. He was the Prince after all...and he did order a command. Sighing, she got up and opened the door a creak.

Syaoran's amber eyes were glaring at her. " Keili, what's wrong? You're worrying Tomoyo and Eriol beyond belief! What are you doing cooped up in here?"

Sakura bowed her head, willing herself to keep the flush away from her face. Clenching her fists, she looked up at Syaoran and attempted to smile.

I'm okay. Bye.

She tried to close the door once more, but Syaoran held a hand out. " Something is bothering you, Keili and I want to know what it is!"

He pushed the door open all the way and stomped inside her room. He took a quick survey of her room before turning back to her.

" Now tell me. What's wrong?"

Sakura looked down and shook her head. Nothing...

Syaoran growled. " Keili, you wouldn't refuse to come out if nothing was wrong...Did.... Did someone do something to you? Say something to you?"

Sakura kept her eyes on the floor and Syaoran reached out and put two fingers under her chin, lifting her face up so her eyes met his. Sakura felt heat rush through her body at his touch and willed herself to stay calm under his smouldering gaze.

He looked at her carefully and repeated, " Did someone do something to you? Because in all hells, if something happened, I will make sure that person is punished, thoroughly."

Sakura wrenched away from his hold and turned her back on him. The more she looked at him, the more she felt herself drowning.... deeper and deeper. She sat on the bed and tried to grin at him. No one. I'm okay. You worried no reason.

" I do have a good reason!" He knelt down in front of her. " Something happened...and I want to know what it is. I command you right now to tell me what's wrong."

Sakura froze, and she bit her lip. He was a prince...and she had to tell him...

Breathing hard, she got up and grabbed his wrist, leading him around the room to where Kero was tucked in the small bed she had made for him.

" What's going on-" He began to say but then he fell short when he saw Kero.

Kero had woken up instantly and was growling deep in his throat at Syaoran. His haunches raised, he glared at Syaoran fiercely, but Syaoran had already seen the sign shaven on the back of Kero.

There was dead silence between them as Sakura knelt down and stroked Kero's uneven fur, hoping to calm him down. Syaoran was keeping his eyes to the floor and Sakura could tell he was angry. His bangs hid his expression, but his jaw was clenching tightly and the muscles in his face were jumping as he fought to control his anger.

" When..." He began, his voice shaking. "When did this happen? Where did you find him?"

Sakura looked down. Hallway. Yesterday night. You dance.

Syaoran didn't say anything for a moment and then he let out an angry yell and punched her dresser straight through. Splinters cracked and dust clouded the air as Syaoran's fist broke through the wood of the dresser. Sakura gasped her eyes wide. His knuckles were now bloody and ragged but it didn't look like he noticed, for he was pacing up and down her room.

" Those bastards, when I find out who did this, I will kill them.... dammit, I can't fucking believe that I left her here alone, with no protection, hell, if they could do this to Kero, what the hell would they do to her, I am so fucking stupid!!" He shouted, his anger clear in his words.

Sakura got up slowly, and walked up to Syaoran cautiously. She grabbed his arm and turned him to look at her. It's okay. It's okay.

" NO!" Syaoran yelled. " It's not okay!!! You know what could've happened to you?? Hell, I knew that people hated you here, I knew that people wanted to kill you, but I never thought-I never knew-You should've came straight to me, why didn't you??"

His burning amber eyes stared imploringly at her and Sakura shrugged her shoulders simply. You with Lady Rita. No disturb.

Syaoran halted at her motions for a second, before he let out another angry yell. " I should've been here....I should've been able to protect you...God, imagine what they could've done to you!"

Suddenly, he turned around and hugged her. Sakura froze as he pulled her against him and buried his face in her hair. " Thank god you're okay.." He whispered in her hair.

Sakura felt the heat travel to her heart and she felt light-headed. He was hugging her! He cared about her! Cautiously, she rose her hands to hug him back, to hold him, to stroke his hair and kiss him-

But he had already pulled away, his face red. " S-sorry, Keili-I just-" He breathed hard and then turned away, running a hand through his hair before spotting the dresser. " I'll....get someone to replace the dresser and-" He turned back to Sakura and looked at her meaningfully. " Stay here, all right? I'll be back..."

He turned and walked out the door, his footsteps hard against the floor. Sakura watched after him, her body missing the warmth and wishing.....Wishing that he would just hold her again, hold her tight. And help her forget her tears...and maybe she could help him forget his worries.

But she knew the only person who was able-and who had the right to do that was Lady Rita. She would always be second to Lady Rita.

a/n: Hahahahaha! He hugged her! hahahahaa. lol, I felt really really bad when I was writin dat part about Kero the dog. I really hate animal cruelty too...*shakes fist* So frickin mindless..

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But yah, please tell me if ya lyke dis story, if ya have any suggestions, comments, or opinions please review aight? And sry I couldn't get dis chapter out as fast, I wrote dis whole chapter out and then the computer froze up on me and i forgot to save it. so i had to write it all up again! and wit all dem exams i have to study for...

lol, but thanks for stickin by dis story!

see ya latez,

'nuff luv,

~starjade~