Atry's List of Friends (First to last)
Illusion Dragon - Syaoran's reaction? -laughs- Heheh... sorry. Read the chapter, and you'll know!
Kella4 - Thanks n-n -crosses out 3 and adds 4 instead- Hurrah! Score! Keep reading, 'kay?
Tomoyo Kitty - Congratulations xD Thanks for reviewing! -hugÂ-
Bold Eyes - You mean, Xartamus? Yeah... he's cool xP I got the idea of using 'hrr's from a book called 'The Fire Within' (I think that's the title). Haven't read that (Dragon Riders of Pern), but I'd love to... -pouts- Thanks for reading!
someone - Aieee... arigatou... -sheepish smile-
Ria - I've e-mailed you! Keep reading n-n
Lady Samantha - Awwwwwwww! Thank you! -bows- Yeah, I love it myself... -sigh-
Dranzen - Aieee?! Sorry... I don't watch Beyblade, I usually am busy typing, reading, drawing, drooling (don't ask), thinking (don't ask), watching CCS movies or sleeping... I don't watch TV much anymore... --;;;;; -wails- Score! -rubs out 4 and puts in 5- My story is so cool, yeah... my story is so cool, yeah... -sings horribly-
Atry: -eats pear- Nice feedbacks so far... -munch- ... I'm inspired... -munch- ... review again soon! -gives readers free hugs for their reviews on LD, SKL, CC and TCP-
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS and the song, but I own everything else.
::LeGaCy DrAgOnS::
Chapter 3: And He Blushes!
By Atruyai
Syaoran face-faulted and Sakura sweatdropped, blushing.
"I'm WHO?!" Syaoran intonated angrily. Sakura ducked her head, embarrassed, and gripped her shawl.
Syaoran growled and slammed his fist on the arm of the chair he's sitting in, temporarily forgetting to whom he's talking with.
Fujitaka sighed. "I better tell you about soul partners." He motioned for Rizurel to come beside him. The magician complied.
"19-16, 15-18-9-7-9-14, 2-12-1-3-11, 13-1-7-9-3." Fujitaka commanded in codes. Rizurel sighed himself and called his Krii Staff.
Fontania formed a small puddle in front of Syaoran and Rizurel tapped the surface of the water with the end of his staff.
Suddenly, a picture of a cave appeared.
Fujitaka began his speech.
"Hundreds of years ago, various dragon races rule over Wedromone. There were dragons for each element and compound, every substance and form, with all levels of intellectuality and battle power."
A dragon similar to Farziilus emerged from the mouth of the cave and greeted an unfamiliar peach-coloured dragon. The stranger dragon was cute, with flowers all over its body.
Farziilus, seeing his 'ancestor', roared and stomped his feet. His waving body coloured a deep red. Touya patted the saddle on Farziilus's head sadly and the dragon grunted, before turning its back to the puddle.
The picture in the puddle wavered slightly before re-focusing again, now showing a group of colourful dragons drinking from a pond.
There were a series of buzzing and small roars from the group in the picture, clearly they are talking in a different language. The picture shook again before showing a fighting scene between two gigantic golden dragons. They were delivering huge, round fireballs to each other, and as the fight intensifies to a more gory death battle, the puddle rippled.
"Despite the rare battles, the dragons respected one another, and they lived in silent peace. The stronger races helped the less fortunate ones with food supplies and shelter, and the lodger race would return the favour by teaching the young ones of both races about the world, astronomy and prophecies. Nonetheless, every race has its own specialty."
The puddle pictured a scene where a female dragon was taking care of eggs, while another male dragon was teaching a group of young dragons about the stars.
"But all these luxuries were to end one day, and the day for this generation of dragons," Fujitaka pointed to the cluster of dragons in the puddle, "... was drawing near."
Now the puddle illustrated a humongous golden dragon roaring to the moon, standing tall over a pile of broken dragon eggs, split in half. Brown-coloured liquid seeped into the soil, bringing the lives of the offspring of the dragons with them.
Now almost all of the real dragons, for example; even Xartamus, that were previously huddling around the puddle backed away, fear and sadness claiming their eyes. Syaoran frowned and shook his head.
[They must be feeling the same as those dragons in the past...] He thought pitifully. Fujitaka gestured for everyone else to bring their dragons into the palace, for fear that they might not be able to handle the pressure.
After a few minutes of hustling and bustling, the only one left standing around the puddle was Sakura, Syaoran, Rizurel and Fujitaka.
Rizurel tapped his staff onto the ground, and the puddle continued showing pictures again. Fujitaka continued.
"All of the dragons were peace lovers, except for that one race." The puddle now reflected some flying black dragons holding a different-coloured egg each in their arms. Passing an ocean, they threw it far to the deep parts of the blue sea, and laughed evilly. Sakura shuddered as some brown liquid surfaced, then drifted away amongst the blue.
"The Shadow Dragons love to dominate and play evil tricks. Their free times were always spent either on plotting a race's downfall, or stealing. But one day, they had enough. They wanted power, and they wanted it that very moment."
A black dragon was conversing to a man in dark robes. Syaoran and Sakura felt cold blood chilling their spine.
"They teamed up with the also power-hungry humans of the Black Zen Clan, and started their raid. More and more eggs from different races were either broken, eaten and thrown into the sea, and it caused havoc. With absolutely no heir to continue their line of races, most of the dragons died out slowly, mostly from depression, anger and hate."
The puddle shone with a black light and now exhibited a scene where the previous Farziilus-like dragon nudging the lifeless body of the peach dragon he loved. He roared sadly, and laid himself beside the dead dragon, his life, too, slipping out slowly from him.
Sakura gasped silently and cried. Suddenly, Zerule appeared out of nowhere and patted her back.
Syaoran mentally growled at that.
Why though?
Fujitaka kissed his daughter's forehead and grazed her cheek to get rid of the unwanted trail tears.
"Years passed. Then, the last pairs from the few remaining dragons gathered together. They agreed to a seal, where they would be locked in a different realm, and wait for the right person to finally show him or herself to. This idea, was obviously suggested by the Elders of the Rainbow, the council of commands that consists of seven different-colored Rainbow Dragons. The superior race itself sent two of its most powerful dragons. Their identities are unknown." Fujitaka lifted the hair from Syaoran's and Sakura's neck. He grinned.
The puddle showed pairs of dragons flying into a white portal.
"When two special persons are chosen, they are called 'soul partners'. You can know that you are soul partners with someone by a tattoo that will appear on your neck when you are nearing eighteen years of age. It will show the same picture as the person you're connected with. That means that you both will inherit the same type of dragon. From the moment your tattoo carved onto your flesh magically, that's when you know that a full spirit of a dragon is ready to emerge from your inner soul. The two people would have to work together and be together all times."
"The Elders have chosen both of you to lead the dragons to victory. For years, us, the White Zen Clan, the few humans that appreciate peace, had been expecting you, Li-kun. The one to accompany Sakura-chan on a journey to the Cherry Dragon Tree, where you will call out your own Rainbow dragons. We have seen enough of the opposite clan's ravages, and we want to put a stop to it. Some people call this event the Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons, but I do not agree. All of the other dragons, and humans, had their part in it too, like you two." Fujitaka held both Sakura's and Syaoran's shoulders, smiling pleadingly.
Syaoran processed everything in his brain. Sakura had already nodded, she was told of her mission since she received the five-petal rainbow flower last month.
"What is this journey? And who's the Black Zen Clan exactly?" Syaoran asked, his tone curious but frosty.
Fujitaka's grin grew wider. Rizurel waved his hands over the puddle and the pictures faded away, leaving the puddle, which dried magically. Zerule gave Sakura an encouraging squeeze on her shoulders. The young princess smiled. Syaoran took a deep breath and averted his eyes from them.
"A journey to the Cherry Dragon Tree is a bumpy journey to freedom. Follow your hearts, and you shall find it, the Tree, I mean." Fujitaka spoke again before Syaoran even had the opportunity to retaliate.
"The Black Zen Clan is a group of immortals who battle for land, riches and power." And with that, Fujitaka left with the others, Sakura and Syaoran following them quietly.
Thoughts whirled in their heads. Emotions raged like a tornado in them, leaving no space for choices.
They were chosen, and they will do their best.
-PRIVATE LOUNGE ROOM, CONNECTING TO THE PRIVATE LIBRARIES-
Sakura dropped on the fluffed pile of pillows in the corner of the room while Syaoran fingered the rows of books in the library adjoined to the lounge by a huge arched doorway.
Zerule plucked a grape from a fruit bowl and handed a slice of honey dew melon to Sakura, who nodded a 'thanks'. Zerule grinned. "Anything for you, Sakura-chan!" He said, and Sakura giggled.
Syaoran saw and heard everything. He gritted his teeth unconsciously.
"You okay, Syaoran?" Eriol asked, smirking as he re-positioned his round glasses. In his hands were a pile of books on the Dragonyte Kingdom. Tomoyo stood beside him, holding a single ancient fragile-looking book about dragon races. She smiled politely.
Syaoran growled and glared at Eriol. "Alright, so you're fine. I'm gonna go and do some research." Eriol walked towards a square table and sat with Tomoyo. He started to browse between the pages of the first book.
Syaoran rolled his eyes and caught sight of a golden-bordered book on one of the bookshelves. He drew it out carefully.
"The Dragon Tell-Tail..." Syaoran pronounced the title of the hard-covered book.
Suddenly, Sakura popped next to him. "I've read that many times." She said cheerfully. Zerule stood beside her coolly. Syaoran managed to hold back a menacing scowl.
"It's like a fun book, full of stories in the hidden dialect of the dragons. And some fun stuff." Sakura took the book gently from Syaoran's hands and flipped through the pages.
"Here!" She pointed to a particular title. "Rukoikonn hattahernah imrinittaq." She chanted, and the page glowed yellow. Syaoran, of course, didn't understand a single word she said. "Excuse me?" He asked in a 'what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about' tone. Sakura just giggled. "Look." She took Syaoran's index finger and poked it to the page.
The yellow light subsided and swirled crazily. When it slowed down, it showed a wheel of colours, almost like a rainbow.
From the book, in a deep yet welcoming voice, boomed "Etryunairi." Sakura smiled. Syaoran had question marks popping above his head, his face a comical expression.
"Yup, you're a rainbow dragon bearer alright. Etryunairi means rainbow in the language of the dragons. This page determines your dragon by sucking a teensy weensy bit of your magic and then analyzing it for traces of dragon blood." Sakura place her finger into the rainbow-coloured gooey liquid and withdrew it in a split-second. "Zerule-kun, could you get a bowl?" Zerule nodded, as he knew what Sakura's talking about, unlike Syaoran. Zerule left for the kitchens.
The page swirled again, changing colours to yellow, and then again to rainbows. "Etryunairi." The paged voiced again. Sakura licked the gooey liquid on her hand and grinned. "Candy pops again this time." She said happily. Syaoran stared at his own wet finger and licked it himself. He raised his eyebrows.
The substance was chewy. It tasted wonderful, like mixed-flavoured candy pops. "How?" Syaoran asked, stunned.
"Oh, this book is created and written by Kikilarei, the oldest female baby-sitter dragon in the Rainbow clan. She knows what us kids like, which is of course, candy! This enchanted book serves an infinite supply of them." Sakura finished the last of her drops of sweet candy-pop liquid.
Zerule returned with a medium-sized bowl. "Dish it out!" He said, shoving the bowl into Sakura's hands. The princess laughed. "Zerule, Zerule. You've always loved this treat, ne?"
"You bet I do!" The Mekkuno prince replied enthusiastically.
Sakura smiled broadly and placed the book on a table. Eriol and Tomoyo watched from their table.
Sakura scooped with her hands a handful of the rainbow liquid, putting it into the bowl waiting at the side. Zerule cheered and helped her with the scooping.
Soon, Eriol and Tomoyo joined in too, and they had great fun. Syaoran grunted as Sakura tugged on his arm.
"Come on, Li-kun! We can eat it afterwards!" Sakura begged, adopting her puppy dog eyes. Syaoran sighed. He really did want more of that food...
He shrugged and helped. A few moments later, they had a 'candy fight' in the lounge. By the end of it, everyone was panting and laughing (except for Syaoran, that is), their clothes smudged with candy.
"Oh, my, goodness." A young woman with silver hair stepped into the lounge. She wasn't royalty, but she was granted access as she is the head pianist of the castle.
She gasped at the mess in the room. "What will His Majesty say about this, Sakura-chan...?" Sakura shrieked with glee and hugged the woman.
"Denaii-chan!" She greeted Yukito's wife cheerfully. Denaii smiled. Artemis stopped beside her and laughed at the condition of the room. "What happened here?!" She shouted between laughs. The five teenagers turned red from embarrassment. "Ummm... we had a candy fight." Tomoyo replied as the other sweatdropped.
Artemis calmed herself down and swiped her hand in the air. All of the thrown-off items returned to their respectful places, and candy splodges disappeared. Crinkled cushions and sheets ironed themselves and the fire was put out.
"Children, bed-time." She said in a motherly tone. Nadeshiko appeared and smiled. "Come, young ones. Tomorrow will be a new day for all of us." She ushered the teenagers to the direction of their chambers.
-THAT NIGHT, THE PRINCESS'S CHAMBER-
Sakura tossed and turned in her bed. Somehow, she was so restless tonight. Father told Syaoran and her that they would be leaving in a week, so they would have to train their magic in that period of time. Sakura and Syaoran's birthday are going to have to be spent away from the castle, as they would be traveling then.
The emerald-eyed princess couldn't wait to have her own dragon. She was supposed to be receiving one on her 18th birthday, everyone that had a dragon spirit in them should.
Sakura stared at Kero and Mayii sleeping beside her. Her gaze wondered off to Syaoran's sleeping body, and sighed.
"I'm not going to get any sleep tonight... might as well get some fresh air."
-ROYAL BALCONY, THRONE HALL-
Sakura giggled as the wind played with her locks of auburn hair. She stared at the full moon in the sky, and then to the lake on the horizon.
"Daisuki datta ano uta...
Furui teepu no naka
Chiisana kizu, iroaseta taitoru
Nijinda yoake.
Soshite mata kyou ga kuru
Natsu no kaze wo tsurete
Nareteyuku hibi no katasumi de
Futo kodoku ni deau.
Jitensha de dokomademo
Kaze wo keru hayasa...
Wasurenai..."
Sakura sang her favourite song in a soft voice. Dressed in a white (thick) nightgown, with her hair fluttering in the wind, and her emerald eyes glinting in the moonlight, she truly looked like an angel.
That's how two teenagers with amber eyes symbolized her.
One of them sneaked behind her, and snickered mischievously.
The other just shook his head, mentally hitting himself for thinking in such a way.
Sakura continued singing.
"Lalalala, utaou
Sora wo miagete
Lalalala, it's my life
Aruite yukou.
Watashi no chikara de susumu
Hateshinai kono michi wo."
"GAH!" Zerule popped out of his hiding place and poked Sakura's ribs.
The princess screamed loudly.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHH!!!! GHOSTS!!!!!!" She clamped her eyes shut and delivered blind punches towards her 'attacker'.
Suddenly, a firm hand gripped one of her fists in mid-punch. The other was blocked by an arm.
Sakura, realizing that ghost don't have real hands, opened her eyes half a fraction.
She gasped and backed away.
"G-G-Gomen nasai!" She stuttered, bowing apologetically to Syaoran. He released her hand and shook his arm.
[She can punch hard, alright.] He thought, amused. No-one could hurt him, since he's very well-trained, but Sakura's punch was bound to leave at least a bruise.
Zerule fell onto the ground, laughing, hard.
"Mou, Zerule-kun!" Sakura huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
Syaoran frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Gomen, Sakura-chan! I was just playing around! I didn't think that you would be that surprised!" Zerule said between laughs. Sakura wanted to be mad at him, but she couldn't. Zerule is one funny character.
Sakura grinned and sighed, her hands on her hips. "Zerule-kun, we've been together all our lives! How can you possibly not know about my greatest fear! You're bluffing, Zerule Mekkuno, I know you are!" She accused playfully. Syaoran backed away a bit.
Zerule made stupid puppy dog eyes and got on his knees humorously. "Sakura-chan! How can you accuse me of such outrageous doings! I thought you loved me!" He place his palm to his forehead in a 'damsel-in-distress' kind of way and mock-fainted.
Sakura laughed and smacked his head. It's her famous reply to Zerule's crude jokes.
"You're so lame, Zerule-kun!" She said. Zerule snapped his eyes open and pouted, a.k.a bringing him knees up his chest, sticking his lip out babyishly and facing the opposite way of Sakura.
Sakura giggled.
"Awww... don't be mad, Zerule-kun! I was only joking!" She gave Zerule a peck on the cheek and he sprang up, the twinkle in his eyes coming back to life.
Syaoran rolled his eyes again in a 'you-two-are-just-plain-pathetic' kind of way.
"Ne, Sakura-chan, I need to go now, or Rikmen would notice that I'm gone and then she'd accuse me of flirting with you. Eurgh. Goodnight, Sakura-chan, Li-kun!" Zerule shuddered and left.
Sakura smiled and turned to the moon. Syaoran glanced at her angelic face briefly, and...
He blushed!
Uncool, uncool!
He punched himself and forced his eyes to look at the lake instead.
Sakura turned to him worriedly. "Errr, Li-kun... are you okay? Punching yourself is not good for your health."
"So what?! Who asked you to care?!" Syaoran snapped icily. He blinked when Sakura's face hardened. Then her eyes turned hazy, and tears poured out of them.
"Y-You did, R-Rikei-kun." Sakura said, and Syaoran raised her eyebrows in confusion.
[Rikei? As in... Rikei Dreamon? The prince of the faraway Dreamon Kingdom?] He wondered. Sakura growled lowly and stomped to her bedroom, muttering something that she thought Syaoran didn't hear, but he did.
"I let that bastard's name slip again..."
Atry: Oooooooo! Now who's Rikei? Hehehe... minna-san, excuse the extreme funniness in this chapter, I'm on sugar-high. Sorry if the chapter was a bit short, but I need to concentrate on my schoolwork for a bit. But I promise that the next chapter would be longer! The song is the credit song in the first movie of CCS. I forgot what the title is, but it's nice...
If you're wondering what code Fujitaka was saying... pair the numbers with alphabets. Like: 1 - A, 2 - B, 3 - C, 13 - M...
Ja ne...
AND REVIEW ONEGAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!