Note: I'm updating this a little early. Instead of Wednesday, its…well it's Tuesday. Sometimes I'll be a little late or early, depending on whenever I have time. Okay? So don't like panic or anything if I don't update on time or whatever. I have a lot to do and all, but I'll try to update my profile every Sunday night, so check it out every Monday, okay? Thanks!
Defying Rule
The sun was already shining intensely when Sakura woke up. She really didn't know what to do. Sakura simply felt tired and depressed. She couldn't visit Syaoran, she didn't want to go to breakfast, and Tomoyo had gone with her father on a trade mission, so poor Sakura didn't have anything to do.
Why did everything end up so wrong? She really didn't want anything else but to see her beloved Syaoran. She sighed. Sakura dressed, washed and made her way to the astronomy tower. At least from there, she would be able to see the digging site.
At the digging site…Toya scowled at the horrible ruins of the desert surrounding his kingdom. He didn't want these idiots tearing up his beloved land! Why the hell did he even let the stupid kids do their archaeology, or whatever, here! He deeply regretted it.
He had come here to check the progress on the twerps' work, but so far, he was very disappointed. All Toya saw was a rather wide expanse of mess. His heart ached when he saw his beautiful land being torn up like this. He didn't think he could take it any longer. He turned around and yelled, "Yukito! I'm going back to the castle! Finish up your observations and meet me in the throne room!"
And with that, Toya stalked back to his castle.
Back in the palace…Sakura felt lonely and sad as she looked out at the surrounding desert. She wanted to cry. This was her home…so isolated and lonely. No visitors, little help, and when there were finally people to talk to, she was forbidden to see them.
Never had Sakura wanted more than to hurt Toya. He was so mean to her…wasn't he supposed to be her brother? Toya had always taken care of her, but why was he mad at her for going to see the archaeologists? It surely wasn't a crime, and there was nothing harmful about them!
Suddenly, in the distance, she saw a figure clad in black approaching from the digging site. Sakura wondered who it could be. Had someone gone to the digging site this morning? She hadn't been awake then, so she couldn't answer her own question. The only thing she could do was stand at the circular window and watch.
As the black figure approached, Sakura could barely discern the face. Toya! What had he been doing at the digging site? Had he just been there to…no. Toya wouldn't do that. He wasn't that rude to people…or was he? Was it possible that Toya had been at the digging site to cause trouble for the young archaeologists?
Sakura leapt up at the thought. Would Toya dare? But if he wasn't at the site to cause trouble, then what did he want there? Sakura panicked. What was she going to do. She wrung her hands in distress. There was no way the guards would let her out of the city gates to the digging site. Toya had alerted them and warned them not to. The only way to get there would be to…oh. My. God. Sakura wasn't going to even consider the option. That would be betrayal and slaughter! How could she even have thought of the option to kill the guards!
She chewed on her fingernail and thought as hard as she could. Somehow, she had to get to the digging site to find out what happened. Sure, curiosity killed the cat, but then again, satisfaction brought him back. Either way, Sakura wanted to know what was happening. She wasn't going to be the good little girl stuck in her tower waiting for a handsome prince to save her. She was going to find her own prince.
Sakura ran to the door of the astronomy tower and wrenched it open. She descended the spiral stairs and ran across the corridor to the stairs that led to the third floor. She had an idea, and at the moment, that was all that mattered.
By the time Sakura reached her bedroom on the third floor, she was panting and out of breath. She opened her closet, dug around the piles of clothes, and pulled a long, midnight purple cloak from the bottom. She pulled her pointed slippers off and put her feet into an ordinary pair of brown leather slides.
Pulling the dark cloak over her head, Sakura exited her bedroom and descended the stairs to the second floor. Quietly, she crept in the shadows of the corridor. If Toya caught her, he would be furious and most likely lock her in her room. When she reached the Grand Staircase, she knew that this was her only chance to get outside. If she dashed out the stairs, turned left into the kitchen, and out the back door, she would make it. However, if someone spotted her before she reached the exit, she would be back in her room, locked.
Sakura took a deep breath, and ran down the stairs. She continued running towards the kitchen. Once in front of the closed kitchen door, Sakura gave a sigh of relief. She had made it so far, she was almost sure that she could get through the kitchen. According to the small antique clock that hung on display on the kitchen door, it was ten o'clock in the morning. The cooks would start preparing lunch at eleven.
Hesitantly, Sakura pushed open the kitchen door. She almost cried for joy when she saw that the kitchen was empty. She entered the kitchen and stole across the clean white tiles and out the back door. She gasped as she burst out into the fresh air. She smiled as small stray cats leapt out of her way.
She left the alley, out into the open street. Sakura tugged her hood over her head so that it fell in a shadow across her face. Hopefully, no one would recognize her or take the time to look closely, under her hood.
She set a brisk pace for herself and walked toward the main gates. Entering the stream of people on the streets, Sakura was almost sure than nobody would see her. The only complication was getting past the guards at the gate. Since few people ever came or left the village, the main gates was rather desolate compared to the bustle of the cobblestone streets.
Sakura walked towards the patrolling guards. They hardly glanced at her as she walked by. They obviously didn't know who she was, and most likely didn't care. Sakura smiled secretly under the dark shade of her hood. Her plan had succeeded.
In the throne room…Toya sat on his throne, furious at the news he had heard. Obviously, when he had sent his servant to go fetch Sakura…she…she…she hadn't been in her room! The thought pissed Toya off more than anything. He was so angry with her now. He had just wanted to see his happy little sister to cheer him up, and now she wasn't there! He grumbled angrily. Women. Toya thought contemptuously. When you need them most, they're never there, but when you want them to shut up and go away, they're all over you.
Suddenly, the door to the throne room opened and a cheerful Yukito walked in. He was smiling and whistling a merry tune. It incensed Toya even more. No one had a right to be happy if he, the king wasn't! His scowl deepened. What was wrong with the people here?
"Your majesty! Why the look on your face? Is it not a day to be merry?"
"Merry! No! My sister is missing, you're irritating me, and the stupid twerp is ripping up my kingdom!" Toya exploded. He collapsed back onto the soft cushions of the throne. His temples were throbbing, and they hurt. He just wanted stupid Sakura to come back and for the Syaoran guy to leave.
Out of the castle walls…Sakura laughed joyfully as the palace fell back behind her. She had escaped! She picked her way through the sand, toward the digging site. She was finally free… and she would be able to see Syaoran! She skipped onwards. She wanted to see Syaoran so badly, she simply couldn't wait to arrive at the digging site!
When she got to the site, everything seemed perfectly normal. The young men were digging patiently into the sand and studying the small artifacts they had managed to find. Sakura smiled, her heart soared with joy. So Toya hadn't been here to make trouble. He had been here to…to what?
Sakura scanned the scenery and spotted a grim-faced Syaoran at the same collapsible table before, studying another chart. She lowered her hood and made her way toward him. She could feel the young men's stares around her. They were probably wondering what she was doing here…
Sakura ignored the uncomfortable feeling. Reaching Syaoran, she tapped him on the should to get his attention. He raised his head and gave a start. She smiled. He looked so cute when he was like that!
"Your highness! What brings you here?"
"I saw my brother coming back from here earlier, and I wanted to know what he had been doing here, so I came to ask."
Syaoran's eyebrows converged in the middle as he frowned. He didn't want to be rude, but he needed to tell this girl that she needed to mind her own business. How was he going to do that?
"You highness, business between you brother and I are private. I cannot tell you."
Now it was Sakura's turn to frown. Why was Syaoran being so weird? She was the princess for Heaven's sake! He could tell her! She wouldn't tell anyone!
"Why can't you tell me? Toya would've told me, but I didn't see him, so I came here instead."
It wasn't completely true, but at least Syaoran would tell her then.
Syaoran hesitated. If he told her, he might get in trouble, but if he didn't tell her, he would probably get in trouble anyways. He sighed, defeated.
"Alright, well Toya just came here to see our progress that's all. Nothing important."
Sakura gave a sigh of relief. She knew Toya wouldn't be so horrible! She smiled as she looked at Syaoran. His eyes looked so desperate for something…but Sakura couldn't tell what it was. What did he want?
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