Angel
Chapter 7
By Sakura aka Michelle
"You gave him the sleeping drug?" Sakura shouted in shock. This was totally unexpected of him, given his cool character even though she has just met him a few moments ago. "Why did you do that? What will happen to him?"
"Relax, the sleeping drug wouldn't kill him," Eriol assured with a smile. "Well, it kind of helped him when he took it the other time."
"But why did you do that?" Sakura demanded and pointed at Tomoyo. "Didn't Tomoyo-chan say only to give him the drug when he refuses to rest?"
Tomoyo nodded her head in agreement and looked at Eriol disapprovingly, "Why did you do that?"
Eriol shrugged and answered, "Well, I thought he needed it this time too. Moreover, this looks like fun."
The whole room turned silent, with Sakura thinking of what will happen to Syaoran, with Eriol grinning like a fool and Tomoyo glaring daggers at Eriol. It was Sakura who broke the silence. "What has the sleeping drug got to do with soul mate?"
Both Tomoyo and Eriol looked at each other before answering Sakura. "You mean you don't know? I thought my sleeping drug is quite well known here? Now you prove me wrong... The sleeping drug I have created has been contaminated by Eriol," she paused to glare at Eriol to emphasize her words. "It's not purely sleeping drug, thanks to him and his idiotic mind, but a combination of sleeping drug and love potion."
Sakura's jaw dropped at Tomoyo's explanation. "Love… Love potion!"
"Yes, love potion. Eriol accidentally, most probably purposely, poured in some love potion into my sleeping drug but nevertheless, the sleeping drug works perfectly except for some minor side effects when the person wakes up. Well, it would not be dangerous to you unless you are his soul mate. And it will only last a day after the person woke up."
"What is this side effect that we are talking about? Why is it dangerous only to soul mate?" Sakura asked, scratching her head in confusion. "I don't see any connection though."
Tomoyo blushed, "I don't think you need to know what are the side effects since you are not Li-kun's soul mate. You need not be afraid. We have something to attend to now, so we'll leave Li-kun under your care. Come on Eriol."
"Please excuse us," Eriol said. "We've just arrived at the castle and the servant is about to show us to our guestroom where we will be resting for the rest of the day, followed by a short meeting with the king late in the evening. We shall be on our way then. Take care of our beloved Prince Li then," he added with a wink and then the two of them were gone, leaving a very confused Sakura in the room with the sleeping Syaoran.
"What is going to happen?" Sakura asked aloud even though she knew that no one would answer her. She walked to the bed and pulled the covers over Syaoran, surprising herself with her act of concern. What's happening to me? Is this because Princess Sakura pleaded me to take care of him? Or… She shuddered, afraid to continue thinking. She pulled a chair beside the bed, sat down and stared at the sleeping Syaoran. He looks much more kawaii when he is sleeping… He can be nice when he is not barking… Oh, what am I thinking? I must stop thinking now…Stop thinking…
Sakura was awaken by a warm hand against her left cheek. I fell asleep? Who… She almost screamed when she opened her eyes to see a dark shadow right in front of her. "Hoe… It's you, Li-kun," Sakura breathed out and relaxed visibly. How long have I slept? "I thought it was someone else. Anyway, how are you feeling? Has the fever gone down yet?"Sakura was awaken by a warm hand against her left cheek. She almost screamed when she opened her eyes to see a dark shadow right in front of her. "Hoe… It's you, Li-kun," Sakura breathed out and relaxed visibly. "I thought it was someone else. Anyway, how are you feeling? Has the fever gone down yet?"
She reached out a hand to touch Syaoran's forehead to check for any signs of fever but was intercepted by him, who held her hand to his chest. I could feel the beating of his heart… Oh! What am I thinking? Sakura blushed and stammered, "Wha- What are you doing, Li-kun? The fever hasn't gone down yet?"
"It is an honour to be taken care of by you, my dear princess," Syaoran replied and bent to place a kiss on the back of Sakura's hand. "I shall hand over my life to you as a token of appreciation."
"What are you talking about, Li-kun?" Sakura asked and tried to pull away her hand from his grasp but to no avail. "You must still be having a fever! Wait… Is this the side-effects Eriol-kun and Tomoyo-chan mentioned?"
Syaoran pulled Sakura to her feet and pulled her close; so close that Sakura could feel his breath against her cheek. "So that favourite couple is here again," he drawled out. "Shall we go and greet them?"
Sakura struggled against Syaoran, whose grip on her was too strong to be overcome. "No!" she protested. "Not in your current condition!"
"You don't have much of a choice," Syaoran smiled and half dragged and half carried the unwilling Sakura along into the throne room, where he knew the rest were.
"Ah, it is really good to see the two of you again after such a long time," King Fujitaka drawled when he spotted Tomoyo and Eriol at the entrance of the throne room and his eyes lit up immediately. "Come forward, my dear child."
"We say it has been the same for the two of us," Eriol replied with a smile as he walked forward with Tomoyo. "I believe everything has gone well for you too, Prince Touya."
Touya, who was standing beside his father on the throne, glared at Eriol but made no reply. Other than Syaoran, Touya also dislike Eriol as much as he disliked Syaoran for a reason he did not know. I just don't like him at all…
"Uncle, is it true that Sakura is out of the castle for a mission? Eriol told me so, though I really wondered how he knew about this considering we both came here together…" Tomoyo asked. "Can you withdraw the mission and let her come back? I've missed her so much; it has been years since I last saw her. We have a lot of catching up to make."
Fujikata looked surprised for a moment and flicked his gaze to Eriol accusingly. "My dear child," he addressed to Eriol. "You have just complicated the matter but I do not blame you though. You have her best interests at heart."
"I don't understand what you are trying to say, uncle," Tomoyo said confusingly.
"Tomoyo-san," Fujikata started with a hint of regret in his voice and Tomoyo suddenly felt herself trembling. "Please forgive us for not telling you earlier…" he trailed off, unable to continue with the lump in his throat.
"Wha- What is this all about?" Tomoyo urged, feeling a bad premonition. "Has something happened to Sakura?"
"Tomoyo dear," Eriol continued for the King. "Sakura was… unfortunately killed by the dark forces years ago…"
Fujikata nodded sadly, his eyes downcast, while Touya made a funny sound that sounded like he was trying to refrain from crying. Tomoyo stared at them, not believing her ears. She turned to Eriol and asked shakily, "That's not true is it? This is just a joke right?"
"Get a hold of yourself," Eriol urged when Tomoyo turned hysteria.
"Get a hold of myself?" Tomoyo asked incredulously, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "How can I do that? You've been lying to me all these years about Sakura! Why didn't you tell me? Why?"
"We are so sorry about it," Fujikata said. "But we do not want you to be sad and I am sure Sakura-san would not want you to be sad too. She pleaded us not to tell you about her death."
"Why did this happen?" Tomoyo screamed. "Didn't Li-kun protect her? Li-kun… he's the best sorcerer in Emerenia! How could he let Sakura die? How could he?"
Just then, the door to the throne room burst open, revealing a disheveled Syaoran and an indignant Sakura. "Hello everyone!" Syaoran greeted cheerfully. "Did you interrupt anything of importance?"
"Li-kun!" Tomoyo shouted and ran to the couple. "You are the only one I can trust now. Tell me... Did Sakura really die? Did she?"
Syaoran was silent for a moment but he turned back to Sakura, who was hiding behind him in order to escape the notice of the intelligent Tomoyo. "She did die and I wasn't be able to be there to defend her. I myself was detained by the dark forces and by the time I got to her side, it was already all too late for anything to change. I couldn't help her… But nevertheless, she has returned and it does not mattered anymore whether she has died that time," he replied and pressed a quick kiss on Sakura's forehead and she blushed in response.
"Tomoyo-chan, please hear my explanation," Sakura pleaded hastily. "Li-kun is not in his right frame of mind to answer your questions. Things aren't like this!"
"If Sakura is dead, then who are you?" Tomoyo asked, nearly spitting fire at her suspiciously. "Who are you?"
"Tomoyo dear, she means no harm; she's here to help us," Eriol assured and tried to drag her away from Sakura.
Tomoyo pulled free, ignoring Eriol totally, and she hissed at Sakura, who shrank further back into Syaoran's back. "I… I…" Sakura started but stopped when she realized that she could not find the right words to help to explain the situation.
"Daijouji-san, I would appreciate it if you would stop your tactics instantly; you are frightening Sakura," Syaoran spat angrily as he stood forward to block Tomoyo's view of Sakura.
Sakura pushed past Syaoran to stand before Tomoyo without any expression on her face. "I wish to clear some misunderstanding between us. Please hear me explain."
"Shoot," Tomoyo said impatiently and crossed her arms across her chest. "You are wasting my time."
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Sakura started, "I am Kinomoto Sakura from the future who came back here in the past by chance to complete what Princess Kinomoto Sakura could not finish and that is to eliminate the dark forces. I am not here to take the place of the princess and I will return as soon as I have completed my task."
Stunned by her speech, no one spoke or moved for at least a whole five minutes. Sakura fidgeted uneasily by the tense atmosphere within the throne room. "Did I say anything wrong?" Sakura asked quietly and lowered her head, feeling the hot flush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
"Are you really Sakura?" Tomoyo asked shakily, her eyes shimmering with tears which flow freely like torrents down her cheeks. "Can I believe your words? I… I want to believe…"
"You can trust my words. In return, I wish you would continue to make beautiful gowns and dresses for me like before," Sakura said with a shaky smile, remembering her same cousin of the future. "You make the most gorgeous clothing."
"How did you know that?" Tomoyo asked incredulously.
"Now that everything is settled," Syaoran exclaimed and drew Sakura nearer to him. "May I have some time alone with my wife?"
"Wife?" Sakura asked, wide-eyed. "Princess Sakura is your wife? I thought the two of you are like friends or something like that?"
"Unhand my sister at once!" Touya's voice boomed in the throne room. "I said unhand my sister!"
Syaoran made a face at him and made no attempted to release the blushing and confused Sakura. "Li-kun! Let go of me!"
"Never," he replied and kissed Sakura soundly in front of the many people in the throne room.
Tomoyo giggled at the scene and leaned closer to Eriol. "It seems like we are back to the same old days aren't we?"
"Yes, of course," her husband replied. "Except that this time Syaoran is under the influence of the love potion or else this actions would not have occurred. That besotted guy."
"You are the reason that he's behaving this way," Tomoyo reminded him. "However, I should thank you for that. Or our little problem would not be resolved this easily."
Eriol laughed, "Our dear Prince Li will not like it when he awakens from the influence of the love potion. I dread what he will do to me."
"Throttle you to death like the other time?" Tomoyo provided. "I believe you love to see his reactions when the influence of the love potion died down."
Eriol nodded with a smile as he recalled how Syaoran reacted the other time. "Naturally. It is a rare treat to see Syaoran that orientated."
Suddenly, Syaoran and Touya broke into a fight. Sakura was powerless to stop it from happening. Tomoyo just giggled at the scene; it has always happened before when the princess was alive and to see it happening again after all these years really brought a smile to her face. Eriol snickered as he cheered for Syaoran. Fujikata shook his head disapprovingly but made no move to stop them. It was refreshing to see this scene again.
"Mou! Stop them!" Sakura's helpless wail echoed in the room and everyone, except the two who were fighting, laughed helplessly at the scene.
Sorry it took so long for this chapter to come out. I hope this chapter is fine as it is. Any comments are welcome. So Syaoran fought with Touya under the influence of the potion. What will happen to Syaoran when the influence of the potion died down? Stay tuned.