)( Is time change!
'…..' thoughts
Chapter 7 Duel
A four year old Syaoran walked the bank of a large river. Gently kicking the loose stones into the rushing water. A scream that pierced the air caused Syaoran to advert his attention from his bored pastime. Gazing upstream, he noticed a little girl had fallen into the rushing river. Without thinking, Syaoran dove into the fridge water. He swam against the current and reached the small child. He tried to swim to the shore, but the racing currents disabled all chances.
The girl he held looked only a year or two younger then he was. She had soft brown hair that was darkened by the water and piercing jade eyes. Syaoran began to shiver from the cold that now seemed to seep into his bones. The little girl seemed to have lost conciseness. A gentle green glow began surround them as Syaoran tried to use what little magic he had to lift them. But his attempt failed, and he tried again. This time a pink glow joined his own power and they began to emerge from river.
Syaoran had no clue of the pink powers origin, but he was grateful for the assistance. Soon the children sat on the bank of the river. The girl still laid without conciseness, her head in Syaoran's lap. A name was being called for in the distance, "…ura, Sakura! " Stirring as if the named called was hers, she raised her hand and searched for his. Finding it she gripped it tightly as if thanking him. That woman that had been calling the name appeared next to the young prince and began to cry. The woman's unbound purplish blue locks cascaded around her skin was perfectly white face. Her tears seemed to ascent the bright blue of her eyes.
Extracting the girl from Syaoran she nodded her thanks to him in a majestic manner. Leaning next to the girl's ear she whispered, "Sakura, Sakura, it is time to awake." Moving her gaze to young prince she voiced her thanks verbally, "I thank you, son of dragon. My name is Lady Nideshiko and this is my daughter Sakura" Nideshiko bowed quickly and wrapped Sakura in her cloak. The child Sakura, was the mother. Syaoran spoke before the pair left, "Someday, I'm going to marry her." The mother smiled as she looked back at the prince, "I know."
The dream faded to a white as the Prince awoke. Sweat covered his bare chest. Meditating he calmed his nerves, but he was unable to return to sleep.
He hoped from his bed and headed to the royal library. Here Syaoran searched for books containing text on royal families. After scanning over half a dozen books he found what he had been looking for, the family Kinomoto.
Its origins traced back to the dawn of Feimie. Below the tree of heritage, was a portrait of the last four last members of the family. Under it the caption read, All killed several years ago due to treason. Looking a picture again, his eyes augmented. The daughter was the child from his memory-dream. Looking harder at it, he imagined her older. His imagination produced an image of the girl he had run into on the streets when her brother had been hung. Syaoran gentle toughed the face of the five year old Sakura. Closing the book, he returned to his room.
The phase of the moon had completed its cycle six times since the Prince's birthday ball. Now a dance was being held for the darkness day of the year. Since the last dance, the chosen ones have completed their individual training.
Sakura lay in bed and looked at the moonless sky. She had awaken from the deep sleep and was waiting for the haziness of slumber to disappear. After a minute had passed and the grogginess hadn't passed she know something was wrong. She could barely make out the dresser that wasn't even five feet from the foot of the bed.
Sakura could hear Mismi moving around her bedside, catching on a couple words of her mumble, "fever, fever." Sakura called for Mismi, her vision still unclear. "Do I have a fever?" Even without her sight, she could feel Mismi frown.
"It is called a Magic Fever , me lady. It is basically the opposite of The Fever . There all of the person's magic is being drained from their body. But in a Magic Fever a person is being with raw power. Most people don't survive it. Sakura, be careful. Gods are very difficult. Don't be an ass and piss them off when you see them." Sakura wanted to respond with a question, but suddenly the haziness changed into a blinding white light. As the light clear enough for her to see again, she stood within a circle of people.
One looked identical to herself, and glancing at others, most looked like people she knew. "Sakura," a man that look similar to Eriol spoke ending her pan of her surroundings, "I am Clow Reed." He pointed to her look alike and began to introduce them. "Hotaru." To Hotaru's right was a man who appeared to be her late brother, Touya. "Asakura." Next to him was a girl who looked like a girl Sakura had met at the ball named Sasaki Rika. "Baelia." On her right was the reincarnation of Yakemazi. "Yolen." To his right - "as you already know - Keroberos, Yue." Next to Yue was a woman like Tomoyo then Clow Reed. "My wife Kaylie." Standing in-between Clow Reed and Hotaru was a man like Syaoran. "And last, Lance."
"We have brought you into this state to inform you that you must reveal your true identity to Syaoran soon. If not, the prophecy will not fulfill and the world will fall into disaster because you cant complete your one simple task." Clow Reed seemed annoyed that Sakura had yet to complete her latest duty.
Sakura felt anger rise in her chest, "I get it. First my mother and now you. I get the GOD damn point! But you don't have to train for being a savior and get everything done for school either. Then you want me to tell my friend that I have been lying to him for years and that he now has to forgive me and fall in love with me!" Clow Reed's look of calm manner faded quickly. A frown took a place on his etched face. "Tell him soon or he will die. At the ball you will go as Sakura. Tomoyo has been sent to help. I have insured that our Prince will recognize you."
"You can't order me arou…" Sakura retorted, but was interrupted. " I can and I damn well will. I have done everything in my power to help you. And I ask you to do one small thing as to go to the ball as Sakura and you Rebel."
"One small thing!" Sakura state with just as willful as the god who stood ordering her around. "I have never asked for any of this. I was CHOSEN! I didn't get a say in it. You want me to save the world that you condemned, but I can't put in my two cents!" Clow Reed looked as if the words Sakura had just spoken had opened a new door in his head. He lowered his eyes and nearly whispered, "I can give you nothing now, but when your job is finished much can be given in return for your service." Sakura looked uncertain but replied, "I understand Clow Reed. Auraguto."
Night of the ball:
Tomoyo had arrived the day before and with two beautiful dresses already made.
Sakura descended down the steps, her gown was spring pink, embroiled by cherry blossoms with both darker and lighter pink, with low neckline and with gold lining. In accordance with the latest fashion, her waist tapered to a narrow point and the gown spread around her like leaves on water. Her auburn hair was in a high pony tail that had curlys. She had some that framed her face and behind her ears. Her hair was decorated with small diamond tiara, earrings that dangled and necklace that glittered from the chandelier. There at the bottom of the staircase was the girl that Syaoran thought he would never see. Wasn't she dead, is she a ghost come to haunt him. Sakura… Tomoyo descended after Sakura. The dress she dawned had a beige embroidered color. The snow fabric rained around her in numerous folds that reached her ankles. The trim was of more beige lace. The sleeves cupped her shoulders. Tomoyo's hair was done in ringlets and a diamond choker was placed on her slim neck. She walked straight to Eriol and they began to dance.
"I hope she goes through with it tonight," Tomoyo spoke as they swept across the dance floor. "Yes," Eriol agreed, "He told me about Sakura. He first met her when he was four and she had fallen into a river. Our dear prince jumped in and pulled her from the rapids. When her mother came over the him, Syaoran told her that he and her daughter were going to wed. Then he did some research and found out she is dead. I guess meeting her tonight shall be a shock." "Anyway, I am glad you came tonight my love. It may be quiet a show soon." Tomoyo blushed and turned her gaze to Sakura.
Sakura slowly walked across the dance floor. Stopped in her tracks she was pulled into a dance in which you traded partners very eight beats or so.
After several men, Sakura arrived in Syaoran's arms, they locked eyes.
Looking down she noted that there was too much to say, but Sakura could say nothing. As it turned out, she didn't have to. She looked up to see him smiling.
He moved slowly at first, his hands slid around her and his lush chocolate brown hair drifted against her cheek. Then she was wrenched from his arms and thrown into another man's. The song ended after another minute. Searching the crowd she caught Syaoran's dark eyes from across the room. Sakura tilted her head in the direction of the garden. Hoping he got her hint she headed off the her training ground outside the ballroom.
Sitting quietly on a bench Sakura waited for the Prince to arrive. Her breath came in quick little gasps. It all came down during this conversation.
Tonight was a night of gentle breezes that caused swirling patterns of the rose petals and cherry blossoms that changed its direction over and over. A kaleidoscope whose pieces were shaken by the winds.
Hearing footsteps Sakura's body stiffened. A hand slipped under her arm from behind her and cupped her breast. She leapt away from the bench and turned to see a drunken Lord starring at her with wobbly eyes.
Sakura caught her breath then took two steps forward and slapped him across his face so hard that he reeled over. Sakura held her now red hand in the other. The Lord smirked," Not the knight in shinning armor you were looking for aye?" Sakura nodded and gave a coy smile, "I don't think I need on." Reaching into the fold of her dress she produced a small concealed dagger.
The drunk Lord rushed her again. Sakura raised the blade to defend herself, but the ripping of fabric stopped her. The dress was too constricting to fight in.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the Lord reaching her. Without thinking her body reacted and slashed the blade across his cheek. Sakura went to step back and tripped on the edge of her dress. Falling onto her back, the dagger flew from her hand onto the grass nearby. The man flew at her and straddled her, pinning Sakura's arms above her head. She tried against him, but in his state he had somehow gotten stronger powers and Sakura was useless.
The man grinned and went to kiss her. Turning her head from side to side she prayed silently for help.
Suddenly the Lord gasped and removed himself from her. He began backing away as Sakura rose to her feet. Glancing over the Lord's shoulder see perceived her savior's face. Syaoran held a sword to the side of the Lord's throat.
"Sir," the Prince spoke in a tone his father would use to a thief who was trying to steal the royal jewels, "Let you hands wander again and they shall be cut from your arm." The Lord nodded his understanding and ran from them. Sakura turned to face Syaoran. Taking a deep calming breath, "Prince, I thank…" "Who are you?" the Prince's cold tone interrupted.
"I am dead but alive, real and yet false, lost but found, I tell truth twined with lies. I am your friend but thou not knowest me." Disregarding her words Syaoran spoke, "I want a name, not riddles." "I have a name that holds no value to you." "It has as much value is I am correct in guessing it." "It is Sakura, fair Prince, and I thank thee for saving me." Kinomoto Sakura, I have found you at last. I have met you twice before. Once saving you from the river and second upon the city street. I have know you for some time now." Sakura lowered her eyes, "I have known thee for a quarter of your life." "You said you in your riddle that you hide behind the mask of another, did you not?" Sakura nodded.
Syaoran tilted her head so she looked him in the eyes. "Are you the Sun fair lady? Or are there other women who train in disguise?" "If there are others, Then they need our help." Sakura pulled from his grasp and began to walk back. Gripping her wrist, Syaoran pulled her back close to him. Putting her hands on either side of his face, she guessed her palms must have felt as hot as her face was upon his cheeks. She pulled him toward her and kissed him slowly, gently. Her every secret desire leaked into this kiss that had been locked away. She let herself drown in the sweetness of the kiss. Then he pulled away and looked at her.
"So you are the awaited Sun. The one I must love. At this moment that doesn't seem to hard of a task." A soft cough interrupted their conversation. Syaoran turned to see Wei nearing him. "Prince, you are missed at the ball," the servant informed him.
"I shall be but a minute Wei," the Prince turned back to Sakura, only to find that no one stood next to him.
Scanning the area near him, the only thing left in his vision was a single feather. Picking up the white utensil of flying, he ran his hand down the sides contorting the perfection it had been. "God bye, Sun"
Sorry I didn't update for so long. I had most of this chapter written for New Year's, but then my computer crashed. Then I got into my school play Beauty and the Beast. Yes, your beloved author didn't play Belle or even a napkin, I was a carrot. A dead sexy carrot too. I doubled as a peasant. So I hope that now that the play is finished, I can write faster I know at the end it goes kinda Shakespeariane, but it just came out that way. TheMysticWarrior