Hey guys! Thank you for the Reviews, I'm not going to reply but I will to any questions or really LONG reviews. Here a LONG chapter! (In my head) and their will NOT be any sex, or anything like that, this is only rated T!

Engraved in Stone

Chapter 5, Sleeping Beauty

May 2, 2005

After walking a couple hours, stopping to eat, and heading forward, Sakura's sharp eye caught sight of a village. Syaoran's thoughts were disturbed when a shout of "a village!" was heard from the person beside him. And, indeed, just a short distance ahead stood a gated town with the inscription "Slothania" written in gray letters above the enclosure.

With renewed strength, the two ran to the gates and peered in. The village was unremarkable – it had the basic houses, shops, and castle – save for the three distinguishing figures. First, everything was painted shades of gray. Second, heavily padded benches were installed every few feet along the main street. And third, not a soul was visible.

"Do you think it's deserted?" Syaoran asked.

"There's but one way to find out. I'll knock," said Sakura, grasping a large knocker on the gate. She hammered the heavy piece and someone, who was sleeping on the bench nearest the gate, stirred. Sakura knocked again.

"Go hence," whined an old woman's voice.

"We will not go. We have traveled far today and need a place to rest. We command you to let us enter," said Sakura.

"Not now," replied the voice, yawning.

"But we need help immediately. We demand your hospitality for the night," ordered Sakura. "Get lost," the woman said, more pleading then angry.

Sakura decided to try a new tactic. "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves. I am Princess Sakura Kinomoto of Greycliff and this is my companion, Prince Syaoran Li from Whitehill. Surely your monarch would want you to assist us."

"Move on," she begged them.

Prince Syaoran shook his head and whispered to Sakura, "Sometimes, when words fail, action succeeds." He took hold of the knocker and began hammering without stopping.

"Stop it," the old woman pleaded. She tried to cover her ears and rolled off the bench. As she hit the ground with a thud, her eyes opened. She slowly pulled herself up and shuffled over to open the gate.

"Come in," she said with resignation. Sakura and Syaoran entered quickly, fearing the old lady would shut them out again.

"Join me," the old women said and led them down the main street toward the castle.

"Where is everybody?" Sakura asked.

"In bed"

"Isn't it awfully early for everyone to have gone to sleep?"

"Need sleep."

"Yes, I'm sure they do. To be honest, I'm so tired I think I could fall asleep on this hard road and not wake up for a week. But luckily we found your village and will not have to sleep outdoors." Sakura babbled on about the difficulties of travel, hoping to keep the old woman awake. She noticed the woman's pace had slowed and when they passed a bench she looked at it longingly.

Finally, they arrived at the castle and entered. Inside, everything was a shade of gray. Sakura rather liked the peaceful, bland interior.

The old woman led them down a gray marble foyer to the wide main staircase. "Up there," she said, pointing at the doors on the upper floor.

"Are those our rooms?" asked Sakura.

The old woman nodded. "For you," she answered the she headed to the door. "Good night," she said as she slipped out.

"Why do you suppose that old woman spoke so little?" Asked Sakura as the ascended the stairs.

"Worn out," replied Syaoran.

When they reached the second floor, they opened the doors and discovered a hallway way one door. They walked in, and inside was a big gray bed (to fit the two of them) and a fore place. There was one window, but it was covered with a heavy gray blind.

Sakura and Syaoran looked at each other. Both their faces were red.

"Um, huh… I think that woman thought we were…together," as Syaoran said this, his feelings went overboard with emotion. It would be nice…hey! Wait, what? Oh, god, what's happening? We are here to stop the engagement, not back it up!

Sakura nodded. "Well…what are we going to do?"

"I'll take the floor." Syaoran replied, taking one of the many blankets and pillows from the bed. Sakura's head shot up.

"No. As much as I despise you, I don't want to be considered rude and selfish. We only have two options. One, I can sleep on the floor…or that chair over there. Two, we can sleep in the bed together…get your mind out of the gutter!"

Syaoran sighed. This woman could be so stubborn! He walked over to the bed and got in. Sakura looked at him questionably. "Syaoran…?"

"Get in the bed Sakura."

Sakura looked astonished. "I didn't think you would actually go for that! I simply thought you would let me sleep in the chair. And…and…I need to change!"

Syaoran stared at her. "Change what?"

Sakura's mouth immediately fell open. "My cloths, you dumbass! Turn around!" Syaoran blushed, but complied. "And no peeking or you'll wish you weren't born!" Syaoran said nothing. This is a new side of her…thinking about other people, and letting me sleep on the bed…

"There. Anyway, I am not sleeping on the bed with you! And – " Before she could finish, she was thrown on the bed. Syaoran said, "Oh, shut up. I am not letting you sleep on the floor or thechair either. So we have to go to bed together."

Sakura gave up and blushed when he took off his shirt and slept under the covers. They both were at the end of the bed, but at one point in the night, fell into each other's arms.

Syaoran awakened feeling quite comfortable. And warm. And soft…with something breathing beside him?

Wait a minute…Sakura! And the journey! Oh….

He sighed. He was going to have to get up sometime. He got up, very carefully mind you, as to not wake Sakura. He got dressed, got their bags ready, and went to wake up Sakura.

"Sakura…Sakura...Sakura! Sakura?" She never did wake up, so he swallowed his pride and whispered, "Princess Sakura, wake up."

Nothing.

Damn! I really thought that would work…

He tried everything, but nothing would wake her. He suddenly noticed a little bag lying and the floor. He went up to it and picked it up. It read:

Sleeping Powder.

Sleeping Powder!

The hell with this. He would just have to go see the King himself and ask how the hell to awaken her. Ironic. She was a beauty…Sleeping Beauty…

He smiled to himself. Maybe he could like her. Just a little bit.

As he descended the stairs, Syaoran noticed all of the windows had been draped closed. The only light was the candles lit down the hall. A chill ran down Syaoran's spine.

Over the entrance, a sign read 'Waiting Room To See The King.' The room, which was also entirely gray, had numerous chairs with over-stuffed pillows.

At the far end of the room, slept two members of the roral guard. Finally, the throne room. Syaoran crossed the waiting room swiftly. Posted by the door, he saw a pale gray paper with dark gray lettering the read:

The Royal Schedule

May 22nd

7:30 AM Loll in Bed

8:30 AM sleep at your post

9:30AM idle chatter

10:30AM Catnap

11:30 AM While away the hour

12:30PM Siesta!

1:30PM Dilly dally

2:30PM Nod off

3:30PM Visit Dreamland

4:300PM Fritter away time

5:30PM take your ease

6:30PM feel tired

7:30PM turn in/full night's rest after a long day

Syaoran was surprised to see the full, yet unproductive day. He glanced at the table clock, it read 10:23. Perhaps the king would let him have an audience.

Not wanting to wake the palace guards, Syaoran opened the door and slipped in. Inside he found another room of gray, this one with a cushioned throne that sat in the middle of the room. The king was dozing as his Minister of State droned on about the rising cost of lavender soap.

Syaoran couldn't blame the king for losing interest in such maters; he himself had often drifted off during Sir Roberts lectures. Syaoran cleared his throat loudly and the Minister turned around.

"Ah, young geust, have you come to converse with the king?"

"Yes, I have. I have question I would like to be answered. I would also like to express my appreciation."

"Excellent. And who shall I say is calling?"

"Prince Syaoran Li of Whitehill. And to whom will I be asking?"

"To King Listless of Slothonia." Hearing his name spoken, the king stirred. The minister seized the opportunity and shook him rather roughly. Then he said, "Sire, you have a visitor. Prince Syaoran Li of Whitehill."

The king awakened, stretching and yawning, and the minister added, "May I remind you, Sire, that this is your hour of Idle Chatter. I hope you'll use it wisely. And now, if you'll both excuse me…" The minister gave a yawn, walked over to one of the chairs in the room, sat down and fell asleep.

"My gracious, people seem to need a lot of rest," said Syaoran to the king who perfectly matched the décor. The king had a long gray beard, flowing gray hair, and tired gray eyes. Even his skin, in the pale light, seemed gray.

"Yes, we attend to the necessary rest of all our people and visitors. Out motto is," said the king, pointing to the gray banner hung over the throne," Let no one leave Slothonia … tired."

"As a weary traveler who has benefited from your philosophy, I want to thnk you. Princess Sakura and I spent the night in comfort. But I do wish the know why my…friend has been poisoned by Sleeping Powder. How, do you impose, wake her up?" Syaoran said the last part dryly…Though at sometimes I wish we were more then friends, while others I wish I had never met her. Syaoran thought with an amused grin.

"Ah, yes, the sleeping powder. You see, if no one can sleep, my personal sleeping fairies come and throw some sleeping powder on that person. I'm afraid the onlyway to…wake that…p-person is to…get someone to…kiss her, someone dear to her…" The king just finished the sentence before he fell asleep.

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, hold on a minute there, your asking ME to kiss her…oh, god. Syaoran, seeing no other choice, walking up the their bedroom, look upon the sleep beauty. She was on her back, with her hair flowing around her head…oh, well, here goes his head…

Her lips were really sweet, and tasted like strawberries, but that's not what surprised him, it was the fact that her lips started moving with his. Slowly, ever so slowly, his was giving in, and licked her lip, asking for an entrance.

Just as she opened her mouth, the door knocked.

"Hello? Anyone in here, I want some sleep!" Syaoran immediately pulled away, looked at Sakura's blushing face, and let her go. He mumbled that she should get dressed, and went to go get the door to tell the person one minute. After they were down, they left, not talking to one another, but desiring the taste of one another again…

So, did you like it? R&R!