Note: Third chapter… This one's going to be quite long, so bear with me…
Disclaimer: I do not own anything… Poor me… sniff
TSUBASA RESERVOIR CHRONICLES
SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT
CHAPTER 3: REVELATIONS
They were in the castle of the king. In truth, they were still waiting for the king to receive them at the audience hall. Phil had brought them to the castle hours ago and had told them to 'wait for a moment' while he went to inform the king of their arrival. But…
"How much longer are we going to wait!" Kurogane yells from his position against the wall.
The few guards in the room yelped in terror and evacuated the area for the safety of an adjoining room. Syaoran wondered how they were selected to be a castle guard in the first place if they were so easily frightened by… Well, Kurogane IS a bit scary, but that doesn't excuse them from…
"Patience is a virtue, Kuro-rin…" Fai stated helpfully, breaking Syaoran's line of thought and also earning himself a glare from the ninja.
"Yes, yes! Fai-san is right! Kuro--" Mokona quips and was interrupted by a huge fruit-bowl devouring him. (Actually, Kurogane just emptied the contents of the aforesaid fruit-bowl and cupped it over Mokona… Hee hee )
"Mou! You're sooooo mean, Kuro-wan!" Mokona complains, his voice muffled from being under the bowl.
A soft sound of what seems to be a giggle was heard then and they turned their heads in that direction. Sakura was holding a hand over her mouth trying to cover the sound that escaped from her a moment ago.
"I… I'm sorry…" she apologized meekly, observing their looks on her.
"Sakura-chan, it's not wrong to laugh, so don't apologize for it. Besides," Fai added humorously, "Kuro-rin is being really mean to poor Mokona lately…"
"I'm not mean! That manju is always annoying me! …And how many times need I tell you not to call me that!" Kurogane retorts, even louder this time.
"Hiu Kuro-chan is angry…" comments Fai, his usual smile plastered on his face.
Before things could get any worse, Phil enters the room.
"I'm really sorry to keep you waiting. The king is very busy but he is ready to meet all of you now. This way, please," Phil said and lead their group to a very spacious room where a man in his mid-thirties was pacing around.
"Phil? Are these the outworlders that you mentioned?" the man asked and moved towards them in a hurry.
"Yes, sire. I'll take my leave now," Phil bows and exits the room shutting the door behind him.
The man, (who is the king, if you are still clueless) looks intently at them for a while before inviting them to be seated on the chairs in the room. Syaoran noted that he seems agitated for some reason.
"Let's get straight to the point. Phil mentioned that you're looking for the lady's memory-feathers?" the king questioned as soon as they were seated.
"Yes, your majesty. Have you come across it?" Syaoran asks.
"…Y- yes… Yes, I have it once… But it was stolen from me! Phil told you about the incident three years ago, right?"
When Syaoran nodded, he continued:
"My wife… Gwen… she wanted it for herself, that selfish woman… She wanted it's powers so she could control the lives of the people of the land! …She wanted to be god herself!
"I… I tried to stop her… I told her 'no' and she threatened me! I thought it was just her anger speaking so I didn't take her seriously but… the next day… All of the women and children were gone! She… she vanished them… and herself!
"I… tried to find her… and the missing ones… but there were no trail… So… I was afraid… Afraid that she would harm the remaining people of Azurein… I used the power of the God's feather to elevate the whole kingdom into the skies… so she won't be able to find us…
"But… she did! She came here two days ago and… and stole the God's feather! I… was so afraid that she… would cause this city to fall back towards the ground but… she hasn't made it yet… Maybe… maybe soon she'll…
"Oh please! Please, stop her! This city… the people… they're innocent! She… she could take her revenge on me if she wants but… but leave the people alone! Oh god…"
They were pretty surprised by the king's outburst and were silent for along time. The king was making hysterical noises and muttering something incoherent whilst rubbing his hands nervously all the time.
"Syaoran-kun…" Sakura whispers, catching his attention.
He leaned towards her to hear her more clearly.
"Syaoran-kun… I… I think we should help him… It's… all because of me that they're suffering… It's because of my feather…" her voice sounds really depressed.
"Hime…" Syaoran looks at her worriedly. Why has she to suffer so much? It's not her fault that people with greed uses the power from her feather for their own selfish needs… If only I could help ease her pain…
"We'll help you out," Syaoran informs the king suddenly, making the king to stare at him disbelievingly.
"R-really? You're really going to help me?" he asks, his eyes shining.
"Yes. But when we find the feather, we'll have to keep it… It's Sakura-hime's…" Syaoran stresses.
"Oh, of course! It belongs to her after all! I would gladly return it!" the king agrees instantly, smiling so wide.
"She… My wife, Gwen… I think she's with those people who were attacking you yesterday… I… kind of… sensed her presence there… when I still have the feather, that is…
"Be careful! They… will try to turn you against me… I don't know how… But… don't listen to what they say! They're… Oh, what am I saying? I trust all of you completely!
"They live east of this city. Just follow um… the sun… yes, the morning sun! You'll reach their hideout… Please make her… my wife return the women and children of the city… safely… please…" the king finishes.
Quickly rising from his seat, he ran towards Syaoran and grabs his hand, pumping them up and down so hard while thanking him innumerable times before opening the door for them to leave.
As the door shuts behind their backs, Phil approaches them worriedly.
"I hope you'll excuse the king… He's… really depressed on losing the God's treasure…"
"He seems pathetic…" Kurogane exclaims making Phil stiffen and gave him a not-so-friendly look.
"Kuro-wan… You shouldn't say such things about the poor man… He's already so sad!" Fai counters quickly, pouting at the ninja.
Before Kurogane could say any more, Syaoran informs Phil that they would help to retrieve the stolen 'treasure'.
Phil relaxes a little and smiles reluctantly. After escorting them back to his mansion for them to rest and prepare for the journey ahead, he left to perform his duties.
"Syaoran-kun…" Sakura calls him as he sees her to her room later that night.
"Yes, hime?" he replies, giving her a smile.
"Um… thank you…" she whispers, and looks down at her hands.
When Syaoran gave no reply, she elaborates:
"Thank you… for helping me search for my feathers… even when it's so out of your way… you still helped me… Thank you, Syaoran-kun," at this she looks up at him and smiles sweetly.
Syaoran returns the smile and as he closed the door of her room, he leaned against the wall, his face turned upwards.
"Poor kid…" Kurogane thought to himself, hidden in the shadows of the darkened corridor leading to the rooms.
The clouds outside darkened and the rumbling sound of thunder in the distance were heard. It never rains in this floating kingdom, for the kingdom lies above the clouds, but… down below, droplets of water were falling rapidly.
Note: Phew! Another chapter done! I think this is better than the previous one… What do you think?
Anyways, thanks for reading! Drop me a line if there is anything 'off' with the characters or their names or… anything.
Wonder how many reviews I'll get this time?