Touya woke up that morning with an extra burst of energy. Today was the day his sister was going out with that brat and he was going to make sure nothing happened between them. He dressed as quickly as possible, grabbed some bread from the kitchen and made his way to the stables.
"Hoe?" Touya turned abruptly to the sound of his sister's voice. She was in her casual riding clothes and looked more like a tomboy than normal. She was staring at him with those big green eyes of hers as if wondering why he were there. As if to prove his thoughts she asked, "Touya, what are you doing here? I thought…"
"You thought what?" He put the saddle on his horse and began adjusting the straps.
"Well, um, just that you would still be asleep…" She went to her own horse's stable and scratched her muzzle, initiating a loud bray from her horse.
"Does it bother you that I'm not?" His gruff voice made her jump a little.
"No. I was only curious," she said a little defensively, preparing her horse as well.
"I'm going out to town today too." He hooked one foot into the stirrup and swung himself a top his horse. His horse swung his head to the side and neighed. Touya patted its head soothingly and tried to bring it forward out of the stable. Sakura watched as her brother rose a way and wondered if Yukito would be going with him.
"Yukito…" Sakura sighed, remembering how wonderful he had looked when he visited a few days before.
Her horse neighed, snapping her out of her reverie. Sakura got on her horse the same way Touya had, but with less finesse. "Come on Hikari! Let's go see Syaoran!"
………..
"So how much are you going to ask for?"
A man chuckled heartily. "How much would you? The man's wealthy."
"A good $3,000 I s'pose."
"Then I'll ask for 4,000."
………..
"Sakura, there you are!" She smiled and hopped off Hikari, then tied her up at a post. "Where are we shopping today?" Syaoran began walking in pace by her side.
"First the flower shop. My friend runs it and he'll give me anything I need."
"Does that mean we're looking for seeds?" He suddenly had an irritated look on his face, his eyes shifted directions.
"Peony seeds!" She briskly entered yelling, "Yamazaki!"
The harsh pounding of rushing footsteps could be heard before a young man looking to be in his early twenties, the same age as Sakura, appeared from inside a small hallway. "Sakura! Are you adding to your garden already?"
She laughed it off while scratching her head. "Yeah… This time I'm putting in peonies. Do you have any seeds?"
He seemed to ponder this for a moment. "Peonies, like the flower that is said to be a symbol of love, or new beginnings?"
"Yamazaki-i!" A screeching voice was heard before a flying object came through the hallway and nailed the poor young man in the head.
"Sorry, sorry! Yeah I have some, but it's only a small pouch." He frowned, thinking she'd probably want more than that.
"Okay! I'll take them!"
The entire time Syaoran stood beside her completely dumbfounded.
When the two left the shop neither could help looking at the other, admiring each other's assets. Syaoran wondered where Sakura kept outfits like the one she was wearing, and her other clothes for that matter. Someone like her must have had a large variety of clothing to choose from.
Sakura on the other hand wondered why Syaoran would bring a riding outfit to visit when it would only be such a short time.
"Ne, Saku."
"Yeah?"
"Do you want to find some new clothes? Anything you want, I'll buy it for you. Maybe you can come back home with us and stay for awhile. It'd be nice to have those clothes with you." I hope that sounds like a good excuse.
"No thanks. I don't think dad would let me."
………..
"Thank god! Good girl Saku! The guy's a creep…" Touya kept his voice down low, spying from as far as he could get and still hear.
………..
Dinner that night went unusually well, Touya and Syaoran glaring but no harsh words being spat across the table. The adults talked endlessly, as if they hadn't seen one another just yesterday, still having an infinite source of dinner topics.
When the Li's had left the Kinomoto family decided on an early night of sleep. Sakura was going to be well energized for her day of gardening. Touya was going to help and then have a date with Yukito, while Mr. and Mrs. Kinomoto would be working diligently at their posts. Auntie Momo followed Sakura up and helped her get read for bed, an excuse to lecture her about lessons in love. Very soon the house was silent, all lights out and absolutely no movement anywhere.
In the middle of the night, this all changed. Three figures quietly opened a window and snuck in, making their way up the grand staircase. The three slithered down the main hallway until one noticed an embossment in a door—the cherry tree. It was her room. Just as quietly as they had slipped into the house, they crept into her room. Sakura was sprawled across her bed in deep slumber, giving the men the perfect opportunity. Without even time to wake up, a cloth was put over her mouth, a confirmation she was knocked out.
Two figured stormed her room grabbing suitcases and filling them with under garments, dresses, and any kind of clothing they could find. She may have been captured, but they sure as hell would treat her humanely.
One figure swooped her into its arms, still draped in the bed sheets, while the others carried suit cases and made sure the escape was perfect.
Unfortunately no one heard them enter or leave, meaning the search for Sakura wouldn't begin until morning.
………..
"Uhnn…" Sakura's face scrunched together, a hand going to her head. Why do I have this headache? She opened her eyes, trying to focus on what was wrong. This isn't my room… Where am I? Panic began to strike Sakura. Oh no! I've been kidnapped! Or, or… She couldn't even think of the possibilities.
"Good morning."
Sakura's eyes tried focusing in on the male that had spoken. That skin, that hair…those eyes! "Syaoran!" she felt the blood pulse to her brain and then the unwelcome pain again.
His eyes narrowed, a scowl forming on his face as if it were the most natural thing. "Don't call me that. It's Li to you."
She searched his eyes, feeling her body move against the backboard in fear. He was terrifying, brutish and vile. How had he hidden this nature so well? He came closer to her, a smirk growing on his lips. "Don't come any closer!"
"Haha! Or what? You can't hurt me." His grin grew and he crawled on top of the bed like a feline stalking its prey. When he saw the fearful tears staining her face he felt a small bit of remorse, but it vanished when he remembered his duties. His hand reached out and trailed up her leg, feeling the shivers coming from her body. She made small noises, eliciting a groan of pleasure from her captor. He let his hand travel up her body, the silky cool fabric of her nightgown being a perfect catalyst. His finger went lightly up her stomach, chest, and finally all that was beneath his palm was her skin as he cupped her cheek. He spoke in a low, gruff voice, "You're mine now, and I don't give a damn what you say. You aren't getting away from me until the ransom's paid. That's if it gets here in time." He snickered, leaning in to her. She tried flinching away but his hand gripped her harder. "You can't escape," he whispered, his breath caressing her skin. He tilted her head up and began trailing his lips down her neck teasingly, stopping at the crook of her neck and kisses it. Unable to control himself he began suckling there on her pulse; her breath quickened and her tears stopped flowing. He was working harder, father until—
A knock at the door interrupted the moment before it opened. "Sir, the ransom's been posted." The man seemed unfazed at the scene before him, after all, he'd walked in on this a lot before.
"Hn." That was all the other man needed before he walked out, leaving the two alone again. Syaoran brushed his nose against Sakura's chin. "Where were we…?"
"Why did you kidnap me?" Her voice quivered and she tried moving her head away.
"Isn't it obvious?" He kissed just under her mouth, eliciting another shiver.
"But…why do you want money from my father? Why me? What did we ever do to you? You think it won't go without a fight do-"
His mouth came over hers, kissing it into a gentle silence. He pulled his lips away and brushed his hand over her hair, petting her affectionately. He noticed the soft, dazed look in her eyes and smiled inwardly. If they got away quick enough, maybe, just maybe he would stand a chance. "It wasn't my idea, love. It was my crew's." He bent his head to take her lips again, but she began speaking again.
"Don't call me love! You hardly even know me! The hell kind of crew do you have! Let me go!" The tears were flowing again and Sakura closed her eyes, trying to subdue the racing thoughts. My first kiss! Kidnapping me is one thing, but that's inexcusable! I just hope he doesn't…do anything.
He pulled away, immediately feeling for the poor girl. How could he do something like this to one of his childhood friends? She was so sweet and undeserving. He moved himself to sit beside her and pulled her close to him, holding her in his warm embrace. He sighed as she continued to cry into his chest, making him feel like hell. He so wanted to tell her he was sorry, that he'd never meant to hurt her, but he couldn't say that. He didn't even know who she was until he saw her again, thinking it was pure luck Tomoyo was friends with her.
His parents hadn't even known about the plan to kidnap her; they wouldn't ever allow it, he knew. They were more respectful pirates than that, not to mention retired. If eh were younger, he knew he'd be in for a scolding, but because he was older, the most they could do was lecture or disown him. They'd always been prideful—kidnapping wasn't in their vocabulary. Just fight and plunder, kill if need be. His father was good at that. Syaoran was almost sad that he had quit. He could have become more wealthy, but instead decided upon being a blacksmith. He also knew his father couldn't become an aristocrat again—he'd been shunned by most of the town when the information had leaked about his past. Moving had been the best option, but with nowhere to go he'd resorted to pirating again until he'd decided on a good future for he and his family. Syaoran still remembered the day when he became a crew member on a pirate ship.
"Syaoran, where've you been?"
He was grinning as wide as a cheshire cat. "I've joined a crew. I want to be a captain like you one day."
His father had smiled, obviously pleased with the news. "I'm proud of you! Just follow your heart."
Those words had meant so much to him.
He felt hands on his face and looked down at the girl in his arms. She was looking at him pitifully, sorrowfully. Could she sense his apprehensiveness? He felt her hand snake around to the back of his neck and he scrunched his brows, giving her a look of confusion. Her face was coming closer to his, her eyes closing. He felt her lips close against his; he slipped his tongue against her lips and felt her immediately pull away. Too good to be true. I knew it. He lifted her up and sat her in his lap, wrapped his arms protectively around her and the two of them fell asleep.
…………
"Captain, we've got everything loaded on the ship. We're ready to leave port whenever you are."
Syaoran looked to Sakura then back at his first mate. "I'd say we're ready. You know where to take us. I'll be back up when you need me." He tipped his hat and led Sakura down to his room. Instead of his more noble clothing he wore now clothing that made him look more like the pirate he was. He wore a khaki colored pantaloons, black boots and a loose, white frock, his green jacket slung over his shoulder.
Sakura had changed also into one of her gowns, blushing when she heard his men and packed her clothing. She was now in a simple baby blue dress with ruffling lining the neck line and white lace down the torso, lining the bottom of her sleeves and the skirt. When Syaoran had seen her in it he told her rather curtly that she looked "pleasant." None the less she had secretly appreciated the compliment from her captor. She knew it was wrong, but something about him really attracted her. Sakura decided she definitely would not fall for him, no matter how hard he seemed to try.
"Sakura." His hard eyes were burning on her. He tossed his jacket casually onto some furniture, never breaking eye contact. She felt herself squeak out a meek "yes" to which he quickly responded. "Your father is going to give us ransom money, but little does he know, his baby Sakura is already being taken away. They'll never find you…" She wanted to cry again, but standing in the face of danger kept her from letting them fall. "And maybe the ransom money won't be paid, and he'll spend a lot of time trying to find you. He'll become desperate."
"And what then?" Her voice had been a whisper. She had hoped to sound stronger than that.
"You'll see. Till then, you're with me. While you're on my boat, you obey my rules."
She felt herself nod meekly and he immediately walked past her. "You'll sleep here with me at night. I know you'll ask why," he whispered the last sentence breathily, "I gotta keep you away from the damn crew."
She kept her head low and turned toward him, her steps light as she walked to an ornate chair. He is more talkative than I would have thought. He isn't at all as nice as I thought either but…somehow… She sat down, her dress puffing up a little in front. She laid her hands in her lap and couldn't keep from looking at their intricacies.
He was looking out the window, a whimsical look to his features. His gaze was heavy, contemplative and unnerving. A flock of sea birds flew past, his eyes never wavering. His breathing evened, slow and heavy. He'd already done it. He couldn't turn back now. It was too late.
Hope you enjoyed! I know typing all this was… "fun." Sure wish I got some reviews on chapter 3… But I'm not going to press for them. It just makes me happy when I get some, you know?