Hello again, here the next installment of Home Coming. I thank all those that read the first one, and I would also like to extend a thank you to those that actually critiqued this piece.
Noir Rose: Your wait is over and I hope that you continue to enjoy this piece.
Hayai Akurei: You'll find out what happened and there will still be some mystery in it that will be unraveled in later chapters.
Insanity Team: I thank you for the encouraging words and the praise. And here is the next installment. I hope that it keeps up the feel that you liked about the previous chapter.
Sorry to those that like conversationalist type of stories, but this is how I roll the ball.
Cya guys and gals (and teams) later.
PS. If you guys wouldn't mind spreading the word about this, if it isn't too much trouble.
Chapter 2- The Travelers
Together they sat overlooking the setting sun in a world very much different from their own, the world was lush and green. Many plants of varying kinds had covered the landscape so that all that could be seen was the beach near the deep blue ocean. Sun was a brilliant golden color and the sky was just as impressive, without a single cloud in sight. The waves came and went, wetting the sand with each pass. The cliffs above, white in color, and the hillside to their left, the overhang to their right; there they sat. Together, sitting fairly close, within reach of each others hands. There Sakura and Syaoran sat, Mokona sitting in Sakura's lap.
Syaoran's sword resting against a boulder beside them and Sakura's bow standing right beside it. They had just arrived in this world, the world of jungle and mist, of the setting sun. In this moment of peace, they took the time, getting slowly closer to each other. Now their hands, firmly held in each other's grasp, they looked at each other. And with almost a typical reaction, they blushed slightly and continued to stare into each other's eyes.
The sun was now turning a brilliant bright red as it inched it's way closer to the watery horizon. The sea began to turn a slight shade of bright green. The cliffs above them shown clearly of the sunset's brilliant red and the flowers of the plats above shown their beauty in the fleeting moments of the day.
Syaoran glanced over to Sakura and then back over to the hillside and finally back to Sakura. He got up, brushed the sand off his pants and then gave Sakura a final glance before heading up the hillside. He didn't venture far, for he saw the worried look that Sakura gave him. And only to hear her say, "Don't go to far off, Syaoran." He could only respond in the one way he had done for so long. "Okay, Princess." Sakura responded almost annoyed by how he ended the sentence, "Formalities." He only was able to mutter half of his next sentence, "Okay, Princ-" Sakura had interrupted him, "Sakura..." she sounded really annoyed. And with good reason, she only told him this almost every other day, and she was getting fed up with it. "Sa-ku-ra." She continued. Syaoran started to speak, "Prin-, Sakura, gomen." Catching himself before he could finish the first word. She gave him her normal cute smile, only this one enhanced by the sunset, made Syaoran blush a little before he made over the top of the hillside and went off into the forest in search of wood.
Seeing Syaoran head off without her reminded her off those days long ago, when she had been only able to sit and wait for him to return. She didn't like to sit and wait, no matter how mediocre or how dangerous it was; she didn't care. By now she had begun to come to terms that she may never remember that one person in her life, but she had also begun to determine that she was falling in love with Syaoran. The though made her blush slightly, and she gave one of those dreamy looks as she looked at the ground near the sea. Dwelling on other memories, Sakura looked at her bow; it had been a gift from Fai, the now departed Fai.
She was taken aback to one of her lectures with Fai, before he had to leave their group.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Fai questioned Sakura. And Sakura looked him with her determined face and replied, "There is one thing I can't stand, and that's to not be able to do anything to help Syaoran." And Fai continued to add, "But, are you okay with what you're accepting to do?" Sakura looked to the ground and replied after a few long seconds, with an even more determined look and tone of voice, "Yes." "Since, nothing I say will seem to stop you; try your hand at this." Fai handed Sakura a long wooden Bow. Fai then continued, "Try and hit that target out there." He then point to a hay target about 10-20 yards from them. "Okay." Sakura picked up an arrow and drew it back, the expression of pain was plastered across her face as she struggled to draw the bow. She held it at about where her chin was, her hand wavering, she let go the arrow. The arrow flew into the air, just barely missing the targets left side, but there had been some magic stored away in the arrow, as a minor disturbance rushed across the target as the arrow passed.
Fai blurted out, "Very good, Sakura-chan." He said this about as excited as he said most everything else. Sakura looked down at the ground, almost in ashame, a feeling of uselessness and almost mortification had struck her. Fai bent down and placed his hand on her shoulder and spoke again, "There's nothing wrong with missing the first time. We all get better and we all started from the same point." Sakura looked up to him, the feeling passed, but she still felt bad. Fai continued, "You can't get better with magic, this you have to hone." He smiled slightly and looked at the target. "Maybe next time, you'll hit the target. Just keep practicing, but don't over do it, okay? Sakura-chan?"
And the next couple of times she got progressively better and she was getting much better. Although Fai was constantly being slightly surprised at the rate of how fast she was progressing.
Leaving flashback behind her, she came to back in the now semi-darkened world as dusk was setting in. Syaoran having still not returned, Sakura began to feel a slight shiver over take her. Mokona was now asleep. She grasped her bow and quiver within reach and was almost frantically looking about. Either looking for signs of Syaoran or of people who might be the reason for his stall. Then from the hillside came a noise, a breaking stick made a loud crack. She turned to face the sound, bow grasped firmly in hand and an arrow in her other hand. She made out the appearance of a man, she could see his face because the had faded and was just barely visible to see his outline. Then she saw him move slowly down the hillside, cautiously moving a pile of what looked like sticks in his arms. She knew by a small instinct that it was Syaoran, but her hands did not relinquish the bow to gravity. It stayed in her hand and the arrow relaxed a bit, but not far from the bow.
Syaoran now approaching within visible range, began to talk, but paused when he saw the bow in her hand. He continued, "Did something happen, Sakura?" Dropping the sticks and rushing to her side. She released pressure on the bow and Syaoran placed it back by his sword and she cuddled up next to him. "It was nothing." Syaoran accepted, but was semi-aware of the reason. He muttered in her ear, "Gomen, Sakura." Now she got even closer to him and cuddled up even more, her expression was almost grateful, but somewhat more relieved than anything.
She drifted to sleep and her head fell on Syaoran's shoulder, Syaoran putting his arm around her, mainly to keep her from sliding and hitting her head. He looked at her face, and stared for a moment. He gave a very almost happy smile. He may not have liked the fact that she was in danger as often as he was, but he didn't mind, he quite rather preferred her to be able to not be by his side. He too was coming to terms with the fact that he was falling in love with her, and was ready to say. But old demons die hard, as he still was haunted by the fact that she was a princess and he was a commoner. No matter how much he meant to her, deep within his subconscious the feeling still lurked that they couldn't be together when they got back to Clow. A day that he knew might come, he both wanted it and didn't want it at the same time. He stared at her face a while longer before laying her down carefully beside him. He too, then passed into dreams.