Chapter 6: Meetings

Note: The punctuation for thoughts and the like has also been changed somewhat as some of my other symbols cannot be published.

"Hush…it's alright Sakura…it's alright…I'm here…"

Sakura turned her glassy eyes to stare up at him, and suddenly seemed to collapse out of her rigid state. She dissolved into tears and encircled her arms around him, seeking comfort in his embrace.

"I let her die, onii-chan…I let her die again…"

-------------End of previous chapter---------

He held her sobbing form gently in his arms, soothing her under his breath, muttering words that did not make much sense. But he knew they had a calming effect on her, and that was enough. The throbbing in his chest coiled and expanded, and he stifled his own response to the emotion, knowing that she could feel his distress.

Sensing a movement behind him, he shifted his head slightly towards the door. That was when he saw that chestnut haired boy looking at him… no, at the sobbing form of his sister, from the doorway, and they glared at each other.

--What are you doing here!? Stay away from my sister, or else… --

He let his hostility show in his eyes, letting the boy know that his presence here in the same room as his sister was definitely not welcome.

--None of your business. I won't bother either of you.--

With a flat glare, Syaoran swept out of the room.

He snorted slightly under his breath and looked straight at Tomoyo. He had been aware of her presence all along, for she was never far from Sakura. This was something which he was profoundly grateful for, for Sakura took great comfort in her presence. Looking straight at her, he flicked his eyes briefly towards his sister, while keeping up a low continuous stream of soothing words to calm Sakura. Tomoyo caught his meaning and came towards them, covering up her surprise at his appearance. The questions could come later, Sakura was more important.

"Sakura…hush, we're all here for you…Please, let's leave this room and let the prince and the king have their privacy…Sakura…"

(Sakura)

Sakura lifted her red, puffy eyes towards her, before looking around slowly. Seeing the two dismal forms of the royal family standing vigil at the bedside, her eyes brimmed over again. Looking away, she allowed herself to be led away by both her brother and cousin.

--I'm sorry…I was unable to do anything…--

It wasafter she had walkedout the doorthat she suddenly realised just who it was that she had seen at the bedside. No, it could not be…but she could not be mistaken. She half turned around, her eyes searching, throwing a disbelieving look right at the bedside. Right at Eriol's tear-stricken, despairing face.

"Tomoyo…is that…"

Her face turned even whiter than before, and her emerald eyes pierced Tomoyo's heart as Tomoyo saw the look of horror in her frail cousin's eyes.

"Sakura, Eriol…is the prince…Sakura, look at me, it's not your fault, Sakura!"

The last was said in a terrified shriek as Sakura sank down to the floor, her legs unable to hold her. Touya immediately held his sister and tried to shake her out of her reverie, calling her name in a frantic voice, to no avail. She seemed to hear a roaring in her ears and couldn't hear anything…Her mind threw half-formed thoughts at her, and the whirling thoughts only intensified her disorientation.

--Eriol was the prince? But…but…It wasn't possible...--

"I'm always living in the shadow of my family. Sometimes I wish that people would see me for who I am, instead of only being the son of my father and mother…"

She started, her mind suddenly understanding those words that Eriol had once told her a very long time ago. They had been children then, and Eriol had been very upset. She had comforted him as best as she could and led him off to play, but had never realised the significance of his words, until today.

--No…Please tell me it isn't true…that I had only been able to watch on and see your mother die without being able to help…--

She vaguely remembered his mother's smile and the way she always smelled of flowers. Her face in her young memory was sketch at best, but it did resemble her majesty, only that she hadn't realised it previously in her haste.

She saw her mother again, laying on the bed whispering words that she couldn't quite hear…Her Majesty's image seemed superimposed onto that image, and the both of them looked at her straight into her eyes.

-- Sakura…let it go…--

She could barely make out the indistinct words, but all she noticed was the light that surrounded them, the realisation that they were leaving. She could hear her heartbeat throbbing inside the whole of her body, every beat resounding inside her as she fought against the knowledge, as she fought against everything that was happening to her.

--No! Don't go, please!--

She half reached out her hand, and Tomoyo caught it, sensing her cousin's distress yet begging her to come back.

--It hurts…Sakura, please…come back…--

She heard her brother's pained voice as if from a very far away place, the sound slowly permeating her conscience. She concentrated on that voice, trying to make coherent sense of the things happening around her.

--Ni-chan….?--

Behind her eyelids, she saw a white light fill her vision…and she knew no more.

(Touya)

He felt the tension building up inside him, a pain that sucked his breath away and left him breathless. He could hear his blood pounding inside his ears, and he tried frantically to reach out to his sister.

--It hurts…Sakura, please…come back…--

For a moment the pain lessened a little, before suddenly the pain lifted with such blinding speed that it made him look down sharply at his sister in alarm, only to feel her become frightening limp in his arms. He looked worriedly at her pale form and frowned, half sick with worry. Lifting her easily in his arms, he followed a very upset Tomoyo to the courtyard to hail a carriage to take her back home. Leaving Sakura in Tomoyo's care, Touya walked back slowly to his training grounds, his gray eyes clouded with troubled thoughts.

Walking towards the very place he had ran out from, he braced himself for the reprimands and punishments he would receive for leaving during the training session.

------------------------------(Eriol's room)------------------

It could not be. She had been just there talking to him, holding his hand one moment…and the very next she was gone. It was just so sudden. It felt as if his world had suddenly crashed down on him, such that he didn't know what to do with himself anymore. He had listened hollowly to the physician's grave announcement to the assemblage that she was no longer with them, and watched them leave with their black hoods drawn. He could feel the assemblage's silence and sorrow, for the queen had been well loved. But it did not matter. It was as if nothing mattered now. She was gone. And she would never come back.

He had so many unfinished words to say, so many things he wanted to do. He wanted to tell her of the many things he'd done and seen, of the many things he had learnt…but most of all, he hadn't the chance to tell her…that he loved her. And she was gone. She would never smile at him with that same happy smile. Greet him tenderly and listen to him as he told her fascinating stories about the time he spent abroad studying. Do the many things like help him adjust his tie, knit a woolen scarf for use in the winter, be there with him, for him…

His father was inconsolable. He had sunk into such a state of despair that Eriol feared that he would never recover from such a heavy blow. Whenever they talked, the raw pain and tremble in his voice only added to Eriol's inner tumult. All he could feel was his father slowly retreating from him into his own private world, and he could not bring him out of his lethargy.

"I wish to appoint Eriol as my regent to take over the throne…"

Those words seemed like the very pronouncement of doom, every word striking him as if it were a blow. It was all so sudden, everything was simply happening too fast! He wasn't ready for the throne, he didn't know the first thing about becoming a ruler! He felt like a caged bird, desperately trying to fly out of it's lonely confinement to freedom, but the bars of duty could not be broken. There was no one he could say anything to now, they wouldn't be able to understand.

"The negotiations with China must go on. The country must carry on even in the wake of her death, it cannot come to a standstill…I'm just too tired now…I believe in you, Eriol…"

He tried to get out from the weight behind his words, although he knew that he couldn't. He did not have a choice. But didn't he expect this all along, that he would never have the freedom to choose his own path? The ministers pledged their support, the people understood why the decision had to be made, and he had had no other option other than to agree. It was to be for the better of everyone. Such is the duty of the heir. Such is his duty.

--Every time someone calls my name, they always expect something from me. It's all so overwhelming having to bear the weight of everyone's expectations. Sometimes, I just cannot do everything…yet I must..--

He buried his head in his arms, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly while he sat in the darkness of his own rooms.

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hee, sorry for the very long hiatus I was sorting out a few stuff after the examinations and didn't have time to complete this, I'm really so sorry. I know that it's a short chapter but I hope it clears up a few things, while other things I'd have to answer as I go along in the story. This story isn't really going as fast as I would have liked, but some questions have to be answered regarding the situation so as to better flesh out the plot in the later part of the story. Many thanks especially to you, Honey Mocha Citrus, for your questions :D

If you must know, Nadeisko and Miyuki did not know each other before their respective marriages, but become fairly good friends after meeting each other. Miyuki doesn't feel any animosity towards Nadeisko for marrying Fujitaka, but still feels a little regret over the unfortunate turn of events.. And as for touya at the palace, hee, I'm going to put that question on hold as it's going to be part of the plot :p hope you don't mind

To all who have reviewed, thank you so much for all the encouragement and understanding these past 2 months I'd try to update as soon as I can..and pardon me for not answering individual reviews as I would rather spend the time writing the next chapter so that all of you don't have to be kept waiting ;p

Reviews are much appreciated :D