Star Crossed: Memories

Summary: The disgraced heir of the Kinomoto clan, Sakura, stands accused of performing witchcraft. Her crime? Enchanting the heir of the enemy Li clan to fall in love with her...

Full Summary: Thousands of years have passed since the ascension of the great Clow Reed. But both the Li clan and the Kinomoto clan still feud, each claiming direct descent to the magician. A blind and bitter hatred is born, and an era of bloodshed commences. In this world of suspicion and superstition, amity between the two clans is unthinkable, impossible and regarded as acts of treason and witchcraft. Until the unfortunate heirs of the two clans fall in love...
a/n: Thank you to those who reviewed, alerted and even favourited this story! -blinks- Really, this arc is my least favourite. It's so sappy and...non-motile. Blech...

Oh, and I completely forgot to mention this last chapter! This fic takes place in what I like to think of as 'old Japan'. So (according to Wikipedia anyway), the members of traditional Japanese clans would be called like so: 'The name of the clan', followed by "no", and then 'their given name'. So following this logic, Sakura would be called "Kinomoto no Sakura", translating roughly to "Sakura of the Kinomoto clan", Syaoran would be called "Li no Syaoran" (Syaoran of the Li clan), etc.. I took the liberty of switching this up a bit for characters like Tomoyo, calling her "Kinomoto no Tomoyo-Daidouji" (Tomoyo Daidouji of the Kinomoto clan), as she's got a surname of her own. Sorry if that seemed a bit confusing last chapter...kudos to Artificial Happiness for pointing that out!

Anyway, another painfully saccharine chapter to go through...enjoy!

for your sake i live with lips sealed, pain hidden
your arms are my world, your smile is my sky

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Part Two. Sunset

Miles away from the Kinomoto Castle, in a far away place, surrounded by water and trees and fire and stone…

An eagle soared in the sky, its white wings flexing powerfully as it circled the small inlet, a letter clutched in its talons. Its midnight-black eyes roved the land carefully, catching sight of its destination.

Slowly, yet powerfully, the eagle descended upon the land, the glassy blue surface breaking into rough waves that tossed and turned, obeying the whim of the powerful winds that were blowing, storm-grey clouds breaking across the sky.

A storm was coming!

The sound of galloping hooves resonated around the small inlet. A teenage boy on a brown horse rose up a cobblestone-paved pathway by the river. The river led to a wide lake, surrounded by hills and rocky outcrops. It was on one such hill, that a tall, lean figure stood stock still, an icy silver sword positioned by his face, his eyes closed in concentration.

The teenage boy disembarked gently, the sound of his boots hitting the rough gravel crunching slightly, lost to the wind. The boy approached the still figure tentatively, as silently as possible. He reached inside his cloak, his hand closing about a long wooden object –

Suddenly, the figure before him came to life. With a yell, his eyes flashed open as the sword came rushing to meet the boy's head, a surely fatal blow a hairbreadth away from the boy.

"Li-sama!" the boy said in a voice shy of a squeak. "If you please – it's only me."

Syaoran smirked slightly, a mirthless smile that held no joy. The boy shivered as he sheathed his sword.

"What do you want, Tai?" he asked dismissively.

"If – if you please – a letter flew in –" the boy stammered, but he was cut off.

"From who?" the older one asked lazily.

Tai gulped. "I don't know, Li-sama, I haven't read it, and all I saw was that it was addressed to you –"

"Thank you, Tai," Syaoran dismissed the boy. "If you would hand me the letter, I shall see what it is about."

Young Tai bobbed his head, as he pulled forth a hollow wooden cylinder, which he uncorked and pulled forth several rolled-up pieces of parchment, bearing the name Syaoran, as well as a green wax seal bearing the Li emblem.

Syaoran took the roll, and turned away from the boy, drawing forth a dagger and slitting the wax seal.

"Thank you Tai, that will be all," Syaoran gave a curt nod. "You may go."

"Th – thank you," Tai bowed clumsily and just short of ran to his horse.

Syaoran waited until the last sound of hooves had disappeared from his earshot, before unrolling the parchments. There were ten letters: one from his mother, four from his sisters, one from the military senior general, Wei, one from his clansmember (and one convinced to be his fiancé – sadly mistaken), Leiko, one each from his two most beloved clansmembers and best friends – Eriol and Meiling – and finally, tucked snugly in between Eriol's and Meiling's letters – it was from her…

He tore through the letters, the others dropping to the ground as he fingered the last one. It was written in a flowing script in a delicate thin line, as though the writer had taken great care in writing this. He inhaled gently. Her scent was all over the parchment: the soft fragrance of cherry blossoms, the aroma of myrrh and sandalwood (just like her hair). And the green script – the emerald green ink that matched her eyes completely...he could close his eyes and he could see her waiting for him, every detail etched in his memory painstakingly. The flowing red tresses, the sparkling green eyes, the warm, thoughtful smile...

He sat down on a flat-surfaced rock, reading her letter carefully, savoring every word. Why, if he listened close enough, he could almost hear her voice reading out every word – her gentle voice that soothed him more than any lullaby.

Syaoran,

Do you remember what day it is today? Of course you will, you never forget. Today is the start of the Moon Festival – but Father and Yoshisune are trying to persuade me to go with Kenshin! I can understand why Yoshisune would insist so, but Father?! Not only has Yoshisune tried to overthrow Touya's rights to our clan, she is setting her sights on me now! I am very worried, Syaoran, and I am waiting for the day of your return, so that one day, we may attend the Moon Festival together. Don't worry – I am going alone this year, but I pray to Reed that you may return within the next year as I cannot fight Yoshisune on my own.

Syaoran's forehead creased with anxiety as he read this. The Moon Festival was a celebration of the new year, when the moon turned an enchanting shade of colour and remained that way for nine days. The opening festival was a prayer to Reed, to his absolute power over all, and then there was a ball. Well, actually, there were two of them – one for the promised couples, and a masked one for the singles. If she was being forced to go to the ball with Kenshin...that would mean her engagement was finalized?

Syaoran swore under his breath. This year, the moon was turning an enchanting golden shade – the same shade it had been the year he had met her. There was a seven-year cycle, in which the moon turned a different shade every year: the Year of the Red Moon, the Year of the Orange Moon, the Year of the Golden Moon, the Year of the Green Moon, the Year of the Blue Moon, the Year of the Violet Moon and finally, the Year of the Blushing Moon, where the moon blushed a rosy pink. There were many astrological theories about the people born under different moons. Syaoran, for example, had been born in the Year of the Red Moon – a great honor for males, as the color red symbolized strength, aggression and wisdom. It was often rumored that males born under the Red Moon were best paired with females born under the Blushing Moon: for the pink hue of the Blushing Moon depicted beauty, humility and fertility – the three main qualities sought in a girl these days.

Sakura was born under the Blushing Moon, Syaoran thought to himself. As was my mother, and my father – he was born under the Red Moon. But their pairing was short-lived, for Reed called him to his side much earlier than expected.

He continued reading Sakura's letter.

It is the Year of the Golden Moon – the year they say true lovers unite. I believe them. Has it been a full cycle since the first we met? Time passes so very quickly…and yet it does not, for each second passes with agonizing slowness, the torment of an eternity without you. Yet the days speed by, leaving us to run after them, aging a lifetime every moment spent without you. With each breath I draw, I hear your voice. With every step I take, I feel your presence beside me. And at every hurdle, I can never feel alone, because you are here with me, to help me past every hurdle – every hardship I ever will endure.

The parchment was slightly crinkled, the ink slightly smudged. As though the parchment had been showered by a fall of the writer's tears – a liquid more precious than water, more potent than poison, more intoxicating than the richest wine brewed. Every joy, every sadness, every emotion she had ever experienced was somehow in this letter – her sorrows were in the smudges of the letters, and they pierced him in the heart, the torment of separation.

I will wait for you. Please come back soon – the ninth moon of this year marks your return. Do not delay. I have waited patiently for you – now, with this year marks the oncoming of your arrival. I await that day: that dawn will never come too soon.

Yours forever and more,

Sakura

Syaoran sighed, his mind poring over the words in the letter. She wrote to him every moon, but he could hear her voice speaking to him every day, her heart pounding in his ears every time he breathed. At times, he even thought he could hear her thoughts at night. Such was the depth of their bond.

His heart hammering, he carefully folded up her letter, and unfolded Eriol's letter, scanning its contents eagerly.

Little Wolf.

Syaoran scowled at Eriol's liberal use of his nickname. That had been a game they had played when they were children: he, Eriol and Meiling.

Sorry about that, I could not resist. I couldn't write that much this month; too much has been happening – Meiling had more time to write. Basically, the feud between the Lis and Kinomotos has been growing more nasty ever since the waning of the last moon. It's as if the Kinomotos expect a revolt from us Lis once you return. Whatever it is, there's been a lot more tension these days. We lost ten good men just over the past two weeks. Prince Ryozo had made a public announcement that warfare twixt the Lis and Kinomotos was to be forbidden, and any caught would be punished with banishment or death – but these Kinomotos do not follow any instinct but their own.

As if interpreting Syaoran's reaction, the letter took a different turn.

Yes, I know that most of the Kinomotos aren't all bad. But the ones that are bent on washing the streets with our blood – I can't think too highly of them yet. But the ones that think half-rationally – Sakura and Tomoyo, for example – are fine specimens of people.

Syaoran breathed easily again.

But tread easily around letters from the women of the household, the letter went on. Especially that girl Leiko. She and Yelan have been getting close. Way too close, if you ask me. They spend a lot of time talking in the garden – and from what Meiling tells me, prospects look very bleak.

Syaoran's jaw dropped. Li no Leiko-Kanzaki was his second cousin on his mother's side: she was a pretty, albeit sinister-looking girl, headstrong and crafty. Syaoran did not like her or her simpering smiles as she waved coyly at him every time he had passed. Though he knew his mother would try force her on him, he had established that he wanted a woman with a backbone.

Oh, Leiko had whined, then. And manipulated herself around the manor in ways so underhanded, Syaoran felt his fist clench at the thought. He absolutely despised the wench who called herself Leiko – that arrogant, conceited girl who was hell bent on becoming the next matriarch of the Li clan.

Syaoran, in a last desperate bid, had turned to his beloved cousin, Meiling, who had lost her father in the raids before she was born, and had lost her mother during childbirth. Yelan had raised Meiling as her own daughter, though Meiling had a spark not found commonly in girls. Then again, she had been born under the Green Moon, which symbolized sharp wit, adventurousness and independence – virtues that were not valued in women, although Meiling played them to her advantage, happiest with Syaoran and Eriol.

Though Meiling had initially turned down the idea, Syaoran finally made her agree that should he not find "the girl of his dreams", he would marry her. Though Meiling had been shocked and angry, Syaoran had finally persuaded her that he would rather marry a best friend than some simpering idiot with nothing better to do with her time.

But if his mother was spending time with Leiko in private…Syaoran shuddered in anger. How dare she! Leiko was a self-absorbed Orange Moon – pride, persistence and determination – and she displayed the best of Orange Moon qualities in the lowest forms. She was so…manipulative and sly, it sickened him, to know the few number of people who could actually see through that simpering, coy mask she wore around her sinister eyes.

He read onward.

Meiling can tell you the rest. I've been so busy holding the defenses. Still, only nine more moons, and then you'll be back. Finally, I can get some rest.

Eagerly awaiting,

Eriol

Syaoran frowned as he unfolded Meiling's letter. What was going on?

Syaoran;

I'm really worried. Aunt Yelan has been very preoccupied these days. And she will not even look at me now! Instead, she spends her time in the garden with that no-good wench Leiko – Sheifa and I overheard them one day, talking about you. It didn't sound good. Not good at all. They'll be announcing your engagement soon after you come back, I'm sure of it. It's as though they have lost all respect for your judgment. Please be careful in the way you handle Leiko – she has sent you a letter, and Aunt Yelan was not allowed to read it. Such privacy is only granted to the forechildren of the Li clan, of which Leiko is not! I warn you, tread cautiously about her. Say nothing short of irritable. Worry about your manners later – there are other lives on the line here – like Sakura's, for example. She says that her parents are forcing an engagement, and she could hardly refuse to attend the Moon Festival ball with him. I am worried for her – with each day she grows paler, and a little more of her disappears. She has waited patiently for six years – please, do not let her patience be in vain.

Syaoran blinked. That was Meiling, so thoughtful, yet so conclusive. She was always so brave, yet so selfless. He knew that his forbidden infatuation with the Kinomoto forechild had cost Meiling a great deal. Although, he suspected that somewhere within her, Meiling had never wished to be a matriarch of the Li clan. That responsibility, she said once, belonged to someone else. Someone who actually wants it. Me, I want to be able to live in peace. I want to have as little responsibility as possible. The less you're tied down to, the more you can enjoy life.

Syaoran smiled at the thought of his wild cousin, before continuing.

Also, I think Eriol is in love.

"What?" Syaoran asked, scrambling to get a better look. "Eriol – in love?!"

Of course, he will never admit it. But for what other reason does he turn crimson every time I mention the name of Tomoyo, Sakura's dearest friend?

Syaoran's face broke into a smile, the first true smile he had smiled in days. One that eased his strong jaw, softened his hard eyes, and loosened his tight, unyielding mouth. A smile reserved only for one woman alone now broke through his cold exterior, as though a hidden light had broken free, lighting up the intensity of his eyes, evaporating the ruggedness of his otherwise handsome face.

"Well!" Syaoran muttered to himself, smirking. "Eriol and Tomoyo! I should have guessed it!"

It also might explain his sudden disappearances from dinnertime lately, and when he does return, he is in often in an inexplicably good mood, his eyes tender and reserved, as though he has encountered one very dear to him.

Syaoran shook his head, the smirk still clinging to his lips. Who would have thought? Eriol. Happy, carefree, responsibility-shirking Eriol, in love. With a Kinomoto, no less. Next you knew, Meiling would be spending her free time sewing shirts for a sweetheart.

Yes, I believe he and Tomoyo have fallen in love. Although, it will not be easy for either of our families to accept their love – much like how you and Sakura were accepted. I begin to believe that this time, rather than shunning the man, they will merely banish the children. It would make life so much easier, if it were that way. Who knows? I myself might pretend to have a Kinomoto lover, and in this way, be sent away from the Li manor.

Syaoran's brow furrowed. It was also incredibly like Meiling to think of exceedingly stupid ways to leave the Li manor, for she hated the captivity and longed to be free. But such a drastic comment? Next thing, Meiling would be in love.

Syaoran scoffed at the idea, but then stopped. Why? an inner voice questioned. The three of you scoffed at the idea of you falling in love, and now look at you. Spending seven years in exile just for the sake of one you love above all. Face it, Syaoran, times do change. Maybe in seven years apart from the rest, Meiling has grown from a spitfire of a boy to a woman.

Somehow, Syaoran could not accept that his dearest cousin, Meiling, one whom he had known since childhood, one whom he had practically raised himself, one whom he felt was part of himself, had changed into someone he didn't know at all.

Syaoran unfolded his mother's letter, his anger growing. So far, he had scanned through Wei's letter, and the four letters sent by his sisters, and they all contained the same message: Leiko is a good girl, Syaoran. We want you to marry her.

Except for Sheifa, the sister closest in age to him. Her letter had contained one clear message throughout: Leiko is the most evil wench ever to be born in the image of Reed. Do not marry her, or your life will be hell: if Leiko does not ensure that, I certainly will.

Syaoran read the letter carefully, his vision turning red with fury as he progressed onward.

My dearest Xiao-Lang,

Happy Moon Festival, son. May the best blessings of Reed find their way to you, and guide your choices through the paths of life. May the evil eye that has been cast upon you be removed this year, once and for all, as after seven long years of exile, you will finally return home to us.

I must ask you now, it is imperative that I receive an answer from you to this question. Just to sate my own curiosity, what kind of spell had the Kinomoto wench cast upon you? You are the Li forechild, the most magical of the clan. Tell me, how powerful is the witch? She must be a truly powerful enchantress to have ensnared you in her web like so. By now, the effects of her spell should have worn off. As if one could ever truly love a Kinomoto. Do not be ashamed of yourself, son. For did legend not say that the green-eyed enchantresses were the most alluring of them all, supposedly the left hands of Reed himself? Do the legends also not say that the golden-eyed, though most powerful in the eyes of Reed, meet their match in the enchantresses whose eyes reflect the hue of forest glade? Be proud of yourself, son, for you have met your match in such a sorceress, and emerged alive. This is the power of the Lis, the true descendants of Reed.

Meanwhile, there are still other things to be attended to. With your return will come talk of your marriage. After you return, no doubt you will have to clear your name with the Prince Ryozo. But after that, would it not be splendid to announce your engagement? I had thought of the girl, Meiling, as your fiancée, but after, I viewed her in a different light, thanks to that lovely girl, Leiko. Meiling is too wild, too disorderly. She will never be a respectable matriarch, nor do I think she will ever be able to bear a child, after all the times she has ridden astride on a horse. And then, what of the many responsibilities of a matriarch? What of the household tasks? I honestly think Meiling too adventurous for this sort of task.

Now Xiao-Lang, I know that you are furious with me for even saying this, but please, if you think of it with a calm head, you will find that I am not wrong when I say that Meiling is not the best candidate for matriarch of the Li clan. If you watch carefully, you will see that her limited patience, her incompetence with the completion of any task…these are not qualities of a good matriarch! What if she simply tires of the responsibility expected of her? What then, son of mine? Will you simply let her go? Will you abandon her? Will you watch the Li clan riddled with shame over an incompetent matriarch?

I would suggest the candidate of matriarchy would fall to someone sweet-tempered and responsible; one caring and sincere. Leiko is a good girl, Xiao-Lang – she will make a good matriarch of the Li clan. Now, I understand and respect your decisions, but you must remember that for the sake of the Li clan, choose whom you think will make a good matriarch. Leiko is sweet and responsible; she will bear you many heirs. She will be a good wife to you, Xiao-Lang.

With many returns of the day,

Mother

Syaoran gave out a yell of fury, crushing the letter in his fist. It wasn't true! It couldn't be true! Had Leiko actually succeeded in winning his mother over? Was his mother so weak as to favor Leiko over Meiling? Was she so blind as to not see the sinister light of hunger in Leiko's eyes – one that could only be sated through the reception of power? Had everyone lost their wits?

He stared at the horizon blankly. The sun was dipping below the skyline, a vibrant red color, streaking the sky with bands of purple and pink and orange. Somewhere in the distance, a gull screamed. The wind blew violently, as somewhere off in the east, large grey thunderheads were approaching. In the distance, remainders of men were calling to one another, sheltering themselves against the inevitable onslaught of rain.

Syaoran buried his face in his hands. Why were so many things going wrong?

In these six long years apart from his home and everyone he knew, he felt the world shifting around him so rapidly…everyone was changing, altering into strangers, mere shadows of the real ones he had known before. Eriol had changed. Meiling was changing. Even his own mother seemed distant. There was only one who remained the same.

Sakura.

He leaned back, his robe undone at the front, his chest expanding as he breathed in the dusky air deeply. Sakura…her name was like the binding force on his life. She was the only constant one in a world filled with heart-wrenching change. The only reliable one in a world filled with shadows and strangers. It was as clear to him as the stars in the night sky. She was what was keeping him sane.

Without her, his world would fall apart.

Disclaimer: I own nothing familiar.

a/n: Wow, I'm shocked at my fourteen-year-old self for writing such mushy stuff. -sweatdrops-

Look on the bright side: this arc's now halfway finished! Plus, I've already thrown in a potential villain and conflict.

For some reason, this arc serves no greater purpose than to set the exposition and to take up space. In retrospect, nothing really happens until the second part of the series...

Two more chapters to go, folks!

Next Chapter: Meiling informs Sakura about this curious Leiko character. We discover a bit about the world Sakura lives in. The pathway is set for conflict. Ooh.

Reviews make me shamelessly giddy. And proud. -nods-

So please do review!

-Celestiana