Fragmented Heart Chapter Seven
Amber had met emerald, and what an entrancing moment it was. Held in the abeyance of time finding each others eyes once again, everything else that surrounded them was beginning to slow and be trapped in the lapse of the present. Only except the person mirrored in their eyes, everyone seemed to fade away. The boy with the tousled chocolate locks of hair that gently brushed against his forehead with the gush of warm desert air that calmly enveloped him, captured the brilliant emerald orbs that stared down at him from the balcony above. His deep amber eyes, holding a thousand emotions, took a step forward making the Queen's heart shake as she leaned more onto the smooth black rail of the balcony, for if it wasn't there, she may have certainly collapsed to her knees.
Syaoran's eyes ceased to remove from the refreshing green eyes that had locked onto his, forcing back the urge to climb up the edges of the aged stone castle and clamber up the balcony and pull the girl tightly in his arms. Yeah, he was that desperately needing to just get her soft skin back in his touch, comforted by the thought he was the only one to protect her, the only one she needed to lean onto.
" Sakura-Hime!"
The deep strong, yet gentle, voice that protruded through the silence and breaking her trance from falling lost into his eyes, called out her name making her hands shake from the excited emotions that started to run through her body, a smile molding on her soft lips, slowly parting to yell out his name-
-But before Sakura could even return his call, a tall slender man with thin metallic glasses and silvery blonde hair that tumbled into the view of his eyes stepped forward pressing a hand into her shoulder and leaning into her ear to whisper-
" Sakura-Heika, I think this is enough for you. I'll take care of the rest."
Pulling her into him and turning towards the door, the gentle priest turned his head to look down at the young man's eyes that expanded in dejection. Syaoran immediately recognized the priest as Yukito, the king's loyal and trust worthy friend, the one other than Touya that gave him a kind smile and a string of friendly words. Though, he did not recognize the expression the young priest sent him that moment, his eyes hidden behind the glare of his glasses and his brows arched in piercing glare as if he was seeing a dying leper infected dog before him.
Fai whom also caught this glance and the expression on Syaoran's face in result, knew that this has greatly stirred a disturbance in the depths of the young man.. Ringing an arm around Syaoran's shoulders, Fai bent his neck down to whisper to him -
" You weren't the only one that saw that Syaoran-kun..."
Syaoran's face remained calm as he slowly nodded his head " Hai."
In his bones Syaoran felt that something was not right, proven with the cold look painted on his once very well known friend Yukito, and he was highly determined to find what is going on once in for all, even if that means breaking into the Clow Kingdom itself.
Syaoran turned his gaze towards the tall wizard and the dark coated ninja that looked at him in question of what was to come next, not hesitating in his decision, Syaoran clearly stated already in his face of his choice.
" I'm going in to see if I can see Sakura-Hime."
" Wow, totally didn't see that one coming" Fai sarcastically commented with a large smile plastered on his face.
Kurogane seemed unaffected by Syaoran's heroic attitude, growling out " Kid, I'd love to see the princess too, but I highly doubt their just going to let anybody prance in and demand to talk to the Queen of Clow."
" Hai, I'm aware of that. I was never going to ask, I was going to just do it."
The ninja was beginning to warm up to this fiery spirit the kid was emitting. Raising an eyebrow, looking the young man up and down that clearly had his heart set on his mind's resolution, and his determination blazing a fire inside the very depths of him, Kurogane gave a smirk showing he was very interested in what the kid was planning. Reaching over his shoulder and pulling out a long sword, the ninja tossed it towards the boy who unexpectedly caught it, then pulled out his own beloved blade.
" You may need that if you want to break in. Plus, I think you may have grabbed my attention on this, it's sounds a little fun."
"Oooooooooooooo baby! Sounds like we are going on wild and crazy adventure again! Just look at those dangerous boys Mokona-chan! We'll leave these two the job, ne?" Fai had exclaimed, usual that whenever they were about to enter something serious Fai would suddenly become utterly, completely, irritatingly, lazy. Probably the reason why he was no help in battle, for he was always, in Kurogane's terms, being in his "useless little piece of- (we'll cut it off from there)-mode.
" Do you know what this means Mokona-chan?"
" Hai! It's time for Triple T. K. A.!"
Queuing that, the two, tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, jumped in the air and screamed in unison.
" TIME TO TOTALLY KICK A----..Uh..BUTT!!!"
Syaoran who was already making his way through the crowd left Kurogane to glare at the tall wizard and his friendly little white companion whom were happily occupied punching their fists into the air with an dramatic background surrounding them.
" Idiots, for their own safety, should refrain from speaking, or it is very possible for the chance of a heavy and deadly blow to reign upon their heads."
With that, the group began their mission to get Sakura back.
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Great. Just great. Finally, after finally being reunited with the only person she could'nt be more happier to see prior to the heavy burden of drama thrown on her shoulders from the past three days, this was the cherry on top. Sakura closed the large oak arched doors behind her releasing a exhausted sigh through her nostrils and helpless moan of desperation, pressing her back against the solid structure and burying her eyes into the palms of her hands. Why, even how, couldn't she just at the very least reply back to him, throw an 'I love you!' or an 'I'm sorry!' when she had the chance to for everything she knew he must have done to find her. But instead, she bluntly turned her back onto him and kindly left him to absorb in his misery of being shot down.
" Syaoran..."
She could see him with her eyes closed, clearly envisioning his face, his beautiful deep amber eyes mantled with pain. The guilt enshrouded her, and it twisted her heart with a swathe of indescribable torment of agony that made her want to curl up in a ball and just bawl her tired eyes out. But rather than that, she thought it was best to go and find Syaoran than just crying , to have the chance to say sorry, to be able to hear from his own mouth that in the very least they can still call themselves 'friends'.
Suddenly, a large force from behind the door pushed Sakura sprawling on the floor yelping as two tall sturdy guards appeared behind her with panicked expressions on their faces. One speaking in the best way he could present a calm tone while trying to not stumble over his words, talking faster than normal.
"Sakura-Heika, the palace is under ambush and there are demands for your own safety that we take you some place best needed for you."
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Kurogane scowled at the mass of unconscious bodies of guards that surrounded him, feeling limbs twist and groans of pain come from under him making his way through the victims of his sword.
'I don't want anyone hurt, please use the back of your sword in this, there is no need for bloodshed today."
Kurogane puffed his cheeks out, kicking a random body infront of him out of irritation following the young man ahead of him who had his sword tipped over his shoulder.
" What's the use of a full out pillage without some blood. Geez, kid I thought I was rubbin' off on you a little."
Syaoran turned his head towards the disappointed man, giving him a an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I thought it would be best if we don't want to cause any more trouble than we are now."
" Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say kid. Anyway, talking about trouble, I think the stampede is making their way towards us."
" Stampede?..."
Syaoran turned back his gaze to infront of him and was met with the sight of a large bout of a hundred or so of guards charging towards their path, spears handy in their grasps and ready for attack.
" Ah."
Once again Syaoran removed the sword placed on his shoulder, twisting his hands around the grip with the blade faced on the reverse of it sharp edge where only the dull side could be used to apply a painful blow to give one a good knock out.
Syaoran's back was met with Kurogane's, both standing on the balls of their feet ready to lunge at whomever may jump out first as a large ring began to form around them, all break through and chances of escape diminished. Not the ideal situation they thought to be found in...
" Kurogane-san?"
" Mmm."
" There may be just a tad of a problem here."
"Possibly."
Emerging from the circle came a tall lean figure with fine silver blonde hair spilling into his eyes and thin spectacles that he pushed up onto the bridge of his nose. Kurogane suspiciously eyed the young man while Syaoran slowly lowered his sword to the ground.
" Syaoran-kun, it is so unfortunate for me to do this to you, though for as long as I have known you, I never thought of you to be like this..."
" Yukito-san, you have got to listen to me, I just need a moment to see Sakura-hime"
Yukito raised a hand signifying for three guards to step forward to take hold of their new prisoners, burrowing his eyebrows at the bounded young man infront of him.
" You must forgive me Syaoran-kun, I can't allow you to do that no matter what, it is dangerous times right now and I regret to say I must throw you and your partner as well the other man found in the entrance of the kingdom with the white creature into the penitentiary until things can be sorted out."
" Yukito-san..."
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From three levels above where the central area of the kingdom was under, a young woman being escorted by two guards eyed the situation below, curious of the identities of the criminals from the ambuscade. Peering closer with the best of her ability, Sakura was able to easily identify the odd paired suspects bound together, an unusual duo. One tall man with short, spiked jet black hair with piercing small ruby red eyes, immediately noted as someone clearly experienced with the art of fighting and war, and the other with messy brown hair and unmistakable determined amber eyes, and...oh dear.
Sakura's emerald green eyes flew open watching the two men be taken out and towards the back of the castle, realizing that these two suspects weren't ordinary criminals, oh no. They were her Kurogane-san and Syaoran-kun.
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"For the love of-"
Kurogane slammed his back against the stone slab wall crossing his arms over his chest , scanning the room from corner to corner, glancing sideways to see the kid slumped under a barred in window where the moonlight poured onto his head yet his eyes were hidden behind the shadow of his locks of hair, then looked towards the front of the small cell seeing the two idiots playing at a time like this.
"So I was like 'Oh no Mr. Officer! I think were totally misunderstanding one another, I was just going to visit my best friend! Maybe we can work something out, ne Mr. Big Strong Officer?..' "
" Yeah! Mokona then saw the guard get really scared and called others to take away the 'pansy' from him! What's a 'pansy' Fai-san?.."
Fai simply shrugged his shoulders with a playful grin on his face " Who knows! It was funny though, right Mokona-chan?"
" Puu! Your so cool Fai-san!"
Kurogane's left eye began to twitch watching the two laugh uncontrollably, already not quite in the mood to be around laughter and joy from being locked up in a small suppressed area for who knows how long, and especially with couple of dimwits that got thrown into the barracks for trying to seduce a guard. Kurogane slowly began massage his temple that started to throb with painful pangs, remaining as calm as one could be in a jam like this.
" Both of you, do me a favor and relieve me from my pain for once, just once, by clamping your mouths together and leaving them like that. I am not interested in your tales of harassment on innocent people, may that man be in peace, plus the kid over there may need some silence."
Kurogane jerked a thumb towards Syaoran that remained in the same depressed state he was in since locked in the cell with the others, his chin sitting on the tip of his one knee pulled into him while the other was outstretched, completely immovable and unresponsive, losing him in the depths of his own thoughts. Neither of them in the group had ever seen Syaoran like this, never seen him so discouraged, in ail, disheartened. The three of them couldn't but to wonder how important this girl meant to the boy, and at the same time the mood of the moment sent a upsetting feel in the air.
" Syaoran-kun, how are you doing?"
Fai whispered, already knowing he would not answer, which did not hurt his feelings at all able to relate with the boy fully.
"Um...excuse me."
A soft voice rang through the ill mood that grabbed the attention of three prisoners turning their attention to the solid door with a small window of bars exhibiting a dark figure enwrapped in a dark green cloak that was carefully pulled down exposing the soft white skin , honey-dew brown hair a little tussled from the hood, and enthralling emerald orbs having a luminescent effect through the darkness. Syaoran slowly lifted his head captured by the sight, his whole body shifting up against the wall while Mokona screeched in delight and Fai who joyfully clapped his hands together.
"Sakura-chan!"
" How are you guys doing, do you want get of here?"
Kurogane smirked unfolding his arms from his chest. " How'd you know?"
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Syaoran smiled feeling the cold wind whip against his face, his eyes shifted toward the sky that was alive with the droplets of stars that danced around them and the burning of the moonlight that reigned down spreading its effulgent glow far and wide, filling the air with an whimsical sensation.
" Syaoran..."
Syaoran was soon thrown out of his daze and focused on the face of the girl that stood before him, her fragile body enveloped in the gentle wind that moved her short hair in motion, her deep green eyes fixed on his entrancing amber orbs.
" Syaoran...do you love me?"
Even in the darkness it was easy to see the glow of red that painted the cheeks of the young woman, awaiting the prolonged answer she sought. Syaoran couldn't help but open and close his mouth trying to find the right words, completely lost from being asked the question of all questions out of the blue. Oh dear, how did she manage to always catch him on the wrong foot with questions like these?
"Sa-Sakura-Hime?"
" Sakura."
" Eh?"
Sakura scowled straight at the boy sending a chill throughout his body, she hated how he always was so polite with her and couldn't get around calling her by her first name, irritating her to no end. She felt that with all the polite terms he used towards her it separated them more than they wanted to be. Plus, she despised being called princess or queen, especially from him of all people.
" Sakura! Just Sakura. Sa-ku-ra! I don't like it when you have to be polite with me at all times..."
"Sakura.."
"Yes!"
Syaoran was taken aback how the girl bounced her head to the side with a loving smile that graced her lips, feeling this moment was just a replay of before so long ago.
"Good! You called me by my first name for the first time!"
Syaoran's heart dropped thirty thousand feet from hearing 'first time' still acknowledging the fact that his beloved childhood friend will never remember the fond memories they shared growing up, for certainly, he had called her Sakura plenty of times before. He was soon ripped out of his thoughts when he heard her speak again, but this time her voice earnest for an answer.
" Syaoran, do you really love me?.."
" Sakura I-"
Syaoran fumbled for his words, he wanted to tell her so badly but was held back with fear. Fear that she may remember things not to be remembered, then would forget everything all over again, even after telling her how he felt. She was so fragile, he didn't want to harm her, he just wanted what was best for her.
" I-"
There was a long pause of silence until Sakura shook her head helplessly feeling the pain rumble in her chest, feeling how her eyes began to sting.
" Sorry, it was silly to ask. But, if you do care, give me one last request. Leave. I want you to leave with Kurogane-san, Fai-san, and Mokona-chan. I want you to go somewhere far away, just away from me, to forget about me. For your own safety. Syaoran, their going to kill you...and I don't want to see that happen to you, I don't want to see anything happen to you!"
Who was 'they'? Yukito-san and his guards?...
Sakura hoped she was going to get away without letting him see her cry, but the tears began dripping down her cheeks without her knowing, watching Syaoran's face twist with pain as the others looked at her with shock and desolation.
Sakura rubbed helplessly at her eyes and gulped back the sobs that rose in her throat. Syaoran couldn't stand seeing her like this and his face cringed with despondency, his heart twisted with pain feeling disgusted with himself for not answering the question he clearly could see she was on high hopes for receiving.
Sakura, even through the tears, gave a smile that Syaoran could never forget, a feeble smile, her eyes reflecting emotions that were unread.
" But Syaoran, no matter what you feel, I love you. I love you so much...even though...even though I may not know how I met you, or where I met you, I just know-"
"Stop!"
Sakura felt her whole body fall into the strong lean figure that tightly wrapped his arms around her torso and buried his face against the side of her head, his soft cheek compressed against hers, feeling his raspy voice whisper softly in her hear.
" Please stop. Don't try to remember, I beg you don't remember anything of the past. Don't push yourself. Just trust me on this, and take my word. Don't think of me in your memories, I don't belong there, I never did. You found me later, and I am here for you now from here out. I do love you, more than anything that has stepped into my life. Your my world, your the reason I'm here now."
Sakura dug her fingers into the black fabric of Syaoran's sleeveless shirt, her body shaking with sobs, watching the boy tilt her head up with one hand revealing the crystal light of water that brimmed her eyes, using a thumb to brush them away and smiled that comforting smile into her eyes.
" No reason to cry...I won't let anything happen to me nor you."
Sakura made an attempt to smile but sadly broke down in more sobs, the tears that were held in for so long, for the death of her brother, for the stress of ruling a kingdom at the young age of fifteen , for leaving the one she loved most that was left in the world. The tears were quietly silenced upon feeling the warm contact of lips against her own, moving slowly against her own, the tender press of his mouth on hers. Sakura's eyes fluttered open wide then calmly began to close feeling her head warm and began to spin, she was so happy that she had someone who was so gentle with her. Her hands softly cupped the jaw lines of his face, bringing his head down more towards her, pressing her body against his, standing on the tips of her toes wanting the sweet contact to never end. Though life is not always fair and it was all to soon for it to end, but a piercing cry rang out into the darkness that made the two break away all to soon.
"Sakura-Heika!"
Syaoran's arm found its way around Sakura's shoulder pulling her into him so that her head rested against his chest and her hand grasped in his larger one.
" Yukito-san!"
Yukito doubled over his hands placed on his knees before looking up at the two, his breath short from running at such speed for a long time, his face cracked with trepidation.
" Sakura-Heika, Syaoran-kun! They are attacking, they are attacking the whole kingdom!"
Syaoran's eyes expanded in alarm, holding tighter onto Sakura's hand feeling her body tense against his.
" Who's attacking Yukito-san?!"
Yukito finally regained his composure, feeling a cold bead of sweat run down the side of his face while staring dead on in Syaoran and Sakura's eyes.
" The ones that killed Touya-sama."
Sakura's eyes froze with fear, feeling Syaoran's grasp on her shoulder tighten slightly in reassurance, bending his head down to look at her in the eyes to give an expression of 'everything will be alright'.
" I'll help."
Sakura's eyes jerked open whipping her head up to see Syaoran who was focused on Yukito that looked partially relieved but still overcome with consternation.
" You can't! Their the ones that killed big brother, what if-"
Syaoran calmly smiled at the girl that looked at him with complete fear, pulling her all the closer into him.
"When have I ever let you down? I'll get through this just like all the other times."
" Yeah princess, plus as a extra boost of confidence, I'll be siding along with the kid. No doubt will I have the pleasure of killing these goons. No one can touch this."
Kurogane smirked cooly as he drooped his long sword over his shoulder and patted the back of Syaoran's head.
"That's right Sakura-chan! No one can touch those two, their hot stuff! Plus, I think I'll be helping as well, to avenge Sakura-chan's big brother, right?"
Fai walked forth standing beside Kurogane and Syaoran after giving Sakura his famous smiles that always seemed to have this affect of making her feel calm.
" Ne, Ne! Mokona will help Sakura-chan by being at her side the whole time!"
Sakura let out a much needed laugh as the white ball bounced onto her shoulder and landed a soft 'chuu!' on her cheek, hugging the small creature close to her face.
" Thank you Mokona-chan!"
Yukito smiled warmly at the three warriors before him and nodded then looked at Sakura, his eyebrows burrowed together in worry.
" What do you think Sakura-Heika?"
Sakura released a deep breathe through her nostrils and opened her emerald green eyes shining with determination, probably faulty gained from the one that was usually found having this burning sensation that ignited a flame in his heart. Sakura nodded her head confidently at Yukito.
" Alright. I dub these three men before me as the new warriors of the Clow Kingdom and entrust them with the safety of my people tonight!"
The three men nodded in unison and shouted out an-
" Yes-mam!"
-then headed out towards the kingdom under attack, ready for what was to come to them, and the youngest one of them all, anxiously ready to return to the one he loves most.
To be continued..
Fu fu fu! Such a long chapter, and my head hurts! Alright you guys, you must thank my good friend Muffinizer for getting me on the ball again or you guys may have been waiting until January of 2007 for this next chapter. (Gasps!) Really...I was suppose to get this out to you on the 25th or the 26th but...I think I got distracted. Lol.
Sorry Muffinizer! I didn't mean to get lazy again, it just-it just happened!
Oh and Summer Lover thank you for your 'FRANTIC OMGZ LYK AWESOME REVIEW' LOL. Jks. I really do appreciate it and I am glad I have some more frantic reviewers because I don't think your the only one I have had, but I do love all of them, it makes feel all warm inside. ( Hugs all the frantics) You guys rule, all of you who review on my stories. So, now to break it to you guys. The next chapter will be the last chapter of Fragmented Heart. Awwwwww...( eyes widen when about to be pelted with stones). But no fear I'll be working on other stories (coughsequelcough) so don't you guys forget to shower me with reviews ( I like the word shower...more like bathe..heh heh..) Jks. But anyway, don't forget to put in your share of comments for me, okay?
See you guys later and have a fabulous new year! Woot 2007!
( dances in techno music with Kurogane)
" This is my favorite song!"
(runs in place bobbing head up and down in a frenzied way)
"Yeeeeeeah...about that dance of yours-"
" Do you feel it?! Do you feel it Kurogane! ADRENALINE RUSH!"
"Yeah, rush right into calamity"
( Taps Detectivegirl2005 with back of the sword and sends her flying into cooler filled with sparkling grape juice and sends club building falling into rubble)
Until next time-
Detectivegirl2005
HAPPY NEW YEAR OF 2007! ( throws confetti)