JustaFanGrell saying 'Hello, My Lovelies!'
-Insert required Legal Mumbo-jumbo... HERE.-
Yea, the TRC characters are not mine... But the BEAST is MINE!
MUHAHAHAHAHA!
I hope you are having a good time following along on this adventure!
I am having fun writing it- more than I thought I would.
Don't forget, if you would like, feel free to shoot over a quick review.
I am writing by the seat of my pants over here!
My thanks to Garnet Kitsune for her invaluable TRC knowledge and for helping me TRY and avoid any OOC-ness!
SHE ROCKS!
Enjoy the next installment!
DEATH!*
One Dark and Stormy Night
Ch. 3
As Fai and Syaoran returned, Mokona bounded out of the cloaks covering Sakura. "Fai-san! Mokona tried to keep Sakura-chan warm… but Sakura-chan is shivering even more than before!" Mokona's ears dripped water as she jumped up and down- concern plainly written on her face despite her nervous energy. She didn't even realize she was getting soaked again… her only concern was for her friend.
"May I assume then, that Kuro-kun has not returned yet?" Fai asked Mokona. "I had really hoped that he would have found us some shelter by now." He purposefully avoided telling Mokona about their feelings of being watched, and shot Syaoran a very stern "Don't you mention a thing!" look. He didn't want to add to her obvious stress.
Syaoran briefly nodded an acknowledgement and swiftly ducked under the cloaks to be at Sakura's side. He found her still damp and barely conscious, slumped over and very much resembling a ragdoll that was carelessly dropped in a corner. I should have stayed… he thought to himself. She would still be warm if I had. I will never forgive myself if she falls ill again! A lump formed in his throat at the thought. I never want to see her that sick again... She barely pulled through!
Memories of her lying almost lifeless for days on end flooded back into his mind. The fever-induced hallucinations, the toll her illness had taken on body, mind, and spirit. He had hated the helpless feeling that consumed him as he sat by her side, day by day. Unable to help, he could only to try and comfort her. He had never left her side the entire time. Not once. He had barely eaten during the whole ordeal, and by the time she had turned the corner and began to heal, he looked almost as ragged, battered, and broken as she did. And just like the memories contained in her lost feathers, her memories of that time were also lost. Completely consumed by the flames of the fever but there would be no way for her to recover the memories of his dedication and self-sacrifice. Besides, he didn't want her to remember all the negative ones just to be able to recall the positive ones. It wasn't worth it. He carried the burden of both of their memories of that time by himself.
He reached out to hold her hand, as he gently smoothed a few stray hairs from her forehead where the rain had plastered them. Oh, No. NO! Not this. Not NOW… He gasped at the heat coming off of her forehead as a feeling of dread settled around his heart like an iron band, as if threatening to squeeze the very life from him. His hand moved quickly to her flushed cheek.
"She's burning up, Fai! What should I do? And she won't stop shivering either!" he said. All he could think about was losing her. Not now… not after all we have been through… what we still need to do! He began to rub her unresponsive arms and legs, almost willing the heat to leave his body if only to warm hers and stop her from shivering. Hang in there, Sakura-chan… Stay with me. You can get past this, you HAVE TO! I am nothing without you- You are my everything… A single tear slid silently down his cheek, falling from his chin onto the back of her limp hand.
Fai knelt down next to them, Mokona perching on his shoulder. "Mokona tried… Mokona really did!" she implored. "We know you did everything you could, Mokona-chan… you did well!" Fai said, trying to reassure her and calm her fears. "Keep rubbing her and try to keep her circulation active, that should help warm her for now, but we need that shelter, and soon." he told the boy. He stood up to look around again, trying to catch Kurogane's return. "I do agree with you, Syaoran… I think this storm is getting worse."
It paid the storm little attention as it followed the barely noticeable track towards the small lake. A little fishie or two will be a nice diversion. it thought, as its tongue flicked over its fangs and the corners of its mouth crept into a slight smile. It's hard to contemplate well on an empty stomach. Its belly growled even louder than before, as if its stomach had a mind of its own and was eavesdropping on its thoughts. Alright already! SHEESH… Good thing those creatures left to join the others, ANYONE would have heard THAT.
It paused as it reached the edge of a small clearing, making sure to stay hidden in the lower limbs of the ancient willow tree that grew on the shore of the lake. Its encounter earlier was still fresh in its mind as it looked around the forest edge and across the lake to the far shore. Good- all is as it should be. Can't be too careful with THEM around… who knows what else strange may be lurking about today. Neither seeing nor sensing anything out of the ordinary, it quickly slipped into the dark, silent waters of the lake. Even the fierce storm raging above was muted by the cool waters. A good hunt and a full belly would set things right. Then it would think over the events of the day and decide what to do about THEM.
It swam off, happily singing to itself… I'm gonna eat you little fishie… I'm gonna eat you little fishie…'Cause I like little fishies…