THE PRINCESS AND THE HUNTER

Chapter 2: Cora Kino.

A few days later

The shafts of light filtering down through the trees bathed the deer as it bent its head and took another mouthful of foliage from the ground and munched contentedly. Its ears flicked back and forth sensing for danger. A bow creaked as the arrow was aimed and cold amber eyes sharpened as the arrow was steadied.

He heard a distant noise but ignored it concentrating. The shuffling got louder and then a huge thump was heard followed by:

" Ouch! "

The deer's head shot up looked around startled before bounding off into the forest taking precaution over eating. Li growled furious and let his bow and arrow go limp as he stared around him for the source of the disturbance. He could hear grumbling coming from the bushes near him. He crouched down and crept over to the top of the rock and looked down.

He blinked at the sight that met him. . .

Sakura lay sprawled on the ground muttering as she sat up rubbing the back of her head, her waist length hair flowed out behind her full of tangles and snarls. She was aware of the twigs and leaves mixed in with the lot but she wouldn't be surprised if a rabbit jumped out followed by his companions.

" Damn rock. Where did that come from? " Sakura muttered looking around. The hairs on the back of her head suddenly bristled and she froze like a statue. She gingerly looked up fearing what she was going to see above her and saw the boy staring down at her. Her eyes widened and then she saw the bow and the arrow in his hand.

" HOOOOEEEEE!! " Sakura shrieked and scrambled back with her arms..

She saw his eyes sharpen before her jumped down and land in front of her. He was dressed as one of the village commoners in a long tunic and pants with leather boots fit for hunting. She took in the dirt stains on his clothes and the smudges on his face and knew that he must have been out hunting before finding her. Her gaze darted to the bow and quiver of arrows on his back and backed up against the huge rock behind her in terror. He tilted his head and his gaze locked on hers.

" You cost me my dinner. " he snapped coldly.

" Wha? " Sakura gasped frightened.

" Who are you? And what are you doing on my land? " he demanded. Sakura blinked and continued to stare at him.

" I beg your pardon. Your land? " she asked surprised. He raised his eyebrow and continued to stare at her coldly.

" That's what I just said. Are you deaf as well as dumb? "

Anger flared in her eyes as she straightened up and glared at the man in front of her. How dare he! Here she was with her dignity in shreds around her and he had the nerve to insult her!

" I am not deaf and I am certainly not dumb thank you very much. There is no need to be so insulting! " Sakura spat. " I'm sorry that I'm on your land, but I didn't know it belonged to anyone. I've been walking around in circles for hours and I'll be damned if I have any idea where I am. " she met his gaze warily trying to judge the young man behind such coldness.

He continued to study her warily.

" Who are you? " he asked again. This was not turning out to be his lucky day. Of all the days that someone had to intrude on his peace and quite – and what a someone. He let his gaze roam over her bedraggled figure once again. She looked like she had been dragged through a blackberry bush backwards and her dress was torn in several places. What on earth had this woman been doing?

Sakura shrank back from his piercing gaze. Whoah – this guy had a way of striping you bare with his gaze. She was glad that none of the men that she had met over the years at court had looked at her like this. She would have fallen down shattered if someone such as he had forced his will on her.

" I-I-I'm - " she thought frantically for a name. She hadn't got that far in her plan. She had been too busy trying to get out of the blasted forest. She bit her bottom lip and met the stranger's gaze with a shyness that surprised both her and the hunter.

" I'm-I'm Cora Kino. " she smiled tentatively hoping her wouldn't question her.

" Pleased to meet you. " her smile faltered as she watched him frown.

" What? " Sakura asked thinking she had done something wrong. He couldn't know that she was the princess from the castle could he?!! Where the heck was she?! She hoped that the castle was around here somewhere.

" Where are you from? " he suddenly asked and watched her jump.

" What's with all the questions? " Sakura asked warily.

" You don't talk like most of the people around here. You sound too proper for being here. " Sakura's eyes widened at his comment. Too proper? Well what did he expect? She was just an escapee after all. A royal escapee…

The stranger looked down at her, assessing her with those cold amber eyes. Kami she wished he would stop doing that. She felt a shiver go up her back and hope he couldn't see it. Devil that he was she wouldn't be surprised if he had.

" You're definitely not from here are you? "

She arched her brow at him with all her royal charm. She knew this game and she wasn't about to give him all the benefits. She stood up deciding that she was sick of craning her neck to look up at him and brushed her dress down and shook out her hair. Pulling twigs and leaves out with a frown.

" How do you figure? " she finally said.

" Only an idiot or someone that wasn't from here would ask such a question. " he replied.

" Oh. " Sakura paused in brushing her dress off, raising her eyes to meet his. He met her gaze and she laughed nervously.

" Is it that obvious? " she asked. He remained silent. The silent type huh? She thought cynically.

" Well then I'll just have to work on that aspect won't I? " She watched him roll his eyes before he started to walk off.

" H-hey wait a minute. " Sakura ran and jumped in front of him with her arms out wide her eyes wide with fright. " Where are you going? " she hated how scared she sounded.

He stared at her. " Home. Where else? " he heard her whimper and his gaze narrowed.

" You can't leave me here on my own. You're the first person I've seen all day! "

" Lucky me. " she heard him mutter. Her eyes narrowed in irritation before she looked at him with desperation etched on her face.

" Please. " she pleaded reaching up. He backed away from her and Sakura dropped her hand. The hunter watched her shoulders droop in defeat and she looked like a lost child.

" I understand. " she whispered. " Thank you for your time. " Sakura curtsied perfectly and started to sadly walk away in the other direction without looking back.

The Hunter – named Li watched her walk off and growled in annoyance as his conscience got the better of him.

" Where are you going? " he called and Sakura stopped and turned around surprise on her face that he was still there.

" Anywhere. " she replied truthfully. Li rolled his eyes and walked up to her keeping his eyes locked on hers the whole time. His arm brushed her shoulder as he used his bow to push back the shrubs that she was just about to step through. It revealed a high ravine, a few rocks falling and slipping down the steep slopes and crashing to the rocky bottom.

" Does 'anywhere' include certain death? " Li asked dryly. He watched her gulp and step back in fright. Why today of all days did Kami choose to send him this – what could he use to describe her? Ragamuffin? Street urchin? No, that was far from the mark. He scanned her dress and although it matched his own clothes the way it looked on her was different. Nobility? Couldn't be. But then again…

" Do I have something on my face? " she asked nervously wiping at her face unaware that she had just placed a streak of dirt on her cheek. He met her gaze and watched her tilt her head to the side as she watched him back.

" Follow me. " Li said and walked off. Sakura wondered what that was about but nodded and did so gladly.

" So where are you heading? " Li asked as they came to his hut in the middle of the woods. She had been following him in silence and for some reason it unnerved him.

The shafts of sunlight shone down on the clearing and bathed his home in fading sunlight. Smoke curled languidly from the chimney and the hides from his previous kills were stretched out in the sunlight to dry. The hut itself was small fit for two at most but he had made it his home.

Sakura stopped at the edge of the clearing ignoring her companion as she stared at the hut in awe. To her who'd never really experienced anything past the border of her father's land, this looked like heaven.

" Is this yours? " she breathed her eyes twinkling in delight. Li stopped seeing her stopped behind him and looked from her awed gaze back to his home. Wondering what was wrong with her.

" It's just a hut. " Li said dryly watching her curiously.

" But it's so much more than that don't you see? " Sakura stated walking towards it her eyes flicking to him in chastisement. " You built this didn't you? " she asked, turning around as he came up behind her.

" How'd you guess? " Li asked dryly wondering where this was going. He had to get inside and get the fire going and try and think of something for dinner for the both of them. What had made him invite her back here for Kami's sake?!

" I noticed earlier that your hands were callused. That normally means that you're a hard worker or you've done something that used your hands for the job such as building or training. " Li looked down at his hands noticing them for the first time in a long time.

" Yeah I built it, and I also train. " he replied grudgingly.

" Oh. " Sakura asked turning back around to him. " You do? " her eyes were alight with delight once again. That look unnerved him. It was like she found him the most fascinating thing in the kingdom. He didn't care for it. Not one bit.

" Yeah… If you want to live out here you have to know how to fight. It's what any normal person would do. "

" Oh. " Sakura muttered and lowered her head hiding her face. What a fool he must think of her. She couldn't defend herself or get from one place to the other without getting lost. Yeah she was a lost cause.

Li shot her a discerning look before turning and going inside. Sakura watched him go and then followed behind him slowly. It took a while for her eyes to adjust and she blinked trying to see. Eventually the shadows receded and the light came back into focus.

" So what's your story? " Li asked when she could finally see. He knew that he had already gone through this with her earlier but she had expertly changed the subject. He had let it slip then but now he wasn't going to let her little tactics get her out of it this time. He threw some wood on the fire and watched the sparks fly drifting downwards gradually dying till they turned to ash.

" Do I have to have a story? " Sakura asked sitting down arranging her skirt around her comfortably.

" If you want to get out of this hut alive I would say yes. " Li stated bluntly kneeling by the fire. Sakura starred at him in horror. He was joking right?

" Standard procedure. I need to know if you're friend or foe. "

" Don't you trust me? " Sakura asked watching him. He turned to look at her and her blood went cold at the blunt expression on his face. This was his home and he would protect it. No matter the cost.

" Trust isn't given freely out here. It has to be earnt. " his voice was soft but it rang clearly in her ears.

She watched the shadows from the growing fire dance and shift across his form. His gaze never left hers and she feared she had forgotten to breathe. This man could kill her if he thought that she was a threat. Of that she was certain. He appeared to be tense but she knew he was poised. He was ready to attack if need be.

She wasn't sure why she did it and she certainly wasn't conscious of doing it but something other than her mind made her move from her place to kneel gracefully next to him in front of the fire. She was certain that the light from the fire was making the shadows dance across her face as his had been doing when she had been looking at him.

She lifted her head not knowing that in doing so revealed the amazing clarity of the emerald in her eyes. Li sat frozen as her hand came up resting lightly on his jaw. He saw truth, loyalty and devotion within her gaze as well as her soul.

There was a well of kindness locked within this young woman none the like as he had ever seen before. She was hiding something, he could see the shadow of doubt lingering there but he was brought back from that thought when he saw the hidden pain and sadness buried deep inside. Something or someone had hurt this fragile creature deeply.

Sakura knew her hands were cold. She was frozen with fear but didn't care. She was driven by an invisible hand and she could not disobey. She didn't know what this stranger saw in her eyes but she hoped it was enough for him to let her stay for just a little while.

She studied his gaze but could see nothing but wariness and surprise. There was a shield down on his soul and she wondered why that was. He suddenly blinked and reached up and pulled her hand away from his face. Her gaze flew from his hold on her wrist to his face in an instant. Such gentleness when holding her shocked her. Who knew that such big, rough hands could hold such gentleness? All the big hands she had ever dealt with where rough and felt like steel when manhandling her.

" I'm sorry.." she muttered looking down at her lap. " My hands are cold. "

" Cold hands mean a warm heart. " he replied. Her head shot up to look at him in surprise. He seemed surprised at himself for the comment. He shot her a sideways glance but then turned back to putting the cooking dish over the fire.

" I g-guess so. " she muttered pink tinting her cheeks.

She watched him as he chopped vegetables and placed them in the boiling water. He got up and came back with some meat and chopped that up to before stirring the meal for a while. She nearly jumped when he spoke once more.

" I asked you before what your story was. You didn't answer me. "

Sakura sighed and drew her legs up and looked over her knees at him. The fire still cast shadows on the pair of them. Night was settling in for sure. Would her brother and father be searching for her or wouldn't they bother? No, they would bother. To them she was just a breed mare. If she married then that meant that there were more heirs to the throne should – Kami-same forbid – anything happen to her brother.

" I deliberately didn't tell you. " she replied reluctantly. To Sakura, he obviously didn't like her answer. She studied him from under her lashes before she looked at him properly.

" I never got your name. " Sakura said watching him lean back from the fire.

" I didn't give it. " he replied.

Sakura sighed and closed her eyes deciding to ignore him. It had been a long few days. Li studied her. She wasn't all that she seemed and it was bugging him. He knew that she was keeping something hidden and he felt on edge. Li didn't trust anyone but himself, he had learnt that a long time ago. He noticed her long hair and frowned. No one that he knew had long hair. The women liked to keep it short. It was better that way.

" I worked with a family. " Sakura lied.

" What? " Li asked startled from his own thoughts.

" I was a servant to a family high in status. I have been since I was a girl. They liked me a lot, and they taught me to hold myself as if I was one of them. Recently they moved away and they released me of my services as I was no longer needed. I have no idea where I'm going and I stand out because I don't know the lives of the people here and how it is expected for me to act because I'm so far from home. " Li just stared at her.

" Call me pampered and ignorant if you wish, for I won't disagree with you. "

" How do you explain the hair? " Li asked. Sakura frowned and raised her head.

" My hair? What's wrong with it? " Li allowed a small smirk to appear at her obvious distress. Typically female.

" Most women tend to keep it above the shoulders. Not below it. "

" Oh. "

Sakura tried to think of how she could rectify the problem. She didn't want to stand out more than necessary. She looked up and spotted his sword leaning against the wall. That would be far too heavy for her to lift. She scanned the room and her gaze came to land on the dagger that was strapped around the man's waist. That would be perfect but how to get it?

" Is there a creek around here? " she suddenly asked an idea forming in her mind.

" Hai, there is a small one running behind the hut. Why do you ask? "

" I want to go wash up behind dinner. " she saw the dubious look he shot her but she simply smiled and he grunted turning back to the fire.

" May I borrow a torch? " she asked standing. He reached out and placed a long branch to the fire and watched it catch before handing it to her. She thanked him and then went to the door and opened it. She walked out and the paused.

" What was that? " she asked hoping her voice sounded fearful.

" What was what? " he was behind her in an instant with his hand on his dagger.

" I thought I heard something. " she said scanning the dark. " There aren't any wild animals around here like wild cats are there? " she sincerely hoped not.

" No, they don't come near here. " he replied absentmindedly letting his senses scan the dark.

" Well I'm no taking any chances. Let me borrow this until I get back inside. " she deftly plucked the dagger out its sheath and started to walk away. She squeaked when a hard hand clamped down on her arm preventing further movement. She met angry amber eyes over her shoulder and smiled nervously.

" What do you think you are doing ?" he demanded.

" Do you honestly expect a lone woman like me to go out into the dark without some form of protection? "

" Ever tried asking? " he shot back.

" If I did that you'd ask a millions questions why and that is just frustrating. " she saw him blink in surprise before the shield came down to mask his expression.

" I'll be no more than five minutes promise. " she said honestly. " I'm just going to wash up and then I'm coming back inside. "

He released her arm watching her carefully half expecting her to dash off but she didn't. She smiled at him gratefully and walked off into the dark. He sighed and walked back inside wondering what he was going to do.

It had been more than five minutes and he stood up sighing. He knew she was going to run. But why did she have to take his dagger with him? He didn't look forward to tracking her through the forest just to get it back. The thought of it made him angry.

He opened the door and nearly bumped into someone. He stared at the girl before him and thought that Kami had sent him another lost girl to add to his ever growing collection when she smiled and handed back his dagger with a muttered 'thank you'.

It was then that his mind caught up and his brain clicked. The dirt was gone and her pale skin was flawless in the firelight, her emerald eyes big and looking at him warily when he kept staring at her stupidly but he couldn't help it.

" What the hell have you done? " he was certain that he spoke those words but he was sure that they had come out in a whisper of disbelief.

The regal looking woman with twigs and leaves scattered throughout her long hair had disappeared and in her place was a pale, elf-like imp with short hair. Short hair for Kami's sake.

" Like it? " she giggled nervously running her hand through he cropped locks.

" You – " he stopped looked down at the dagger in his hands and then looked back up at her once again. " didn't… "

" Umm may I come in again. It's kind of cold out here and that water was freezing. " she tilted her head to the side and waited patiently.

He stepped and watched her walk inside. He closed the door behind him and watched her kneel down in front of the fire and hold her hands to get them warm again. Her honey-brown hair framing her face just below her chin.

" Kami have mercy. " he muttered and walked towards the fire.

" I still don't know your name. " Sakura stated setting her bowl aside.

" It's Li. " he was poking the coals with the stick.

" Li what? "

" Just Li. "

" If you expect me to believe that. " she said haughtily tossing her newly shorn locks.

" And you expect me to believe that story you spun in there earlier? " Li shot back glancing at her.

" What's that supposed to mean? " Sakura demanded

" One thing you should know - you're a terrible liar. " he replied casually. Sakura balked.

" I am not! "

" Whatever. "

" Li! "

Meanwhile

" Has there been any sign of her? " Aiden demanded. Julian shook his head.

" No your majesty. My men haven't found a thing. I think perhaps that maybe the princess is no longer in the kingdom, but beyond it. " Aiden sighed at the news.

" Fine. Send them out in all directions. How is Madison faring? "

" Still upset. She swears she knew nothing of it. "

" I believe her. Bring my daughter home Star. Do you hear me? "

" Hai. Your majesty. " Julian bowed and left the room.

" What have I done? " Aiden whispered.

The next day

Sunlight woke the sleeping princess. She yawned and stretched and noticed the figure laying on the floor near the fire. The night before Li had commanded that she sleep in his bed and that he would sleep on the floor. Naturally Sakura refused, but it had ended with her in his bed and him on the floor.

Sakura got up and made the bed and crept over and placed a blanket over him. She gently placed a log on the fire and wondered why her hair felt so light. Then she remembered and smiled. Madison would shriek if she saw what she had done. She lifted the flap on her leather pouch and extracted some of the bread that she had bought with her and placed it on the table and then beside that she place a diamond studied cherry blossom hair comb that had been amongst the jewels from admirers. She had nothing else to thank him with, and for all his coldness, kindness had shone through. She took one last look at the sleeping figure and silently left.

She walked down through the forest, dodging one obstacle after the other. She tripped and fell over tree roots, but she didn't complain. To her, this was a big adventure. She had never been beyond the villages surrounding the Kinomoto valley and this was all new and exciting for a princess who had never truly lived.

She stopped after two hours at a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush bushes and trees covered with flowering vines and sat down on a rock and dipped her tired feet into the cool water. She drank thirstily and splashed her hot face with it coldness helping to refresh her spirits. She watched in awe at all the animals that came and went frequently. She looked up at the sky and seeing that the sun was high in the sky, she judged that Li should be up by now. She tore herself away from the sadness that she felt at leaving him behind like that but there was nothing that she could have done. She drank in the sight of true beauty and continued on her way.

---------------------------------------

A log falling from the fire woke Li. The sun was above the Twin Mountains and the birds were singing. He sat up and expected to still see a sleeping figure in his bed, but when he didn't, he jumped up and went to his door, looking outside curiously. The clearing was as it always was every morning – nothing was out of the ordinary.

A twinkle caught his attention as he walked back inside and he made his way over to the table and stared down curiously at the strange object. He picked it up and his eyes widened when he recognized what it was.

" Kami-sama " he breathed and looked at the bread on the table. His gaze went back to the comb in his hand. " I could be rich for a millennium with this. " he muttered shaking his head and then walked outside.

' Now where could she be? ' his mind wondered.

He was about to go back inside when a scream echoed throughout the forest making the birds scatter and fly away in fear. It had come from some where in the distance and his blood went cold. He raced back inside to grab his bow and arrows.

Sakura had been walking for ages and her feet were starting to hurt. She lifted the flap on the pouch and broke off a little bread and put it into her mouth. She hadn't eaten in ages either and her stomach was protesting.

She spotted a huge rock and sat down on it. She stared up at the blue sky and watched the clouds as they went by. A movement caught her attention and she stared down at the little navy blue creature beside her with cat like eyes. It was laying on a rock beside her and was flicking it's tale back and forth.

" How strange. I've never seen anything like you before. " Sakura said to herself and went to pat it.

" That's because I'm almost the only one of my kind. "

Sakura blinked at it a couple of times and then screamed, the rest going black.

A few hours later

" Honestly Suppi. Did you have to terrify the poor girl? " A boy with blue hair and glasses asked as he laid the unconscious girl down at his campsite.

" It wasn't my fault. She was the one talking to me. "

" And how many times have I told you there's a difference about talking to you or talking to one self? " Suppi rolled his eyes, and curled up for a nap. The girl stirred and emerald eyes fluttered open and stared up at him. Eriol smiled warmly and helped her sit up.

" There now, do you feel better? " he asked.

" Where am I? " Sakura asked and looked at him dazedly. " And who are you? "

" Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Eriol Hiiragizawa. Pleased to meet you. "

" Oh! My name's Sa- I mean Cora Kino, pleased to meet you. " she watched him bow his head in greeting.

" I'm terribly sorry that my friend frightened you. " Sakura frowned confused not seeing anyone but him.

" I did not frighten her. She frightened herself. " Sakura's eyes widened.

" That voice! "

" That is my little friend Suppi. I'm afraid there are a few things that he doesn't quiet get yet, but I'm working on it. "

" But it talks! "

" It can be taught. " Suppi muttered and Sakura glared at it.

" Suppi. " Eriol warned.

" Fine. I'll be nice. " Suppi yawned and stretched on his rock.

Sakura shook her head and stood up. " Thank you for your help Eriol, but I think I better be on my way now. "

" Would you like a map or given directions. " Suppi asked.

" Huh? " she asked brightly.

" Well you have no idea where you are going do you? We can't have you walking off and endangering yourself or others now can we? "

" Do you know how to turn it off? " Sakura asked glaring at the little creature. " And I am not lost. I am simply going where ever I want to. "

" Ungrateful, just like that other little upstart of the sun. " Suppi muttered flicking his long tail back and forth.

" I'm afraid I don't understand. " Sakura frowned.

" Let me explain. " Eriol cut in smiling. " Suppi is a creature of the Moon. There is only one other of Suppi - his equal. And it is governed by the sun. "

" Where is it? " Sakura asked wondering if she had bumped her head harder than she thought.

" We don't know. We've been searching, but we can't seem to find it. "

" Thank goodness for that. " Suppi muttered and then settled back down trying to sleep.

" Ah, the two of them don't seem to get along too well as you can see. " Eriol replied in a confidential whisper. Sakura nodded slowly trying to take it all in.

" Now do you have somewhere that you wish to go? " Eriol asked smiling with all his charm.

" I told you she's lost. You humans are hopeless. " Suppi muttered. How many times did he have to repeat himself?

" I can easily leave you behind. " Eriol threatened.

" I'll behave. "

" Now that way is Foretree City. " Eriol pointed to her right. " Back that way is Dalziel and the kingdom of Kinomoto. " Sakura shuddered.

" I think I'll go to Fortree city. "

" There are other towns in between, but they are too small to be recognized. "

" Where are you going? " Sakura asked curious.

" Anywhere really. I mentioned that we're trying to find Suppi's equal. The two got separated and they need to be re-united. "

" Why? " Sakura asked.

" Can the night be separated from the day? " Suppi asked haughtily. Sakura shook her head under his stare.

" Well neither can we. " Sakura nodded in understanding and turned to face Eriol.

" Well if you want some help. I'll be glad to offer my services. I'm looking for an adventure, excitement and a traveling companion. You need help to find a missing friend. If you'll have me, I'd like to come along with you. " Eriol smiled brightly.

" We'd be glad to have you. Welcome Cora Kino. " Sakura smiled in return.

BW2 Wow I didn't think I was going to change this so much but I just couldn't stop adding and adding stuff! Well I did say this was the redone version smiles. Please review and let me know if you think it's better.