Chapter 4: Melting the Ice
Li tried to ignore what he was holding. She was a gift as well as a curse. They had been riding for hours and she still hadn't woken up. Li looked down at Cora and watched as she slept. She looked so innocent and young, but she was still a mystery. She moaned and Li tightened his grip on her.
The first thing Sakura saw was the ground flying past her. She gasped and backed up against a solid wall. Something tightened around her stomach and they came to an abrupt halt.
" What's wrong? " came Li's voice behind her. Sakura looked behind her.
" Li! Where are we? " she asked.
" So you're awake. " came Eriol's voice.
" Hai. " she replied turning to look at him.
" Suppi felt Kero and we're riding towards Abanathy where he felt him. " Eriol stated.
" Oh. "
" Well since you're awake you can give Li a rest and ride the horse that I got for you. "
" She doesn't have to. " Li said and blushed crimson when both Sakura and Eriol looked at him.
" No. Eriol's right. " Sakura said and jumped down. Her legs were shaky and she stumbled.
" Guess I'm not to used to walking. " Sakura laughed.
" It's about time we took a break anyway. " Eriol said and jumped down as well.
" Thanks guys. " Sakura smiled.
Sakura looked at the black mare and tipped her head to the side studying it. Its coat glistened in the late afternoon sun as it grazed with the other two. Sakura had a sudden urge to ride it. Back at the castle, both she and Tori were the best riders and both loved horses.
" I'm going for a ride. " Sakura said deciding and got up. They had had lunch and were now taking a enjoyable reprieve from riding.
" I'll come with you. " Li said and got up dusting his hands off.
" There's no need. " Sakura said over her shoulder as she walked towards the mare.
" Trust me, I'm going. You'll need someone to save you should you get into trouble. "
" Thanks a lot. " Sakura shot back, but ruined it by smiling.
Sakura reined up the top of the hill and stared down at the fields and valleys below. Her hair danced as the breeze blew around her. Li came riding up behind her and watched her silently.
" When you said you knew how to ride, I didn't think you meant like that. " Li said sounding impressed. They were interrupted by the sound of horses' hooves below them.
" There they are again. " Sakura whispered. Li followed her gaze and watched as the soldiers rode past, below them.
" They're looking for something. " Li stated.
" Not something but someone. " Sakura whispered. Li's gaze pinned her from horseback.
" Are they looking for you? " he asked bluntly.
" Hmm? " Sakura asked snapping out of her thoughts.
" Are they looking for you? " Li asked again. Sakura hid her expression from him behind a mask.
" Why would they be looking for a peasant? I'm a nobody remember? What was it you said? They think us beneath them? Yes that's what you said. " she smirked coldly then laughed frostily. " What ever made you think that they be looking for someone like me? "
Li was watching her guardedly. The wind ruffling his long bangs along with the mane and tails of the two horses with them. A change was coming going by the smell of grass and hills from the south.
" Come on. Eriol's probably wondering where we are. " she clicked her tongue and turned her mare around.
" Wait a minute. " Li said. Sakura pulled up her mount and looked at him questionably.
" What? " Li rode over to her and met her gaze.
" I wanted to give this back to it's owner. " Sakura stared down at the cherry blossom comb he placed in her hands. " It was wrong of you to give me this Cora. It's only right that you keep it. "
" Since when are you ever noble? " Sakura asked coldly at the refusal of her gift. Li was silent. Sakura pushed it back into his hand.
" It was a gift. Keep it. " with that she rode off.
Back at the Palace
" How hard is it to find a princess? " Tori demanded at his guards. " Kami she'd stand out like a flame amongst the night. "
" Now Tori. " Julian warned. " It's not as easy as it seems. "
" Julian, this is Sakura we are talking about! Star she's one in a million! How many villagers do you know with those emerald eyes and hair of honey-brown? "
" Yeah well how many princess's do you think we've found? " Julian snapped. Tori glared at him.
" I want my sister back here where she's safe and sound. Not out there where anything can happen to her. " Tori barked angrily.
" I know you are worried, we all are. But biting our heads off isn't going to help. She's hiding and hiding pretty well if you ask me. I don't think she wants to come back Tori. "
" Don't start saying what Sakura wants and what she doesn't Julian. Sakura's angry at tou-san for making her be with that bastard and she's making us all know that she didn't like it. When she wakes up and comes to realize what she's done, then we'll find her. But until then we keep looking. "
" You know, I don't think you know your sister too well if that's what you think Tori. And I think you know that deep inside your heart. This is more than Sakura simply running away Tori. Sakura's letting you know something and I think you all had better pull your heads out of the clouds and realize what. " Julian said and started to walk out.
" Don't walk away from me Julian! If you think you can get away with that - "
" Stop being a hypocrite Tori. Maybe that's another reason why Sakura ran away. I wouldn't blame her. Good day your highness. " Tori sighed and looked out the window at the land beyond.
" Sakura where are you? " he cried.
A few weeks later
Sakura, Li and Eriol had ridden fully for weeks. Sometimes for days on end. They were tired, miserable and Suppi hadn't picked up a thing on Kero. They had ridden through many towns and small villages as they continued to get father and father away from the Kinomoto lands, Sakura began to understand why Li and Eriol had thought her mad when she had ranted that her father looked after everyone.
People were poorer and sad. They barely had crops to sustain them all. Sakura's heart broke and she was determined that one day she would help these poor people and so would Tori and her father.
She also came to understand with horror that what Li and Eriol had said about the soldiers was true. She watched horrified as one of the guards, one of Julian's own, made a poor old man's life misery. Her heart broke and when Li saw the look on her face, he had urged her away from the scene. Yes, the Princess of Kinomoto had finally had her eyes opened to what the world was like.
They had stopped for a while near a small town by the name of Baizel ( Bay-zel ). The horses happily grazed and they made a small fire and sat around it miserably.
" If we don't find some way of getting food soon, we're in big trouble. " Eriol stated.
Sakura looked up and saw the troubled looks of her friends. Suppi was even sadder than usual and she knew it had nothing to do with finding Kero.
" Don't worry. " Sakura said. " Something's bound to happen. " Li snorted.
" You can't just sit around and wait for food to jump in your lap Cora. It doesn't work like that. "
" No need to bite my head off Li. Forgive if I try to cheer you up. "
The campsite was quiet as they fell into silence once again. Sakura was angry and frustrated. She had enough gems and stones left to buy them food for a year, but she hadn't found a coin exchange for weeks and she needed one desperately. If she didn't find one in the morning, she'd have to go out on her own and try to find one. But for now she wouldn't worry too much les she give herself away.
She had learnt over the last couple of weeks that Li and Eriol were both very observant. There were no secrets that she could hide (except the only one that mattered thank Kami-sama). So she had learnt not to think too much over something for that was the best way to keep her thoughts to herself.
They settled down for the night and slept through till the next morning.
Next Morning
They were standing around waiting for Eriol to come back. So far he had been gone for an hour and it wasn't looking good. Sakura was leaning against a wall in a side street from the market and Li was standing next to her waiting patiently.
Sakura looked up and spotted a coin exchange and her eyes lit up with happiness. Their problems were solved!! She was so dazed out that she didn't hear the horses' hooves. Li heard them and tearing his curious gaze from Sakura's dreamy one, he turned around and saw the soldiers. And he noticed with disgust the same soldier that went by the name of Julian. Li, acting as casually as he could, moved a little blocking them from Sakura's point of view.
Sakura had seen them, and she had also seen what Li had done for her. Her heart swelled at his kindness and she made out that she hadn't seen which seemed to make Li happy. Eriol came back shortly and by that time the soldiers had moved on.
" No luck. " Eriol sighed sadly.
" And I can't hunt as my all my arrows are gone and my bow has just about had it. " Li sighed.
" Look guys cheer up ok? You look like death warmed up and it so not the fashion for a lady to be in such accompany of. " she said haughtily making Eriol smile.
" What lady? " Li asked. Sakura shot him one of his own death glares.
" Look just trust me and go back to that cave we stayed at last night ok? I'll find you there later after I've finished doing what needs to be done. " She went to walk off but Li grabbed her arm.
" What are you doing? " he asked her quietly. Sakura smiled comfortingly.
" Don't worry just trust me. " Li let go of her arm and she walked off leaving them behind.
Eriol was sitting in the cave watching Li pace back and forth. " You're wearing the floor away. Would it kill you to stay still? " Li glared at him.
" What could be taking her so long? " Li demanded. Eriol shrugged at his glare.
" She could be doing anything. "
" And that's what I don't want to think about. " Li said and continued pacing.
Suddenly Sakura came riding up with a smile on her face. " Hurry up! Come see! " she called.
" Go on open the door. " Sakura said indicating the inn door. Eriol shared looks with Li. Eriol pushed open the door and stopped dead.
In the room were three beds - the finest they had ever seen, fresh flowers and water, fruits and breads. On one bed were a new sword and an assortment of sour things, and on another were a new bow and a row of new arrows. On the other bed was new leather packs filled with what looked like food for a month's journey.
Eriol and Li turned around and stared at a smiling Sakura.
" Surprise. " she said and continued to smile.
" How the - how? " Li asked stunned. Sakura's eyes sparkled.
" Can't I surprise you once and a while? " she asked.
" You surprise me everyday. " Li replied and turned back to the bow and arrow on the bed missing her blush.
" I would have gotten you another sword like Eriol, but I knew you'd never part with your sword that you already had, so I settled for these. "
" Sour things! Sour things!! " Suppi cried and hugged his presents happily. Sakura laughed and watched as Eriol tried out his new sword.
" Thank you. " It was barely a whisper, but she heard it. Sakura turned around and faced Li.
" You're most welcome. " she replied. Li seemed to be debating something.
" I hope I don't regret this later, but - " Li gently hugged her. " Thanks. " Sakura blushed every shade of red.
" Umm, no problem. " she replied and turned away. "Anyone hungry? "
-----------------------------------------
Li and Eriol were downstairs getting dinner and Sakura was left in the room with Suppi. It was dark outside and Sakura couldn't see anything so she gazed into the fire.
" Do you know where Kero is Suppi? " Sakura asked.
" It's hard. Kero doesn't really want to be found. "
" I can relate to that. " Sakura whispered in her own thoughts once again.
" I guessed as much your highness. " Sakura continued to stare into the fire but jumped startled.
" Nani?!! " she cried shocked.
" Hello. I'm a magical creature here. I know everything. " Sakura knelt in front of Suppi in desperation.
" Suppi please don't say anything? I beg you please don't reveal who I am. I'll lose them! They won't want anything to do with me if they find out who I am. " Suppi continued to watch her, flicking his tail back and forth.
" It's not as bad as you think. " he finally said.
" Are you serious? " Sakura asked still kneeling.
" Look at me. I'm a magical creature; do you think I didn't think people would want anything to do with me? But I found Eriol. He proved me wrong. "
" But this is different Suppi. No one's ever heard of you. But me - Everyone knows me. They know me better than I do myself. If you tell, I'll be forced to go back. I don't want that. I want to be free, free to make up my own mind and to come and go as I please. I can't lose what I gained." Sakura begged.
" The longer you continue to hide it, the harder it will be on you when they do find out in the end. " Suppi replied. Sakura looked down miserably.
" That's a risk I'm willing to take. "
The door opened and Li and Eriol came in having one of there arguments.
" How many times do I have to keep telling you that I am of no relation to you?!! "
" Come now dear cousin, do you honestly expect me to believe that when you take after me so well? "
" Take that back! "
" Never. It's the truth. "
Sakura looked at Suppi desperately. " Please? " Suppi looked at her his tail twitching.
" Fine. But you owe me. " Sakura sighed in relief.
" Thank you Suppi. " she gently kissed him on the top of his head. Li and Eriol's argument came to an end seeing that.
" Well, well, well, look who's been getting to know each other at last. " Eriol said smiling. Sakura returned his smile.
" Yeah. Umm is that dinner? Smells great! What is it? "
Eriol placed his bowl next to Li's.
" That was good considering we haven't had a decent meal in weeks. "
" Hmm. " Sakura smiled happily as she leaned back against her pillow. " That was delicious. "
" For once I agree. " Li said, sitting on his bed, leaning back against the wall. Sakura yawned and stretched.
" I'm beat. " she yawned again.
" Yeah, it's been a long day. " Eriol replied sleepily.
" That reminds me. " Li said sleepily. " We didn't tell Cora about the news. "
" What news? " Sakura asked waking up a little.
" Oh yeah. " Eriol yawned. " The Princess from Kinomoto is missing. "
" Nani? " Sakura sat up. " How did you find that out? " Li woke up seeing her expression.
" It's all through the town. Apparently there are posters and that's what our soldiers have been searching for. " Sakura gulped. " I see. " she said slowly.
Both Eriol and Li were looking at her strangely, so she masked her expression and played along.
" How interesting. " she said laying back down.
" I wonder why the Princess left? " Eriol asked no one in particular.
" Maybe the money was starting to run out and she's chucking a royal fit. " Li said smirking.
" Or maybe. " Sakura said fighting down her anger. "They were forcing her to do things that she didn't like. " Li frowned at her tone.
" What's it matter? A princess is a princess. They think just because they were born into a wealthy family and have rights over all of us that they are entitled to everything. "
" That's not true. " Sakura replied.
" Yeah? How do you figure? "
" Well . . You could tell what she or her family was like by the way they acted. If she was spoilt and rotten, then yeah, you could accuse her of that. But if she got out and tried to help her people, tried to make them happy, instead of her, then at least you know that she cared, cared for someone other than herself. If I saw anyone helping someone other than themselves, than I would know that they are a decent and kind. "
" It's a good point. " said Eriol. " But it doesn't answer the question. We've never seen this so called princess. She's just someone we hear about every once and a while, how do we know that she's like you say? "
Sakura thought for a moment. " Well have you heard anything bad about her? " Sakura asked. Li shook his head after thinking about it.
" We've heard plenty of rumors, but none of them actually known to be true. "
" Oh like what? " Sakura asked curiously.
" Like that she's un-marryable. That no man wants her, because she's horrible and childish. " Sakura's jaw dropped.
" You heard that? " she asked in shock.
" That's only one of the many things we've heard. " Eriol said smiling.
" I don't believe it! " Sakura cried losing her mask. " Of all the things to say. "
" Why are you getting so upset? It's not like they're talking about you. " That calmed Sakura a bit. And made her try a different track.
" It's the principle of the thing! How would you like it if I went around saying that you were an unemotional animal and that you had a heart of stone? How would you like it especially when you knew it wasn't true? "
" Actually I'd have to agree with that one if we are talking about Li here? "
" Go to hell Hiiragizawa. "
" Come on guys cut it out. " Sakura demanded. " This is important. " she said throwing a pillow at Li.
" Oi! " he said pulling the pillow away from his face and glaring at her half heartedly.
" My what a good look for you dear cousin – ah – nice try. " he smirked as he ducked.
" Hey! That's my pillow you're throwing there! " Sakura huffed and pegged another one at Li glaring.
" What is this? Pick on Li day? " he saw the shared expressions go between Cora and Eriol and tensed. " Don't. Even. Think. About. It. " he snarled.
They charged him at once. He ducked Eriol's pillow and copped Cora's in the middle. He made a small 'oof' sound which made her giggle but wasn't fast enough to miss his pillow to the face. It slid down and left her hair spiky and standing on end which caused Li and Eriol to burst out laughing. She swore revenge and threw pillows with vengeance.
Suppi watched the show with one eye half cocked and snorted at such childish behavior. Li ducked a well aimed pillow and lifted the perpetrator over his shoulder which made her squeal before giggles erupted. She begged Eriol to help her when Li started tickling her ribs. She kicked and squirmed but Li held her safely over his shoulder. Eriol caught her eye and mimicked tickling his sides. Li yelped and nearly dropped her when her tiny fingers started a tickle assault of the worst kind.
Li collapsed in a heap laughing with Sakura tickling mercilessly. Li chucked a pillow at Eriol for betraying him which he ducked and threw back at Li. Li blocked the attack and sent the pillow flying across the room which hit Suppi, which knocked him against the wall with a definite 'splat'! and a muffled squeak and a shower of feathers at impact as the pillow broke.
" Suppi! " Sakura gasped and leapt to his defense. She picked the little creature up and saw the swirls in his eyes. She bit her lip and looked at the other two. She had feathers sticking out of her hair and the other two couldn't contain their laughter any more and burst out in hilarious laughter.
-----------------
" Look, it's just some princess were talking about. It's not important. " Li said as they picked up their discussion from before the pillow fight and Suppi being knocked senseless. Sakura shot him a scathing look.
" Not important. Ok tell me this. If your land was in trouble and you were in danger of losing it, who would you go to? The king right? " Sakura asked. Li just looked at her.
" Wrong. That's not the king's area. As a matter of fact it the prince's but the princess is present too. The princess is present to balance the strict teaches of the palace and add her authority where she deems necessary. Maybe you should just think about who you condemn before you pass judgment Li. From what I've heard she cares dearly for her family. And I don't think that she would leave them unless she was absolutely
desperate. " The room was silent as her words sunk in.
" You sure know a lot on the subject. " Eriol said suspiciously.
" I hear a lot and I listen. " Sakura replied shrugging.
Li was still glaring at her. He didn't like being attacked like that. Suppi sensing the tension in the air and where this conversation was heading decided to break it up.
" Can you keep it down? Some magical beasts are trying to sleep. " Sakura shot him a grateful look.
" I'm tired. I'll see you guys in the morning. " Sakura replied and snuggled down to sleep.
" Yeah goodnight. " Eriol said still suspicious.
Sakura twisted and turned and finally woke up when her exhausted body had had enough. She heard horses' hooves in the still night and looked out the window. Seeing the soldiers riding through, she hid in the shadows. She gasped when the light of the torches some of them were holding reflected off her brother.
" Tori! " she whispered. What was HE doing here?!!
" What's wrong? " Sakura jumped when Li came up behind her on her bed. Li was tense and on edge, he leaned past her and looked out the window. He tensed further when he saw them riding below them.
Tori sensing that he was being watched looked up at the inn window. But he saw nothing but darkness.
Li sighed as he rose back up and looked out the window again. " Why do you fear them Li? " Sakura whispered as she watched her brother disappear into the night.
" I don't fear them. I'm just wary. Let's just say I'm not giving them a chance to make my life a living hell. "
" But they'd only do that if you did something wrong. " Sakura replied quietly. Li softly laughed coldly.
" You obviously still have a lot to learn. They don't have to have a reason. They wait till their commander is looking the other way, then they lay into you. " Sakura's eyes widened.
" No! "
" Oh yes. I've seen it happen too many times. " Sakura met his gaze in the dark, remembering what she had seen that day.
" That's life. We all know that. "
" I didn't. " Sakura whispered. Li smiled faintly.
" But you're different. " he replied.
" Why am I so different? " Sakura asked sadly. Li shrugged.
" Who knows. You just are. "
" I hate being different. " Sakura spat. Li studied her for a moment and then looked back out the window.
" So how do know that soldier? That Julian? " Sakura looked at him curiously. Was that anger she had heard in his voice?
" Julian's a very good friend of mine. "
" Is that all? " Li demanded. She looked at him.
" How could we be anything more? Look at his position and mine. " Sakura whispered. She meant her being a princess and him being a soldier, but Li thought she meant her being as a commoner.
" He obviously means something to you then? " Li said.
" Yeah. " Sakura whispered as her mind traveled back to when she was a little girl and when Tori was still able to play with her along with Julian. Li obviously didn't like her answer.
" Those soldiers seem to be around these areas a lot lately don't they? " Li stated. Sakura frowned coming back to the present.
" Why is that? " she asked quietly, playing along, as Eriol and Suppi were still asleep.
" Who knows. Maybe it has something to do with a few people thinking that they saw the so called princess around here recently. " Sakura drew in a sharp breath.
" Are you kidding? " Li frowned watching her.
" You seemed shocked. Why? " Sakura masked her expression.
" I don't know. Maybe it's because we might actually get to meet her and she can invite us in for tea and we can resume that lovely little discussion we were having earlier about whether she's a brat or not. " Sakura smirked. Li blushed red, but the darkness hid it.
" Very funny Kino-san. "
Sakura giggled and covered her mouth when Eriol turned in his sleep and mumbled something unintelligible.
" What are you doing up this late anyway? " Sakura asked Li.
" Very good question. Mind answering it? " Li countered. Sakura lowered her head.
" I couldn't sleep. "
" You seem to be having that problem a lot lately. " Li whispered. Sakura looked up surprised.
" How do you - ? "
" I wake up when I hear you. "
" Sorry. " Sakura apologized.
" Mind telling me what's going on? I mean if you're going to keep waking me up, I might as well know so I can go back to sleep. "
" It's nothing honestly. "
" If you expect me to believe that. " he replied bluntly watching her in the faint moonlight.
Sakura sighed despairingly. She didn't speak for a while and Li didn't think that she would, but she did.
" You were right. I did lie before. My family didn't release me, I ran away. " Li didn't say anything.
" You have no idea what it was like. Everyday was the same, go here, do this, don't do that, you mustn't talk like that, wear this, no that colour doesn't suit you. I was caged; I had no freedom of my own. I'd had enough, so I left . . . reluctantly. "
" Reluctantly? "
" I had responsibilities Li, a lot of responsibilities. It isn't easy to just ignore them and walk away. "
" But you did in the end. " Li replied.
" Yeah I did. But I'm paying for it now. " Li raised his eyebrow.
" I have to constantly watch my back, I have to avoid anyone that may know me, I'm homesick and I miss everyone so badly, especially Madison, oh she must be missing me terribly. But I know in my heart that I can't go back now. I can't, I'm not the person I used to be. " she cried.
" Hey come on Cora. " Li said startled when he noticed that she crying.
" I know my family is looking for me I've seen them. But I can't go back, but I know someday soon I'll be forced to return. I'll make a wrong move and they'll find me or I'll have to go back one way or the other. "
" Hey you don't have to go back if you don't want to. I'll make sure of it, Eriol as well. "
Sakura sniffed and managed a shaky smile.
" Thanks Li. But I'll have to go and I know you can't understand now. You will
eventually. " Li turned his head to the side, not understanding. Sakura looked up and met his gaze.
" Li can you promise me something? " Sakura asked and hiccupped.
" What? " Li asked warily.
" When my little adventure comes to an end and you finally know who I am, will you look back and remember me as I am now and not as I will be? "
" Cora you're not making any sense are you feeling well? " he asked placing his hand on her forehead.
"I'm fine but promise me. " Sakura demanded. " I want you to know me as being free, not caged. Because of what you or anyone else may believe, my life isn't a happy one. "
" I'm waking Eriol. You not making sense. "
" Li are you listening to me?! " Sakura hissed, stopping him from going anywhere.
" I'm hearing you and I'm not understanding it. "
" Do you have to understand everything to accept it? " Sakura asked.
" . . . . "
" Promise me. "
" Ok I promise. Happy? " Sakura sighed and relaxed.
" Thank you. "
" I still think I should get Eriol. You haven't been looking too well lately. "
" It's just stress. Eriol needs his rest and so do you. You should go back to sleep, I'll be ok. " Li shook his head.
" Cora you need your rest to. " Li said. Sakura sighed. " I'll be fine. "
" How many times are you going to say that before you realize that you're not? " he watched as Sakura shrugged.
" Come on, I'll lay here with you until you fall asleep ok? " Sakura blushed crimson.
" It's ok Li. Honestly. "
" What's the matter? Afraid? " Li challenged. He was thinking what had gotten into him, but he hid his thoughts and concentrated on her.
" I am not afraid of you. " Sakura bit back. " How do I know you won't bite? " she challenged. Li smirked coldly.
" Believe me, that's the least of what you'd have to worry from me. " Li replied.
Sakura gulped and blushed crimson.
" Well alright. But if you keep me awake, I'm telling Eriol. " Sakura warned and laid back down on the bed.
" You do that. " Li replied and laid down next to her and fell asleep.