Chapter 11 : Reconciliation.. Gone Wrong
Sakura walked back towards her room her heart heavy. Li watched her go, his brain whirling with all that she had said. Slowly he understood her logic. The fact was that Li had hated her when he had found out that she was a princess so long ago because she was something out of his reach.
He had been angry because he had thought that she had lied to him and that she was nothing but a spoiled little brat. But after seeing all that he had now, he had to admit that none of that was true. She was something special alright; he couldn't fight it anymore.
He was afraid of what she could do with the power that she held and the fact was she and the life that she lead reminded him a lot of his home. His family was ignorant, blinded by stupid dreams and power. He had grown up in cold surroundings, never feeling love or respect. At least not until a certain someone had shown him the light. Li thought about the pendant that Sakura wore around her neck and remembered her words back when they had been in the cave. She was a star, and she had led him out of the dark tunnel that he had been stuck in.
Li shook his head. This was too much for him to comprehend. But he knew that he had been wrong to judge her so. Li sighed and made his way back towards Sakura's room.
He knocked and opened her door. Sakura had just flopped down on her bed and was looking up at the ceiling but her gaze darted to the doorway and groaned seeing him standing there.
" Not again, can't you just leave me alone? " she groaned covering her face with her arm.
Li cringed and closed the door softly behind him.
" Sakura I - "
" Let me guess…You want to talk to me . . again. " came her muffled reply.
Li walked over and stood looking down at her lying on her bed. He knelt down and wondered where to begin. There were so many things racing through his mind and all of them focused on her. When she didn't hear anything right away, Sakura removed her arm from across her face and looked at him curiously. Something was different and she could see it by his eyes.
Amber eyes rose and met hers full of sympathy. Emerald stared down at him guardedly.
" Sakura I - " Li stopped. " I - thought about what you just said and I - " Sakura blinked and rose up onto her elbows.
" Sakura I'm sorry. " Li said softly and lowered his eyes for the first time in his life. " I was so wrapped up in seeing everything that you represented – everything I hate instead of seeing you for you. I am a fool and I understand if you can't forgive me. I don't want to wait until we are too old to appreciate what we have. "
Sakura sat forward and waited.
" Our past is so tangled; can we just start again anew? " Li looked up trapped within her gaze. He could see himself reflected in the deep emerald green. Sakura smiled softly at him and then blinked as tears sprung to her eyes. Li looked alarmed.
" What? Why do you cry? " Li asked thinking the worst.
Sakura burst out laughing and crying at the same time. She hugged Li to her and continued to cry and laugh. " I just can't believe you've finally come to your senses and that you actually understand. I do not want to fight with you anymore either. I just want to be with you. "
Li wrapped her in his arm and smiled stroking her hair. Was he hair always this soft? His fingers slipped through the honey-brown strands and simple enjoyed the moment. The gentle swaying of the ship on the ocean rocked the two lovers as they held each other.
" I never want to let you go. " he whispered into her hair. " You are mine. "
Sakura just simply laid her hand on his chest over his heart. The action spoke more than words.
There was nothing that needed to be said…..
--
Sakura unconsciously cuddled up to Li and he, in turn, watched her totally hypnotized by her. He had woken when the faint rays of the sun had brushed over his face rousing him from peaceful sleep. The seagulls' cries echoing across the waves.
He had watched the sunlight creep across the pillow and onto her peaceful face. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept on, despite the sunlight on her face. He suspected nothing could wake her from her dreams.
He brushed a lose strand behind her ear and smiled softly as she glowed in her sleep. Li heard a soft knock and half rose as the door opened, revealing Eriol. He froze when he saw Li. Li watched as his shock gave way to that annoying cocky grin of his.
" Oh this is too good to be true. " Eriol whispered as he came to stand near the bed.
Li glared at him. " Shh. Don't wake her. " Li said and turned to look back at the angel beside him.
Eriol raised his eyebrow. " Who would have ever thought. "
" What are you doing here? " Li demanded in a whisper.
" I came to see if Sakura knew where you were, but . . . " he grinned totally thrilled.
Li just looked at him." Why are you looking for me? "
" Bryant's spotted a rogue ship, flying a plain black flag. It started following us last night. Bryant wants you, me and Julian up on deck now. "
Li nodded and slowly got up, trying to not to disturb Sakura. Sakura whimpered and rolled over to where Li had just been. Li smiled lovingly and Eriol smirked.
--
" Damn, it is a rogue ship. " Li said as he lowered Bryant's telescope.
" What the hell do they want? " Eriol glared at the silhouette in the distance.
" Probably think they can loot us or something. " Bryant replied frowning.
Julian took the telescope from Li and looked through it. " It's a large crew too. "
Li didn't like that. " I wonder why they are so far out this way. They tend to stick to the main trading routes. " he said.
Bryant shrugged. " I guess we'll never know the reason why they are here, but the main thing now is we have to lose them. I don't want any trouble and they're going to do more than my likin' if we don't do something soon. "
" Right. " Li stated. " I want half your men below deck. " Li said to Julian. " The less they think we have, then maybe they might think we're not worth the trouble. " Julian nodded agreeing. " And keep the girls down there as well. Don't let them near the stairs. Keep some of your men guard so they can't sneak up here like I know they'll be prone to do. "
Julian smirked. " Hai. "
" Where is Kero and Suppi? " Li asked turning to Eriol.
" Below deck in my room. They'll be good to fight if we have to. " Eriol replied.
" That's why I want them up here. " Li replied and turned back and looked out toward the lone ship.
--
" What? " Sakura yelled at Kale standing near the stairs. " Why am I not allowed up there? "
Kale gulped after receiving the death glare. " They're the orders milady. Julian gave them. "
Sakura glowered. " I don't care if the queen gave them. Stand aside. "
" Sakura? " Madison asked warily as she and Meilin came up behind her.
" What's going on? "
" They're refusing to let us go above deck. " Sakura seethed.
" Why? Madison asked frowning.
" Orders milady. " Kale replied and stared at Sakura when she growled at him.
They heard humming and turned around to see Kero and Suppi flying up to them, followed by Keir, another of the soldiers. Kero smiled at Sakura and Kale stepped back as Suppi flew past the girls.
" Hold it! " Sakura grabbed Kero's tail and although Kero kept flapping his wings he wouldn't go anywhere.
He glared at Sakura. " Hey what gives? " his eyebrow twitching in annoyance.
" What makes you so special that you get V.I.P? " she demanded.
" Li's orders. " Keir stated standing in post beside Kale.
" Li? " Meilin asked. " Who died and made him boss? "
" Who indeed? " came Li's voice as he came down the stairs.
Sakura gave him the death glare. " What the hell do you think you are doing? " she demanded. The warm feelings she had been harboring for him vanished in the face of her annoyance. Already he was trying to issue her orders. Like she would just accept them!
Li looked serious as he came to stand beside them all. " Don't get so upset. This is for your own good. Something's come up and you all need to stay down here. "
Sakura glared at him and before any could stop her she shot forward, ducked underneath Kale and Keir's arms and bolted up the stairs onto the main deck, ignoring Li's shouts and curses as he yelled after her.
Madison and Meilin giggled and Li glared at them both. Keir and Kale just shook their heads in disbelief.
" Why didn't anyone tell me she could run? " Li demanded.
Madison giggled again. " Oh Li. One thing that you should know, Sakura likes to know what's going on. You can't expect to hold us hostage down here and then not explain anything. "
Meilin cracked up laughing and her eyes sparkled full of mirth at her cousin's predicament.
" God help me when I get my hands on her. " Li muttered and took off after her.
They watched him go and all shared looks.
" Oh well Mei, since we're stuck down here, how about we find something to do? " Madison asked smiling.
--
" So you said it appeared late last night? " Sakura asked looking through the telescope.
" Hai lassie. " Bryant replied.
" Hmmm. " Sakura replied.
Suddenly a big amber eye appeared in her vision and Sakura blinked and smiled.
" Hello Li. Did you know that you have golden flecks in your eyes? Really quiet interesting. " Sakura stated chirpily.
Li moved the telescope away. " Stop being a baka. You disobeyed orders Sakura. I want you to go back below deck. "
Sakura rolled her eyes. " Forget it. " she stated. " You are not keeping me out of this. "
" Don't make me force you to go back. " Li threatened.
" Hmph. " Sakura replied sticking her nose in the air.
" If I have to carry you kicking and screaming. . " Li warned advancing on her.
" Look lets face it. " Sakura said. " You can take me back, but I'll keep coming back. Now that's just wasting time and you know it. So it's better just to let me stay and leave me alone so I can help. " Sakura tapped him on the nose making Li blush.
" See, now everyone is happy. Now where are Kero and Suppi? "
--
A few hours later
Sakura hid on the stairs with the others as the ship finally drew up alongside them. Everything was quiet and when all thought everything might be safe, there was a shout and ropes were thrown and sailors swung over to the Ruby Moon. Julian and his men tensed and waited.
" Well it's been a long time, but we finally caught up with ya! " someone yelled.
Madison and Sakura shared looks. That voice was familiar! But who was it?
" Seize it and don't show any mercy!! " came the voice.
Madison gasped. They were under attack!!
Julian drew his sword and gave the signal. All those that were hiding below deck came pouring forth startling all the invaders. Steel against steel clung all around them. Madison shivered in fright and Meilin stood tense next to her. Meilin pulled them both back into the shadows.
Li reached behind him and drew his sword from the scabbard on his back. He smirked coldly at one of the invaders and walked slowly around in a circle with him. Li swung his sword around in his hand and then got into battle position. He lunged forward and caught the invader unawares. The man smirked and then attacked. This was the same everywhere you looked.
Sakura watched it horrified and yet intrigued at the same time. She watched Li and then Julian as they fought. Kero and Suppi had transformed and were busy shooting fire and pink beams at the other ship trying to destroy it. Shouts and curses flew threw the air and Madison's ears stung. She blinked and shook her head.
" Do they know anything else but that foul language? " she asked Meilin.
Meilin smirked amused by the other girl's sense of propriety. " Doubt it Madison. Out here they're not all innocent. "
The girls watched as men fell off the sides of the ship and onto the deck bleeding or dead as the crew fought for freedom. The invaders stabbed, slashed and hacked their way through their crew and each felt their own pain for those that were fighting.
Sakura managed to glimpse Eriol amongst the crowd, his weapon glinting the light as he fought against one man and then another. But as Sakura watched in horror, she spotted one invader turning and closing in on him. Eriol remained blissfully unaware.
Madison heard Sakura's indrawn breath and spotted what she was staring at and nearly screamed out, but Meilin placed her hand on her mouth stopping her. Sakura lunged up the stairs and cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed at the top of her lungs:
" ERIOL BEHIND YOU!! "
The dark haired man swung around, his training making it a reflex, and managed to protect himself from the sneak attack. His assailant snarled and raised his sword again but this time Eriol was ready. Steel clashed against steel and sweat poured off both faces as they parried back and forth amongst the chaos.
" He's amazing.." Madison breathed in awe as they watched.
In one calculated strike, Eriol defeated his opponent and he fell down clutching his stomach, blood seeping through from the wound. The wind blew Eriol's dark midnight bangs in his eyes and he brushed them away hurriedly before moving on to help another companion.
" Come on. " Sakura suddenly jumped up and motioned for the other two women to follow her. " We have to help. "
" But Sakura! " Madison cried scared.
" You're crazy!! " Meilin screamed as Sakura ran off into the crowd of flailing swords and weapons.
Sakura pushed a barrel into a group of invaders and ran as they fell down in a tangle of arms and legs. She grabbed a length of rope and ran around another group and pulled with all her might, tripping some over. She dropped the rope and ran when the group turned and snarled at her, trying to rise to their feet.
Sakura ducked and hid as she made her way to the front of the ship where she thought that Li and the others might be. She was half way there when someone suddenly wrapped her in a tight hold and her feet were knocked out from beneath her and she was flying through the air. She screamed when she saw the guy holding her and that they were swinging over to the other ship.
Li flicked his sword and didn't bother to watch the blood droplets splatter on the deck. His gaze was instantly drawn to the one who had screamed and he watched as a young woman was taken hostage onto the other ship. He watched the young woman fight her assailant and look back at the ship and scream his name.
" SAKURA!! "
He jump kicked one of the guys that had just landed on the railing near him, sending him crashing into the water below, and grabbed the rope and swung after them.
--
Sakura stamped her assailant's foot and he threw her to the deck. She cringed and half rose, the wind whipping her hair around her face as the man stood over her. She looked up at him in fear just as another shadow landed on the railing and jumped down to protect her.
Her kidnapper jumped backwards and the man, Li, turned to look down at her. He leant down and helped her to her feet, keeping the man in his line of sight.
" Are you ok? " he asked as one of Kero's attacks flew over their heads.
"I think so. I'm sorry but I just couldn't stay below like you told me. I – "
" Not now. We have bigger issues right now. " Li snarled at his opponent. " Run when I tell you to. Take the rope and swing back. "
" I don't think so. " a man said.
Sakura looked up startled. That voice was familiar. The man looked at her and his eyes darkened and then glared at her. He laughed evilly. " Well, well, well. Look who we have here. The royal princess herself. "
Sakura gasped. " I know you! " she said. " Rulf! " she said in disbelief.
Rulf laughed evilly and sent shivers down her back.
" What? " Li demanded. " I thought he was supposed to be dead?! "
" I was. " Rulf said arrogantly. " But I managed to escape. Your father is still probably thinking that I am waiting my sentence. "
Sakura went white. " I don't care what you're up to, but I am not any part of it. Let us go."
" I don't think so. " Rulf replied and leapt forward and grabbed her. He turned and held his sword to her throat and smirked at Li who looked outraged.
" Don't touch her! " Li snapped and charged towards Rulf.
Rulf jumped back and his eyes narrowed as he studied Li.. " I remember you. " Rulf said mockingly. " You were with her before. "
Sakura knew with some sense of premonition what was going to happen. He would use Li against her which in turn make her do anything that he asked. She would be helpless if it came to that. She would do anything if it meant keeping him safe. She jerked out of Rulf's hold and stepped in front of Li and looked at Rulf with all her princess arrogance.
" If you think you can use him to get at me, then think again Rulf. " she lied.
" Oh? "
" You think you can use him to make me do your bidding. Well that plan is futile. He is Madison's servant. She ordered him to protect me. Personally I think he is arrogant and over bearing, how she stands him I don't know. Do you want him? I will leave him here in my stead. You can have him in exchange for my freedom. "
Li choked behind her and she placed her foot of his and pushed down hard. She heard him curse and felt his foot jerk underneath her own. She just hoped he got the message.
" Since when does a hand maid have a servant? " Rulf asked sneering.
Sakura looked at Rulf like an innocent. " Oh haven't you heard? " she asked sounding shocked. " And here I thought that you would know everything that happened around the kingdom to keep you out of the noose. Since you don't know a lot has happened since you were sentenced to death a year ago. " she said.
" Lets see, " she continued looking thoughtful. " Firstly, Madison is no longer my hand maid. She was crowned and given her own land by the King himself. Startling is it not? "
" Don't tell him anything. " Li hissed and Sakura squished his foot harder.
Rulf's eyes widened. " You lie! "
Sakura turned to Li begging him with her eyes to play along. " Do I? " she demanded.
" What she says ….is right. " Li mumbled.
" There you see? " Sakura demanded haughtily. " Before I tell you any more I want to know what you plan to do with me? "
" Don't you mean the both of you? " Rulf said looking at Li behind her, before returning his gaze back to hers.
" No. " Sakura said. " I told you he is of no concern to me. But you, however, are. "
Rulf laughed. " You're smart princess. " he laughed. " I'll give you that. As for what I plan to do with you I intend to keep you and send word to you're father and demand ransom. "
Li tensed.
" I'm afraid that won't work. " Sakura said masking her expression.
" And why is that? " Rulf demanded smirking.
Sakura straightened up to her full height and hoped this worked. " Because after you left, I angered my father and he stripped me of my title. I am nothing more than a peasant now He cares nothing for me now. "
Li looked at her as if she was mad and Rulf burst out laughing.
" Nice try but I don't believe you. "
" Oh really? Then where is my pendant? " Sakura challenged.
Rulf stopped laughing and looked at her neck where it normally was. " Where is it? " he demanded doubt raging into his eyes. " You're just hiding it! " Rulf accused.
" I would never! " Sakura threw back. " Around my neck that pendant belonged and should have stayed until I died, but it has been removed as I am no longer worthy of it. "
" No! " Rulf yelled and struck her.
Li went to lunge at him, but Sakura held him back. She wiped the blood away from her mouth and stared at Rulf silently.
" Take her to the room near mine. I want to keep an eye on her. " Rulf ordered to the man behind him. " As for the boy, he can stay out here. If he really has no meaning to this girl, then we'll soon see. "
Sakura shot Li a look of remorse as she was dragged away.
--
The door opened and Sakura looked up sadly as Li snuck into the room. Li closed the door and came to sit down beside her. Li had picked at the locks that had held him and had waited until the shift changed before he snuck into the room where he had heard that the princess was being held. He knew he only had a few minutes but he needed to know what she was thinking. He looked at her and she turned away to look out the window.
" Why did you say those things. They're nothing but lies and if he finds out - "
" He is not going to find out! " Sakura snapped looking at him. " Don't you get why I did it? I did it to save you and me to some degree. Rulf wants revenge and now that he has me, he can do anything. If he thought you were involved as well, he'd use you to get to me and vice versa. Get in with his good side Li. I know you can do it. For once be diplomatic, if not for my sake but yours. I want at least one of us to get out of this. "
Li glared at her.
" Leave him to me. If I can get you out of this I will. Do as he says even if you have hurt me, I won't mind. Listen, if he thinks me to not be a princess anymore, than he can't alarm my father and get them involved. It would be another pointless battle. I don't need them involved, and I don't want them to worry. I hid my pendant the other morning. I thought it would be a good idea and look how it's paid off. "
Li sighed and rubbed his temples." Trouble seems to follow you everywhere Kinomoto. "
Sakura smiled sadly. " Tell me about it. "
" Look I can't stay long. I just came to see if you were ok? And don't worry; Rulf already has taken a liking to me. I think… "
Sakura smiled up at him as he stood. " Thank you Li. " she said softly.
Li brushed her hair away from her face and lent down and kissed her on the mouth.
" Just be careful ok? "
" I'll try. " she whispered and turned away from him. She couldn't watch him leave her to her fear.
--
Two days later
Sakura stared up at the ceiling. She couldn't leave her room and wasn't allowed to leave the room escorted just for a short walk around deck. The ship that they had been travelling on was left far behind. She hoped that Eriol was taking care of the two girls, who she knew, would be stressed to the point of panic for her welfare. She sighed as the door opened. Li came rushing into her room and she sat up looking at him as he placed her food on the small table.
" Shh. " he said and knelt down beside her. " I just heard, we'll be passing the island tonight just before sunrise. We'll be there in a few hours. "
Sakura sat up her eyes wide with surprise. " Li you've got to get me out of this room! " she pleaded. " We have to get to that island! "
" I know, I know. " Li replied hurriedly. " I will think of something to get you out of here. I have obeyed Rulf's orders like a good lap dog and I think he thinks I am just another servant who follows whoever gives the orders. "
Sakura nodded and he kissed her briefly on the cheek before he closed the door behind him and locked it.
Sakura sagged against the bed and started to think, another plan forming in her mind.
--
The door opened and a sailor walked in with a smirk on his face. He was carrying rope.
" Come here. I have orders that you're to be bound and that you are able to go above deck for a few minutes. "
Sakura's eyes sparkled and she quickly hid it and held out her hands. She would be able to make proper assessments to her plan once she could get a visual. Until then she would be the perfect and compelling prisoner.
Li looked around and saw Sakura being lead out. His heart leapt, but controlled it as Rulf came over to them.
Rulf sent the sailor away and smirked at Sakura. " There really wasn't any need for the rope, but I can't have you running around now can I? "
" The rope is unnecessary " she said brokenly. " You've won. There is no where else to for me to go. Even if I wanted to escape I would drown before I got anywhere. "
Li looked at her horrified and Rulf seemed delighted with her broken spirit.
" Feel free to enjoy the fresh air my dear, but one wrong move and you're dead. "
Sakura nodded sadly and walked away slowly, hiding her smile.
" Want me to keep an eye on her? " Li asked coming up beside Rulf.
Rulf smiled at the masked expression on his face. " Go ahead. " and he walked away.
--
Li went up to Sakura who was standing at the railing where hardly anyone was but he wasn't fooled. Rulf's eyes and ears where all over this ship. He had leant that from the beginning when he had to play the complacent servant who followed any orders. They were not alone.
" Sakura you can't give up do you hear me? "
Sakura half turned to him, making sure that he shielded her from sight from behind. " Li listen up. " Sakura whispered. " I want you to pretend that you are enjoying that I am defenseless. Touch me, leer at me do everything you know that disgusts us both. Treat me like a common doxy. "
" WHAT?! " Li hissed
" Then as casually as you can and try not to let anyone see, I want you to reach down the front of my top and -" she saw his expression and frowned. " Oh for the love of - put your eyes back in your head and just do it ok? " she commanded.
Li did as he was told, hating himself as he ran his hands down her waist and back up to rub her breasts through her tunic. She glared at him the whole time he did it but he could see the pleading expression in her eyes begging him to understand and to forgive her. He leered and stepped closer to her and fondled her before he reached into her leather top, his eyes widening when he felt a handle of a dagger. He pulled it out, concealing it in the sleeve of his tunic all the while watching out for anyone.
" Hey! This is mine. " Li accused looking at Sakura.
" You left it behind the other morning. Just cut my bonds will you? "
Li did so masking it behind the action of reaching behind her and laying his hand on her behind and palming her.
" Now I want you to sit up on the railing and make out you're talking to me. " Sakura said, keeping her hands in the cut ropes, so it looked like she still was bound.
" What the hell are you up to? " Li whispered as a sailor came towards them. She had guessed that they had been watching their little show and were growing curious. Time then, was running out.
" Just do it. " Sakura hissed, still looking at the sun that was starting to rise.
The sailor walked past shooting then a smirk. Li jumped up onto the railing and looked down at her.
" Look there's the island. " he said softly looking at it distracted, the wind ruffling his bangs.
Sakura turned and looked at the sharp jaggered rocks that stuck up out of the ocean and the strong current and gulped.
" Li. " Sakura said and he looked at her.
" What? " he asked.
" I can't thank you enough for all that you have done for me and everyone else. We could not have come this far without you Li… "
Li frowned. " Sakura what are you -? "
Sakura pulled her hands out of the broken bonds and reached up and took off the golden band that was around her arm and put it into Li hands. She met his wide eyes and threw the rope away from her hands.
" If we don't meet ever again I pray that you find whatever it is that you are trying to find. And may you live a long, successful, happy and prosperous life. "
" Sakura. " Li swallowed fear coming into his eyes.
" Wait till you find the others, you can't find the cave without Kero and Suppi. If Rulf finds out …. well at least you will safe . . . . "
A shout went up as someone had spotted that she was unbound. Sakura jerked around and seeing that they were right in front of the island looked at Li with frightened eyes. She reached up and kissed him.
" Now! " she yelled and pushed Li sending him flying backwards over the railing. She watched shock turn to horror on his face and she wished that it was not the last image that she would carry in her heart with her until she died, but fate was funny like that. She saw Li hit the cold water with a splash, as hard, unforgiving hands wrapped her waist and dragged her back from the railing kicking and screaming. Rulf stormed over to her and glared at her.
" You little bitch! " he spat and raised his fist at her.
Sakura struggled and freed herself, by managing to kick the sailor that was holding her in the shin. She ducked, Rulf's fist hitting the sailor instead and clenching her fist slammed it into Rulf's face. Taking her queue she bolted and dived over the railing and splashed into the water. Bubbles blinded as she fought the current and tried to get to the surface. The last thing she remembered was hoping that Li succeeded where she failed . . . .
--
Meilin looked up and down the beach as Kero Beros and Spinel Sun landed and Madison and Eriol got off their backs.
" We should be getting paid for this. " Kero Beros muttered making Spinel Sun chuckle.
They transformed back into Kero and Suppi and they all turned to look at the jungle that greeted them. Madison sighed and turned back to look at the ocean and the boat that was disappearing into the distance, heading towards Sendai and taking all their horses with it.
" Don't worry Madison. " Eriol said placing a hand on her shoulder.
Madison moved away from him angrily. " Don't tell me what to do. Sakura and Li could be out there anywhere and we may never see them again and you tell me not to worry. "
Eriol sighed having dealt with the two emotional women for the last couple of days.
" Madison we both know Sakura and Li are strong, determined and incredibly stubborn. They'll find their way back to us. They wouldn't want to miss this for anything or anyone. I wouldn't be surprised if they aren't already waiting for us around the corner. "
Madison's shoulders sagged as she turned back around to face them all. Julian mirrored her own miserable expression as did most of his men.
" We're not going to get anywhere standing around here feeling sorry for ourselves. " Kero said.
" The sooner we can do what we came here to do the better. "
" How are we going to get back? " Meilin asked.
" Don't look at us, you people aren't exactly light you know. " Kero stated.
" You better hope you were talking about the men Kero? " Meilin demanded angrily.
" Look can we get a move on here? " Kero said ignoring Meilin's clenched fist.
" Yes. " Madison said and started walking towards the jungle. " Lead the way Kero, Suppi. "
--
3 Hours Later
Madison splashed cool water on her face and drank thirstily from the little pool they had stopped to rest at. The trees gave them shade and she watched as their shadows swayed back and forth in the rippling water. She sighed and sat down, letting her bare feet dangle in the water. Eriol's reflection appeared in the water and she looked up. He smiled sadly at her and sat down next to her.
He threw part of leaf into the water that he had ripped in two. Madison moved her feet back and forth in the water watching the ripples as they carried out to the middle of the pool.
" It's nice here. " Madison said softly.
Eriol nodded. " That I can't disagree on. "
Madison stared down deep into the pool. " It's all so queer this place, not to mention eerie as well. " she said.
Eriol looked at her. " Why do you say that? "
" Is it just me or does this place seem to be old world? I mean it's like a place from a legend. " she asked. " It's like it hasn't moved on from that time. "
Eriol chucked the other half of the leaf into the water. " Maybe it's just because humans haven't been here to disturb it's peace since god knows when. "
" Maybe. " Madison replied softly and continued to stare into the water.
" You're still worried aren't you? " Eriol asked softly.
Madison nodded sadly, tears coming to her eyes.
" Come here. " Eriol said and held out his arm to her as she laid her head down in his lap and closed her eyes.
" I know it's hard but you have to believe that they'll find their way to us. " Eriol said as he stroked her hair.
" I know, but it's hard. " Madison replied.
" Just try not to think about it. "
" I'll try. " Madison said and drifted off to sleep.
Eriol watched her sleep. " Sleep well my beloved. " he whispered and turned to look out into the pool.
Madison woke when she heard yelling. Eriol was looking behind him as she sat up. Eriol frowned when he turned back to look at Madison who was rubbing sleep from her eyes.
" I wonder what all that is about? " Eriol said as Keir came through the bushes towards them.
" Do you know what they've done? " he fumed.
Madison and Eriol shared looks.
" They've gone and got us lost. "
" I haven't, Suppi's the one that you should be blaming. " came Kero's voice as he followed Keir out of the bushes.
" Excuse me ' Mr. Leave it to Kero Beros. ' " came Suppi's sarcastic replied as he too came out of the bushes.
" Why are you coming to us? " Madison asked. " I mean Julian's your commander isn't he? " Madison asked.
" Yeah, but we normally deal with the Kid and Sakura you know? " Kero said.
Madison's face fell.
" But since they aren't here, you're coming to us. " Eriol improvised.
" Yep. " Kero stated.
" Oh boy. " Eriol breathed and rubbed the back of his neck. " What do you mean we are lost? " Eriol asked.
" Umm we're kind of having a few communication problems. " Kero said.
" What he really means to say, he can't remember where we are!! " Suppi yelled angrily.
" Why can't you remember Kero? " Madison asked.
" Well everything looks different. So much has changed since our time, I mean old signs, markers they aren't here. "
" Oh dear. What do we do now? " Madison asked looking at Eriol.
" Guess we're just going to have to scout about and hopefully we can find something that might trigger their memories. " Eriol replied getting up and brushing himself down.
" Let's go. "
--
Sorry it has taken me so long to reload this. I have re-wrote some of this to make it a lot better and I hope that you like it. Comments are welcomed. Please review, thank you.